Close to goal jitters

Robyn Rosenthal wrote:
:: Luna,
::
:: I had been exploring the idea of a little lifting & tucking and here
:: are my thoughts.
::
:: Just keep on working out & eating right for now. You are young and
:: your body will adjust to being smaller. IMO, little bit of boob-sag
:: is no big deal because no one bigger than a C should go bra-less
:: anyway (unless you have implants and don't mind having to go in for
:: touch-up work every couple of years). The problem with getting a
:: boob-lift is that if you have the kind of skin that doesn't recover
:: well from weightloss, you might be really unhappy with the amount of
:: scarring that you will have. If you really want a lift, find a dr
:: that gives freee consults, get an idea of the cost & predicted
:: outcome and then plan on a year or so to let your body settle into
:: its size.
::
:: As for "goal weights," I am taller than you (5'6") and at 135 I am
:: at 23-24% BF.
::
:: I am about 10 pounds up from my lowest weight because my BF and
:: other male friends were telling me that I looked too thin, but I
:: didn't really care until a very blunt and honest friend told me that
:: my face was starting to look older.
::
::
:: I started eating more while still lifting and while I think that I
:: would like to get my BF back down to 21-22% (or lower) the fact of
:: the matter is I look better at 23-24%.
::

IMO, it is always better to shoot for the "look" rather than the "number
(BF %)" when you are in a supposedly healthy range.

"The Queen of Cans and Jars" wrote in message
.. .
Luna wrote:

Tee-hee, you're so cute.

the emphasis should be on the "exercise more" part.

i'm still not at goal weight, but i don't mind the way i look naked and
the reason for that is because i exercise a lot. it makes all the
difference in the world.


And the lower your bodyfat goes, the more you have to look at dietary
cycling instead of just eating less. But for most people this is never going
to be important. This all fits under the heading of cost/benefit analysis.

In article ,
"Roger Zoul" wrote:



On a machine, because you move along a fixed path (typically, and this
applies to some machines more than others), the stablizer muscles don't get
worked. This limits strength development. Also, because you move along a
fixed path, there could be some danger of injury if you just keep increasing
the weight because your body might not really like that path. With free
weight, those problems go away. Of course, then you have to worry about
dropping the weights on you. So there are pros and cons.




So then, free weights are sort of like multi-tasking? I'll be working the
big muscles that everyone knows the names of (triceps, biceps, etc), but
also some more obscure muscles called stabilizers? That sounds exciting!
That's one of the reasons I like yoga so much, because it improves my
flexibility _and_ my balance. I can now do that stretch where you bend
your knee and hold your foot behind your bottom, to stretch the top of your
thigh, without needing to balance against the wall with my other hand. I
know it's not a big thing, but even small improvements like that make me
smile. Ok, after summer camp when I have more time to devote to this, I'll
be asking the trainers at the Y to teach me how to use free weights. And
I'll look for steel toe sneakers.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

Luna wrote:
:: In article ,
:: "Roger Zoul" wrote:
::
::
:::
::: On a machine, because you move along a fixed path (typically, and
::: this applies to some machines more than others), the stablizer
::: muscles don't get worked. This limits strength development. Also,
::: because you move along a fixed path, there could be some danger of
::: injury if you just keep increasing the weight because your body
::: might not really like that path. With free weight, those problems
::: go away. Of course, then you have to worry about dropping the
::: weights on you. So there are pros and cons.
:::
:::
:::
::
:: So then, free weights are sort of like multi-tasking? I'll be
:: working the big muscles that everyone knows the names of (triceps,
:: biceps, etc), but
:: also some more obscure muscles called stabilizers? That sounds
:: exciting! That's one of the reasons I like yoga so much, because it
:: improves my flexibility _and_ my balance. I can now do that stretch
:: where you bend
:: your knee and hold your foot behind your bottom, to stretch the top
:: of your thigh, without needing to balance against the wall with my
:: other hand. I know it's not a big thing, but even small
:: improvements like that make me smile. Ok, after summer camp when I
:: have more time to devote to this, I'll be asking the trainers at the
:: Y to teach me how to use free weights. And I'll look for steel toe
:: sneakers.
::

Wow...I'm surprised, but now that I think about it some, I shouldn't be.
When you get a bit of time, please go visit he

http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html

It helps, imo, to have done a little study before talking to others at the
Y.

In article ,
"Roger Zoul" wrote:

Luna wrote:
:: In article ,
:: "Roger Zoul" wrote:
::
::
:::
::: On a machine, because you move along a fixed path (typically, and
::: this applies to some machines more than others), the stablizer
::: muscles don't get worked. This limits strength development. Also,
::: because you move along a fixed path, there could be some danger of
::: injury if you just keep increasing the weight because your body
::: might not really like that path. With free weight, those problems
::: go away. Of course, then you have to worry about dropping the
::: weights on you. So there are pros and cons.
:::
:::
:::
::
:: So then, free weights are sort of like multi-tasking? I'll be
:: working the big muscles that everyone knows the names of (triceps,
:: biceps, etc), but
:: also some more obscure muscles called stabilizers? That sounds
:: exciting! That's one of the reasons I like yoga so much, because it
:: improves my flexibility _and_ my balance. I can now do that stretch
:: where you bend
:: your knee and hold your foot behind your bottom, to stretch the top
:: of your thigh, without needing to balance against the wall with my
:: other hand. I know it's not a big thing, but even small
:: improvements like that make me smile. Ok, after summer camp when I
:: have more time to devote to this, I'll be asking the trainers at the
:: Y to teach me how to use free weights. And I'll look for steel toe
:: sneakers.
::

Wow...I'm surprised, but now that I think about it some, I shouldn't be.
When you get a bit of time, please go visit he

http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html

It helps, imo, to have done a little study before talking to others at the
Y.




