How to tone without losing weight

Worriedgirl

I joined the gym three weeks ago. I'm 5 ft 8 and 110 pounds. I wanted to do a bit of toning rather than loose weight. However I stopped because my weight was dropping. I eat but it doesn't stick. Any advice? Thanks

G86

49kg is extremely light for someone of your height. If you're that lean already you'd look fcuking awesome if you started weight training and added a bit more definition to your shape.

Brian?

Worriedgirl wrote: »

I joined the gym three weeks ago. I'm 5 ft 8 and 110 pounds. I wanted to do a bit of toning rather than loose weight. However I stopped because my weight was dropping. I eat but it doesn't stick. Any advice? Thanks

As G86 said, hit the weights.

If you're eating and it doesn't "stick" it just means you need to eat more. What's your protein intake like? How many calories are you eating a day? If you dropped weight after joining a gym it means that you were eating a calorie deficet, probably due to the increased activity.

gavtron

i agree with both of the previous posts, post up a typical days diet and we'll have a look.

weight training ftw!!

Worriedgirl

Thanks so much for the helpful advice! I'm scrawny, It's just my build I try to eat about 1200 calories per day. I'm vegetarian but I make a point of eating TVP, avocados, soya and hazelnuts for protein. To be honest I'm not sure about weight lifting. I was thinking about trying pilates or yoga?

G86

Worriedgirl wrote: »

Thanks so much for the helpful advice! I'm scrawny, It's just my build I try to eat about 1200 calories per day. I'm vegetarian but I make a point of eating TVP, avocados, soya and hazelnuts for protein. To be honest I'm not sure about weight lifting. I was thinking about trying pilates or yoga?

I'm a vegetarian too.

If you want to gain muscle/weight then I'm afraid pilates/yoga aren't going to benefit you much there, but that's not saying you shouldn't give it a go.

Maybe if you post up your concerns about weight training we could help you out?

You definitely need to eat more than 1200 cals a day imo.

Hanley

It’s not really that surprising that you’re losing weight eating 1,200kcals a day (and even at that it sounds like you struggle to hit that many daily?).

A good rule of thumb to go by in regards kcals requirements for a moderately active individual is bodyweight in pounds x12 (for weight loss), x14 (to maintain), x16 (to gain). They’re only starting points but a good rough estimate.

At 110lb and eating 1,200kcals you’re under what you should be targeting for even weight loss. Add in the new activity levels with the gym, and it’s not surprising you’ve lost more weight.

Despite clever marketing, hot yoga or pilates will do very little to help you tone up. If you were over weight they’d probably help to an extent because you’d end up burning some of your fat and uncovering the muscle underneath.

However considering you’re already WAY underweight, the only way you’re going to gain that toned look is by eating more kcals and doing some strength/resistance training (don’t think of it as muscle building because girls don’t have sufficient levels of testosterone to build a significant amount of muscle, and based off your stats, it’s safe to assume you’re not naturally inclined to build much anyway).

So… talk to a trainer who knows what they’re doing, and eat at least 14kcal per pound of bodyweight. If you don’t notice your body changing for the better in 2 weeks of that, up it to 16kcals per pound of bodyweight.

Worriedgirl

G86, A fellow Veggie I think I'll make an appointment with the gym and get some advice. I was picturing the embarrassment of trying to lift massive dumbbells. Totally irrational, of course there are smaller ones. Thanks for the help! Hanley that really helps! I'll give it two weeks and let you guys know how it goes.

Brian?

Hanley wrote: »

It’s not really that surprising that you’re losing weight eating 1,200kcals a day (and even at that it sounds like you struggle to hit that many daily?).

A good rule of thumb to go by in regards kcals requirements for a moderately active individual is bodyweight in pounds x12 (for weight loss), x14 (to maintain), x16 (to gain). They’re only starting points but a good rough estimate.

At 110lb and eating 1,200kcals you’re under what you should be targeting for even weight loss. Add in the new activity levels with the gym, and it’s not surprising you’ve lost more weight.

Despite clever marketing, hot yoga or pilates will do very little to help you tone up. If you were over weight they’d probably help to an extent because you’d end up burning some of your fat and uncovering the muscle underneath.

