Yup, you've made wonderful progress so far! Looks like you should be almost at your goal.
Supposedly I'm a pencil/ruler body type, since I put all my weight on my middle (the unhealthiest place to put it ) with proportionately skinny arms and legs. I'll be interested to see what I look like at my goal body fat. I'm sure I'll then have to switch to body recomp to build some muscle and avoid looking like Kate Hudson or Gwyneth Paltrow.
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They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
Nice going over there! You're beginning to really lean out all over, and your waist in particular is your strong suit.
It's interesting to see how everyone's body shape is like. I thought I was more of an apple, but I've always been told, even at my heaviest, that my waist is my most attractive feature. So that leads me to believe that my self-perception is probably a bit skewered.
Thanks for all your positive comments! You're too kind.
It's strange what lifting weights does for your body as I've lost a little weight (but that's when I reduced cals) but the only measurement that has really reduced is my waist and my neck (-0.5"!)! I'm sure my calves are now bigger (always had big-ish calves), I can feel and sort of see the extra muscle in my thighs and my arms definitely have much more muscle and feel firmer (albeit covered with a layer of fat). My sister said that I look smaller.
This area is the one I'd like to change but I guess only fat loss can really help. Back to being vigilant with my intake today!
The tops of my arms make me feel pudgy (my sister and I were saying that neither of us feel particularly feel fat, just that there's a layer of pudge). I'm going to take some better pictures of my back - it's an area that needs to be kept an eye on cos anything could be going on back there! I have to say though, that I'm loving working my back in Stage Three. Always been a favourite area to work, maybe that's why I'm able to do chin-ups...?
Talking of chin ups, I'm thinking of skipping Stage 6. I think I'd like to go straight to Stage 7 and some fat loss, plus by then I'll have NROL and I'll probably be itching to do some workouts from there!
I'm feeling achy today - across upper back and triceps. Hamstrings aren't as bad as yesterday. I'm thinking that's because of the run my mum sprung on me! They got stretched out.
She wants to follow a 12-week training plan for a 1/2 marathon, although her goal is 10K. So, I'd say I'd go out for a run with her but I thought she meant today! But no, at 7.30 last night we did 5min walk/5min run x 3 and after the first running segment it was fine. But weights, HIIT and a run in one day!? Phew!
I too, am a "pear"; but I think that must be a mistake, because I don't see that curvy waistline when I look in MY mirror. . .sigh.
I'd call you more of an "emerging hourglass"
Quote:
Originally Posted by scribess
Supposedly I'm a pencil/ruler body type, since I put all my weight on my middle (the unhealthiest place to put it ) with proportionately skinny arms and legs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYC_Native
It's interesting to see how everyone's body shape is like. I thought I was more of an apple, but I've always been told, even at my heaviest, that my waist is my most attractive feature. So that leads me to believe that my self-perception is probably a bit skewered.
I've found determining body shape to be difficult. I've always thought of myself as a pear due to having heavier thighs and, despite having a very flat stomach in my teenage years and early 20s (before I just sat down all day and gained fat ), I've never been particularly skinny on my upper body, but it may just be that I'm a mild pear shape.
When I was younger, I remember my sister's friend telling me that I wasn't a pear, just in proportion (a dream!), so that is what I'm aiming for. Then I thought, am I leaning towards hourglass? But I think being a 32C bra size probably means I haven't got quite enough 'up top' to qualify! When I gain weight, it tends to be around my middle just like my mum, who is definitely an apple with a bigger bust and waist and skinny skinny legs. I seemed to have got my figure from my dad, having heavier legs. My sister and I have got his knees!
AI think I'll stick with 'mild pear'. Sounds like a flavour!
There are fashion books that when you take all your measurements and plug them in will give you your shape. But a good photograph is more than enough.
Trust me, you are definitely 125% an hourglass. Compare your shoulders to your hips. They are the same size, neither is larger than the other. That is the start of the hourglass. Then add in your teenie tiny waist (nope, I swear.....no jealousy on my part.)
My shoulders and hips are quite balanced too, my hips are narrow and my shoulders are narrow, but my waist had grown to within 5 inches of my hips (but that's now going down.) Even with my big belly, I'm not the shape of an apple, but a ruler, without a doubt, and will still be a ruler when slimmer. True apples have those thin legs that look really nice, because they are shapely, not stick thin. I have legs like tree stumps, but not a hip in site.
Oh, and btw, I do analyze body shapes a lot as I'm a sewer, and active on sewing forums and we do this a lot...lol.
