looking "cut"

[thirty11]

I was at the gym yesterday and after asking the new trainer there a question about a machine I didn't recognize, she asked me if I was "new to lifting weights". That was a real bummer because I've been doing serious weight training with Cathe and at the gym for 10 months and two years before that with the Firm and and the gym -- though not as heavy on the weights as now.

Problem: I don't LOOK like I work out. She commented later on, after seeing me do a few upper body exercises, that I was stronger than I looked. ANOTHER bummer!

Bottom line question #1: I am 5'6". Is being tall"er" going to hinder that slightly bulky look that I really want?


BLQ #2: Am I just going to have to get ULTRA serious about eating clean to get that "cut" look no matter how hard I lift and cardio?
(note: I know that Cathe says that too much cardio can be counterproductive to building bulky muscle)

Just a little discouraged :-(

Anna

 

[mogambo]

RE: looking

Long limbs make it harder, yes, but once you get the muscle, it also seems to take longer to lose it.

And you do have to get the fat off of it if you're going to see it. That is just a sad but true fact.

Try more heavy weights and shorter more intense cardio. Just a suggestion.

 

[CathydsRNA]

RE: looking

Some people just don't build muscle as much as others. You could get stronger by training your body to use more muscle fibers per contraction. This is why I think it is important to keep upping the weight load. To look cut and see muscle definition, cardio is very important to help lose any fat that may be laying over your muscles. For strength training, keep on plugging at it but work smartly. Keep consistent, Keep good form, up your weight whenever you can, vary your routines and make sure you get adequate rest so that you have a chance to bulid those muscles. I have had most luck using slow and heavy weight lifting but others have better luck using low weight high rep work and some benefit most by combining the two. Make sure your diet is clean and has enough nutrients including protein and yes carbs. Good luck.

 

[AllisonT]

RE: looking

I'm 5'7+" and build muscle relatively easily, but the only way I can get cut is to watch my eating. Last year around this time when I had the most muscle definition I've ever had, I was eating 100% clean with 10-15% dietary fat. My workouts certainly played a role - I did six weeks of heavy strength training with no cardio at all, then nine weeks of moderate weight training and shorter cardio sessions. I would say it was about 80% diet, though - eating enough good carbs to fuel my heavy weights work, then eating more protein and veggies to start burning fat.

Allison

 

[thirty11]

RE: looking

Thanks for your helpful suggestions.

Ok, week one of eating ULTRA CLEAN starts today.

Question about eggs:

Are you still getting the protein benefit if you just eat the whites?

Anna again

 

[kathryn]

RE: looking

I'm 5'6" as well, and I don't think that's in the category of being "long and lean."

The "cut" look definitely depends on getting that extra layer (or two, or three!) of fat off the muscles.

Lift heavy. Rest appropriately. Eat clean. And don't overdo the cardio.

I found that the P90X series really helped me get more muscle definition (a friend of mine said that a mutual acquaintance of ours told her I looked really "buff"...and she had always thought I looked rather "frail" before. I was happy about the "buff" part, but "frail"..geez! I was strong even when I looked "frail" --to someone who looks a bit "hefty" to me). The combination of lifting heavy, resting enough to allow for muscle growth (each muscle group is only worked once a week, unless you count yoga as an upper/lower body workout), a moderate amount of cardio, and yoga and stretching was the trick. I didn't follow the nutrition program, but ate clean at the time (I usually eat whole foods, and have done so for over 20 years, but sometimes get into phases where I eat too many "treats").

You could do a rotation similar to P90X with Cathe workouts. Use a split routine (maybe the new Hardcore workouts?) lift as heavy as you can (I find this easier to do when not worrying about following the beat of the music: easy to do with P90X, but harder to do with Cathe: though Slow and Heavy could be done this way more easily because the slower pace allows you to modify a bit. I will often do a "3 down/5 up" or "5 down/3 up" rep with S&H. With other workouts, I try to do a more explosive positive move--one count--and a slower negative ), and focus on clean eating rather than carido for fat "removal"!

 

[cjbate]

RE: looking

It cuts the protein in half, if I remember correctly. I like 4 egg whites with one yolk for a good omelette. 5 egg yolks would def be too much fat IMHO

Jen

 

[smoogy]

RE: looking

You hit the nail on the head both times, girlfriend. I am notoriously bad myself. I have always worked out hard & strong, but unless I watch my diet , most people would never know.

Marlax(

 

[Snazzy]

RE: looking

Most bodybuilders eat just the whites for protein with an occasional yolk. You just eat 6 egg whites at a time, instead of 3 eggs.


Each egg white has 17 calories, 3.6 g protein, .4 g carbs, 0 fat.

Each yolk has 61 calories, 2.9 g protein, .3 g carbs, 5.3 g fat.

 

[starlight6]

RE: looking

Same here. I'm also 5'6" & I definitely don't consider myself tall or long-limbed. I wish! LOL

I could work out from now until doomsday & nobody would notice a thing if I didn't eat clean. I have one of those bodies that just doesn't show muscle... although the strength is there...unless I'm quite lean. What a bummer.

Now I can see the difference in my own arms or shoulders or whatever, but it's not enough for anyone else to see. So unfortunately, the clean eating is crucial.

By the way, that's pretty much only true in my upper body. My lower body is naturally lean & builds (& shows) muscle quickly.

Ruthx(