…this is a REAL GREAT angle
lol Brute!
Also x100 to everything Brute just said. I was just giving this some thought as I was running and I do understand what you’re feeling but as someone who got caught up in getting real lean I am so much happier just working towards performance goals, because the looks part is so temporary and highly dependent on my emotions. And even when I reached a point where I should have been happy, I wasn’t very happy. It’s a real relief to just try and get stronger. I can’t part with that part of me that easily but I’m trying and I’m happier for it.
i look like that too, MOM. if i really suck in my gut and / or flex my abs or something things look better… posture, yeah… but when i’m relaxed that is pretty much how i look. except you got more muscle mass on your quads so that definitely helps your legs look better than mine!
i’ve wondered how much it is loose skin compared to fat, too. but i don’t know. i did get pretty big for a while when i was 18 mostly due to a medication i was on at the time. weight came off fast once i stopped it. not really comparable to pregnancy but i have got stretch marks due to that and already had some from puberty.
i agree that scale weight really is a side issue, though. most of the girls on here seem to weigh more than me while being shorter than me - and they certainly look better than me with respect to body composition. anyway… just letting you know you aren’t alone in the belly fat department.
I know how to take pictures that flatter but I swear I am carrying the same stuff on my hips and belly. Why do you think my last sama pic was a back/side angle?
I think you have made a lot of progress with your body composition since I have been logging here. I understand that you’re not where you want to be yet. But, you’re going to get there. Hang in there and don’t be so damn hard on yourself. You’re looking great!
I have one more thing to say. My mother has been overweight for pretty much her entire life. But, in her mid 30s she started to run, and she lost a lot of weight. But, even then she wasn’t happy with her body. Now, she looks back at those pictures when she was a runner and she says. “Gosh I was so thin. I looked so good.” And she wishes for a do over–to go back–and to love the body that she had when she had it.
Love who you are now. And work towards who you want to be.
[quote]Nadia Comeandeat wrote:
Love who you are now. And work towards who you want to be. [/quote]
I do and I am!! 
Thanks for that…
And a big PHAT thanks to the rest of you. 
We all have flaws, I get that. And no one is perfect…but there is always room for progress. And each day we are given another chance to improve upon the day before. And not just in the gym but in life, with our kids, our spouses, family and friends.
At this stage in life eating healthy and training hard is about more than just wanting to look good. (although who doesn’t want to look good nekkid?)
It’s a lifestyle!!
The gym has taught me a lot about myself. It has enabled me to gain strength and self confidence. And still working on that! It has definitely taught me about consistency and persistence.
If you want something bad enough you will never stop working to get it.
Heh, I have fat in those places too and I can’t even blame it on having children. I can grab handfuls on either side of my hips. Don’t sweat it. As you say, we all have flaws. So you’re a little softer around the midsection than you’d like, but you have terrific legs (which I envy because I store my fat on my thighs as well as my hips). As everyone else has said, you’ve come a long way. The last part of the journey is always the toughest and all credit to you for not giving up and making do (something I am prone to). You pretty much rock so, don’t forget that.
Deb- I’ve done pretty much everything with some stuff in between!
Mostly I’ve relied on rigid dieting to shed the excess pounds. And I keep getting to this point and my body says ‘NOPE!! all done.’
frustrating…
Soooo, that’s why I’m switching it up. I’m not ‘dieting,’ per se, but still keeping the eats very clean. I’m adding cardio, which I’ve never really done consistently before(not beyond going on walks anyway).
Also, I’m attempting this thing called bodybuilding. You may have heard of it?
I feel like if I focused on building strength/muscle the body comp will take care of itself, as long as I stay on top of the eating department. Which is probably what I should have been doing all along. (durr!)
I think hardcore dieting can only get you so far and I’ve worn out my welcome with it, for now.
Another thing I wanted to mention about the 165 number. When I was in the military having to keep a certain weight 173 was at the top of where I could be for my height. Even when I was 17 I did all sorts of funky things to make weight to go off to boot camp, cause I was over by about 5 lbs… My recruiters took me to get wrapped, saunaed and I had to drink this laxative stuff 
So it seems the 170s are my set point? I’m fine with that, I just want less body fat.
Hey Thanks Cal!!!
I was working on that post for awhile…(had to take a Break for the Easter Bunny)
Ugh…made yummy delicious banana pudding with the little nilla wafers and slices of banana, etc(for potluck at ‘church’) I like this place…It’s pretty much Earth based and the kids get to learn about All the religions of the world. Pretty cool if you ask me.
…Also have to make a second batch of carrot cake muffins to take to my friends Easter thing.
Weight was UP 2lbs this morning, lol…temp was 96.5
Hey mama!!
Just jumping in to reiterate that you look simply gorgeous!! You’re progress is astounding and I would kill for a pair of lean legs like yours and that tiny waist. And I mean KILL!
But I totally understand your dilemma and I do believe there is a set point at which your body simply won’t let go of fat. I’m at that point too - and believe me, I have love handles and some fairly impressive cellulite (fatty fo’ lyfe!), plus i store a lot of fat in my arms…it’s going to be impossible to get rid of unless I go 100% with diet, etc. Meh. Too much trouble.