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That arm area you have circles, that's a spot I'm noticing a lot lately myself. Sure I have it on me, but I'm quite overweight right now. But I see it on my daughters who are slim, but have put on a few pounds (first years of college.) I'm sometimes surprised how much weight actually goes on an arm.
I think it's the well-proportioned woman who shows some weight there, as when she gains she gains it evenly all over. That's my case. If you gain all in the hips and butt, that area stays skinny.
Well, thanks for your knowledgeable input, Annette! Nice to know we have a professional to help us out.
I was looking at a magazine article the other day (my job revolves around women's magazines so I read a lot of pointless articles! ) and it was about body shapes and the best diet for them (hmmm...) and it was describing the different body shapes, then saying where those body shapes would most likely put on weight first. It confused the bejesus out of me because I seemed to match about 3 of them!
Annette's post was helpful for me too, though I wasn't really confused about my shape.. most definitely an apple. The re-appearance of a waist or rather new appearance as I never even had a waist as a teenager is a true miracle to me.
You do look pretty good actually from what little I can see.
As for pudgy arms.. yep, here too maybe an aging thing for me as they used to be not as plump, but this is a big problem area for most women too.. now the weather is hot & humid (or has been) , it is almost scary how many even have bat wings at a very young age.. for yours... no, can't really see any pudge at all! Only with a looking glass my dear! Or should I say 'love' as you are in London where every woman is called 'love'.. or is that a thing of the past?
Love, ha! Yes, people here still call women 'love'. Did someone say something about the 21st century?
I sell photos (beauty, lifestyle, fashion) in the UK magazine/newspaper market. So all day long I look at pictures of models, usually in bikinis. But don't worry, it hasn't warped my self-image
Ok, I'm going to make my goal simple. Doing these workouts seem have got me pointed in the right direction, now I just want to reduce my body fat (not by a lot, Espi) but 21% is my goal for now then I'll see how it goes. I can feel the muscle, now some of it needs to show!
Does anyone know how to work out how many lbs of fat I'd have to lose to get to 21% (please note I have changed my goal from 20% to 21% to make it seen more obtainable), based on these stats?
122.5lbs
23.6% body fat
29lbs fat
I've been wondering this for a while and I haven't managed to work it out.
Bleugh. I have a cold. In July. Our weather is being typically British and has gone from a heatwave to miserable rain in a week. I'm blaming my cold on the weather.
My food has been pretty off track the last few days and being ill doesn't help the desire for comfort food (which never turns out to be very comforting), especially when I should obviously be eating vitamin and mineral packed fruits and vegetables.
Just looking at websites about body fat %, after looking at Leigh's video, and I came across this illustration (obviously minus me!). Definitely want to get towards 20-21%.
Don't know what's going on with her underwear/bikini, but then I can hardly talk! Nicer underwear for the next photos.
Very interesting discussion on body types, though I'm also starting to get a little more confused--front-on I do have a pretty well-defined waist, but since I put on my weight mostly around my abs and butt, I have a larger waist-to-hip ratio (about .74; I've heard "ideal" is .67-.7). Then as I was walking this morning, I noticed my shadow--my upper half seemed nice and lean (I can easily feel my ribs on my sides) but then I definitely had a more "pear-like" spread starting at the hips.
Oh well. Like you, I like the 20% illustration. I'm starting to care less and less about numbers and more about what I actually look like, if that makes sense.
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They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
Just looking at websites about body fat %, after looking at Leigh's video, and I came across this illustration (obviously minus me!). Definitely want to get towards 20-21%.
Don't know what's going on with her underwear/bikini, but then I can hardly talk! Nicer underwear for the next photos.
x2 I wonder too what is going on with the illustrated girl's bikini looks like someone spray pained it on. Where did you find these pictures? They are pretty good!
I currently stand very close to the 20% girl and would like to get down to 18%(too bad there is no picture for that-bummer). I am not as pear shaped as you poppypixie (not that it's a bad thing to be pear shaped) I guess I would fall into the athletic/lean category but I do have a generous sized 'trunk' in the back if you know what I mean!
Good job on your progress!
__________________ "Create like a God, Command like a King, and Work like a Slave"-Constantin Brancusi
The illustrations are kinda odd... The top half of the bikinis are barely covering the illustrated girls' boobs, LOL.
This reminds me that I should take a photo of myself, to see what my shape is. I dunno - I'm definitely not a pear. My chest/shoulders are in proportion to my hips, though, so perhaps I'm an hourglass???
