Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
Hi. This isn't a usual request, I'm pretty sure, but I'm looking to LOSE some muscle mass. Of cousre, I'm not looking to gain any fat in the process. Here's the situation:
I'm 19, nearly 20. I've been working out in one way or another for about five yeras. It began as just weight-training for fun, then I wrestled for most of high school and finished off with a season of power lifting. Through that whole time, I maintained a body weight anywhere from 125 to 140. I'm naturally lean and only worked on "beefy" muscle for a few short periods, usually leaning towards more toned muscle.
Now I'm in college and still working out for my own sake. I try to eat decently, and certainly do compared to some of my peers, and I try to lift 3 days a week and run anywhere up to 5 days. The thing is, I feel unhappy with a bulkier body. My muscles aren't very round by any stretch, not in comparison to a lot of bodybuilders, but I still kind of want to drop some of this muscle and get more of a runner's body, lean with longer, thinner, ropier muscles.
From what I've gathered, a few things to do would be: 1) Run. A lot. Far, fast, and often. 2) Eat less protein, carbs...well, just eat less in general. I've done this before back in the wrestling/power lifting days to make certain weights, but I was trying to reach a number goal then instead of a "How do I look?" goal. 3) Less weight-training. See, in my mission to thin out more, I've gone from a number of sets with varying reps and weights to something like two sets of 50 reps with much lighter weight as well as some body-weight exercises. This has made SOME difference...but not all of it.
So, I guess what I'm asking here is if anyone has any suggestions on how to do this WITHOUT letting my existing muscle turn into fat. I've known well-built people who stop lifting and end up being the same size, just fat, not muscle. What I'm looking for, like I said, is a slighter, more cut and ropier physique, built for endurance and running more than strength. The problem is getting DOWN from where I am, not building up.
If anyone has anything -- suggestions, stories, or you see problems in my logic as to how I'm going to do these -- I'd really appreciate you posting them. Thanks!
-Will
I'm 19, nearly 20. I've been working out in one way or another for about five yeras. It began as just weight-training for fun, then I wrestled for most of high school and finished off with a season of power lifting. Through that whole time, I maintained a body weight anywhere from 125 to 140. I'm naturally lean and only worked on "beefy" muscle for a few short periods, usually leaning towards more toned muscle.
Now I'm in college and still working out for my own sake. I try to eat decently, and certainly do compared to some of my peers, and I try to lift 3 days a week and run anywhere up to 5 days. The thing is, I feel unhappy with a bulkier body. My muscles aren't very round by any stretch, not in comparison to a lot of bodybuilders, but I still kind of want to drop some of this muscle and get more of a runner's body, lean with longer, thinner, ropier muscles.
From what I've gathered, a few things to do would be: 1) Run. A lot. Far, fast, and often. 2) Eat less protein, carbs...well, just eat less in general. I've done this before back in the wrestling/power lifting days to make certain weights, but I was trying to reach a number goal then instead of a "How do I look?" goal. 3) Less weight-training. See, in my mission to thin out more, I've gone from a number of sets with varying reps and weights to something like two sets of 50 reps with much lighter weight as well as some body-weight exercises. This has made SOME difference...but not all of it.
So, I guess what I'm asking here is if anyone has any suggestions on how to do this WITHOUT letting my existing muscle turn into fat. I've known well-built people who stop lifting and end up being the same size, just fat, not muscle. What I'm looking for, like I said, is a slighter, more cut and ropier physique, built for endurance and running more than strength. The problem is getting DOWN from where I am, not building up.
If anyone has anything -- suggestions, stories, or you see problems in my logic as to how I'm going to do these -- I'd really appreciate you posting them. Thanks!
-Will
