confused..need help!

[jackeezqueen]

hello. I have lost a lot of weight but I still need to firm up...I have a lot of flab on my thighs even though I am fairly thin now. I joined a gym..I do weight resistance, but it isn't happening. I was told I am doing "too much cardio" but the problem is that I walk to the gym and I am also afraid not to do cardio because I don't want to regain the weight I lost. I was also told that my body fat was too low, etc etc.
I just want to stay the same weight and lose these thighs!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[5kgLifter]

Originally Posted by jackeezqueen

hello. I have lost a lot of weight but I still need to firm up...I have a lot of flab on my thighs even though I am fairly thin now. I joined a gym..I do weight resistance, but it isn't happening. I was told I am doing "too much cardio" but the problem is that I walk to the gym and I am also afraid not to do cardio because I don't want to regain the weight I lost. I was also told that my body fat was too low, etc etc.
I just want to stay the same weight and lose these thighs!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I understand the issue of watching the scales after losing weight. However, try to use a tape measure instead, or in addition to the scales. Muscle weighs more than fat, but takes up less space, so you will look slimmer but might put on weight...ignore the scale at that point and go by how clothes fit. "Too much cardio" unless it's really intense cardio or you're not eating enough, probably won't be an issue...if it is a matter of wanting to build muscle then far too much cardio could prevent this...but 2 hours low intensity cardio a day should not cause any problems with muscle gain, as long as you eat the calories needed for the exercise and building the tissue up. 2 hours, also includes any time you walk to the gym etc, it doesn't need to be 2 hours on a treadmill/bike. I generally stick to 45 minutes a day, it tends to be plenty, both on weight training days and cardio days (3 of each a week, so 45 mins - 1 hour max a day for workouts).

[jackeezqueen]

So, if I am working out like I am...how much should I be eating?

[5kgLifter]

Originally Posted by jackeezqueen

So, if I am working out like I am...how much should I be eating?

The best way to gauge it is to use a BMR caluclator online, such as this one:

http://health.drgily.com/basal-metab...calculator.php

these give an estimation of the amount of calories you require...look at one or two and compare them in order to get an average number, especially if they alter by a reasonable amount. Once you have that as a baseline, then tweak your calories, because everybody is slightly different, this will allow you to increase it a bit if needed, or to decrease it a bit, but it gives you a starting point to work from.

[MckennaWilson]

With the whole too much cardio thing... they're probably right...
Honestly, you probably don't need to workout for more than 30 mins a day. I used to do a lot of cardio and got nowhere. Fit yes, but flabby - in annoying areas! Nothing worked until I found kettlebells (yeah I know, harping on about them, but hey they worked for me!)... so I'd say cut down on the cardio and increase the weights big time. Don't worry about building muscle.... the more muscle you have, the more fat you burn. Try doing some suitcase squats with say 26lb in each hand for starters. Do 3 sets of 6 and gradually increase so you're doing 12 reps. Increase the weight too - at the moment I'm doing these with 56lb in each hand. Also try some swings and cleans with big heavy weights. I'm positive you won't bulk up like Arnold Squats really are the best way to go.