low weight and weight loss

Is being at a idea or low weight for your height detrimental for weight loss? I'd bet my checkers the answer to that is yes, but I'd like to know what extent it's true. I'm 5'10, 148, by the way.

Anyone have an idea of the science behind it?

(First of all, at 5'10 and 148, you're a great, healthy weight for your height so I hope you aren't trying to lose too much.)

That said, the ideal weight range is called that for a reason. It's where your body functions the best, without the complications of being overweight or underweight. It's the healthiest place to be. You're not losing weight for a few reasons:

1) You don't NEED to lose weight. Your body knows this.

2) As you get to an ideal/lower weight, you need less and less calories to survive. Therefore, to lose weight, you have to either eat less or move more.

Yes it is.  Bodies are made up of bone, muscle and fat.  If you're overweight chances are you have the same size skeleton and similar muscle mass to lighter person.  The 'overweight' part is going to be mostly excess fat.  Once you hit the mid-point of the healthy weight range (BMI 21-22) you have, by definition, not very much fat on your body to lose.  And if you have a larger frame then chances are you've even less 'spare' to get rid of.   Restricting food would reduce your muscle mass.... not smart.  Doing more exercise would reduce your fat and build muscle... so you'd probably gain weight.   Your metabolic rate, as a lighter person, is automatically slower than a very heavy person... another small barrier to losing weight.

I did a bang-up job botching my first diet up months ago, so now I'm stuck with a lot of extra fat for someone my height and weight. I guess my being such a 'healthy' weight is why my body has been having such a difficult time shedding the fat.

If I bulk up to, let's say, 160, will my body be more, uh, 'willing' then to drop the fat, even if the extra weight I put on was muscle?

It sounds to me like you don't really need to diet such as do a body re-composition, which is basically replacing your current fat with leaner tissue (muscle)

This is exactly what im donig currently im 118lb's and not an unheathy wieght for my size but i carry too much fat and not enough toned muscle, basically you need to change your diet more than cut it and really ramp up your exercise and add some weight training.

In 8 weeks i've lost a few inches off my waist and although my physcal wieght hasn't changed that much (ive only lost about 2lb's) i look a million times better and everyone i know keeps commenting on it.

 

Yeah, that's why I want to start bulking soon. I just want to know if weighing more will make what fat there is easier to lose if those extra pounds come from muscle.

Anyone?

There are lots of health problems associated with being underweight including, but not limited to:

• Heart Issues- When you lose weight when you do not need to, the weight often comes from internal organs. The heart can lose mass, which makes one more prone to heart attack and other health issues. It can also cause your heart rate to drop too low.
• Too few electrolytes (such as potassium), which can cause heart problems and stroke.
• Low white blood cell count- This causes one's immune system to be weaker, making one more prone to illness.
• Hair loss.
• Hair shine.
• Dry skin.
• Loss of menses.
• Fatigue.
• Weakening of bones, stress fractures/breaks, and osteoporosis

Those were just off the top of my head.

The only way to acheive fat loss when your are at that weight/height is to start weight training. Since muscle weighs more than fat, you will more than likely not lose weight. Dont freak out when you gain a little weight (that's usually what happens), just keep at it. The more muscle you have on your body the more fat you will burn. I would recommend lower weight with higher reps.

If you have never weight trained before, get help from one of the personal trainers. If you hurt yourself at the gate, chances of you finishing your race are diminished. Cross training can also help. Mix it up- your body will get accustom to your workout- so you tend to burn less.