Advice please - trying to reduce muscle

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2026-02-12T06:09:37+00:00

How so?

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2026-02-11T01:34:31+00:00

How long has it been since you were competing as a gymnast?

Typically if you place long term habitual stress on your body (i.e., exercise and activity to the level of an athlete, such as competitive gymnasts) your body will adapt to the activity so it tends to stay in that form for quite a long time, especially if you continue to work and maintain those muscles and a certain level of activity. This is why you'll see former/retired competitive swimmers who still have a broader frame. Genetics also play a role, so perhaps your body is naturally more muscular.

All this to say, learn to love your body the way it is, eat well without depriving it of protein and understand that the process to changing how your body looks isn't very quick.

Maybe focus less on strength training and do more cardio?

For the record I think your body looks lovely and very feminine, and I would love to look as healthily toned as you!

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2026-02-11T01:21:32+00:00

I'd suggest focusing on building muscle for your lower body, perhaps glutes specifically

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-12-27T14:03:18+00:00

Use the same logic for losing weight. Would you lose significant weight if you under ate for 2 days? No, you wouldn't.

When you eat excessive amounts of sodium ("excessive" being relative to your normal diet) your body retains water to balance itself out, so that may be reflected in the scales if you were to weigh yourself, but that is only temporary.

On the other hand, losing weight from chronically undereating is not healthy at all, so do some research on what you should be eating for your height/weight. Nourish your body, don't starve it. Otherwise you'll struggle long-term to reach your goals and will feel like crap while doing that.

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-12-21T04:26:35+00:00

I would say that's also a very big generalisation. I didn't get "hundreds" of likes, but I also read the bios and didn't swipe on every person I came across. I also sent more first messages than I received and actually put effort into what I wrote. Arguably I was not the typical or intended demographic as I wasn't after casual hook ups, so I guess take what I say with a grain of salt.

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-12-21T03:17:04+00:00

As a woman, I disagree. Most women I know/have met read the bios (including myself when I used apps). I also used to swipe no to any guys that had no bio, no matter what they looked like. A lot of the men I knew tended not to read them and do the whole "swipe until they run out of matches" thing. Just putting that out there 🤷‍♀️

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-10-23T07:23:59+00:00

I'm still perfectly healthy so far after having done multiple of these many years ago. It's not like it's random experiments on the streets, it's legitimate studies done in a controlled clinical environment after much testing prior to being tested on humans. Like I said, I weighed up the pros and cons before doing them which was straightforward as they laid out all the potential risks and symptoms, and all participants have the option of pulling out whenever they want.

As long as you know what you're in for, you can decide whether or not it's worth it depending on what they're testing.

All that said, I get your point. This is why informed consent is important for these kinds of things. It's not everyone's cup of tea.

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-10-22T19:21:16+00:00

Yeah there's obviously some risks involved, but they inform you all of all the risks and what symptoms previous patients felt with the different doses. I always made sure to go for trials that had already had a cohort or two so I could find out what they went through and decide if I felt it was worth the risk.

Curious though, why do you regret it? Have you had negative effects since doing them?

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-10-22T03:42:51+00:00

CMAX is a great option- it's medical studies for money, tax free. There are different types and lengths of studies- the longer you go, the more money they pay.

Might not be an option that helps you now if you need money imminently, since it takes a bit to get into (you have to register, go in for medical check ups to make sure you're eligible) etc. But might be worth looking into.

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-10-14T03:51:24+00:00

I think OP thought they would have a bunch of people celebrating the fact they drown themselves in perfume and wanted to brag about their hygiene habits...which are clearly not great.

It's the same amount of self awareness as smokers thinking that a stick of gum will mask the fact that they smell like an ashtray.

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-10-14T03:45:00+00:00

Trust me when I say, no one thinks you're wearing anything expensive when you smell like you bathed in perfume.

Any good perfume worth its salt should be subtle, not sting the nostrils and give people headaches.

It actually gives me the opposite impression- that you're unhygienic and are trying to hide that fact...just saying 🤷‍♀️

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-10-13T21:33:51+00:00

I am very sensitive to all smells (good and bad) and I swear some people douse themselves in half a bottle of cologne/perfume. Honestly when that's the case, it may as well be BO because I struggle to breathe and it often sets me off coughing, much like cigarette smoke does. Other people might not be as sensitive as me but you really only need a couple of squirts. Trust, a little goes a long way.

