Is anyone else 'skinny fat?'

[AnnaFurLact1c]

Do you know what I mean by this?

I'm 5 foot 4, maybe a touch under 9 stone and a size 8, more or less. So I'm slim and have a BMI of 21. So far, so good.

However, under my clothes it's a different story. I have a 'fat' tummy and am decidedly untoned. I just look a bit flabby.

How do I sort this out without losing more weight? Or is it something you just accept - I hardly expect to look like a model but would rather not have all this flab.

[MirandaWest]

I think we may be twins.... I am also 5 foot 4 and hovering around 9 stone. I have started running again which I think may be having a slight effect on my tummy. I have never been to a gym and am unlikely to start doing it tbh but I don't want to get any more flabby. I also find myself annoyed when people just say I am "so thin" and I know there's a flabby tummy and ever expanding hips

[FawkesoidOrganisoid]

Me! I did the shred for a while which helped. I didn't lose weight but toned a lot. I was too lazy to continue though. I think it is the only way though- exercise to tone and maybe eat a bit more to avoid weight loss.

[gracelesslady]

Me too! Am about a size 8-10, weigh about 8 and a half stone and people are always saying (sort of in a jealous way) how thin I am/no meat on my bones/do you ever eat, kind of complimentary but with undertones I don't like and try to ignore with not much success. However I look loads better clothed than I do naked, flabby tummy, saddlebags, the beginning of bingo wings... Not a disaster, but could definitely be better! Like previous poster, I think the answer is lots of exercise, and eating properly (not pile of mince pies like I've just scoffed...) I'm trying to do Tracy Anderson DVDs regularly but my life keeps getting in the way.

[UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea]

What exercise do you do?

[Dontbesodramatic]

Me too. Flabby tummy and love handles Fawkes- whats shred?

[drcrab]

Me! I'm 5ft 3 and just about 8 stone I think (51kg?). Still in size 8 clothing but after dc2, haven't been able to rid myself of the wobbly tummy. So have resorted to longer t shirts underneath, tunics etc. by the end of the evening after dinner I look about 3 months pregnant!!
Work full time in an office based job. Drive. Tried to walk dc1 to school
A few times but since the weather turned and work got more hectic I've not been able to.

[dontcallmehon]

Me! I'm 5 foot 7 and a shade over 9 stone. I look good in clothes, but without them I look as if I've melted. Decidedly not toned. I know I need more exercise and I do enjoy it, but I work evenings and struggle to get there.

[gracelesslady]

Dontbesodramatic the shred is a DVD that has 3 increasingly difficult levels of 20 minute exercise routines. A terrifying woman called Jillian michaels shouts at you a lot. It made me want to cry. I did do it (you're supposed to do each level for 10 days, thus making it a 30 Day Shred) but I didn't lose any weight and or inches and just got massive quads and sore knees for my efforts. Works a treat for other people I gather!!

[AnnaFurLact1c]

Ah I'm not alone!

And people just eye roll if you mention it because, let's face it, size 8 or 10 people moaning about 'being fat' is tiresome.

But seriously, out of my clothes I am flabby.

I may consider doing some weights? This might help.

[Dontbesodramatic]

Thanks Gracelesslady. I think I'll look in to that, though homework outs don't work for me. I'm lazy!

[UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea]

I was/am a bit like you - small ish size, normal BMI but with fat around my belly, thighs and arms.

I started doing strength training - e.g. kettlebells - in a class a bit like British Military Fitness. It's exhausting but unbelievably effective.

I'm a huge convert to strength training BTW - I think it can be really important for women in their 30s, 40s and 50 to keep their muscle developed, which helps control weight gain amongst other things.

[UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea]

PS - I haven't lost weight particularly, but my body looks very different - no perceivable saddlebags for example.

[AnnaFurLact1c]

Yes I'm considering this unexpected... I think developing core strength is vital. I am definitely 'slim' in my clothes - size 10 would hang off me... but I have flab on my stomach, upper arms, top of thighs.. and not in an 'imaginary' way iyswim! And, more importantly, I have little in the way of strength or muscle tone

[thewashfairy]

Same here,5ft 1,knocking on 8 stone,BMI 21. My weight has stayed the same since my teens,but my body has become 'out of shape' with age. Clothes on I look just fine eventhough big dinners result in a 'food baby'. I need to build up my core strength and upper body/arms area. Legs are fine as I do an insane amount of stairs,numerous times throughout the day at work.Just don't know how to go about it,just want to tone up,not become 'bulky' muscular as that would look silly at my height. Any ideas ladies?

[AnnaFurLact1c]

fairy - I am thinking about weights? lots of reps with light weights maybe?

[Mu1berries]

i used to see this on mfp and wonder what the hell it meant. i'm the opposite. i think i look better with my clothes off. bummer huh!

[thewashfairy]

Thanks Anna that may well be the way to go

[Mu1berries]

i recommend jillian michaels by the way. now i must be the only poor sod to put on weight doing jillian but don't let that put you off. i was 124 lbs at the beginning of this year, now 126 so not a massive difference but the two pounds i've put on has made me look a lot smoother. i love jillian. i love 6w6p and ripped in 30. those are my favourites.

[Ephiny]

Yes I am the same. BMI under 20, so I'm definitely not overweight, but quite flabby and out of shape.

I agree exercise, especially resistance/weights, is the thing to do. Dieting is not really going to help, as you don't really need to lose weight, you want to build muscle. Strength training is good for your bone density as well, which is important especially for women as we get older.

[mamij]

Me too! People are always saying "you're so skinny" as I have thin arms and legs. But I've got a flabby tummy (made worse after two DDs!) that definitely isn't bikini material!

[Mu1berries]

that stands for six week six pack by the way. It's a really good workout that combines cardio with abdominal exercises, and resistance exercises where you are using your own body weight.

ripped in 30 is the "three:two:one" method, three minutes of strength, two minutes of cardio and one minute of abs. There are three circuits, it is tough, she works you hard, but it is not boring because you don't have to do any one thing for so long that you can't face it. It's good, she keeps you moving.

Nmtz is no more trouble zones which is the toning and conditioning one, I just use 2 kilo weights but obviously you can use more. I find some of the exercises too easy with 2 kilo weights but some too hard, so I should get a heavier set just to have the option to switch to a heavier weight IF i can face it.

BFBM is banish fat boost metabolism and it's 7 circuits of cardio. I normally can't face all 7 so I would do 5. But when she's built up your arm strength she can get your heart racing doing walking planks and core twists and so on so you're doing abs and cardio at the same time.

I am like kathy bates in misery can you tell. I am her biggest fan. I have davina and nell and billy blanks and bob harper and ... hannah waterman on the shelf too, but jillian is the best.

[kaumana]

I'm the same, but I now do Bodypump and Bodyattack classes at the gym and am noticing a huge improvement. Resistance and weight training is the way to do it.

[TalkinPeace2]

Yoga, pilates, bodypump : between them will change the shape of your limbs. No bigger or smaller just curved in the right places
and pilates is FAB for toned tummies

[CityDweller]

You need to do strength training to build muscle and tone. And none of that namby-pamby light-weights-low-reps nonsense they always tell women to do in gyms. Don't fear the weights - they will make you look toned, not buff (unless you're taking steroids too ).

Look up 'Cross fit' in your area, or get taught how to lift weights properly at the gym by someone who knows what they're doing. Don't just start hoiking heavy things as you'll hurt yourself!

Pilates (especially on the reformer machines) is another option.