However considering you’re already WAY underweight, the only way you’re going to gain that toned look is by eating more kcals and doing some strength/resistance training (don’t think of it as muscle building because girls don’t have sufficient levels of testosterone to build a significant amount of muscle, and based off your stats, it’s safe to assume you’re not naturally inclined to build much anyway).

So… talk to a trainer who knows what they’re doing, and eat at least 14kcal per pound of bodyweight. If you don’t notice your body changing for the better in 2 weeks of that, up it to 16kcals per pound of bodyweight.

I was going to write a long reply, but Hanley did too good a job .

OP, have you any objection to milk or eggs? I.e. you're not vegan I take it.

Brian?

Worriedgirl wrote: »

Thanks so much for the helpful advice! I'm scrawny, It's just my build I try to eat about 1200 calories per day. I'm vegetarian but I make a point of eating TVP, avocados, soya and hazelnuts for protein. To be honest I'm not sure about weight lifting. I was thinking about trying pilates or yoga?

What's TVP?

howtomake

briankeating wrote: »

What's TVP?

textured vegetarian protein. Mainly made from soy but I've seen wheat variations too.

Oops sorry its "vegetable" not made of vegetarians.

flikflak

^ Textured vegetable protein

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textured_vegetable_protein

You can use it in place of mince in things like chilli

Brian?

flikflak wrote: »

^ Textured vegetable protein

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textured_vegetable_protein

You can use it in place of mince in things like chilli

howtomake wrote: »

textured vegetarian protein. Mainly made from soy but I've seen wheat variations too.

Oops sorry its "vegetable" not made of vegetarians.

Cheers.

Is quorn TVP then?

Brian?

Worriedgirl wrote: »

G86, A fellow Veggie I think I'll make an appointment with the gym and get some advice. I was picturing the embarrassment of trying to lift massive dumbbells. Totally irrational, of course there are smaller ones. Thanks for the help! Hanley that really helps! I'll give it two weeks and let you guys know how it goes.

Not totally irrational, I'm often embarrassed by not being able to lift massive dumbbells . It just means I should train harder.

In all seriousness, go for it.

Rovi

briankeating wrote: »

Not totally irrational, I'm often embarrassed by not being able to lift massive dumbbells .

I'm regularly embarrassed by titchy ones.

briankeating wrote: »

It just means I should train harder.

This

briankeating wrote: »

In all seriousness, go for it.

Most definitely, THIS!

Justin1982

Worriedgirl wrote: »

Thanks so much for the helpful advice! I'm scrawny, It's just my build I try to eat about 1200 calories per day. I'm vegetarian but I make a point of eating TVP, avocados, soya and hazelnuts for protein. To be honest I'm not sure about weight lifting. I was thinking about trying pilates or yoga?

Dont want to sound rude or obnoxious but pilates or yoga will not get anyone toned I'm afraid. Might stretch a few muscles, might put out your back, but thats all.
If one wants to get toned then you need to either loose weight to reveal muscle (which you dont need to do in your case ) or build muscle in certain areas.
And the only real way to build muscle (which is what getting toned is in reality if your scrawny) is to eat sufficient protein, sufficient or slight excess of calories to maintain your weight and lift some weights using the proper exercises.
If anyone else tells you anything else then I'm afraid they are lying.
I was thin as a stick myself, went to gym and played GAA and never gained a pound or got into shape until gym instructor drilled the line in red above into my head
And unfortunately there is no way around it. There is no other magic tricks. Its just hard eating and hard lifting (well its not even that hard to do. Just some light weights and dedication). If you do it then I guarantee you that you'll get wherre you want in 6 months.

And your not scrawny :rolleyes: You probably just havent done sufficient weight lifting, eaten enough protein/fat/carbs for however number of years you've been on the planet

Best of luck!

Mellor

briankeating wrote: »

Cheers.

Is quorn TVP then?

No. It's the same idea, ie a meat substitute, but its not from vegetables, it's a Mycoprotein, which means protein from fungi

I think TVP is similar to the soya pieces you find in Pot Noodles (I loved these in my early teens, I now see how awful they are)

Worriedgirl

Thanks so much again for all the great advice. I'm now 112.02 pounds (that 0.2, oh yeah, punches the air ), and I'm feeling great. I have so much more energy.