Clothes don't fit after weight training

Combine weight with mat/ reformer Pilates yoga and Callanetics

I have ended up with massive quads but tbh I quite like them now they have literally grown on me! I look strong and it’s not a bad look in my book

That's the kind of thing DM would say.

I got told off a few months back... I showed her a photo of some cute alpacas in a field while I was running then got told off for running on my own and that I should stop it (which would mean quitting running due to logistics 🙄) I am in my mid 40s FFS.

i haven't dared tell her about my barbell squats

She has an unfortunate combination of a being a war child, aspiring to look like Twiggy in her 20s and not being very flexible with adapting her world view in general. In terms of her own health, her generation was shafted by life getting more sedentary with cars and labour saving gadgets as mid-life set in with loss of muscle and bone density. Also awful diet advice to stay impractically thin. Cabbage soup diet?

I wouldn't attempt to convince her that it's desirable and healthy to be building muscle in my 40s (now that our age group has better quality information)

Drop the weights to 1-2 lbs, make more reps than you can believe, go for Pilates and Barre exercises.

You will be muscled, toned and lean.

Machine exercises were created to bulk up muscles appearance for bodybuilding by working them in isolation, not to maximise strength.

A bigger muscle is not a stronger muscle, you don’t have to be bulky to be strong.

Why are you chasing being petite? Being petite is not a goal to aspire to. Being healthy and strong is the ideal which it sounds like you are. I think women need to retrain our brains to view muscles as attractive on women rather than just slimness. Personally I think arms, legs, shoulders all look better on women when they are shaped by muscle rather than just having low body fat.

What kind of jeans are we talking here - skinny jeans? If so then give up on that. I live in straight or wide leg jeans, more room for muscles!

Congratulations on your muscles! Just buy some new clothes and celebrate the curves that come with being strong.

Definately recommend a PT. I love mine ! Although diet isn't something all of them are qualified to delve in to.

1350 is very low though. You dont need to reduce calories on a rest day. You grow muscle in your sleep and recovery. Your body needs just as many calories to recover and repair muscle as it does to work out.

Clothes sizing is well off anyway. Some shops a size 10 will vary within the same bloody store. Stop chasing skinny. Chase strong. I've had to come to terms with the fact that I can't healthily get below a certain weight. And if I want to feel good and be strong and beat all my lifting pbs then I need to accept a couple of extra pounds.

We put far too much energy chasing the bodies of people who have all the time and money in the world for programmes and training and meal preparation etc and sometimes even surgeries and procedures . It's never gonna be achievable with jobs kids homes and responsibilities. We just do the best we can.

Bet you look fab op looking and being strong is great. And its good for us lomg term. Bone density etc.

I recommend https://chrissmithnutrition2020.com/

I wear a lot of sleeveless tops and dresses in the summer. other than that, I get whatever I need to accommodate my lovely muscles and often wear them with a belt. Having a tight core is an additional benefit of weight training, so I can get away with belts at my advanced age.

like @BogRollBOGOF I had a mother who became seriously frail as she got older. At my age, she was an old woman, and when she fell and broke her hip she never recovered. Spent the last 15 months of her life in a nursing home. Whereas I’m still skiing, ice-skating, cycling, playing tennis etc at the age of 71…

Focus on what matters……. health and fitness!!

Weights have made me limb-heavy, but if I avoid breaking bones in my 50s/60s like DM it will be well worth the inconvenience of having shoulders too snug on tops that still sag off my small bust.

I always naturally thigh/ bum heavy compared to my waist anyway. The world is still not ready for my combination of size 2 feet and 15" of solid calves. This makes socks and boots a nightmare challenge- plus I'm short so there's no spare length between my ankles and muscle bulk. I can't even pull socks up- no trendy long crew socks for me!

It is frustrating creating a heathy body shape but finding clothes are badly cut to fit it.

Seamstress opinion: buy clothes which fit your largest part and get them taken in to fit the smaller parts. Ignore the size on the label.

Weight lifting sounds the wrong exercise if you want to look petite I think.

Best strength and muscle would be something like ballet or Pilates. Strong but with muscle lengthening. And flexibility means you move better.

All my runner friends look amazing though. I’m sure you look fab chunkier or not.

Also protein bars are UPF. That can’t be great.

I just do fewer squats and less weight. I do walk everywhere and carry heavy shopping though, my legs are pretty functional tbh.

When I go through phases of body pump (several over the last 20yrs) I do it for a while, then get fed up and uncomfortable as my trousers don't fit. New trousers don't stay up, to get over my thighs the waist won't touch my sides and slips down.

Celebrate your strong body and get new clothes!

I started working out seriously with weights in my sixties and was able to start wearing sleeveless dresses again. Very empowering!

NB: suggest you eat a boiled egg or two after your workout. Protein bars are UPF and not very healthy… often full of sugar.

A cardio session then a 90 minute weight session is quite a long one. Do you really need to do all of that?
Maybe just do less on your lower body. A good PT will help you do the right exercises to get the body you want.

I have the same. My thighs get too big and I can't get trousers or jeans to fit. I have to go careful on squat weights these days.

You've built up muscle, that's a good thing. Just size up on your jeans.

Maybe it's time to start appreciating your body for what it can do, and celebrate your power (that you worked hard to gain!), than moan about your old jeans?

Nothing wrong with your body at all - change your expectations instead!

I bet you look amazing @Gobstopper1Strong women are sexy. Ignore social media and the emphasis on being skinny. I’ve started weight-training at 54, and I love my little muscles 😊

I would add some lengthening classes & as you said increases reps & lower the weight will help.