Muscle Loss & Fat Gain?

[andream]

This has become a really big issue for me over the past couple of months. Since starting HRT in May 2009 I have gone from about 193lbs to 140lbs, which means like 1lbs a week, so that's healthy weight loss. I'm 5"8. I still think my arms and calves look bulky ie. more muscular than I would like. I'd had this vision of getting all the way down to 120lbs and becoming as skinny as twiggy, but any weight I lose no longer seems to come from my limbs, but rather from my torso...

I used to be interested in weight training (never very good results though) and know the theory behind building muscle. Knowing this, I though doing the exact opposite of what the bodybuilding and fitness magazines say would have given me arms and calves with tiny muscles, but although they have gone down quite a bit, I have reached a plateau.

My issue here is that I don't really want to lose any more weight, as I feel losing weight is affecting the results of my HRT. My face starts to look more angular when I lose weight now, even though I naturally have a chubby baby-face, and my breast growth halts. I occasionally eat lots, and on the days after my high cal days my breasts are bigger, and my face is far more feminine. What I want to do now is eat a high fat (incorporating 100ml of olive oil daily), low protein, medium carb diet, and also do 1 hour of hard cardio on the elliptical trainer for 3 to 4 days a week, and get to 155lbs to 160lbs.

My question is will this diet and exercise regimen encourage muscle loss whilst increasing healthy fat levels? The issue is that I've heard a high fat diet is muscle-sparing, but I really want to have more fat on my body, whilst at the same time reducing muscle, so either I would eat more simple carbs (unhealthy?) or eat more polyunsaturated good fats. If you think my plan is not very good, please suggest something else.

I've really thought of everything to lose these muscles in my arms, even so far as looking at arm slings at the local pharmacy to encourage inaction  - silly I know. But of course that's impractical and unhealthy.

Anyway, I would love any opinons on this.

Thanks!

Andrea

[Megan]

no exercise, eat high calorie junk food

i'm sure this way you'll lose muscles and gain fat

[andream]

Of course, there are genetic factors to take into account as well; my family are naturally weak, slovenly sloths. Your genetics may run towards the opposite.

I also come from a long line of skinny males, but the women in my family are all a little bit chunkier. My dad had noodle arms until he was 40, and my grandad has noodle arms to this day, while my nanna and gran and my mum all have the arms of washerwomen! Maybe I should just get an orchidectomy then. I want to get one anyway.

no exercise, eat high calorie junk food

i'm sure this way you'll lose muscles and gain fat

Thanks - that sounds like a lot of fun, but unfortunately I feel like crap if I do no exercise at all...

[V M]

no exercise, eat high calorie junk food

i'm sure this way you'll lose muscles and gain fat

Um yeah... I not sure that becoming a cardiovascular risk is such a great idea 

[Little Dragon]

do 1 hour of hard cardio on the elliptical trainer for 3 to 4 days a week

Ouchie? Is it bad that I think this is painful? Jeez Im so unfit.. T_T

Hmm Id think doing no exercise would let fat build up

[andream]

Ouchie? Is it bad that I think this is painful? Jeez Im so unfit.. T_T

Hmm Id think doing no exercise would let fat build up

lol it isn't that bad. I just turn on the television, and watch my favourite show. Before I know it the hour is over. Long cardio like that is actually supposed to eat up muscle, especially if you don't eat for 2 hours aftwerwards, at least that's the theory...

[Jasmine.m]

Rather then going to nothing at all, I would instead develop a routine that focuses on endurance and cardio.

[jennajane]

I ask myself the same question.  What to eat/do to lose muscle and gain fat.  I joke that when I start HRT (hopefully soon) that I am going to eat nothing but ice cream.  Right now I am just trying to trim down as much as possible.  I run and practice hot yoga a lot.  Unfortunately this has made me quite muscular/lean.  Some yoga practices have a lot of upper body exercise.  Right now I avoid tank tops and the like to hide my arms.

I think you are on the right track with a low protein high calorie diet.  I don't think it is really necessary to take in more fats, as your body is pretty good at converting a lot of nutrients to fat when taken in excess. 

I am surprised to read these posts from you...you look great in your avatar.
jenna!