How best to lose the last 5-10lbs - Please advise

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP - my ultimate goal is to look great in my clothes and I don't even own a scale at home because it's not about the numbers for me.

Today, I did a mix of machines and free weights and focused on arms and chest.

Yesterday I ate the following:
Bfast: whole wheat bun with 2 eggs & coffee
Lunch: 1 slice bread with a potato dumpling and grilled zucchini
Afternoon snack: 1 apple with 2 tablespoons almond butter
Dinner: 2 pieces of Chicken and 1 cup brown rice

Am I eating too many carbs? What should I do diffrently if I'm strength training? Thanks so much for your advice!

Less simple carbs, more complex carbs and protein. And water. Lots of water.

Add fruit (berries) to breakfast and lunch. More vegetables at lunch and supper. Add in salads with lots of different greens.

[Anonymous]

When I'm lifting I am heavier than when I'm not. However, my clothes fit better (looser) and I am more toned. Yes, muscle weighs more but I also think we retain more water when we lift regularly. That's a good thing but it can be hard to not be fixated on the scale.

[Anonymous]

All I know is that 2 years ago I weighed 144. Fast forward to today and I weigh 154. I look SO much better...naked, in a bathing suit, and in clothes. So.Much.Better

I did 2 things: more protein (doubled it) and more weights/less cardio.

[Anonymous]

Ok geniuses above. Because a pound of fat takes up about four times the space of muscle tissue, it’s possible to look and feel trimmer even if body weight remains the same.

Number on scale not changing but you look thinner. I think that is what people are talking about when they say "muscle weighs more than fat" which you are right, is factually incorrect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In response to PP, I have heard that women can bulk up if they use heavy weights. This is OP and it's been 2 weeks now and I feel awesome - stronger, leaner, healthier. I am going to keep it up! I'm not bulking up as far as I know but I will say that I don't step on the scale because I'm not making progress there - but as they say, muscle weighs more than fat and looks way better so I am OK with it.

Thanks all for the advice.

it is nearly impossible for women to bulk up even when lifting heavy weights. Women do not have the hormones needed to get bulky, we just don't. It takes an insane amount of work for women to build significant muscle. Women are not men. The only way to put on muscle/get stronger is to challenge muscle and the way you do that is by lifing challenging weights. So heavy weights less reps, 10-12 reps for beginners and the last couple of reps should be challenging. If you do 12 reps and feel like you could keep going then the weight is not heavy enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious on the weight lifting- how sore should you feel the next day or two after lifting??

When I started training or a marathon with a personal trainer who worked me until I wanted to die, I was sore for a week! Just when my soreness went away, I would see him again andbe sore for another week. I think this went on for 4-6 weeks.
FWIW, I finished the 1/2 marathon in the top 4% of my age group!