Reducing muscle

Hello,

I am very new to this website and this my first post.  What I was wondering is if there is any way to reduce muscle.  The thing is, I'm 149 lbs, looking to lose about 15 lbs.  I have very muscular body-type.   I am a 39 year old female that wears a size 6 at 149 lbs.  I have a celery body type so I tend to gain weight evenly.  Aside from kickboxing, step aerobics, hip hop abs, and 14 flights of stairs per day, my legs are huge.  I hate running, so I was just wondering if anyone has any tips on reducing muscle mass, but still staying healthy. 

uh oh- you missed a huge discussion earlier in the week about people wanting to reduce muscle mass and let me tell you, there were no (well, one?) takers For decreasing muscle mass as a positive thing.....

Honestly though, you can't change your genetics and you should be proud of what those muscles do for you! A lot of people would love to have muscular legs- it shows strength!

I just don't get it....WHY????  Sounds like you have a great body now....what a waste!

I guess you could starve yourself and let your body eat all your muscle away.  You could then look sickly and weak all at the same time.  What a goal to strive for!

I appreciate the advice.  I guess I'm just stuck looking like Carl Malone in drag 

I guess what I'm trying to do is reduce my weight on the scale, and since muscle weighs more than fat, I was hoping to reduce the size of my thighs which is where most of the muscle is.

I find it absurd when I see these woman 5'6' 125 lbs, trying to get down to 110 lb adding posts for advice.  I have accepted the fact that I will never see 130 lbs again without life being miserable for both me and my family, so as long as my clothes fit fine, I guess I'll just have to deal with it.  By the way, I'm 5'4", so 149 lbs makes me look stocky.   I got up to that weight within the past 3 months after starting on medication for anxiety which I've since stopped using, so hopefully with the calorie counting and continued exercise, 135 is an attainable goal that I can live with. 

Why not lose fat instead of muscle?

That's what I'm working on with the calorie counting and exercise, but with 2 kids 3 & 7 who are always hungry and wanting to snack, I find myself nibbling on those same unhealthy treats.  Bottom line, they are cheaper than more healthy snacks and my kids have a problem with just about any fruit I buy so it's always cookies or chips of some sort.  When I try to cook healthy, they won't eat it, so it ends up going to waste.  Then we're back to the quick foods that they will eat.  Luckily, both of my kids have weight in proportion to their heights.

Any ideas on losing the fat would be welcomed.

Your children may be fine now, but they may well find themselves here in the same postion as you in a few years time.  If they don't learn healthy food habits from you, who can they learn them from? 

You are absolutely right, I just don't know how to get them to start eating healthier foods.  I realize it sounds as simple as 'just don't buy it', but after much whining and complaining, I end up giving in which results in me indulging on a cookie here, a couple of chips there, etc.  Although I'm not a binge eater, obviously each one of those little tidbits of junk food are what's keeping me from reaching my goal even if I do count them in my daily caloric limit.

Thanks to you all for the wonderful comments and advice!

Original Post by benneliz:

I appreciate the advice. I guess I'm just stuck looking like Carl Malone in drag

Ok that's funny (and from your picture not true)

That whole anxiety med weight gain thing happened to me, too. As for the kids, daycare totally broke my son of all and any healthy eating habits. He went from munching on fruit and veggies to demanding hotdogs and chicken fingers. The good news is you can slowly undo that as they get older. Don't get me wrong, my son will still eat five hamburgers if you let him (of course he's 6'1" and thin as a rail. JERK) but he'll also eat my healthy foods too.

Fight your battle first and your kids will follow suit. This I know. Whatever you're eating seems good to them at the time. If you just hand it to them they snub you

I know the feeling, I have absolutely enormous calf muscles in comparison to most people and it makes me look as if I have cankles. I think it's because I'm quite short and have short legs, which kind of have to work harder to get me about lol, it's also just something genetic, my mum's the same. I think you just have to learn to accept it and lose as much fat as possible. I think for every pound you lose 25% of that will be muscle, but having more muscle means your metabolism is faster so losing it isn't a good thing necessarily.

