Lean but not muscular - motivational pics needed!

[DUMB BELLE]

Greetings all!

Yip - I'm back. Well, not exactly back - I've been lurking for ages anyway.

My cousin has started training with me. Which is working out UNBELIEVABLY well! (PHEW! We all know how hard it can be finding a good training partner.)

She's a complete newbie to weights but has so much heart and dedication - she actually inspires ME.
I started her off really slow - just easing into it at first and avoiding the newbie-over-training syndrome, with correct form and all the rest.
We doing the following split:
Mon - full body, Tues - Cardio, Wed - full body, Thurs - Cardio, Fri - full body, Sat & Sun -rest.
I think this is a good beginner programme. Yes?
(In about a week or two I want to go into an upper lower split.)

We are now in week 4 and she is really doing great but the problem is THIS .......
She's getting despondent
She says she's just not seeing the results yet that she was hoping for and her clothes don't really fit her any differently.
(She does not weight herself.)
oh ..... and her diet is SPARTAN - so i doubt that is the problem.

I think the problem is that she is ALREADY really quite lean and unlike most newbs she isn't seeing as much beginner progress as most since she doesn't have that much to lose in the first place.
Would you agree?

Her and I agree that her main aim is to gain sexy girl muscles and I've explained to her that muscle gain takes a lot longer than fat loss and we are only in week 4 afterall.
But I understand her let-down, she really was just hoping to see SOME change.

I'd like to keep her motivated by showing her the difference weight training and proper nutrition can make on a body.
Does anyone have links or pics of the following:
1) Lean & Muscular feminine physiques
2) Just lean physiques with little/no muscle
3) Skinny flabby

Thanks so much.

And please feel free to add your two cents worth too.

[Amanda76]

Lean and Muscular (there's always varying degrees)

Jessica Biel (healthy bf percentage with a good muscle base)


Monica Brant



Skinny (normally have skinnyfat parts)


Skinny Fat (soft all over)

[GoutDeMiel]

One person that I look to for inspiration is definitely Jamie Eason. I think she has the perfect (non-fitness model/bodybuilder) body. I'm assuming you and your friend aren't looking to compete? She, IMO, is the perfect balance of muscle to body fat. You can find her pics on google or the main site.

There are also a TON of girls on this site who have to-die-for bodies that I look to for inspiration as well.

As for a skinny but flabby example, I would show her pics of most young celebrities. There are only a few out there that have an enviable body : Jessica Biel for example:


Here's an (in)famous Mischa Barton pic. Pretty much the definition of skinny fat:

[Amanda76]

Originally Posted by GoutDeMiel

One person that I look to for inspiration is definitely Jamie Eason. I think she has the perfect (non-fitness model/bodybuilder) body. I'm assuming you and your friend aren't looking to compete? She, IMO, is the perfect balance of muscle to body fat. You can find her pics on google or the main site.

There are also a TON of girls on this site who have to-die-for bodies that I look to for inspiration as well.

As for a skinny but flabby example, I would show her pics of most young celebrities. There are only a few out there that have an enviable body : Jessica Biel for example:


Here's an (in)famous Mischa Barton pic. Pretty much the definition of skinny fat:

Funny how the same celebs come to mind...LOL

[terracotta]

Well 4 weeks is not much time at all. Even for newbies about all they'd get in 4 weeks is some pump to the muscles. I'd say it takes about 3 months to see significant changes with muscle gain as to see it in the mirror.

Also, since she is new, most of what is happening is her body accustoming to the exercises. She probably isn't gaining so much "strength" as simply teaching her body how to lift the weights. As she gets up in numbers she should see progress, but I'd definitely give it 3 full months.

That said, if she is doing great with form, I would go straight to an upper/lower split, ie. Mon Thurs - Upper, Tues Fri - Lower, cardio after upper days, and wednesday off. Since with full body you have to be able to recover in so short a time, and you have so much to do at once, it isn't as effective.

[Bugga21]

Originally Posted by GoutDeMiel

One person that I look to for inspiration is definitely Jamie Eason. I think she has the perfect (non-fitness model/bodybuilder) body. I'm assuming you and your friend aren't looking to compete? She, IMO, is the perfect balance of muscle to body fat. You can find her pics on google or the main site.

]

Good call! I LOVE Jamie Eason!!

Does anyone have any pictures of her in season and off season?

[GoutDeMiel]

Originally Posted by Amanda76

Funny how the same celebs come to mind...LOL

yeah, really! Mischa Barton could really benefit from some squats. Kinda drives me up a wall to hear the paps and Perez Hilton call her fat.....she's not fat - she just, uh, needs some muscle?

[cfaith]

In regards to her getting despondant---maybe it's time to go ahead and change to the upper/lower split to keep her interested and it might jump start her progress. Have the weights been getting progressively heavier with each workout/week?

[Yukk]

Monique Minton

[amyoz]

Jessica Biel has the best body I have ever seen. Her body is what I am going for. I'd say we are pretty similar, but, I have a little more body fat on hips.

[Amanda76]

Originally Posted by Yukk

Monique Minton

She's pretty awesome!

[demike]

Originally Posted by amyoz

Jessica Biel has the best body I have ever seen. Her body is what I am going for. I'd say we are pretty similar, but, I have a little more body fat on hips.

Biel in Chuck and Larry FTW