The illustrations are kinda odd... The top half of the bikinis are barely covering the illustrated girls' boobs, LOL.
This reminds me that I should take a photo of myself, to see what my shape is. I dunno - I'm definitely not a pear. My chest/shoulders are in proportion to my hips, though, so perhaps I'm an hourglass???
I bet you are, since you said people say your waist is your best feature; that means it's really defined. You could post pics, and see what Annette says, our resident sewer/assessor of body shapes!
Oh gosh, you made me remember something. Okay, one thing we often do in sewing is make a "croquis." I'll have to post mine in my blog but it will be quite embarrassing.
What you do is photograph your body full on, front and side (back too if you care.) Then in a graphic program just trace your body's outline.
Then you can print it out and use it to draw on clothing pieces to see what styles work for your shape. It really works and makes a lot of sense with hemline and such.
We all know how we have a best sleeve length, leg width in pants, etc.
I bet mine already looks quite a bit better.
It would also be a good way for the person who doesn't want to take the bikini shot, or short and bra top photos because they are embarrassed by that. Heck, it's totally understandable, no matter one's weight.
Okay, I'll go ahead and post my croquis in my log.
Oh, it's been busy in here! I was off work ill yesterday (stupid cold) and couldn't manage to drag myself to the computer. Back at work today though. Must have lots of fluids! Had a very carb heavy day yesterday and certainly didn't feel any better for it. Thankfully, my past few less-than-optimal days haven't affected the scale too much. I do feel smaller around my middle which is nice .
The website I got that illustration from (with weird-bikini girl!) is:
Annette, I was thinking that making an outline would be good as well as having photos but I couldn't work out how to do it in Photoshop. Maybe I'll have a go at making my own croquis (I see Etana has posted a link in your log).
Scribess, I was reading about hip/waist ratio the other day and read that 0.75 or below is excellent (I'm 0.72).
I can't figure out which of the models from the link I most match--their fat distribution is much more even than mine, so that I have smaller legs/arms than all of the ones in my supposed range, but a larger midsection. Still interesting to read. And looking at the 15% model, I definitely think that's too low for me (I'd been toying with trying for 18%, but I really think I'll likely settle for around 20%).
Hope you are feeling better, and yes, definitely drink lots of water!
__________________
They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
One-arm DB snatch
3 x 6 @ 10kg (22lbs)
DB single leg Romanian DL
3 x 6 @ 2x6kg (2x13lbs) Barbell bent-over row I was putting my DBs back after my last set of Romanian's and saw a guy asking another guy who was using the BB I'd set up for the rows and the guy referred to me as a lady! Ha! I'm so used to being referred to as a girl! Well, I'll be 27 in a month tomorrow!
1 x 6 @ 25kg (55lbs)
2 x 6 @ 27.5kg (60.6lbs)
DB single-arm overhead squat
These are still quite strange!
3 x 6 @ 4+10kg (we don't have a 5kg DB) (8.8+22lbs) DB incline bench press
3 x 6 @ 2x10kg (2x22lbs)
Plank
Argh!
90 sec
75 sec
83 sec
Reverse wood chop
1 x 6 @ 13.75kg (30.3lbs)
2 x 6 @ level 4 (had to use another machine - '4' is lighter than 13.75kg)
Body Matrix
Well, I tried really had not to mess this up this time. I think I may have lost count the second time round on the lunge jumps. I just tried to imagine Nat in her video. http://web.mac.com/n.a.t/Natalias_li...dy_matrix.html
1st time: 4.40 mins
Rest: 9.20 mins - did I get this right? 2x as long as 1st time?
2nd time: 4.16 mins
BB Romanian DL/bent over row
1 x 6 @ 25kg (55lbs)
1 x 6 @ 27.5kg (60.6lbs)
1 x 6 @ 30kg (66lbs)
Partial single-leg squat
1 x 6 @ 6kg (13lbs)
1 x 6 @ 8kg (17.6lbs)
1 x 6 @ 10kg (22lbs) - I got on a step to do this set Wide grip lat pulldown
3 x 6 @ 31.5kg (69.4lbs)
Back extension
Done bent over a bench
3 x 6 @ 5kg (11lbs)
YTWL
A guy commented on these. Said that he never saw people doing exercises like this and that they were very good to do! I said I'd never seen anyone else doing deadlifts...
2 x 6 @ 2kg (4.4lbs)
Swiss ball crunch
3 x 6 lever
Hip Flexion (Prone Jackknife)
3 x 6
Lateral flexion (Swiss Ball Side Crunch)
I liked these.