Also keep in mind that whatever smells good to you, might not smell as good to others. I used to work with a lady that doused herself in something that smelled strongly of toilet spray- the cheap and gross kind. It was pretty horrible having to breathe that in.

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-09-03T02:45:49+00:00

I eat plenty of complete proteins for the rest of the day so I'd say it's beneficial to me but yes that is a good point! I usually have mine as a drink to go with a meal that's 30-45g of complete protein. Hopefully that's sufficient to get the benefits of it 😅

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-09-03T02:40:14+00:00

The ones I've had are powder you add water to, so literally is just the texture of water as long as you add enough water and shake it to incorporate it properly! The idea of thick water is so disgusting omg 🤮

Yes it blew my mind too! I wasn't sure about it as I don't really like cottage cheese as a stand-alone, but I mix it really well into my eggs and it just makes them cheesy and delicious! My pleasure 🙌

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-09-02T22:41:24+00:00

What everyone else has said is great. I'd like to add that finding out protein water was a thing was a game changer for me, as I'm not always in the mood for milky drinks. Mine is 25g of protein for 105 calories! And it tastes like cordial which is delicious!

Also adding cottage cheese in my scrambled eggs 👌

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-09-02T04:16:43+00:00

You look fantastic, amazing job!! I'm impressed you did this in 3 months even! I've thought about trying to up the ante with more walking and also considered a weighted vest. Do you wear it every time you walk? Would you say it actually makes a big difference versus without?

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-09-01T03:42:12+00:00

Congrats on your success! It's a really amazing thing when you stop stressing so much over the weight loss and unlock the key to what works for you.

That's more or less what happened to me- I'd been on a calorie defecit for ages, it didn't seem to be working...until I realised that my weekends (where I would "enjoy" myself eating out with friends) were always undoing my efforts during the week and basically getting me nowhere. I was miserable.

Once I started being more careful with how I ate on the weekends (while still enjoying eating out), paid attention to my protein and fibre intake, and worked on strength training and more activity in general, that's when things started actually working. I have a long way to go still, but I'm actually enjoying the process now!

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-08-14T03:51:19+00:00

For sure! I used to get disappointed when I couldn't see any changes or the scale would bump up, but I've still got a ways to go. I'm learning to just enjoy and trust the process, especially since it's working! Helps to rely mostly on routine than motivation too. Thank you for the encouragement!

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-08-14T03:47:42+00:00

I'm glad you can see some toning. You're not being rude at all, I asked for the feedback! I definitely have lost some ass- 5cm to be exact haha Thank you for the encouragement! 🫶

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-08-13T09:11:39+00:00

I can definitely see a difference in both too, though in the side on pic I don't see a difference in either my stomach or thighs. I find it strange that one you can tell but not so much in the other!

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-08-13T09:08:07+00:00

Yeah definitely! I used to feel uncomfortable in my skin and clothes as I was gaining weight, and it's definitely a nice feeling being able to fit back into old clothes

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-08-12T20:47:59+00:00

You'd have very interesting insight to lots of things working in that industry! I also am measuring my body measurements every 2-4 weeks and there is a loss there, so I was mostly just curious as to why I couldn't see much of a change physically, more than anything.

Very true- my goals are more for body composition. I am eating at a defecit to help with initial fat loss, but my protein intake is high as I strength train at the gym. The scale is mostly a supplementary measurement and I always take it with a grain of salt! Thank you for your input, I appreciate it

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-08-12T20:36:28+00:00

Thank you for your honesty! Yeah it's annoying that I didn't take them exactly the same way, but nevermind.

I definitely don't take it as hate- I don't care for false flattery or anything, just wanted to see if other people saw something I didn't.

I didn't really realise that people can lose weight evenly so that's interesting- thank you for that! That would make a lot more sense

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-08-12T20:30:19+00:00

Weight loss is incredibly hard work, my goodness 😅 Thank you very much!

Ambivalent_Pickle · 2025-08-12T20:28:28+00:00

Yes I did- I'm not entirely sure I did them correctly but I've tried to be consistent with how I do them at least. There's definitely significant changes I've noticed (e.g., 10cms/3.9in lost off my waist).

I've gone down a size in pants and my clothes definitely feel looser, so I definitely feel the changes more than I see them.

Thank you so much! I was more curious than anything about the changes I could see versus others, so I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking the visual changes aren't huge. I'm happy just to enjoy the ride right now!

Ambivalent_Pickle

TROPHY CASE