Looking to lose weight, but not put on muscle yet. Suggestions?

[Anonymous]

I just want to burn off some fat in general. I know building muscles burns fat, but I want to slim down first and then tone a bit.


How often should I do cardio, for how long, and at what time during the day? I'm already on a high protein low carb diet and I only drink water and I don't eat desserts or sugar.

[Kaazsz]

As a female you will not put on muscle by incorporating resistance training into your workouts. You literally have to try really really damn hard to put on muscle. You should do some kind of resistance training, you said you have big legs from sports, they will probably shrink even if you do lift some weights because you'll be doing a lot of cardio. But you'll gain strength and your muscles will be better at burning the fat for you.
Mostly it's about diet though. You have to eat normal for a day or two, and count those calories. Then subtract about 200, and eat that for a week, and see how much weight you lost. Then you keep subtracting 200 till your losing about 2lbs a day. Then you add in cardio and weight lifting to lose even more weight. You don't want a super low calorie diet that has you losing more than 2lbs by itself because its counterproductive, your body will decide to try and keep as much fat as possible instead of burning it.

[Asker]

Okay, so burning fat is more about what I'm eating and how much rather than cardio, right?

[Kaazsz]

absolutely 100% Cardio and working out is just what you do to burn a little bit extra on top of what you lose through diet.

[Decentguy]

do lots of cardio and eat healthy and avoid eating carbs very much, and junk food and oily foods
you should hit cardio everyday, for at least 1 or 2 hours.

[watercolor_lions]

Whoa! Two hours of cardio is a LOT

[Asker]

@watercolor_lions Yeah, ain't nobody got time for that. I usually do about 45 minutes anyway, so I can just add another 15 minutes to my workout.

[watercolor_lions]

I've started running. An hour of cardio a few times a week is good. Diet is really important, too. What's the point of burning it off if you're just gonna immediately put it back on?

[watercolor_lions]

@Decentguy Lololololol, you don't have a life, do you bro.

You just push that press all day, every day...

[Decentguy]

@watercolor_lions hahaha yeah

[Decentguy]

and op also count your macros and your calories daily and eat accordingly to it.

[Decentguy]

@watercolor_lions and i said 1 or 2. so its your choice. there was a time that i used to do wright lifting for more than 5 hours a day. it depends on your motivation

[Asker]

Sorry, but what are macros?

[Decentguy]

What are macros in fitness?
Sometimes referred to as "macros," the three categories of macronutrients are carbohydrates, fat, and protein. The caloric combination of the macros is where that mysterious total number of calories comes from. Here's the breakdown: 1 gram of carbohydrates = 4 calories.

[Decentguy]

“Macro” is short for “macronutrient ratios” and in bodybuilding it means one of three nutritional pigeonholes: protein, carbohydrate and fat. So what you have to decide is what percent of your caloric intake do you want from protein, carbs, and fat. Note that these percentages are calculated by calories, not weight.

[Decentguy]

On a 2,000 calorie diet, your macros calculate in this way: 800 calories/4 calories per gram = 200 g of protein. You'll get the same number for 40 percent carbs, 200 g. For the 20 percent fat, the equation is 400 calories/9 calories per gram of fat = 44 g of fat (rounded down)

[Xfitchick]

You need long low intensity cardio, for example 1 hour running. Don't cut too much carb, your body may go into starvation mode and you won't burn anymore. protein is OK to keep present muscle mass, but you need proteins in small portions over the day. The body only absorbs small portion in a certain time. All the rest leaves via the kidneys.

[Xfitchick]

thanks

[ManaX]

Cardio won't get you very far in the long run.

Start hit training and weight lifting, you burn off the fat much quicker.

Think about it, you create muscle, muscle needs energy, it takes it from your fat. Boom!! Results.

[watercolor_lions]

You need some muscle. Make sure you put on a little to stabilize your metabolism. You will burn better if you have some...

[watercolor_lions]

Other than that, cardio. Avoid bad carbs (bread, pasta, desserts) Eat veggies, raw grains like oats, and meats.

[watercolor_lions]

I did this and FINALLY started losing weight...

[Asker]

I have plenty of muscle from the athletics I do, which is why I'm not looking to put on more at this point.

[watercolor_lions]

Yeah, I feel ya... I'm actually in the exact same position. I don't want anymore muscle either.

[Asker]

My muscles are all in my thighs and I don't want a six pack or huge biceps. I just want my arms to smaller and my waist smaller. I don't like how large my thighs are but I've already had a couple doctors, a nutritionist, and a personal trainer tell me there's nothing I can do about my thighs being smaller unless I want to lose muscle.

[watercolor_lions]

I totally feel you...

[watercolor_lions]

I have broad shoulders, and there's nothing I can do about it. So I'm trying to get a butt so my figure evens out XD And lose fat to improve my figure.

[watercolor_lions]

Yeah, losing muscle is really hard... Running eats up muscles sometimes:/

[Asker]

Lol, if I could give you some of mine, I would haha

[watercolor_lions]

Rofl

[Anonymous]

Get a friend to work out with you