How do you add muscle without loosing weight?

How do you add muscle without loosing weight?

Im 59. I was 178lbs in April a little on the chunky side but not obese by any means size 10 misses pants and was found to be insulin resistant. Dr. put me on metformin low carb diet etc. I have since had anxiety due to my job and my husband having to travel frequently for his. Since that time I have not had much of an appetitie. I am trying to stick to the low carb. diet but have stopped taking the metformin and am continuing to loose weight without trying. I am now 143lbs and barely a size 6 misses pant now. I am nervous about being able to pinch hardly any skin before feeling rib. Im now getting told Im thin and comments have gone from my coworkers telling me I have gained weight back in april to telling me I dont need to loose any more weight. My husband says I look good that Im back to the weight when we met. Other people after telling me Im thin and I ask if it looks too thin tell me I look healthy and they wish they could loose the weight I have but to just be careful to not loose too much more. Maybe Im just not use to being thin and feeling bone without pinching an inch but Im a little concerned to loose any more and havent really tried to loose the amount I did. In June I had some severe headaches and an MRI showed a potential microadenoma on my pituitary gland. I cant go back until Dec. to see if I have one for sure or not. I have had lots of bloodwork done and its all normal. BP is normal. EEG is normal. URINE creatinine is high but BLOOD creatinine is normal. All my electrolytes etc. is normal. My cholesterol is only 125. Dr. said weight loss and lack of appetite could be due to the anxiety Ive been experiencing and because I walk 3 miles about 3 times a week on average the high creatinine level in my urine eating smaller meals and being low carb could be me burning muscle but not to be concerned because the creatinine could have just meant I was dehydrated and wasnt to a worrisome level mine was 275 on a 26265 scale. EVERYTHING else has been normal. Personally I dont want to loose anymore weight. I would like to tone up though and maybe gain a little muscle not kelly rippa style but healthy looking muscle. Because I havent had an appetite I have been forcing myself to eat the meals I eat lunch will be a normal home cooked meal balanced w/ protein veggie starchgood size plate and then dinner will be bowl of minstrone soup and 1/2 sandwich or similar. I try to drink green tea and banana for breakfast Im not a breakfast type person and drink water the rest of the day I realize I dont drink enough water. Feeling bones is a little scary for me even if it looks healthy. I dont want to be large like I was premetformin but I dont want to be unhealthy either. Maybe Im just not use to my weight after so many years being larger? SO I guess my question is... how do I gain muscle while not loosing anymore weight so that I feel healthy look healthy and dont feel like Im wasting away???? Suggestions??

Asked by Skadoctor1 about Diet Fitness

This isnt a simple question to answer in a few paragraphs so my advice would be to buy Donna Astons book Fat or Fiction as of all the books Ive read about muscle gain and weight loss it is the most straight forward and clear cut advice you can get. Fairly cheap on eaby.

Answered by Tershal J

The only way to build muscle is to get stronger and by feeding your body the extra calories it needs to build that muscle. First you need to start eating more so you stop losing weight. Once you find that balance then you need to add maybe 100200 calories a day a turkey sandwich for example and start a fitness routine. 3 days a week start doing resistance training such as lunges pushups dumbbell presses and rows. Each week make sure you work harder. Do more reps or left a heavier weight. This will prompt your muscles to grow. Also try doing introducing more intense cardio if your health allows it such as sprints.

Answered by Zentraed

Muscle and fat cells work in similar fashion when it comes to eating. You have to overfeed them to induce growth. With muscle you obviously have to add progressive resistance training. Up your calories with either milk or a shake watch the carb content. Keep track of your weight. You should gain maybe a .5 lb per week initially. A little more is not terrible if you are training hard. Obviosuly if you lose you have to increase calories again.

Answered by rookie35m