Want to get in shape without losing my lady parts...;)

[Nikki Sahagin]

Okay...so I'm 5'5, 8 stone, D cup...all I really want to do is improve my stamina, fitness, flexibility and tone up. I'd quite like a toned stomach, arms and legs (they are already slightly toned but I'd like more definition).

 

My concern is...will I lose my boobs and butt if I exercise/tone too much, or will they simply stay there whilst the rest of me is toned?

 

I'm very slim anyway and my boobs and butt are still there, so I'm sure they'd stay regardless of exercise, so long as I'm eating the same, but I just wanted to be sure, as I'd be pretty upset to gain muscle tone but lose my lady parts!

 

As I'm not looking to go crazy with the working out I'm sure the impact wouldn't be massive, but what are any women on the forums experiences with increasing the power/definition of your bodies whilst maintaining your soft parts?

[soccerrprp]

Nikki,

 

You can do exactly what you want w/o losing your "lady parts." OMG, I don't understand why some women think that this will happen! As long as you target the areas you want to tone and don't over do it with lifting weights, etc. You'll achieve what you want. I know a number of women with finely toned bodies and still have very nice curves in the bosom and butt...

 

Go for it!

[Nikki Sahagin]

Nikki,

 

You can do exactly what you want w/o losing your "lady parts." OMG, I don't understand why some women think that this will happen! As long as you target the areas you want to tone and don't over do it with lifting weights, etc. You'll achieve what you want. I know a number of women with finely toned bodies and still have very nice curves in the bosom and butt...

 

Go for it!

 

Well it stems really from my lack of understanding of exercise in general. I never really learnt much about it so my knowledge is pretty basic. All I know is lots of people have mentioned that in passing and it seemed to make sense that toning up would cause the fat in your boobs and butt to melt away...and lots of female athletes look pretty small chested, but I suppose that's more to do with the intensity of their training.

 

I don't really know what would constitute 'over doing' it with regards to the working out.

[TLY22]

Nikki,

 

You can do exactly what you want w/o losing your "lady parts." OMG, I don't understand why some women think that this will happen! As long as you target the areas you want to tone and don't over do it with lifting weights, etc. You'll achieve what you want. I know a number of women with finely toned bodies and still have very nice curves in the bosom and butt...

 

Go for it!

 

Not true. You can't 'target' areas. Your body will tone what it wants, and lose weight from where it wants. Weights are a brilliant idea for toning, so weight it up. You shouldn't lose anything if you're not losing weight. But your body does what it wants. You don't really get a choice, unfortunately.

 

But what you're planning is pretty much what I'm starting to do. I'm slim with a nice booty and breasts, and I haven't lost any of it. Do lunges and squats to keep your butt tight and nice. Boobs are boobs - they'll do whatever they want lol

[Emilia]

All I know is lots of people have mentioned that in passing and it seemed to make sense that toning up would cause the fat in your boobs and butt to melt away...and lots of female athletes look pretty small chested, but I suppose that's more to do with the intensity of their training.

 

You have to work pretty hard to get to that stage, it isn't something that happens over night.

 

Weight training and not getting carried away with your cardio (shorter 20 minute runs at higher intensity rather than longer ones at lower intensity) are the best bets combined with a healthy and varied diet of protein, carbs and fat.

[soccerrprp]

Not true. You can't 'target' areas. Your body will tone what it wants, and lose weight from where it wants. Weights are a brilliant idea for toning, so weight it up. You shouldn't lose anything if you're not losing weight. But your body does what it wants. You don't really get a choice, unfortunately.

 

But what you're planning is pretty much what I'm starting to do. I'm slim with a nice booty and breasts, and I haven't lost any of it. Do lunges and squats to keep your butt tight and nice. Boobs are boobs - they'll do whatever they want lol

 

What? Of course you can target areas to tone, build! I'm not talking about general weight/fat loss here. If you want to tone, then target the areas you want to tone. Weights are fine as longs as you don't go to a routine to become some massive body-builder. Lighting weights for toning. Otherwise, too much muscle "will" replace your particulars over time.

 

I lift, do cardio, run and have been targeting for years...

[StillReigning]

Female athletes are very very very lean

 

 

There's a huge difference between what you sound like, which my guess is about 30% bodyfat and female athletes who are usually at 15-18%. Find the perfect middle ground at about 20-25% and you'll have boobs and ass while still being toned

[StillReigning]

What? Of course you can target areas to tone, build! I'm not talking about general weight/fat loss here. If you want to tone, then target the areas you want to tone. Weights are fine as longs as you don't go to a routine to become some massive body-builder. Lighting weights for toning. Otherwise, too much muscle "will" replace your particulars over time.

 

I lift, do cardio, run and have been targeting for years...

