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Losing Muscle?

post #1 of 18
7/12/08 at 1:07pm
Thread Starter 
Is it possible to lose muscle? I have a lot of disproportionate thigh and butt muscle relative to a somewhat thin upper body. I like to rock climb and I think the ideal body is a lot of back muscle and somewhat more upper body muscle than lower body. You're supposed to use your legs a lot, but in my case it's harder to be agile with so much more weight on my lower body.

I've thought of HIIT and LSD, but I'm not sure which would be better. I'm like 155 lb, 5' 10" and roughly 10~11% bodyfat.

In short, I'd like a more proportionate body please.
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post #2 of 18
7/12/08 at 1:11pm
You can not use your legs so that the muscles atrophy or you can have some muscle mass surgically removed. Neither are really options are they? I thought not.
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post #3 of 18
7/12/08 at 5:13pm
Of course it's possible to lose muscle, though muscle atrophy isn't necessarily desirable. If you want to lose leg muscle and gain muscle in the upper body, I suggest you get a desk job and visit the gym for upper-body workouts only. IMO, this isn't a good idea, since muscular legs are a good thing to have when you age and start losing muscle mass naturally.
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post #4 of 18
7/12/08 at 5:22pm
wow, that's really weird. I'm 5'10", 155, w/ 10.5% body fat and the same muscular thighs and butt. I've been just not working out those areas, constantly working on just the upper body and lower legs. I'm not sure this is the best, but it's all I could come up with.
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post #5 of 18
7/15/08 at 2:12am
To be more proportionate you'll have to build the upper torso more or do less rockclimbing. You're body is conditioned to retain the muscles it has for the activities it regularly performs.
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post #6 of 18
9/20/09 at 7:20am
Unfortunately it is near impossible other than just being chronically sick for awhile with something for atrophy.
I have a lot of chest and upper body muscle that I've been trying hard to rid of (looking more for the sleek runner's body) but it won't go away.
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post #7 of 18
9/20/09 at 1:46pm
it he key factor here will be diet. for your size about 1400cal/day to start or so. yes, it will suck. most people don't realize how little that is. but once you actually lose weight your diet can return to normal depending on how you eat now. this being said, i weigh 157lbs at 5'10" with about 10%bf and i already feel tiny. i cant imaginge wanting to get smaller. also, be careful with the big upper body program or you will look like an ape
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post #8 of 18
9/20/09 at 2:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sho'nuff View Post
Unfortunately it is near impossible other than just being chronically sick for awhile with something for atrophy. I have a lot of chest and upper body muscle that I've been trying hard to rid of (looking more for the sleek runner's body) but it won't go away.
It's definitely hard work to get slimmer. You have to reduce your calories and do long distance running(marathon training). Muscles break down from excessive endurance exercise vs high intensity short intervals(sprinters). You will break down muscle and fat over your whole body, and not in one particular spot.
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post #9 of 18
9/20/09 at 2:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by indesertum View Post
Is it possible to lose muscle? I have a lot of disproportionate thigh and butt muscle relative to a somewhat thin upper body. I like to rock climb and I think the ideal body is a lot of back muscle and somewhat more upper body muscle than lower body. You're supposed to use your legs a lot, but in my case it's harder to be agile with so much more weight on my lower body.

I've thought of HIIT and LSD, but I'm not sure which would be better. I'm like 155 lb, 5' 10" and roughly 10~11% bodyfat.

In short, I'd like a more proportionate body please.

Some people are genetically predetermined to have muscular legs. I do a lower body workout once every two weeks, and I have much bigger legs than a lot of guys who hit them twice or three times a week. That's just in my genes. And it makes fitting in good pants and denim a complete pain the ass. If you're doing a regular and strenuous activity like rock climbing, I think that your legs are going to stay the same size - if not get more developed.

If you want to be more balanced, I'd recommend doing compound upper-body exercises a few times a week and trying to build yourself up on top.
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post #10 of 18
9/20/09 at 5:15pm
OP, I know where you're coming from. I also have big quads and hams on an otherwise skinny frame. I've been lifting on a 4-day split (shoulders/back & tris/brief calf workout/chest & bis) and running ~5 miles at a fairly slow pace on days I don't lift. I think I'm slowly getting more proportional. The key is to avoid squats and make sure you do cardio that doesn't build up the thighs too much (i.e. cycling, running on an incline.
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post #11 of 18
9/20/09 at 5:50pm
Bro don't worry about your thighs and ass. Just work out your upper body until it becomes proportionate.

What i wouldn't give to have bigger thighs. I have a big ass, but no thighs, and it makes me look ridiculous when i wear shorts. Be happy with you big thighs and work out your upper body.

Bench press, shoulder press (dumbbells and barbells), pull ups (if you can), bent-over row, seated row etc. Basically all the big chest, back and shoulder exercises. Don't worry about the "toning" ones like flies and lateral raise etc, they're not that good for getting big size gains.

If you really wanna lose the muscle in your thighs and ass, do really long distance running e.g. marathon. HIIT will increase your muscle size.
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post #12 of 18
9/21/09 at 2:25am
I rock climb a lot, as in my hands are torn up from returning from a mtn. And I've never ran into a person that has problems with the size of their legs, particularly with agility. No sport or trad climber will build leg mass from climbing. Maybe a mountaineer. The strength required for climbing does require mass. I say just keep climbing. Avoid elvis legs.
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post #13 of 18
9/22/09 at 8:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosenberg View Post
also, be careful with the big upper body program or you will look like an ape

Somehow I doubt that.
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post #14 of 18
9/22/09 at 8:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hangdog View Post
Somehow I doubt that.

somehow i doubt that you spend much time at a gym
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post #15 of 18
9/22/09 at 8:43pm
Oh you do, huh?
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