CheckEmoji Community · the emoji forum
🏠 Home 🆕 What's new ❓ Unanswered 🔥 Popular 📡 RSS Members 👥 0 online
log in · register
Home › Lifestyle › Health › How to get shredded at home on a budget?

How to get shredded at home on a budget?

Started by Grace Mendoza78 · · 👁 4 views · 17 replies

📡 Subscribe to replies

Participants Grace Mendoza78slycrane94AHenry Wilson48Hannah Ward11restlesstiger31darkfalcon30jadetinker85
Grace Mendoza78 Grace Mendoza78 NewcomerOP
7 messages
joined May 2004
#1 ·
Hi there!
I’m a huge fan of working out—I actually have a "mini gym" set up at home. My goal is to lose weight in all the right spots and get that subtle muscle definition. Every time I ask the experts at my local Gold's Gym or people on Reddit for advice, they immediately try to sell me a mountain of supplements! They claim that women simply can't achieve definition without them because we naturally have more fat cells than men. So, what? Does that mean I'm supposed to just throw money down the drain? Because those things are outrageously expensive...😢 Since I'm a college student living at home, I basically eat whatever my parents whip up. It isn't exactly junk food, but it's certainly not gourmet health fare either.

I'm 6'0" and about 150 lbs. I wouldn't call myself strong, nor am I overweight—it's just frustrating that I can't drop those last few pounds in the right places. Instead, the weight always vanishes from wherever I don't want it to, even when I'm training!

Any advice (provided it's actually smart 👍) would be appreciated! Thanks!
slycrane94 slycrane94 Active Member
58 messages
joined Dec 2002
#2 ·
To sounds perfect to me.🙂 Don't change a thing.😁

As for the supplements, I haven't heard anything yet. Progress with training is a bit slow—having to run drills for the girls, obviously—but it’s moving along.

That theory about body fat is likely just because women have a different distribution of fat cells rather than having more of them.
A Anonymous Veteran
3.6K messages
joined May 2005
#3 ·
Look, it’s physically impossible to pick and choose where you lose weight. It just doesn't work like that. Men usually have that stubborn fat storage right in their midsection, so they tend to lean out everywhere else before the belly fat finally starts to budge. For women, it’s often more about the hips or glutes. I see so many girls hitting the heavy weights for leg day, only to end up losing volume in their chest or somewhere else they weren't even trying to target. At the end of the day, it all comes down to your specific body type and your genetics.
IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT DROPPING WEIGHT, let me know what your main goals are—like which areas bother you most and how much total weight you're looking to lose.
Grace Mendoza78 Grace Mendoza78 NewcomerOP
7 messages
joined May 2004
#4 ·
Hey there.
I’m looking to trim down that bit of belly fat—I’ve got a flat stomach, but I want actual muscle definition to show through. I also want to tone up my glutes and arms. I’ve heard women need at least six months of work and some kind of supplements to get there, but I have zero interest in heavy chemicals—I want to keep things strictly natural!😛
I’m not sure if I’m being too demanding here, but honestly, it’s driving me crazy! 😛
A Anonymous Veteran
3.6K messages
joined May 2005
#5 ·
Look, guys don't actually care if a girl has better abs than them.😁

But if you’re dead set on getting those lines on your stomach, honestly...
I don't have a magic formula, but just commit to a workout every single day—maybe an hour or two. The key is targeting the biggest muscle groups. You need to work your legs; they burn the most fuel. Just keep in mind that technique matters. If you're doing sets of 10-15 reps and taking long 3-minute breaks, you aren't really going to see much fat loss. It's better to keep a steady, moderate pace. Maybe try the stationary bike for at least 5 minutes straight. When you hit that wall where it starts to really burn, just drop the resistance slightly and keep moving. That’s the sweet spot for burning fat because your muscles have already burned through their glucose stores. If you stop too soon, your body just replenishes that glucose during the break. To really tap into fat stores for energy, you have to push through even when you feel spent, just by slowing the tempo slightly rather than stopping entirely.

