Been working out a month and a half.see results liftin ability yet body fat isn't dissappearin.why is this?

Question

Last year, I benched about 125 lbs of weight, curled about 30 lbs dumbbells, and ran in a 7:00 avg per mile. I weighed about 168-174 lbs then. Now, i have been working out for a month and half and started again. Because of my muscle meomory, I got back in shape in 3 weeks. I bench more then ever now ( about 150 lbs), curl 32.5's, and still run 7 minute miles. However, I have not lost any weight ( i am 204 lbs now and i was the same when i first started...freshmen 25 from college) I know my stuff about dieting ( I've been eating pretty healthy) and I am using the cardio/lfiting method where i slowly gain muscle while burning fat. I AM JUST SO FRUSTRATED because i still feel about three chunkfuls of fat in my stomach. I know that muscles are heavier than fat, and i need time for my body to adjust to a faster metobilism, but does anyone know any tricks to lose weight faster?

Answer 1

When you weight lift and run your muscles increase in size resulting in weight gain. You need to decide if your primary goal is to build muscle, tone or lose weight. I learned from my high school gym class that if you want to gain muscle you add more weight but if you want to tone than you do more reps as you become comfortable with the amount of weight. Furthermore, if your goal is to lose weight I would advise you to do cardio or aerobics in addition to Pilate's. I am 21 5 feet 2 inches and I weigh 117 pounds as of today, 2 summers ago I weighted the same amount and decided to lose 12 pounds. I did so in approximately three week by doing 30 to 60 minutes on the treadmill every other day. On the days that I did not walk on the treadmill I did step aerobics and everyday I did Pilate's ab sculpting workout. When I wanted to do a little more work on my legs I did Pilate's bun and thigh sculpting workout. Sometimes I even did ab and leg exercises on the total gym. A month later I noticed that my problem area, my stomach had flattened more than it did when I tried to do crunches.

Answer 2

Hi Shawna What is happening right now is that you are toning up and strengthening your muscles. As muscle weighs 3 times as much as fatty tissue you will find that the tape measure is your best friend not the scales or the mirror. Allow time for your body to create new muscle fibres, which in turn will help burn of any excess fatty tissue (if there is any). Muscle burns more calories, so by increasing this tissue, you are helping your body to tone and shape. It just takes a little patience to get good results. p.s. If you work your legs as the first exercise using weights, this will trigger the rest of the body to be stimulated. Good luck and good training.

Answer 3

You're lifting more weight so you're gaining more muscle. You stated it yourself, muscle weighs more than fat! If it's stomach fat you're looking to get rid of, do more sit-ups and ab workouts. Also, if your metabolism is faster now, maybe you should be eating more? Sounds crazy I know but food gives you the energy to burn fat... if you have a faster metabolism, it takes more energy to burn that fat. Eating more sounds risky I know.. but I'm a Weightwatchers leader... it is how I lost my weight, the more I exercised, the more I had to eat!!!

Answer 4

to burn that vanity fat you should do more cardio. A 7 minute mile is good, but you need to have your heart rate up for at least 20 min. to start burning fat. Go lower speed for longer duration 30 to 40 mins

Answer 5

Eating a high protein/low carb diet will reduce your overall body fat and you'll see the muscle definition better. Check out the South Beach diet...it really works and you'll not be hungry!

Answer 6

Don't worry. You are trading fat for muscle. Your vanity fat will disappear soon enough.

Answer 7

healthy fat loss is a slow process. you say your diet is "pretty healthy" if you want to maximum fat loss it has to be healthy all the time. once your metabolism shifts and fat loss is constant results come quicker.