What's your spot???

[Sincerest]

Everyone has different areas that are problems for them. I figured if we all posted them here maybe we can help those that need help. Like my best area are my legs and thighs. I walk up 11 flights of stairs everyday to get to my office so they're nice, I can live with them. But when you move up...my stomach and back are horrible. My upper body does not match the lower body. I can't wear mini skirts with sweaters, that looks crazy. What exercises will help me not look so Michelin man like on top??? So what's your spot and how to you maintain your best area?

 

[Steve]

Genetics dictate this more than anything else, unfortunately.

 

[Sincerest]

Genetics dictate this more than anything else, unfortunately.

Yep, true, that's why everyone has a certain spot. But there are ways to keep those spots in check. If I didn't walk up those stairs or walk as much, my legs would have cellulite so I would like tips on working the upper body...basically.

 

[Steve]

Fat distribution really isn't influenced by specific training. It's influenced by genetics.

Your steps don't spare your legs from accumulating fat. Your genetics choose for you to store less fat on your legs and more on your midsection, is all.

That's my point.

 

[busy91]

I am thick in the middle, even when I was skinny, I had a big waist. My waist line will never be below a 30, but I am OK with it.

My best area are my legs, and I don't even have to do much for them to stay looking nice, they always do.

Not much to do for the thick middle in my case except cardio. That brings it down along with the rest of my body.

 

[Michelley85]

My midsection is the spot that I want to change the most. Working out and doing total body workouts is how I plan on changing it.

That didn't help, sorry. What I'm getting at is try doing more core workout movements.

 

[Sincerest]

Fat distribution really isn't influenced by specific training. It's influenced by genetics.

Your steps don't spare your legs from accumulating fat. Your genetics choose for you to store less fat on your legs and more on your midsection, is all.

That's my point.

But I thought muscle burned fat. So since I keep those muscles in use more often they burn fat more efficiently, or maybe I'm wrong. I know genetics can influence the shape of your body but I would be leaner if I had some type of good upper body work out. If I didn't climb those stairs I believe my legs would be bigger but I'd still be the same shape. You get where I'm coming from???

 

[Sincerest]

My midsection is the spot that I want to change the most. Working out and doing total body workouts is how I plan on changing it.

That didn't help, sorry. What I'm getting at is try doing more core workout movements.

Thanks! I'm trying to figure out which type would work best. I'm thinking maybe an exercise ball. I know cardio helps but I want more muscle involved to burn this fat away!!!!

 

[Sincerest]

I am thick in the middle, even when I was skinny, I had a big waist. My waist line will never be below a 30, but I am OK with it.

My best area are my legs, and I don't even have to do much for them to stay looking nice, they always do.

Not much to do for the thick middle in my case except cardio. That brings it down along with the rest of my body.

We sound the same. I wonder how many people have mostly middle problems. Most of my friends have hip, leg and butt problems so they don't get what I mean when I say having a small middle makes you look better proportioned.

 

[maleficent]

But I thought muscle burned fat. So since I keep those muscles in use more often they burn fat more efficiently, or maybe I'm wrong. I know genetics can influence the shape of your body but I would be leaner if I had some type of good upper body work out. If I didn't climb those stairs I believe my legs would be bigger but I'd still be the same shape. You get where I'm coming from???

you don't seem to be getting it...

you lose fat where you lose fat from - it has happened to come off from your legs first because that's what your body is destined to do.. Lose more fat - and it will come off from other parts of your body..

but (and do spend some time reading the stickied threads around the forum, there's a lot of info that will help you) doing crunches and other stuff will not help spot reduce....

 

[Steve]

But I thought muscle burned fat.

Nope.

Not directly at least.

Muscle is metabolically more expensive than fat but not to the extent many assume.

To boot, even if you were to add muscle and thus elevate the efficiency of your metabolism, genetics would still dictate where the fat 'burned' from.

And one more kicker is this:

To lose fat, you need to be in a caloric deficit.... be burning more energy than you're consuming.

To build muscle, you need to be in a caloric surplus... be consuming more energy than you're burning.

See the dilemma here?

*IF* building muscle on your upper body would translate to the direct 'burning' of said fat on your upper body (which isn't the case), you'd still be stuck in a quandary since to add said muscle you'd have to be in a caloric surplus.

I'll note that trainees who are carrying a lot of excess fat or who are very untrained can lose fat and build muscle simultaneously, but it's not going to happen long enough to make an overly appreciable difference.

So since I keep those muscles in use more often they burn fat more efficiently, or maybe I'm wrong.

Not quite. Muscles don't burn fat. Caloric deficiencies do. By this, I mean fat is a storage depot for excess energy. If you're not consuming enough energy (calories) to facilitate your body and activity, the energy is made up for by 'burning' some fat.

I know genetics can influence the shape of your body but I would be leaner if I had some type of good upper body work out.

You would be leaner if you lost the fat covering the muscles you currently have on your upper body.

Sure, preserving the muscles you do have is important while dieting. And I'm not trying to prove weight training the entire body isn't important at all, either.

If I didn't climb those stairs I believe my legs would be bigger but I'd still be the same shape. You get where I'm coming from???

Not really, sorry.

 

[Michelley85]

Well, I'm also new to this. But a lot of strength training moves, squats and free weights, end up engaging all of your core muscles anyway. So there is really no huge benefit of doing a crap load of crunches. A ball would be an excellent place to start. There are many many workout routines you can find online to help get started with the moves.

