Worried About Building Muscle Mass at the Early Stage of Weight Loss

Medusa said:
I don't think I introduced bulking up, actually. It was brought in by @C50 early in the conversation and others after that, to which I responded. Not that this at all worth picking over. It really isn't.
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Sorry if I misunderstood, bulk or mass mean the same thing to me.
 

CooCooforCoCoPuffs said:
I am 5'7". All my life nearly all weigh charts say I should weigh "135lbs".
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Those charts! All my life the charts have said I, at 5'6," should weigh around 130 and I know I'm best at about 110.

I once worked with a bunch of women and we were always calling ourselves fat. Since I was the smallest they would moan and roll their eyes when I said I needed to lose a few pounds.

One of us was married to the PE teacher at Wright State University so he agreed to weigh us all underwater for the ultimate body fat/weight decider. Turns out my friend who was my height weighing 145 was just right and I, at 110, was the "fattest" one of us all. He said I should weigh 102.

This, also, explains why I can only eat 900 calories a day if I want to lose 1 pound per week.
 
Della said:
Those charts! All my life the charts have said I, at 5'6," should weigh around 130 and I know I'm best at about 110.

I once worked with a bunch of women and we were always calling ourselves fat. Since I was the smallest they would moan and roll their eyes when I said I needed to lose a few pounds.

One of us was married to the PE teacher at Wright State University so he agreed to weigh us all underwater for the ultimate body fat/weight decider. Turns out my friend who was my height weighing 145 was just right and I, at 110, was the "fattest" one of us all. He said I should weigh 102.

This, also, explains why I can only eat 900 calories a day if I want to lose 1 pound per week.
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That's really interesting, @Della. I'd love to be weighed in water, just to see once and for all.
That's the thing with the charts; they must be an average over the country, which would leave a lot of us out. If I went by the charts I'd look like I died and forgot to climb in my coffin.
 
The scale is a useful tool if you have heart or kidney issues. Other than that, I have known people so focused on the numbers that they would make themselves sick from making unhealthy choices to move the numbers.

People come in all shapes and sizes and many do not like what they are.

Charts should be thrown away because everyone is different.

Our bodies change as we get older and so must our way of exercising. A senior trying to push heavy weights, like a younger person, is asking for injury. Back problems, joint problems and even aneurysm.
Change to lighter weights, more reps and less rest between sets. Some yoga for flexibility is good too. Listen to what your body is telling you, not the scale.

No matter your shape, exercise makes you stronger and healthier and able to live a better life.

My thought is, I don't exercise to live longer. I exercise to be able to do what I want until the day that I tip over.
 
You know, I have a sign in my workout room, the original of which reads, "Exercise Because You Love Your Body. Not Because You Hate It." I left the " hate it" part out so mine just reads, "Exercise Because You Love Your Body."

I have another one in my office area that reads, "You Don't Exist Simply to Lose Weight and Be Pretty." I find reminders like this centering.

I appreciate your words and totally agree with you about the charts! But I'm keeping the scale. Staying away from the scale is a large part of what got me here in the first place. Besides, it's something that is good for me, psychologically, to face down every day.

Thanks for your germane words and advice. :)


I like that, "tip over."
 
outlander said:
Besides obvious exercises and weight lifting, do not neglect protein intake and proper rest.
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Thank you. :) You've created an opportunity for me to update this thread. Things have changed for me in this regard in that I am now all about the building of muscle, strong bones and joints.

I am careful about getting enough protein and now instead of focusing on a maximum number of calories, overall, my goal is a minimum of nutritional calories.

It's been working well; I am building muscle, and my body is reshaping itself. I think too, that I can safely assume that I am also building stronger bones because muscles and bones both respond to exercise.
 
It's always a good idea to incorporate some cardio exercise too. Your heart and lungs are the basis for your physical stamina and performance. It makes it much easier to build muscle when your cardio supports your effort instead of limiting output ability.

For me personally I find short high intensity work outs more efficient as well as more friendly schedule wise.

Free weights 5 days a week, running 3 days, riding my bicycle 3 days. Consistency definitely helps gain results and maintain.
All work outs are under 30 minutes. Many years ago I was into power lifting, but now I make it a rule to never lift more than my body weight.
My running is done at a fast pace under 20 minutes. This also includes sprints once a week which I believe is one of the best exercises for aging adults bar none. Bicycle rides 15 to 20 minutes with some hills where I use a middle gear and stand up.

This may sound like a lot of work, but it is never more than 45 minutes a day. As I get older I have a few issues and sometimes don't feel the greatest. But even on a bad day exercising always makes me feel better after finishing. I do not want to lose the ability to do the things I like and need to do. My regimen is not about looking good I'm getting old, but it does help.
 

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