 

 

This is stupid advice

 

 

There is no "routine" to be a bodybuilder. Bodybuilders get huge through massive amounts of steroids. Everybody should train weights with good intensity and they're never going to be massive unless they go on steroids

 

 

This chick trains like a bodybuilder BTW - http://www.autoinfection.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/marzia-prince-4.jpg

[Maeva]

Well, I know I've lost some boobs in the process of gaining muscle mass... Not so much, but my body fat % dropped and so my boobs shrunk; but I'm petite so it looks alright...

 

I don't mind so much, since I like my body overall a lot more than I used too, though... Nothing happening with my butt so far, except it being firmer than it used to, thanks to the squats & lunges

 

It won't happen overnight though, so don't worry!

[AH1990]

Female athletes are very very very lean

 

 

There's a huge difference between what you sound like, which my guess is about 30% bodyfat and female athletes who are usually at 15-18%. Find the perfect middle ground at about 20-25% and you'll have boobs and ass while still being toned

 

 

 

If you're body fat is around 20-25% then you're overweight.

Female athletes are in the low low teens, most going into the single digits. To even have your ab's appear through the fat layer on your stomach, you need to be around 12%.

 

As for toning and targeting certain areas, not true at all. There is no exercise, pill, drink or any supplement in the world that can do that. Like another poster said before, your body will lose weight where it wants to first. Most of the time it's from all over your body.

 

And as for female's getting into the body builder look, that won't happen unless they start injecting testosterone (very minuscule amounts) or taking testosterone booster supplements. Females cannot and will not gain muscle as fast as guys do. Testosterone is what fuels muscle building in the gym. And lady's have tiny amounts of it in their body.

 

My advice to the OP: Start by checking into your diet and eating clean foods, carbs, proteins, lean meats. You don't have to go over the top, just make sure you don't eat fatty foods all the time. Exercise with weights for 45min, then followed with 15-20min of cardio.

 

Having said that, if you want more definition in certain areas of your body, you can do certain exercises, but when it comes to fat loss, you will lose the weight all over your body. Moreso in some areas than others. You can thank genetics for that.

Edited August 24, 2012 by AH1990

[Emilia]

If you're body fat is around 20-25% then you're overweight.

Female athletes are in the low low teens, most going into the single digits. To even have your ab's appear through the fat layer on your stomach, you need to be around 12%.

 

 

This is crazy, this is completely wrong

 

OP whatever you do, ignore this part, a healthy fit woman is best to be over 20% body fat, personally I think anything under 22% isn't that attractive (too ripped looking) but that's personal preference

 

12% is anorexic! As in seriously seriously lean where even your periods stop

 

http://www.builtlean.com/2010/08/03/ideal-body-fat-percentage-chart/

 

Also, body fat is relative to overall weight, it's not an indication of being overweight in general. It is extremely irresponsible to make such claims on a public forum where a lot of women have eating disorder issues already and come here for help.

Edited August 24, 2012 by Emilia

[Maeva]

That is wrong!!

 

20% is AWESOME for a woman! For a man, it's different but 20% of body fat on a woman is someone who's in great shape.

 

I am personnally around 17%-18% and I'm 5'5 & 115 lbs, not sure how someone could consider me even a little overweight, so 20% is great.

 

It's very difficult for a woman to go under 15% BF, and some fitness/bikini models might be around 12% for competitions but it's very hard to maintain year long.

 

Men can easily be around 5% for competitions, though.

[tman666]

Men can easily be around 5% for competitions, though.

 

Not sure about how "easy" it is...

[Maeva]

Not sure about how "easy" it is...

 

 

Yes, I guess easily wasn't the right word here!

[tman666]

Yes, I guess easily wasn't the right word here!

 

I get and agree with your point though in your earlier post. Guess I'm just feeling ornery today.

[Maeva]

I get and agree with your point though in your earlier post. Guess I'm just feeling ornery today.

 

I'm French! I guess that's my excuse, I can use the wrong words at the wrong time

[AlexCross]

Getting to 5 % body fat for a male is rough, but it depends on genetics.

[GirlontheLam]

I'm going to be the voice od dissent here. It really just depends on your body and how and where it likes to store fat. But don't forget the strength training, and work on your but and upper body so you'll get the "V shape" and firm butt you want!

[RiverRunning]

At 5'5" and 112 lbs., OP, it doesn't sound like you'd have much fat (of course, that may not be so) to lose. Any fat loss that you might have would likely be so little that you wouldn't have to worry about a marked drop in your breast size (people tend to lose fat from all over, although different people may notice more obvious differences in some body parts over others as they drop weight).

 

To put this into perspective, I was a 40DD when I was 100 pounds heavier. I'm now 36D. Alternatively, I know women who have lost 10 or 20 pounds and they went from being DD down to an A or a B cup. Whether or not you'll lose it all or keep most of it is really anyone's guess.

 

Start getting into more strength training exercises and see what happens, is what I say. But I'd imagine that if you have fat to lose, you likely don't have more than 5 or 10 pounds you could reasonably lose anyway.