3 x 6
Prone Cobra
3 x 90 sec
HIIT
15 mins
1 min @ 12, 12.5, 13 + 14kph
(1 min @ 7.5, 7.7, 8 + 8.7mph)
Really need to get my macros back on track - not enough protein this week.
I'm going to make ratatouille this weekend to serve with my protein sources. This should mean I can reduce the carbs (pasta etc..) that normally accompany them and also increase my vegetable intake.
I'm going to make ratatouille this weekend to serve with my protein sources. This should mean I can reduce the carbs (pasta etc..) that normally accompany them and also increase my vegetable intake.
Yum. Love it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lost Dog
Plus, my desire to remain stunningly attractive outweighs the call of the cheesecake. mostly...
Stage Three, Workout A3
One-arm DB snatch
3 x 6 @ 10kg (22lbs)
DB single leg Romanian DL
1 x 6 @ 2x6kg (2x13lbs)
2 x 6 @ 2x8kg (17.6lbs) Barbell bent-over row
1 x 6 @ 27.5kg (60.6lbs)
2 x 6 @ 30kg (66lbs)
DB single-arm overhead squat
I felt really weak today so I didn't enjoy these at all!
3 x 6 @ 4+10kg (we don't have a 5kg DB) (8.8+22lbs) DB incline bench press
Struggled with these too.
3 x 6 @ 2x10kg (2x22lbs)
PlankThis was the first time I didn't make it to 90 sec at all.
75 sec
80 sec
75 sec Reverse wood chop
3 x 6 @ 13.75kg (30.3lbs)
Body Matrix 1st time: 3.37 mins
Rest: 7.20 mins
2nd time: 3.36 mins
Ok, confession time. My diet has been appalling these past few days. It was just like I didn't care! Despite all the positive comments left in here about the photos I posted, it's like I thought, oh well, people can see a difference, something's working - let's eat junk! I dread to think what I consumed calorie/ macro-wise but that's in the past. I came to the realisation yesterday that I have done exactly what it said in the Self-Image, Self-Sabotage article I posted a while back.
Your Self Image - don't sabotage yourself
"But the minute you begin getting results, you fall off the wagon. You binge, you skip workouts, you cheat. What’s most perplexing (and upsetting) is that you know what you should do… but no matter how hard you try, you can’t get yourself to do it! It’s as if some unseen force is sabotaging you and controlling your behavior like you were a puppet on a string."
This is all true, apart from I have been doing my workouts (but no running yet). As the article says, it's like I saw the positive results but my self-image is so ingrained into my mind, it's like I have a mini-rebellion and eat in a way to try and undo all my good work. My self-image needs to change, I need to be able to see my self as the way I want to look but I'm having trouble picturing that. I've been smaller than I am now but I was still the same shape. It's my shape I want to change, as well as being smaller, but I just can't picture it in my mind.
So, I am drinking lots of water today, my calories are reduced as well as carbs. I'm pretty sure I'm holding on to a lot of water, especially around my stomach (which was quite flat just a few days ago ). I have this wedding to go to on Saturday and I need to see some improvement by then.
My self-image needs to change, I need to be able to see my self as the way I want to look but I'm having trouble picturing that. I've been smaller than I am now but I was still the same shape. It's my shape I want to change, as well as being smaller, but I just can't picture it in my mind.
I've been working on this, too--trying to picture myself as I'll look when I'm at my goal BF%. It's very, very hard, particularly since I've never been at my goal BF%. Then I think "what if I don't have enough muscle to like my look at my goal BF?" Of course the answer is that then I'd switch to body recomp and building LBM. But then I think I have to take things one step at a time, and I get back to being unable to picture myself at the desired BF%.
I'm seriously getting to the point where I think I may just photoshop my head on to someone with my goal BF, then also photoshop my head onto someone who's obese. That way I'd have a "real" picture to refer to both for what I'm shooting for and what I'm avoiding.
Anyway, you're right--the past is the past. What's important is what you do now.
__________________
They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
) with proportionately skinny arms and legs. I'll be interested to see what I look like at my goal body fat. I'm sure I'll then have to switch to body recomp to build some muscle and avoid looking like Kate Hudson or Gwyneth Paltrow. 
), I've never been particularly skinny on my upper body, but it may just be that I'm a mild pear shape. 
looks like someone spray pained it on. Where did you find these pictures? They are pretty good!
) I guess I would fall into the athletic/lean category but I do have a generous sized 'trunk' in the back if you know what I mean!
Linear Mode
