Lose the extra weight or work on muscle?

[vitaminc]

Here's a link to my before and during pictures:
Before and During Atkins...After Pics to Come Later

My family has told me my weight is actually fine right now and I should focus on getting muscle and looking more cut. I'm stuck in a dilemna about what to do. Can anyone give me some good insight?

[SunnySmile501]

Before looking at the pictures, I thought 181 at 5'8" tall, you probably needed to lose more weight, but after looking at the pictures, I think you need to jump on the exercise and just firm up. You may even gain a few pounds as muscle is heavier but takes up less space. If you are very active this summer and do weight training and eat right, you probably will lose more pounds and build a lot of muscle. At 16 and a male, you probably will grow a couple of inches and will look thinner.

Sunny!

[sadie147]

I would say if you are happy with your size/measurements, work on the muscle, as you tone and build muscle, your bodyfat % will drop..the fat will make way for the muscle.

Concentrate more on measurements and not what the number on the scale says...being toned and healthy IMO is far more important than the number on the scale..

HTH

[chinadoll]

I would definitely work on strength training. It will reshape your body and give you definition. Right now you do not look toned and fit. I know because I was there myself--the weight is gone but you don't look the way you hoped too. Free weights changed my body more in three months than a 45 pound weight loss did. It is also a great confidence builder. You feel strong and alive and powerful.

You have done a great job with the weight loss. Please post follow ups so we can see the final you!

[Elsie150]

I would start climbing the rungs and working towards maintenance if you haven't done so already. I don't think you need to lose much more..if any. Certainly NOT 30 more pounds!!! Climb the rungs and start toning up! Take your measurements. Muscle weighs more than fat so be prepared for that. Great job!!

[ValidRouge]

Definitely go for strength training! It will make the biggest visible changes in your body. Since muscle is metabollically active tissue, it will burn FAT even while you are at rest. So, you definitely want to add as much of that as you can. EVEN if it makes the scale go up. Muscle will eat the fat and make your body look lean and sexy That's a GOOD thing. Don't allow the number on the scale to influence your strength training.

You've done such a great job already that adding some lean muscles to your body is going to make you really really happy. PLUS, you WILL be dropping FAT too.

[TheDogAteMyName]

You look great. I would do strength training. You'll love it. Congrats on the weightloss!