Part of the problem is that all our bodies respond differently to training. Nothing helps keep me lean more than conditioning, so this is something I’ve always tried to maintain throughout my training. Call it cardio, whatever, but sneaking in an intense conditioning sesh 2x a week is really beneficial. Maybe you could also look into some of that Metabolic training, I remember T had a lot of success with that, that’s very circuity…
What’s your weekly training looking like anyways? (you know me, OCD on the scheduling) Sorry if I missed this info in a previous post.
Anyways, you look AMAZING! Just keep on keeping on!
When I was getting ready for bikini time I was basically eating clean, no booze, complexes and cardio. It totally worked for me. I did this for 4 weeks.
MiM I think you’re doing everything right. Your diet has been tight for years and your training too. And you have that awesome tiny waist it really shows. But I don’t want to talk you out of reaching harder for what you really want. I totally understand that! I think if you really want it you don’t have to give up on it.
I do remember Pauline Nordin saying something once about starting every workout with some large compound lifts and I’ve certainly found that to work well with me. I don’t know if that’s something to try, adding some more, because it could only help your BB goals I think.
I hope you find a happy place! But then again in this endeavor if you’re happy then there isn’t anything left to do and there’s no reason to progress. So happier
By the way, my weight was up 7 freaking pounds last night and I was like WTH??? All this saying it doesn’t matter is one thing but it is certainly GAH inducing, even if it’s muscle, water or whatever.
You look phenomenal. Seriously, who really cares about scale weight? I’m 7" shorter and pushing 140. I could care less. Do the math. At 5’9" you are hot and strong and getting stronger. Not to mention, you are healthy and a great example to the kiddos.
Go lift heavy and flip tires and wear a bikini with pride. I’m not kidding… I will come down there to MD and make sure that you’re sporting a sexy, flattering bikini.
As far as flattering goes: Come on, we all have flaws. Personally, I used to be a nude model and I know how to pose. Don’t let my pics fool you.
You work hard, and play hard. Be proud of that!
And your diet is tight. You count almonds forcrissakes!
Betty, are you still doing the C25K? Running (or run/walking) is amazing cardio, and quite efficient in terms of time.
Whew…recovering from Easter weekend Eggstravaganza…very much ready for the kids to go BACK TO SCHOOL…my brain feels like it will explode with mom mom mom MOMMMMMMMYY every other minute…
Started off the morning with some cardio on the bike…steadily climbing up to 10 incline every minute and then coming back down…whew! My HR got up to 165 for awhile. 30 min…
then 2x30 hip thrusts
(5 single, 10, 5 single, 10)
2x25- flutter kicks(1,2,3,1!) count
Speakin of cardio–Kimba!! HI! I will start c25k…I want to, I really do!! My reasons for not doing it consistently are the kids being sick, me being too sore or it was raining, lol…
Veggy- lol, yep I count nuts!! Nude model eh? You already look naturally good nekkid though. I can tell, haha… I’d be honored if you came down and fit me in some swimwear…I’m clueless about that stuff…And again, it’s not actual number on the scale that bugs me, it’s my body comp. I want to look better is all. I’ve always been modest hung up on body image.
I’m coming from a different place than most of you. Raise of hands, how many of you have been obese or have dealt with battling from being overweight most there lives? When I bitch about my weight I’m coming from that place… It will always be a battle. 2 years ago I was at my heaviest, 235+ lbs. So no, I’m not content at being 180 lbs even though the number shouldn’t matter. It’s mental.
But I’m going to keep hitting the weights and will replace the flab with slabs of muscle.
Maschy- thanks, your a doll face…even the legs are questionable but I’ll take it!
Up until recently, I was doing total body stuff. Just trying to maintain strength, not build it.
Now I’m attempting some bb’ing style training. Been timid til now, but no more. I don’t even want to put a label on it, cause I’d feel like a poser.
Just trying to build strength/muscle.
M- AM–shoulders/back/tris
T- cardio(c25k)
W- am/legs pm/cardio<—bike=recover
Thurs- cardio(c25k)
Fri- shoulders/back/bis
Sat- cardio–glutes/hams/tris(they need extra attn.)
Sun- off
N- thanks for chimin in girlfriend.
Deb- I always start my training off with a compound move(s) I <3 Pauline btw…
Betty my access here is sporadic at best but I want to tell you you’re a fucking superstar champion goddamn warrior and BEYOND FUCKING INSPIRATIONAL. You have done nothing but progress Pro-GRESS and get better and better despite living a real frakking life.
dude I love you and I love your body and you just keep doing you.
FIN.
[quote]
You look phenomenal. Seriously, who really cares about scale weight? I’m 7" shorter and pushing 140.[/quote]
LOL MiM that’ll make me… 9" shorter than you? And pushing 150. Like beating on its fuckin’ door… and I can’t wait ;D
Seriously MiM, use your damn calipers. Don’t need to calculate bodyfat, just measure every part of your body (hips, waist, thigh, stomach, triceps, lower back, go wild) and kick your ass for a week, take the same measurements again and repeat.
I can pull skin too Dahlin, everyone here can pull skin.
Now, enjoy your BB training <3