Btw, which gym do you go to?
Henry Wilson48 Henry Wilson48 Member
29 messages
joined Mar 2003
#6 ·
So, this trainer at my gym casually drops this comment on me about how I shouldn't even bother trying to build serious muscle because, apparently, it’s physically impossible without using performance enhancers. Honestly? I just rolled up my leggings and showed him what I’ve actually been working with. The guy’s jaw practically hit the floor, and he ended up mumbling something about how I clearly have some kind of freakish natural talent and should probably look into professional bodybuilding or something.

Look, you can listen to all the noise you want, but at the end of the day, everyone is built differently; our bodies all have their own specific blueprints and reasons for looking the way they do.

For me, getting defined happens pretty effortlessly, even though I'm definitely not some stick figure—consistent squats and I'll have quads like an NFL linebacker, or regular push-ups and suddenly I've got the back of a competitive swimmer.

The bottom line is there isn't some grand, universal philosophy to follow—just pick a sport that actually clicks with you, respect the basic principles of training (maybe grab a decent textbook on the subject), and just enjoy the process. You have to embrace your own body's logic; you're always going to look your best when you're relaxed and confident, basically when you actually feel comfortable in your own skin. Using chemicals and gear 🙂

Working out and finding joy 👋
Hannah Ward11 Hannah Ward11 Newcomer
7 messages
joined May 2004
#7 ·
I've been doing Pilates at home lately... and honestly, I couldn't be happier.
The routines are working wonders for me... just about 15 minutes a day is all I really need.
restlesstiger31 restlesstiger31 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Apr 2004
#8 ·
Sandra Moore said:.

For me, muscle definition comes pretty easily even though I’m not exactly skin and bones. A steady routine of squats and I’ll have quads like a pro football player; regular push-ups and suddenly I’ve got the back of a swimmer.

I’m in the exact same boat. Less than a month of cardio and I can already see definition in my arms despite years of training. It used to be a massive struggle, but now? It’s actually fine. Especially when people start commenting on how toned I look...
Grace Mendoza78 Grace Mendoza78 NewcomerOP
7 messages
joined May 2004
#9 ·
OnioN says:
Look, men don't exactly love it when a girl has better abs than they do.😁

But if you’re dead set on getting those lines on your stomach—honestly—I have nothing clever to add besides this...
Just get after it. Hit a workout every single day for an hour or two—whatever works. Just make sure you're targeting the big muscle groups. Focus on legs—they burn the most fuel. But pay attention to your technique—there's a huge difference. If you're doing sets of 10–15 reps with 2–3 minute breaks, you aren't going to lose much fat. You need moderate intensity—maybe something like a stationary bike... at least 5 minutes straight. When the burn gets intense, just drop the resistance slightly and keep moving. That’s the sweet spot where fat starts melting because your muscles have already burned through all the glucose. With shorter workouts, the body just replenishes glucose during the breaks, so you really need to push through even when you feel spent—just dial back the intensity slightly to trigger energy release from your fat cells.

I have a stationary bike at home and ride it for about 40 minutes at a time. Is it true that for definition you should do more sets with longer durations, whereas for building mass you do fewer sets with heavier weights?
No clue... personally, I find 5lb dumbbells work best for my arms.
Same here—I heard on some show on CNN that if you want to build muscle you have to eat right... carbs before a workout, protein at night... but how am I supposed to stick to a diet when I'm living with my parents?😢
Grace Mendoza78 Grace Mendoza78 NewcomerOP
7 messages
joined May 2004
#10 ·
OnioN said:btw. which gym do you go to? [/B]


I don't bother with gyms—I just work out at home.
Grace Mendoza78 Grace Mendoza78 NewcomerOP
7 messages
joined May 2004
#11 ·
restlesstiger31 said:I’m seeing the exact same thing—less than a month of cardio and I’ve got arm definition despite years of training. It used to drive me crazy, but honestly? It’s fine now. Especially when people start complimenting how toned I look...


