Some Numbers…
Okay, I need some outside perspective! 
In a recent conversation I had with somebody, they commented that it would be wiser to stop cutting, put the abs goal on hold and make building muscles the focus of my goals.
I would normally just listen, and say something like, "Thanks for your opinion, but I’m in pursuit of what *I* want!" or something along those lines. The trouble is 1) I respect this person’s opinion, and 2) I got some numbers back from a bodyfat assessment.
So I had the bodyfat taken yesterday and it had me at 11.5%, which was great, but was incredibly overshadowed by the fact that I had LOST EIGHT POUNDS since the last time it was taken! Which means I lost about 3 pounds of muscle! WTF?! I had a sneaking suspicion that I lost a bit of weight when my normally very fitted jeans were bunching up on my legs, but I had no idea it was that much! Damn. So yesterday, I’m getting changed, and I look down at myself and notice that my sternum is visible. Usually, it’s only visible if I’m inhaling or sucking in, but there it was. Just… there in plain sight. 
I don’t want to be skinny. I want my 6 pack and I want it by April 12th, gosh darn it! But not if it means I’m going to lose all my muscles in the process.
Any thoughts for me?
March 26, 2008 at 6:48 am
You usually will lose a little muscle when cutting. It might be as simple as just upping your calories to further boost your metabolism to start burning fat vs muscle.
March 26, 2008 at 7:08 am
Upload and share videos, find and watch single clips, chatten, flirt, blog,vote and comment on your favorites, add cool single videos to your Coldtube geile Videos unter http://www.coldtube.com
March 26, 2008 at 7:08 am
OH I can relate to this one girl, I supplement with bcaa’s before cardio and before weights to prevent catabolism and also dont forget the glutamine, its so hard to build the muscle and can be so easy to lose it, remember to also keep your protein intake high, that helps me, I’m not a pro but these strategies work for me. Keep me posted, although you already look lovely.
March 26, 2008 at 7:28 am
I’m going to second the BCAA’s before cardio and before weights. I think that they do help keep muscle on and let you still burn the fat off!! Also, dont be shy of lifting heavier for awhile as well. Drop your cardio down a bit…and up the weights. This should help you maintain the muscle and still acheive that sexy six pack!! WHICH…BTW…i think you already have very sexy abs!!
Please please be careful if you use glutamine! That is what put my liver in the dangerously high zone! So look into it very very carefully. k! Your looking awesome!!
March 26, 2008 at 7:49 am
I like the BCAA idea before your cardio. Try a simple shredding technique such as 15 minutes of cardio before your workout, and 15 minutes after your workout. Use intense cardio during the 15 minutes; this seems to hold muscle density and a full look while still working on your cardio. Sometimes a flat muscle look is from low glycogen. So try eating off you diet for one day and back on again, will stimulate production. Maybe increase your protein a slight amount to constantly feed your muscles while cutting.
I hate Glutamine–it taste bad and makes you retain water.
Best of luck
Ben
March 26, 2008 at 8:27 am
Wish I could help you, I’m having the opposite problem. I’m putting on more and more weight.
March 26, 2008 at 9:19 am
I had done the same thing! Lost some pounds and also lost some muscle! So today I decided…hey Ninja (thats me..lol) Fat guys can be sexy too….so I ate a big breakfast…and did a heavy workout! I feel great.
Listen to your body…. it knows best!
Real Men Have Mass!
March 26, 2008 at 9:28 am
Hey Ninga, I have run across alot of information about the value of cholesterol in your diet. The body needs it to make all of our man hormones. Check out www.tnation.com, I got it a feeling it will be your kind of place.
March 26, 2008 at 9:33 am
In some respect it comes down to how much can you spare? considering you are only at 11% BF you’re bound to lose some muscles as you lose fat. is the ratio maintainable till you hit your goal? (37.5% of your 8 lbs was Muscle ) How long of a period of time was that over?
I say decrease your overall caloric deficit. If you keep a deficit, but a smaller one you’ll be less likely to lose the muscle. It might take a little longer to hit your current goal but there is a metabolic cost to losing muscle that think outweighs the slight increase in time.
March 26, 2008 at 9:46 am
Hey there, hottie-hottie-boombalottie.
Quick question for you, what does your ab routine look like? How many days / week?
Good advice here about BCAA’s and high protein diet. It’s a must during a cut!
March 26, 2008 at 10:38 am
My vote is for building muscle, because it burns more calories at rest than not as much muscle. Personally, I’ve cut my bf in half over the last 15months with little to no cardio, and the net change on the scale was 0, and I had to buy all new pants. Your body may be different, but if your at 11.5% (lucky!) I’d start going for building muscle! I’m HATING cutting right now, too, if that sways your opinion any lol
March 26, 2008 at 11:36 am
I’m in agreement with the others, especially since I don’t have much advice and kinda like b.d. with having the opposite problem! Maybe increase your weights and add more calories for more muscle? Good luck getting to your goal, chickie, though it looks like you already have the 6 pack
March 26, 2008 at 9:12 pm
The biggest surprise for me when I started trying to build muscle was that I dropped my bodyfat while I was gaining weight (with no cardio). I never expected that to happen.
March 27, 2008 at 1:52 am
Hey Janet, I really need to re-read your workout plan to see what your split is with weights and cardio. I’m sure you know that the fasteset way to lose weight is to add muscle. I think you should talk to the trainers at your gym about your concerns and see what advice they would give you. Good Luck Girly!!!
March 27, 2008 at 6:50 am
Well, 11% BF is pretty low for a female. You’ve definitely got some room to play with judging from your pics. Why not pump up the protein and quality calories and try to build some muscle. At your lower BF, you should see results much more easily than my pudgy ass does.
March 27, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I thinks its diet diet diet…nutrition is still one of the biggest key factors in my opinion…up the protein, cut back the cardio and lift a bit heavier to boost the metabolism…. if you do cardio, hit the protein hard right after with the BCAA..i prefer to take them after…but thats me and what works best for my body…have another high pro snack 3 hours later with a small amount of carbs…1/4 cup oats or brown rice…injest large protein and small carbs every 3 hours with the heavy lifting…i use this diet alot without doing alot of ab work..i do some, but alot of my ab is residual from wrestling for 15 yrs…
March 29, 2008 at 2:04 am
I had gotten some of the same advice. I had allot more fat to start with. Then someone said just lift big you will build muscle and that muslce will speed your metabolism and you will lose. I have not been losing at the same rate but I feel like it is a better loss and I have but on some much needed muscle.
What I am saying is you look great now. Your abs are sexy, so just lift. Cut back on some of that crazy in your own mind cardio and pick up the weights. Then you will have a six pack and two guns.