Should I Be Losing Weight or Building?

[georgiehopper]

I had just assumed that I need to both lose weight and gain muscle at the same time. I have gathered that this is the wrong approach.

I figured I "needed" to lose weight because I think I'm too heavy for my size. It's been drilled into my head that I should be 110 or less so that is why I have the goal of 110. I remember being called "fat" by kids when I weighed 110 back in high school.

I really want to add muscle, but I also want to lose an inch off my waist which is 25" and thin out my thighs which are 20" at the top.

So....after all these weeks of reading other posts, I'm not sure where I should be going with this.

So at 5'1", medium frame, and 118 pounds... I've assumed that I'm overweight.

I'd appreciate a little guidance.

[Zenree]

I had just assumed that I need to both lose weight and gain muscle at the same time. I have gathered that this is the wrong approach.

I figured I "needed" to lose weight because I think I'm too heavy for my size. It's been drilled into my head that I should be 110 or less so that is why I have the goal of 110. I remember being called "fat" by kids when I weighed 110 back in high school.

I really want to add muscle, but I also want to lose an inch off my waist which is 25" and thin out my thighs which are 20" at the top.

So....after all these weeks of reading other posts, I'm not sure where I should be going with this.

So at 5'1", medium frame, and 118 pounds... I've assumed that I'm overweight.

I'd appreciate a little guidance.

First off, take that "I must be a certain # on the scale" BS and throw it out the freakin window!!! Especially if you weight train -- 119lbs on a 5'1" frame is NOT overweight IF you are working out and training with weights. It is possible to be 110 lbs at your height and still look "chubby" (aka skinny fat).

Secondly, I think YOU have to decide what weight or body type you want to have. If you want a lean muscular look, then eat and workout to achieve that look. I believe you have the fundementals of an eating/workout plan to get this going. If not, start with getting that figured out.

If there is 1 thing you should take away from this post it is to STOP BEING A SLAVE TO THE SCALE! Srsly, start using the mirror (and tape measure) to monitor your progress...the number on the scale does not tell the whole story.

Best of luck to you!

[Emoore]

If you've been doing this for less than a year or so, you probably can build strength/muscle and lose fat at the same time. There comes a time when you do have to make a choice, but it's usually after about a year of eating clean and training consistantly.

[freebirdmac]

You can do both at the same time, it's just not as efficient. Since it's cooler weather it's the perfect time to focus on muscle mass. Come spring you can take a turn at leaning out. Then return to focusing on muscle gains. It's pretty unusual to only have to do one or the other. Most of the time it's an iterative process.

And yeah, that number on the scale thing, it's one of the dumber things drilled into our heads :)

[aznprincess]

if you're brave enough, you could post some pictures. then i'm sure we'd be able to tell you which direction to go easily.

[Echo814]

I have the same problem, even though I am in the BMI standards I feel that I am to heavy because the "ideal" weight for my age and height is 120 lbs. Right now I am doing a real slow cut and hopefully will make some newbie gains while on it. Honestly I don't know if I should be bulking or cutting right now to.

[eriplex]

Too heavy? No way! High school kids are always cruel. Honestly, people do not really care about how you look. That is what I have noticed over time, I am the one stressing my scale weight much more than they are. If you want more muscle- build, build, build =D

[aznprincess]

i think, instead of just wondering if you're too heavy, you should have a goal of what you want to achieve so you know once you get there. something better than a certain weight as that doesn't always mean a certain leanness. you can weigh 120 and be 25% body fat or 9% body fat and clearly, you're going to LOOK different in those two situations.

what do you want to look like?