 

[Steve]

Thanks! I'm trying to figure out which type would work best. I'm thinking maybe an exercise ball. I know cardio helps but I want more muscle involved to burn this fat away!!!!

See my above post.

And mind you, the specific implement used to resistance train is of little importance. There's no more magic in an exercise ball than there is in a dumbbell, a barbell, a kettlebell or a resistance band.

 

[Sincerest]

Nope.

Not directly at least.

Muscle is metabolically more expensive than fat but not to the extent many assume.

To boot, even if you were to add muscle and thus elevate the efficiency of your metabolism, genetics would still dictate where the fat 'burned' from.

And one more kicker is this:

To lose fat, you need to be in a caloric deficit.... be burning more energy than you're consuming.

To build muscle, you need to be in a caloric surplus... be consuming more energy than you're burning.

See the dilemma here?

*IF* building muscle on your upper body would translate to the direct 'burning' of said fat on your upper body (which isn't the case), you'd still be stuck in a quandary since to add said muscle you'd have to be in a caloric surplus.

I'll note that trainees who are carrying a lot of excess fat or who are very untrained can lose fat and build muscle simultaneously, but it's not going to happen long enough to make an overly appreciable difference.



Not quite. Muscles don't burn fat. Caloric deficiencies do. By this, I mean fat is a storage depot for excess energy. If you're not consuming enough energy (calories) to facilitate your body and activity, the energy is made up for by 'burning' some fat.



You would be leaner if you lost the fat covering the muscles you currently have on your upper body.

Sure, preserving the muscles you do have is important while dieting. And I'm not trying to prove weight training the entire body isn't important at all, either.



Not really, sorry.

Thanks for your input, I did come here to learn. I do not believe that spot exercises or whatever they're called work. Doing crunches and nothing else does not work, I know this much. In the past I was not built like this when I was running daily. I guess you've proven what I didn't want to believe, that I have to work out as hard or harder than I used to...damn.

 

[Sincerest]

Oh yeah, riddle me this Steve, why is there so much talk about muscle being the best fat burner and that muscle uses fat as fuel??? Have I been misled??? I'm being sincere here, I want to know...EVERYTHING.

 

[Sincerest]

you don't seem to be getting it...

you lose fat where you lose fat from - it has happened to come off from your legs first because that's what your body is destined to do.. Lose more fat - and it will come off from other parts of your body..

but (and do spend some time reading the stickied threads around the forum, there's a lot of info that will help you) doing crunches and other stuff will not help spot reduce....

Thanks, I'll take a look at the sticky's. I'll just be glad to get this body running like the race horse it used to be. These comments are really motivating me to get on the ball and get the real me back...

 

[Steve]

Thanks for your input, I did come here to learn. I do not believe that spot exercises or whatever they're called work. Doing crunches and nothing else does not work, I know this much. In the past I was not built like this when I was running daily. I guess you've proven what I didn't want to believe, that I have to work out as hard or harder than I used to...damn.

First, congrats. Most people refuse to let go of preconceived notions and they pitch a hissy fit when they're forced to reassess what they thought they knew. With that mentality, you'll do just fine.

Secondly, you don't necessarily have to work harder, maybe just smarter. I'm not sure what you've been doing but eating in a slight caloric deficit buffered by a few sessions of cardio per week paired with 2-3 resistance training sessions per week will take you quite far on this journey.

Might sound like a lot, but in the grand scheme of all the minutes and seconds there are, it's nothing.

 

[Steve]

Oh yeah, riddle me this Steve, why is there so much talk about muscle being the best fat burner and that muscle uses fat as fuel??? Have I been misled??? I'm being sincere here, I want to know...EVERYTHING.

Haha, why the F- is there half the things said out there in the weight loss industry? Always keep this in mind; the most powerful weapon you have when navigating your way towards 'enlightenment' in the fitness realm is critical assessment.

Most people who are supposed professionals no jack all about anything when it really comes down to it.

The vast majority of what is readily available to read out there is backed by bogus marketers more interested in making a dime than helping you reach your goals.

If muscle used fat as fuel, as a race, humans wouldn't be alive today. We're geared to store fat easily and having vast amounts of muscle goes against our natural proclivities. Fat is what kept us alive during the cold months when all food ran to the border back in caveman days.

Ain't evolution a bitch?

As I said previously, muscle is more metabolically costly than fat. So if you have more muscle, you're metabolism will be slightly more efficient. There are much, much bigger and more important things at play though.

 

[GlowinNtGrowin]

Ugh my spot (as I said in the other post) is my midsection also. Its not protruding far against everything but i'd be happy with my body if it weren't for the middle bit. I'm 8 shaped and my back isnt too bad..could with with the arms...love having big legs (not huge thanks) I am naturally very busty (but not overly so). The belly was the last to come ... and I've been told when you work out and loose "fat" its the last to go too...

 

[Sincerest]

Thanks for posting everyone. When I went home yesterday all I thought about was this. I had a long talk with myself and now know that in order to get back to the old me, I need my old me mentality as well. It starts with my mind and the rest will come easy. It'll all be habit like back in the day for me. How did I fall away? I will use what I learn here and I'm SURE to do well. I'm beginning strength training in the a.m and cardio in the p.m. When I was a "powerhouse" I did eat much healthier. I'm really more into health, I want to live well. The body I want to have will come with that.

And thanks for the pushing me. I need a drill sergeant! I'm not concerned with how people say things and get all pissy, I want the info they have, nothing else.

Posting a progress siggy to make me accountable as well. I will allow this mind set change and I will achieve what I want!