That’s all well and good—but for me, it takes much longer because I seem to lose muscle mass before I actually build any. People used to just notice I lost weight rather than saying, "Wow, you're so toned," even though the weight loss came from working out. For instance, I’ve been doing knee pushups for six months now and my arms are just thinner—the muscle isn't actually visible. It might be a minor distinction, but it matters.
😕 It’s the same story with abs—I must have "lazy" muscles!!! 😁
Personally, I love it when you can just barely see the definition—like those two lines on the stomach, a firm glute... and when the muscle on the arms actually starts to show.
restlesstiger31 restlesstiger31 Newcomer
4 messages
joined Apr 2004
#12 ·
Grace Mendoza78, maybe you aren't approaching this quite right. Have you considered seeking some professional guidance at your local gym? There is a wealth of personal trainers out there who can tailor a specific regimen to fit your unique body type and individual goals. I find it difficult to understand how you can be putting in this much effort without seeing any visible results.
A Anonymous Veteran
3.6K messages
joined May 2005
#13 ·
Sandra Moore said:For me, getting toned happens pretty easily even though I’m not skinny. Just hitting regular squats gives me quads like a pro football player, and consistent pushups? Boom—I've got the back of a swimmer.

Training vs. Enjoyment 👋

Pushups work your chest, not your back....

Yeah, it's true that you need higher volume sets if you want that shredded look... here's a simple way to look at it... take track and field athletes. A 100-meter sprinter looks absolutely ripped... why? Because they do short, explosive bursts. But then look at the marathon runners on 3.1 miles.....they look like they haven't eaten in weeks.....same reason: because they overtrain, their bodies can't recover as fast as they burn through fuel.....
Look, we could talk about this for years.......let's just grab a coffee sometime, and I'll walk you through the whole thing. 😉
Grace Mendoza78 Grace Mendoza78 NewcomerOP
7 messages
joined May 2004
#14 ·
Thanks for the tips—I actually tried working out like you all suggested, and now my entire body is aching!!!😵What a fantastic sensation!👍
A Anonymous Veteran
3.6K messages
joined May 2005
#15 ·
Yeah... I actually just started hitting the gym lately too. Honestly, it’s been a lifesaver for dealing with stress, frustration, and all the other bullshit life throws at you... The only thing that gets to me is when I can't even focus on my workout because there are so many damn distractions everywhere
😲 (women, obviously).... but hey, I guess it's just free motivation 👍

Man, if only I could have a little fun... mmmmmmmmmmm 😁 😲
Grace Mendoza78 Grace Mendoza78 NewcomerOP
7 messages
joined May 2004
#16 ·
restlesstiger31 said:Grace Mendoza78, maybe you aren't doing it right. Why not seek advice at the gym? There is a massive amount of personal trainers available who can tailor specific exercises to your body type and needs. I don't understand how you can work this hard without seeing any results


I went to the gym for a "consultation"—and by consultation, I mean a chat—and the guy suggested I follow an ABC Training routine. Basically, A covers arms and shoulders on day one, B hits chest and legs on day two, and C focuses on legs on day three. Oh, and naturally, he insisted on at least thirty minutes of cardio plus abs every single day. Is this actually effective, or just overkill? Because after finishing workout A, my arms are absolutely DESTROYED by the time I try to do chest on day two!!!👋
darkfalcon30 darkfalcon30 Member
11 messages
joined Apr 2005
#17 ·
There is no such thing as a magic bullet exercise for muscle definition; every movement yields results that are uniquely specific to the individual performing them.
In my view, women should prioritize staying active through a variety of ways—running, brisk walks, or even rollerblading. Cycling is also a solid choice.

The local gym offers an endless catalog of exercises targeting the legs and core.
Listing them all would be pointless, especially since most fitness advice found on forums like this tends to be overly simplistic; achieving genuine physical transformation requires a much more nuanced, almost clinical approach.
jadetinker85 jadetinker85 Regular
446 messages
joined Jan 2024
#18 ·
My take? Use lighter weights and higher reps if you're chasing definition. If you want to pack on mass, go heavy and see how much you can handle.

You must log in or register to reply here.

Log in Register

🔗 Similar threads