Original Post by benneliz:

You are absolutely right, I just don't know how to get them to start eating healthier foods. I realize it sounds as simple as 'just don't buy it', but after much whining and complaining, I end up giving in which results in me indulging on a cookie here, a couple of chips there, etc. Although I'm not a binge eater, obviously each one of those little tidbits of junk food are what's keeping me from reaching my goal even if I do count them in my daily caloric limit.

Thanks to you all for the wonderful comments and advice!

I have kids too and I understand that it is difficult not to eat the things they eat. I do and always have tried to limit my kids to healthier foods but I do allow them the occasional treat and I let them eat slightly healthier junk food (kind of a misnomer) but real ice cream, real pudding etc.  Things without PHO"s and high fructose corn syrup. Anyway, it has taken a bit of discipline on my part but I have given up those little tastes of all those things.  It isn't always easy and sometimes I do allow myself some sort of a treat (a square of dark chocolate/a glass of wine) but that is maybe once every couple of weeks.

I can also tell you that in your situation you do not want to lose muscle. If you do that you will just end up a flabby skinny person!  So, when you are ready make a commitment to yourself to clean up your diet. Give up the sugar, the white bread, pasta rice etc... and all processed foods. Eat 5-6 small meals a day of whole grain carbs, protein, a little fat and lots of veggies (don't forget to throw in some fruit and dairy somewhere in your day) and make sure you are eating enough calories and you will see a reduction in body fat and all that beautiful muscle will show.

in terms of incorporating healthy foods into your family's diet, i've found that doing lower calorie versions most of the time (and then making the real thing some of the time) is a big help.  cooking light magazine is a great place for things like mac n cheese, buffalo wings (baked, and they're thighs), desserts, tasty rice/pasta sauce, homemade chinese food.

i have a lot of muscle too.  i'm trying to lose fat, but it's harder for me to give up the food.  so what i'm trying now is a weight lifting program that will maintain my muscle while i hopefully lose weight by having a calorie deficit.  i'll let you know how it goes...

Hi,

I understand this... I'm 5ft 4 and I fight to keep my weight at 139... my goal is 135 and I have a weirdo build... My upper body is thin (but pretty cut since my bf has me lift weights pretty frequently) and my legs are super stocky. I'm one of those girls that can't even think about zip up boots! lol!! I go on about 900-1300 cals a day, I work out 5 days a week (cardio and weight lifting) my diet is perfect, and the only time I "Cheat" on it is when it's good stuff anyways (homemade whole wheat breads, organic oatmeal cookies, etc... all stuff I make at home without sugar or salt or fat) so I mean at this point I honestly think we are kinda at our "point" ya know? Some women are made to be "thick"... and I think over time we'll get more toned, but probably always be the same size/weight. And I'm a size 5-7 too so I must have a similar body to yours. But hey, at least we look awesome in skirts! :) Plus if anyone ever gives us any slack we can crush 'em with our ginormous thigh muscles! lol!! ;D

Hope this helps & hang in there girl, it could be worse... we could be 6ft tall, oafish, and 300lbs. ;)

-Mel

littlemalynda, they do make boots for larger calves. Believe me, I'm 5'4" and used to weigh 258 and was still able to buy zip up boots. I just had to order them on-line through "plus-size" stores. They had various widths, so I could always find some that fit, even at that size! I'm sure you'd have no trouble finding ones that fit.

true although I'm not entirely sure I would want to have my calves look any bigger than they are already. lol... but thanks though! I prefer to just wear the shorts that go to my knees... it makes my calves look awesome if I wear open-toes to match :).

Okay well I kinda found a way, maybeish

See when my running seasons are done, my legs are HUGE. So i tone my calories down a bit [from 2800/3000 to about 1800/2000] and I don't exercise for a week or two. Now, granted, God knows i deserve and off season, so i guess it just works for me. I wouldn't recommend doing this though, because yes i lose SOME muscle but then I'm all flabby

but still, i do love having offseasons :p