Ok, thanks! I've seen that link before, I actually have it bookmarked but
I've only skimmed it. I usually only get online for 15 - 20 minute spurts,
I get eye strain if I read for too long, but I'll read it more in depth
before I get started.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

"Roger Zoul" writes:
On a machine, because you move along a fixed path (typically, and this
applies to some machines more than others), the stablizer muscles don't get
worked.

I just switched to free weights, and boy was that true for me! I had
to seriously cut back on the weights because I couldn't balance the
bar well enough to feel comfortable underneath it. Just holding the
bar *still* takes some work!

DJ Delorie wrote:
:: "Roger Zoul" writes:
::: On a machine, because you move along a fixed path (typically, and
::: this applies to some machines more than others), the stablizer
::: muscles don't get worked.
::
:: I just switched to free weights, and boy was that true for me! I had
:: to seriously cut back on the weights because I couldn't balance the
:: bar well enough to feel comfortable underneath it. Just holding the
:: bar *still* takes some work!

I'm glad you were able to cut back on the weight and not let ego rule!

Luna wrote:

So then, free weights are sort of like multi-tasking? I'll be
working the big muscles that everyone knows the names of (triceps,
biceps, etc), but also some more obscure muscles called stabilizers?
That sounds exciting!

Luna, I'd venture to say it's even better than that, because the
"stabilizers" aren't always small, obscure muscle groups. Depending upon
the compound exercises you do, stabilizers can be muscle groups you would
otherwise devote exercise time to anyhow. I think the abs are the best
example of this - squats give the abs a really good workout, even though all
they are doing is holding up your trunk - you aren't doing anything like a
crunch motion, but you're still working your abs pretty hard.

--
carla
http://geekofalltrades.typepad.com/geek

carla wrote:
:: Luna wrote:
:::
::: So then, free weights are sort of like multi-tasking? I'll be
::: working the big muscles that everyone knows the names of (triceps,
::: biceps, etc), but also some more obscure muscles called stabilizers?
::: That sounds exciting!
:::
:: Luna, I'd venture to say it's even better than that, because the
:: "stabilizers" aren't always small, obscure muscle groups. Depending
:: upon the compound exercises you do, stabilizers can be muscle groups
:: you would otherwise devote exercise time to anyhow. I think the abs
:: are the best example of this - squats give the abs a really good
:: workout, even though all they are doing is holding up your trunk -
:: you aren't doing anything like a crunch motion, but you're still
:: working your abs pretty hard.

That's right. Muscles work in groups so doing any movements which exercise
muscles the way the are naturally used has big payoffs. A strong trunk is
most important, too.

Luna wrote:

I've been holding steady at 149-151 for the past week or so. I'm 5'5" and I
was 199 at the beginning of my low-carb journey a year ago.

My original goal was 135-ish. So I'm about 15 pounds from goal now. 15.
It doesn't seem like a lot, though it's probably going to go slowly. I'm
also in the "normal" weight range for BMI now, depending on what time of
day I weigh myself.

The thing is though, when I look in the mirror, it looks like I have more
than 15 pounds to lose. 15 pounds overweight on other people looks
"slightly chunky" to me, but on myself it looks . . . um, more than
slightly chunky.

I'm happy with my progress, but it's going to take a lot of work to get
where I would be happy enough with my body to wear a bikini in public. And
it may never be possible. I've got a bit of the loose skin problem, some
wrinkles and stretch marks on my tummy and thighs, it's really gross. And
my poor boobs just hang straight down now. I look like someone who was
pregnant and nursing, which would be fine if I had the kids to show for it.

I do work out, mostly weight training and some cardio, but some places on
me, like my triceps and inner thighs, just do not seem to get any less
flabby. And there doesn't seem to be anything to do for my boobs other
than surgery, which frankly scares the **** out of me and I can't afford it
anyway.

So, as I near goal weight, I fear that "look good naked" is just not going
to happen.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.


Luna,
I recently lost 17 pounds. I've been at this point many times in my
life; I guess you could say it is my 'setpoint'. So, I get to this
weight, happy to be at my ideal size and bought many new clothes. In the
meantime, for the first time in my life, I started to lift free weights
and do Pilates. Guess what, I dropped another size. Not from any more
weight loss, but mostly because of the Pilates. This, after being this
weight and size many times in the past. So, what I am trying to say is,
keep it up, try new things, and most of all, have patience. You are
young and your body will most likely respond quickly. BTW, I luuuuuuv
Pilates. I know 'they' say it is better to take a class, but I did the
_Pilates for Dummies_ and the Marie Winsor tapes. If you can listen and
follow directions, you can do this. It feels so good, and it helps with
the 'naked' issue. Your progress has been terrific, keep it up!

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA