build strength and THEN lose fat or vice versa?
- Thread starter Cbelle
- Start date
I suppose, in theory, that's possible (maintaining forever). But not really practical (in my opinion). Things always seem to come up and get in the way (ie, Holidays for example). Or I want more muscle. Or I want less fat for summer vs winter.
It works better for me to cycle...both physically and mentally.
Shonie
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=6&uid=3655618&
It works better for me to cycle...both physically and mentally.
Shonie
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=6&uid=3655618&
Kathleen, that was how I did it in the beginning -- a different cycle every month -- and it worked nicely. I got a feel for Cathe's different workouts as I went along that way. Eventually I started stretching out the cycles, 2 months at a time, until I settled into this groove I'm on now. Whatever I'm doing now simply fits my crazy life better.
What you're thinking isn't impractical if you find out it works BETTER for YOU. I see you've lost a lot of weight and are nearing your goal weight. Congratulations!
Pinky
What you're thinking isn't impractical if you find out it works BETTER for YOU. I see you've lost a lot of weight and are nearing your goal weight. Congratulations!
Pinky
honeybunch1
Cathlete
This is something I would NEVER want to do - gaining 15 pounds would be traumatic for me, and to do it ON PURPOSE! YIKES! I think the only way I would do it voluntarily is if I were up for a movie role, like "Bridget Jones Diary," and I was being paid big bucks to gain weight.
I'll have to happy gaining muscle they way I'm doing it now, and that's workin' OK for me. Hey, I salute the rest of you that can do it!
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
I'll have to happy gaining muscle they way I'm doing it now, and that's workin' OK for me. Hey, I salute the rest of you that can do it!
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
so honeybunch, I'm curious how you're doing it now? I agree, after finally losing the 20ish lbs I want to lose, I'd be TERRIFIED to put some of it back on! On the other hand, if its merely weight, but all muscle and the clothes fit the same if not better, that might not be so bad.
honeybunch1
Cathlete
I'm not going through any bulk, lean, maintain cycles - I'm looking for more muscle definition. For ME what seems to work is more body weight exercises, but that probably belongs on another thread.
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
Hey girls, I didn't mean to scare you. 15lbs is the MAX and is not required. It is the cutoff point at which I would say: "Okay, Shonie, enough already...let's take it down a notch and stop eating everything in sight". The point about it being "merely weight" is somewhat correct. I can still fit into my clothes (so you KNOW it can't be 10lbs of fat)...but they are somewhat tighter. The "tighter" is typically in the areas of the upper body though...since a lot of women's tops are not cut for a muscular upper body. My pants are actually looser after some time -- although they do get tight when I first start a bulking cycle.
I'm not sure if others here experience this -- but, with legs, mine get bigger before they get smaller (if that makes any sense). So I don't freak out if my pants are getting a bit snug when I begin a bulking phase. Limiting carbs (but keeping calories the same) helps.
Like Pinky said, she gains much less than that! But you must be willing to gain something...otherwise you'll have a hard time gaining muscle.
Shonie
I'm not sure if others here experience this -- but, with legs, mine get bigger before they get smaller (if that makes any sense). So I don't freak out if my pants are getting a bit snug when I begin a bulking phase. Limiting carbs (but keeping calories the same) helps.
Like Pinky said, she gains much less than that! But you must be willing to gain something...otherwise you'll have a hard time gaining muscle.
Shonie
LuckeeLaydee
Cathlete
Shonie:
THanks for the warning. When I started lifting weights a few years ago, my thighs started to get big and I freaked. I never went over 5 lbs with my legs after that. I wear a size 5 and I like staying at that size. But I won't get upset this time if my pants get tight for awhile. Don't know if I could afford to go up a size though...I like having LOTS of clothes. Just ask my husband! :7
THanks for the warning. When I started lifting weights a few years ago, my thighs started to get big and I freaked. I never went over 5 lbs with my legs after that. I wear a size 5 and I like staying at that size. But I won't get upset this time if my pants get tight for awhile. Don't know if I could afford to go up a size though...I like having LOTS of clothes. Just ask my husband! :7
alright, so here's what I did. I went to the rotation board and picked 4 rotations that qualified for all 3 cycles (leaning, bulking, and maintenance/fitness variety). I'm now all set for a full year of rotations! Subject to change ever so slightly when she comes out with new videos - I'll have to plug those in where appropriate. I'm really excited about this! I'll start on Monday. I just received the Amy Bento's and was going to encorporate those in the leaning section but I'm not overly impressed yet with them. why I never learn to just stick with Cathe is beyond me.
I just want to add to what Shonie said about gaining weight. Some of it is water. I've seen the scale go down by two pounds in 24 hours. I know that's water weight. Yes, I do use the scale. I know I joke a lot about tossing out the scale but I do use it, just not everyday. Not even every week. I use it more frequently when I'm transitioning from one cycle to the next, but I don't take what it says as the absolute truth. I also use a tape measure and a caliper, and I go by how my clothes fit. Shonie has more guts than I have in gaining weight for bulk, but look at her results.
Paula, my legs bulk up when I switch to heavier weights. That's normal. And my "heavy" isn't even as heavy as what a lot of women here lift. My biggest challenge is leg definition. Being pear-shaped, if I get my legs to look close to decent, my upper body becomes skinny. But if I want to keep the nice build in my upper body, I have to suffer having some flab in my legs. Can't have everything...
Cbelle, you're off to a great start. I hope this works well for you. BTW, MIS is another one of those workouts that I use for either bulking or endurance. I use Cathe's pace for endurance; I go heavier and take longer rests between sets when using them for strength. There are so many ways to use Cathe's library of workouts. I use them about 90% of the time. I have P90X but have never gotten myself to stick to the program. Cathe is the only one who's ever motivated me to stick to something and work towards a goal. Enjoy your rotations! I hope to see your progress pics.
Pinky
I know I joke a lot about tossing out the scale but I do use it, just not everyday. Not even every week. I use it more frequently when I'm transitioning from one cycle to the next, but I don't take what it says as the absolute truth. I also use a tape measure and a caliper, and I go by how my clothes fit. Shonie has more guts than I have in gaining weight for bulk, but look at her results. Paula, my legs bulk up when I switch to heavier weights. That's normal. And my "heavy" isn't even as heavy as what a lot of women here lift. My biggest challenge is leg definition. Being pear-shaped, if I get my legs to look close to decent, my upper body becomes skinny. But if I want to keep the nice build in my upper body, I have to suffer having some flab in my legs. Can't have everything...
Cbelle, you're off to a great start. I hope this works well for you. BTW, MIS is another one of those workouts that I use for either bulking or endurance. I use Cathe's pace for endurance; I go heavier and take longer rests between sets when using them for strength. There are so many ways to use Cathe's library of workouts. I use them about 90% of the time. I have P90X but have never gotten myself to stick to the program. Cathe is the only one who's ever motivated me to stick to something and work towards a goal. Enjoy your rotations! I hope to see your progress pics.
Pinky