Losing weight is a difficult endeavor; it is even more frustrating if, as you lose the weight, your body doesn't look as good as expected. Fortunately, there is a way to lose weight and tighten up your body so that the soft spots, such as thighs and stomach, that hold onto fat become firm and lean. Losing weight and adding muscle will change the consistency of your body, so even if you lose only a few pounds, you will look much slimmer and wear a smaller size. While losing weight can occur rapidly--it is not unusual to lose 2 lb. a week--gaining muscle takes longer. It is important to be consistent and patient; these changes take time.
Tips and Warnings
- Choose exercises that you enjoy to help you stick with your program, but understand that to make serious changes to your body requires difficult work.
- Understand the difference between muscle soreness, which is expected, and pain, which can be the result of overuse. Avoid eating out of boredom, but deal with legitimate hunger. Your body will require additional fuel for the stepped-up workout and cannot build muscle without adequate calories.
Things You'll Need
- Online or paper food diary
- Weightlifting equipment
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