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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by shadows721 on June 22, 2004, at 0:39:53
I am exercising about 4X a week. I rotate pilates, walking, and now strength training. The strength training involves aerobic exerise while holding one pound weights. I don't really diet. I just watch amounts especially, since I am on so many meds now (lexapro, buspar, seroquel, and topamax). My goal was to get toned and slimmer. Well, I am defiantly getting firmer. My body isn't slimming. It's just seems my body is firming and the behind area has defiantly raised or done something different. Everyone has been commenting on it. (I almost feel self conscious now.) I don't recognize this body. What's going on? Is the muscle just taking the place of the fat? I always was a very petite person and very thin. Now, I am get bigger and bigger. This is embarrassing, but my underware isn't fitting as well either. It's that ever growing toning behind!! Whose body is this? My shirts are all getting tight too. I guess it's muscles in the back and arms. Everyone asks, "Did you gain weight?" That's not what I really wanted to hear. I feel like I must be doing something wrong here. I look at Shape magazine cover and I don't look like that lean look that I want. I look like shorter stocker person. I am not a person that will starve themselves or go on radical diets. I know that I will not adhere to that plan. How do those models get so toned, but lean? I must be doing something wrong here.
Posted by partlycloudy on June 22, 2004, at 5:44:00
In reply to What am I doing wrong?, posted by shadows721 on June 22, 2004, at 0:39:53
I was really distressed (back in the day) when I first started to exercise. I'm short and used to be petite! My body bulked up quite a bit from circuit training and running. My legs became quite strong and all of a sudden I couldn't get my jeans up past my thighs anymore! It's the design of our body shape taking over. I did manage to "slender" out when I switched to yoga and learned belly dance. My guess is that these forms of exercise - involving stretching, static poses, and fluidity of movement - helped me to keep the muscles from bunching up.
That sounds really bogus, doesn't it? What I meant to say is, the same thing happened to me, I don't know why, and yoga and dance seemed to help smooth my muscles out.
Posted by shadows721 on June 23, 2004, at 1:01:47
In reply to Re: What am I doing wrong? » shadows721, posted by partlycloudy on June 22, 2004, at 5:44:00
Oh, I admire you for doing Belly Dance. That is very difficult. I bought a tape and I was totally worn out half way into it. All the while, those dancers were smiling and making that moving three body parts at once easy! UGH! Wow, that tape was really difficult.
I think you are right. It must be the type of exercises. Hubby says he likes the look. I am in shock. I know exactly what you are talking about with the jeans. I put on a jeans today and it was NO GO. I was almost ready to rip them up. I don't want a larger size. That's the whole reason that I started this. I want to drop one size from the meds.
Posted by partlycloudy on June 23, 2004, at 6:50:33
In reply to Re: What am I doing wrong?, posted by shadows721 on June 23, 2004, at 1:01:47
Shadows - belly dance is much friendlier in person than on tape! I taught for a while after I couldn't find a teacher of my own. It's all about isometrics, isolating groups of muscles, great music, and dressing up. We did lots of yoga too, as part of the warm up-down routine.
I'm a big fan of b-dance, I guess you can tell :)
Posted by captain on June 23, 2004, at 18:54:48
In reply to Re: What am I doing wrong? » shadows721, posted by partlycloudy on June 23, 2004, at 6:50:33
Hi Shadows,
I am a certified instructor/personal trainer at my gym. I would need to know more about your work out and eating habits to really tell, but it doesn't sound like you are bulking up if you are only using 1 pound weights when walking. Cardio cardio cardio! That slims you down. Also - your diet probably has something to do with it. When you work out more you tend to crave more carbs and carbs turn into fat. Take a look at your diet- try to notice if you are eating more carbs than before you started working out more. Try cutting back on them and not eating them at night. Weights will NOT bulk you up - that is a myth. Only if you are working on getting bulky and taking supplements could someone who is naturally thin bulk up.
Hopefully this has been helpful! I know how frustrating that can be!
Captain
Posted by shadows721 on June 25, 2004, at 0:36:22
In reply to Re: What am I doing wrong?, posted by captain on June 23, 2004, at 18:54:48
My diet includes cereal, grits, fat free yogurt, cheeries, chocolate covered nuts, cake, soy milk, apple sauce, slim fast low carb drinks, and cereal bars. That's what I ususally eat. I guess that's a lot of carbs. I tend to eat light. I don't ever feel like really sitting down and eating a harty meal. I am just a snacker.
Posted by shadows721 on June 25, 2004, at 0:39:20
In reply to Re: What am I doing wrong?, posted by shadows721 on June 25, 2004, at 0:36:22
Also, I take one kids chewable vitamin and one B complex vitamin every day.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on June 30, 2004, at 17:38:23
In reply to Re: What am I doing wrong?, posted by captain on June 23, 2004, at 18:54:48
> ... it doesn't sound like you are bulking up if you are only using 1 pound weights when walking. Cardio cardio cardio! That slims you down. Also - your diet probably has something to do with it. When you work out more you tend to crave more carbs and carbs turn into fat. Take a look at your diet- try to notice if you are eating more carbs than before you started working out more. Try cutting back on them and not eating them at night.
Yes, yes and yes. I started walking 30-40 minutes a day three weeks ago -- good brisk walks -- and I've definitely been craving more carbs, so watch out for that. BUT, I do think certain body types seem to "bulk up" more than others. I dated a guy years ago who did body building and he said I had a body that would do this -- I forget the term he used. I've always been very "thick" and muscle-y, even though I don't work out with weights. As I've aged, the muscle has turned more to fat, but the cardio is really helping with my mood and sleep.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on June 30, 2004, at 17:46:25
In reply to What am I doing wrong?, posted by shadows721 on June 22, 2004, at 0:39:53
I just posted, but wanted to add this: Yes, I've always been told that as you replace fat with muscle, you might not seem to lose weight as muscle weighs more than fat. I don't know if that's true, but I would say, try to focus less on how the exercise is changing your body and more on how it's changing your mind. Ask yourself "Am I feeling better? Is my mood improved? Are my energy and sleep better?" If you gain five pounds, don't worry about it, just buy some new pants so you're comfortable in what you're wearing. If you gain more than that, you might follow "Captain's" advice about watching your carbs. Don't cut them out, but cut back. (When I started a walking regimen a few weeks ago, I found myself craving candy and cereal.)
This is the end of the thread.
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