Weight loss: slim and toned over big and muscly

Seanchai

Last December I was 122kg and consuming around 3000 calories per day. I'm 183cm. The highest weight for a healthy BMI with this height, according to this BMI calculator, is 83kg. It is therefore my goal to reach 83kg.

This morning I weighed in at 109.5kg, and I'm eating between 1500 and 1700 calories per day. I read that if your intake is below 1500 muscle begins to be lost so I'm staying above it. The correct calorie intake (i.e. c. 1600 calories) I should be having was calculated based on a 'sedentary' lifestyle. The correct calorie intake would be higher if I were more active. I'm not.


My priority is to lose weight. Some guys want to be big and muscly (it's a word!). I don't want to be body building style. I want to be able to, for instance, climb the ladder up to the attic which allows a maximum weight of 100kg. I want to be 83kg and lean/fit/agile, which implicitly means having my muscles toned. So far, I've lost this weight without exercise. I'm quite content about the pace of loss, even if I do still miss the mountain of rubbish which I used to eat. My idea is to lose weight first and then, when I reach a plateau of weight loss, to start exercising. Bearing in mind that I do *not* want to be big and bulky, is there a smarter way of achieving my goal than the way I'm currently doing it?

nice_guy80

trust me

as someone who has been doing weights solidly for 2/3 years I am not big and bulky. I'm strong and fit, and not carrying much bodyfat. its takes a LOT of training, eating and dedication to become 'bulked' up


Do some weights training man, whats the worst that could happen?
You'll develop some muscle, feel stronger and healthier and be able to maintain your weight much easier

Hanley

nice_guy80 wrote: »

trust me

as someone who has been doing weights solidly for 2/3 years I am not big and bulky. I'm strong and fit, and not carrying much bodyfat. its takes a LOT of training, eating and dedication to become 'bulked' up


Do some weights training man, whats the worst that could happen?
You'll develop some muscle, feel stronger and healthier and be able to maintain your weight much easier

100% this.

Brian?

Define "big and muscly". It could mean completely different things to different people.

Which one of these is YOUR ideal, if any:

Oryx

Getting big and muscly is not easy. Exercise, any kind of exercise right now, will help you reach your goal. To be honest, and a little harsh here, your approach sounds like you are giving yourself an excuse not to exercise because its hard and you just don't want to.

NinjaK

that last guy looks like he just escaped the holocaust

Lantus

BMI is a good 'off the street first step' approach but it's use long is limited(and flawed) for example I'm pretty slim, av height and not that bulky but I weight 13st. almost heading into the obese section. Not bad for a 31/32" waist!

I do a lot of weights and as per other posters you need years of dedication and nutritional discipline to add a lot of muscle.

exercise like mad!!!! worst that happen is that you'll get fit an healthy!