How can I build a lanky, delicate body?

[pickledxtofu]

I'm going to stop running & lifting weights. I'm also going to stop doing squats, lunges and all of that muscle building crap.

I am 5'2 1/2 and I gain muscle easily. It looks bulky.

My legs look like this: link

My midsection is toning up quite a bit and my arms are toned but they're still too muscular imo.

I love bodies like this:

link

link

link

I work at a fitness club so I'm thinking of replacing weight lifting with pilates or barre classes & cardio with just walking on the treadmill(I always see thin girls doing that) or zumba. Will that help?

I'm going to cut my protein intake as well. Less eggs, less chicken and less salmon. And I'll replace certain meals (like breakfast or lunch) with fruit salads/bowls.

*If you don't find those bodies attractive, then don't respond. And if you aren't actually going to give me advice don't bother responding either.

Updates

+1 y

*AGAIN, those unwilling to respond to my question due to their own preferences and prejudices and refrain from answering. I get that you want your 3 points but could you do that elsewhere?

[samhradh_leannan]

I think the plan you already have is probably about all you can do. But remember to keep your health a priority- you do need SOME protein, SOME exercise, etc. And don't forget to eat lots of healthy fats (avocados, olive oil, etc) which will actually help you burn fat as well. Try Pilates, yoga, ballet, and walking for exercise that will help build leaner muscles.

But keep in mind that, while you can make a difference through diet and exercise regimens, genetics and your natural body type, including bone structure, WILL play a role. If you expect yourself to develop a body exactly like those photos, you will probably never be satisfied or comfortable with your body. So find a happy, healthy medium that you feel good about. You can surely slim down a little and obtain a body that is closer to your ideal if that's an important goal for you, and I'm NOT telling you not to. But don't be too hard on yourself. Make sure your personal goals are realistic. That way you will be able to meet them and experience that sense of accomplishment, rather than continuously chasing an unrealistic goal.

Speaking with a nutritionist and/ or a personal trainer is probably a fantastic way to make sure that the methods you use are healthy and will be effective. Remember not to do anything too extreme without consulting a doctor.

[Lafemmedeschats]

Here's my advice: love the body you have. You can't change it if that's how it's supposed to be. Also if you stop working out you won't look good anyways. There isn't anything wrong OR unattractive about either body type (although I think your current one looks so much better personally) I am naturally lean and delicate but short and childlike with my body.sure I could get a boob job and work out a ton or other things to alter my body but I'm content with what I have. If I have a naturally portly body but was healthy, I'd be content with that. Why the heck do you want to make yourself into something you're not? Your athleticism is admirable and you shouldn't let your health go for some stupid image. My advice is to love yourself for how you are. Anything else is ludicrous.

[pickledxtofu]

This really doesn't answer my question.

And surgery isn't the same thing as exercising, sorry. That argument is something a fat person would love, cause it gives them a reason to not workout, eat healthy and attempt to change themselves

[Lafemmedeschats]

Do I look fat to you?

I didn't read the entirety of your question, if you want to switch exercising routine that will lead to leaner muscle but if you're not built that way then it won't make you look like those pictures. Those girls also look like they don't eat enough protein so make sure your conscious about cutting back vs hurting your health. I don't just don't see why people want to look like other people. But yeah as long as its not affectingyour health then sure. Your plan should hel

[pickledxtofu]

Where did I say you look fat? My goodness, reading helps a ton

[Lafemmedeschats]

You said my answer sounds like it favors a fat person but I'm obviously a healthy person. Anyways sorry for not reading your entire question. It was long and I have a bad habit of that. Anyways if you change to cardio it will change the muscle in your body. I did gymnastics for years and was very muscular. Now I just run and do yoga. Not muscular at all just lean.

[iPood]

Long cardio sessions, also NEVER on an incline or overly high resistance. Cut calories way down. Cut protein too. At some point you might have to cut out all exercise completely. Consider becoming vegetarian or vegan or even gluten free. I know miley lost a lot of weight when she started doing pilates daily and went gluten free. Girls with those bodies probably live on a lot of fruit/veggies and little to no red meats or pasta etc.

[WeaponZero]

The legs you want cannot be had through any exercise at all. There's absolutely no exercise that can build it. Going from the first picture to the other three can only be had through letting muscles atrophy. In order to do it you must abandon all exercise completely while adopting nutritional habits similar to what girls with eating disorders have--in other words, not eating enough to fuel your body healthily. You're talking about going from an athletic body to an un-athletic one.

