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2003/07/12, 09:23 PM
Here's my problem. I'm about 190 lbs, 6'2" and am generally thin. I workout, although I have trouble gaining muscle mass, probably due to diet. However, I figure one of the best things about being thin is having a low enough bodyfat to display a six pack. Well, I don't have this. I do moderate ab work, but my stomach isn't flat enough to show anything because of some excess fat. I eat healthy (only whole wheat, no red meat, low fat) but I can't burn off the fat, so I decided to try low carbs. I cut out all bread products, but continued to eat fruit and include skim milk and regular non-fat yogurt in my protein shake, which I know are relatively high in carbs. I tried this for 2 weeks and noticed nothing. To sum up my query, how do I burn off the excess fat (I'd guess about 5 lbs.)? Should I cut out fruit, milk and yogurt too? Also, can I burn the fat without losing muscle. Is there any way to burn it off while simultaneously building muscle, so that I don't lose any weight? Also, roughly how long will it take? I don't know how fast my metabolism is, but I know it's not slow. Thanks for any response.
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2003/07/12, 09:27 PM
Also, I forgot to mention, during my 2 weeks (actually 3 weeks) of low carbs, I did frequent aerobic exercise- running on the treadmill 4-5 times a week, which I figure should've shown some sort of result.
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Quoting from froshman:
Here's my problem. I'm about 190 lbs, 6'2" and am generally thin. I workout, although I have trouble gaining muscle mass, probably due to diet. However, I figure one of the best things about being thin is having a low enough bodyfat to display a six pack. Well, I don't have this. I do moderate ab work, but my stomach isn't flat enough to show anything because of some excess fat. I eat healthy (only whole wheat, no red meat, low fat) but I can't burn off the fat, so I decided to try low carbs. I cut out all bread products, but continued to eat fruit and include skim milk and regular non-fat yogurt in my protein shake, which I know are relatively high in carbs. I tried this for 2 weeks and noticed nothing. To sum up my query, how do I burn off the excess fat (I'd guess about 5 lbs.)? Should I cut out fruit, milk and yogurt too? Also, can I burn the fat without losing muscle. Is there any way to burn it off while simultaneously building muscle, so that I don't lose any weight? Also, roughly how long will it take? I don't know how fast my metabolism is, but I know it's not slow. Thanks for any response.
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2003/07/13, 12:32 PM
My guess would be that you may not be eating enough. If you don't provide your body with enough calories, it goes into "survival" mode, storing fat and refusing to let you get leaner. Also, you may not have enough muscle mass for your abs to really show. All that cardio without resistance training will eat up the muscle you do have. Get on a good total body program, give yourself a couple of months, and see what happens.
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Think you can or think you can't; either way you're right--Goethe
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2003/07/13, 01:48 PM
I do resistance training, and my cardio goes only about 22 minutes, because a trainer once told me that after 22 minutes, you start to burn muscle with fat. I would eat more, but I don't want to gain fat in addition to gaining muscle. Also, I am able to see a slight outline of my abs, which makes me believe that if I shed the extra five pounds or so, while continuing to do ab work, they will become more prominent. I'm well aware that I could be totally wrong, though.
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2003/07/13, 01:51 PM
Oh yeah, and my diet is relatively high in protein too (usually around 200-250 g, rarely less).
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2003/07/13, 02:18 PM
effalunt said exactly what I would have replied to your original post. I was thinking maybe there wasn't enough mas there to show. But if you think there is, and you are getting enough protein and training hard and doing cardio as you say, the only variable left is your carb intake. Now, carbs are not all bad, but when trying to get lean, eating the wrong carbs at the wrong time can be a setback. You want no high glycemic carbs(carbs that effect blood sugar, thus insulin responses). Your carb sources should be fibrous in nature and natural, like green veggies, beans(not campbells), and brown rice(even brown rice on a strict diet should only be had once or so a day, most prefferably post training). Potatoes and white rice and stuff like that are out, along with any sugary stuff. Starchy carbs when digested to your body are no different than table sugar. Somehow baked potatoes got to be diet food. Where this came from I will never know. Your body cannot distinguish between the two(starch and sugar). So, check your diet over and see where changes can be made. I think this will go a long way toward solving your dilema.
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As far as genetics go, the skies the limit. You are limited only by your mental perception of it.
Ron
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2003/07/13, 07:39 PM
I appreciate everyone's help. How are fruits (raisins, bananas and pink grapefruits in particular) and milk/plain yogurt as carbs? good or bad? Also, I've heard body fat has to be less than 10 percent to see abs. Is this true? I think mine is around 12 percent. Is there a way of measuring fat percentage by just using a tape measure?
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2003/07/14, 01:56 AM
someone on this site (sorry cant remember who it was, think it was one of the more veteran pple:) suggested www.mybodycomp.com. its really quite a good site and all u need is a tape measure.....not to mention someone else to measure all those "hard to reach" areas...
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