Body Recomp

I'm just starting Stage 4 tonight. So I have not lost any weight really, but my body fat levels have decreased. I know because my boobs are smaller, just one of the sacrifices I have to make for my lower body . Anyway their size is always a good indicator for me, as my lower body loves just loves to hold on to the fat, so that's the last place I'll notice any changes.

On Stage 1 I was kind of overeating, averaging 2 workouts a week due to some scheduling & motivation issues. Stage 2 I calmed down a bit on the diet and mainly did 3 workouts a week. I started to really feel myself working hard on this one. I watched my diet a bit more carefully. Stage 3 I really watched my diet even more. I feel on Stage 3 you really have to pay attention to your diet because you are not using big compound movements that burn a lot of calories or give you a high EPOCH.

My legs really feel like they've come along way. Can't see it yet with the fluff covering it though, but I can sure feel it. Samething with my upper body. I feel that I've lost some definition from what I was lifting before, but I think that's mainly because I've been filling out muscles in the smaller places. For instance my long head triceps don't have the same definition as before but the space between my armpit and triceps are a lot firmer and jiggle less. Basically I feel that this program has given me muscle development where I wasn't paying attention to before (at least in the upper body). My butt seems to be higher and it looks much better when I bend over. Its not so flat anymore.

It's taken some time, started last November but I'm pleased with my current results so far. It could go alot faster but that's just me being impatient.

Great work!

Good job.  I know what you mean about lower body hanging on to the fat.  Grrrrr. :(

I have a quick question for you all....

I am in stage 1 but have been lifting on my own for about a year.  Within the last few weeks it feels like my legs have blown up and are huge.  I put some jeans on that I hadn't worn in about 3 weeks and the legs were sooooo tight!  Do you all think this is just temporary and it will quell down eventually?  I mean I know I have some fat on the lower body but since I started doing more lunges, squats, dead lifts they feel huge.  Yes, yes, I know it's not possible to gain muscle that fast but I can't figure out what the deal is....   Just wondering if anyone one else experienced this and if it subsided after a while. 

I think it's most likely that your muscles are retaining water from the new workout.  Most of us experienced water retention somehow (usually in the form of a few excess pounds) for 4-6 weeks before it dropped off.

Hi desertbeauty,

there have been times when my legs are huge & just like you i've been weight lifting consistently for a year before. my pants/trousers go from feeling loose to feeling tight.  some times even a couple of days after a workout they feel like they are going to explode.

Okay, water retention may explain the sudden  4 pound gain.... so could the girl scout cookies .  

Octo-luv- did your legs get like that prior to this program?  I definitely went up in size a few months back prior to starting this but my legs never felt like this up until now.  Do you think it ever stops? Lol  I mean I like them tight and firm but not feeling so ginormous I can't wear pants!  Maybe the combo of lifting and interval/HIIT is making them bulk and retain for a while...  I sure miss the days of putting on loose pants. 

Original Post by desertbeauty258:

Okay, water retention may explain the sudden  4 pound gain.... so could the girl scout cookies .  

Octo-luv- did your legs get like that prior to this program?  I definitely went up in size a few months back prior to starting this but my legs never felt like this up until now.  Do you think it ever stops? Lol  I mean I like them tight and firm but not feeling so ginormous I can't wear pants!  Maybe the combo of lifting and interval/HIIT is making them bulk and retain for a while...  I sure miss the days of putting on loose pants. 

 i would get it some times even before this program. i used to change my workouts every 6 weeks, but no alternate workouts A & B, which is a lot steadier than this program. every time i changed i would gain a couple of pounds.

 however.... im making far more muscle on this program. hiit makes my legs puffy too. for me its been playing the game till the fat levels go down. im constantly a little more sore than usual too. but its been worth it for me. right now i know its just water/gyclogen cuz the rest of me's fat is going down.  on stage 3 i didn't get too much of it but stage 3 is kinda boring for the legs anyway.

poor boobies :-(

I used to get a bit but not this extreme.  I did notice though on Saturday that my legs felt so solid after I was done.  I've also never gained weight with it but I guess I have upped the weights for my legs...

glad I'm not the only one who is more sore than usual.  i hope my fat goes down as well.

i completely understand i miss my boobies!   I lost a complete size + when I lost weight and I hope I don't loose more now!