You may be fighting genetics here because if you look at the girl in the first picture you'll see she has a naturally larger frame and even if she let herself waste away to nothing she still would not be as slim as the girls in the second.

"Lanky" in and of itself depends on having a specific bone structure.

[COCOCHANEL]

eating less than 500cal a day with no exercise never made me atrophy or even lose the fat on my inner thighs or anywhere else

[WeaponZero]

It doesn't make you lose fat. The mass you lose comes equally from all tissue sources, including fat, muscle, and even organ tissue.

[WeaponZero]

Fact: Your goal can not be safely or unhealthily achieved given the genetics you're likely working with. People pointing that out are doing so out of knowledge, not out of preference. When you get asked these questions you should prepare for that. And you will not be disrespectful to the people who point it out in their answers. That is antagonistic behavior which is against the TOS.

[pickledxtofu]

I'm not being antagonistic at all. I do however think that nonsense answers that are NOT helpful violate the TOS.

[WeaponZero]

Pointing out the importance of genetics in achieving a specific physique is not nonsense. It is scientific fact. No matter how much you want it to be otherwise, it is. What you're asking is no difference from asking how to fly and being openly disrespectful to people who point out its impossible.

[pickledxtofu]

Sounds to me like you're upset that I won't simply follow your advice. I should probably ask this on a fitness forum, cause I would receive helpful answers. Not responses that are unhelpful due to individual preferences and biases

[WeaponZero]

Yes, you should ask this on a fitness forum. The qualified people there will give you the same advice.

[pickledxtofu]

Nope. Not everyone allows their own preferences to cloudy up any responses they give

[harveykinkle]

QA - EVERYONE here is giving you the same advice/feedback... It's doubtful every single one of us is wrong.

[pickledxtofu]

Actually, a few people gave me legitimate advice. Sorry

[lucky24]

I honestly prefer the legs you showed on the first link and I am not a fan of the bodies you like.

But if you wanted to cut back on the muscle mass, I would suggest jog long distances. Like 10 miles twice a week, if you notice most long distance runners look like twigs so it over time it will help you look like the girls in those links.

[pickledxtofu]

I already do long distance running. I've been running long distances since like March/April and It hasn't helped. So I'm done running.

[kheserthorpe]

Pray for different genetics in your next life.

You're never going to be lanky. I'm never going to be anything but skinnyfat OR lanky. you might as well ask how to be 5'9". Which would actually go part way to the look you want.

As I've been saying for years, long steady state cardio is catabolic. Squats and HIIT are anaerobic. Stick catabolic to move in the direction you want.

[pickledxtofu]

Nah, I got the advice I need

[pooper89]

The third link is definitely photoshopped. I mean you could stop working out and starve yourself. Cutting protein would probably help a lot. But some people are just built like that and there's nothing you can do. you may be one of those people and it's okay. It doesn't mean your ugly. Not that you'll agree with me

[harveykinkle]

I don't think you can look like your goal pictures. That's no offence to you or anything. Those girls have different body shapes.

Just rock yours! You've got curve! That's not a bad thing, it's just different than the other girls.

[harveykinkle]

If you're going to attempt anyway your best bet would be to distance run and stop eating protein.

[Lafemmedeschats]

That's what I was un effectively trying to say

[Stacyzee]

Those bodies that you show have no shape what so ever, and are skin and bone.

You cannot change your body structure and how you are built.

Those people are already meant to be that way.

[Stacyzee]

But if you want to lose weight, just simply diet and exercise.

But do not "hope" to look like any one else , especially if you are build differently.

[pickledxtofu]

They have shape and they're far from skin and bone. The concept of being thin is just foreign in America

[Stacyzee]

If you know what skin and bone means, it means very little fat. It is apparent that is what they have. Having flat everything doesn't mean you have a shape. And this is coming from someone that is thin herself! I speak for myself and not for all of America.

[PinkAcid]

jump rope to burn fat and waste muscle doing cardio

HIIT

distance running

change your diet to one designed to lose weight cut out most of the protein and carbs etc, I'm worried that might put a strain on your health though

[Cromartie]

Does anyone in your family have legs like those in the pictures? I think genetics might play a bigger part.

[Cromartie]

@UD: T_T Sorry for asking.

[COCOCHANEL]

i would cut out the excercise

[COCOCHANEL]

this is unhealthy advise but if you really want the muscle gone there are injections for that

[dx021]

probably has to do with the T levels you have

[Tarvold]

Try bikram yoga.