Lifting, it does a body good

firstsip

Awesome work, love your strength gains and seeing a healthy amount of calories consumed.

How did you measure your bf% though? I've seen quite a few body fat % readings, estimations, etc., and you definitely looked less than 30% in your before pictures, and less than 20% now.

caspergirl7

you look great!!

Sactown900

Great Job. I too would rather lift than jog (but eat in a deficit).

LexiAtel

I started lifting too! I want my body to be more like your March pic though! Nice job!! Wow

whiskeysister510

Your progress never ceases to amaze and inspire me!! You are so awesome! I am glad to have you as a friend here and look forward to seeing you continue to develop your physique and your passion for lifting. Keep winning at life and at lifting, girl!! :drinker: :flowerforyou:

njmp

Holy crap. Well done!
That is all!

CBell223

Quick question:
When someone says that they lift a certain weight....is that a one rep weight or the weight they use to do, say 8 reps of 3 sets?
Btw,,,,great job.

fitandgeeky

Wow that's amazing!

Can I ask a couple of questions ...

How many days a week do you lift?
Do you eat TDEE on lifting days and around 20% deficit on non-lifting days?

Right now I lift 5 days a week. I don't eat at TDEE yet after a few more weeks and little more fat loss, I'll start the process of finding maintenance. I don't fully trust the TDEE calculators. They put me anywhere between 1900 and 2200 depending on which one I use. Right now I'm going more by the results I see and weight loss. I'll walk my calories up slowly until I stop losing then bulk.

fitandgeeky

Awesome work, love your strength gains and seeing a healthy amount of calories consumed.

How did you measure your bf% though? I've seen quite a few body fat % readings, estimations, etc., and you definitely looked less than 30% in your before pictures, and less than 20% now.

Thank you!

I started with the completely unreliable online calculator at fat2fitradio. The military version seems to be closest to my actual bf %. I recently had my dad's trainer test me with calipers. He put me between 19-20%. I was holding a lot of water at the time so he wants to retest me in a few weeks.

fitandgeeky

Quick question:
When someone says that they lift a certain weight....is that a one rep weight or the weight they use to do, say 8 reps of 3 sets?
Btw,,,,great job.

My only tested 1 rep max is my deadlift. All my other lifts are a 3 rep max. For me it's about maintaining form. My working weight is anywhere from 10-20 pounds lighter depending on which day I'm on in the program I'm following. Heavy lifting days are 5 rep sets. Hypertrophy days are 8-12 reps.

fitandgeeky

What kind of lifting have you been doing? I'm all curious about getting into this.

I lift from home. I started with a set of dumbbells- 5, 10, 15 lbs and a beginner program from muscleandstrength.com. I also familiarized myself with basic lifts using dumbbells using this site - http://www.dumbbell-exercises.com/ Then I started buying equipment a little at a time - an oly barbell, plates, a used bench. After I had more equipment, I studied up on compound lifts, worked on my form and went from there. Hope that helps

Cacoates90

You look great!!

skeo

If you don't mind my asking, what was your starting weight? and how long were you doing cardio before you dropped to the weight you were before lifting?

Oh, you look AH-MAY-ZING as well

lowpro1983

awesome job!!!!!!!!

fitandgeeky

If you don't mind my asking, what was your starting weight? and how long were you doing cardio before you dropped to the weight you were before lifting?

Oh, you look AH-MAY-ZING as well

When I started MFP in December of 2012 I was 144 lbs. I did cardio for about 3 months before I started lifting. I lost weight doing it, I just wasn't happy with how soft I was. A good portion of that loss was muscle. I've lost close to that with just lifting and most of it has been fat. I wish I had started lifting from the beginning. I'd likely have more muscle now had I done it that way.

juliebeannn

AWESOME results!!!

highervibes

So inspiring! You look so strong and healthy. Love!

spicy618

Wow. You should be proud. :flowerforyou:

cleotherio

Great results!

tia582

Wow you look great! I am new with MPF and need some motivation and support! Some people say lose weight then weight train others say do both. ADVICE please!!!! I am 54 lbs overweight. I have started going to the gym and eating completely differently. I get shin splints easy so i stay on the elliptical. I started with 20 mins and today i did 40 mins. Felt GREAT!! i then did some weight training.

alisaprince1

Great job! I am still 80 lbs overweight so I can't talk my mind into eating that many calories,I am strength training though, hopefully it will help even with lower calories, if not I will go up on my calories after I get down to a healthy weight.

quellybelly

Fantastic progress!! You look great!! Very inspiring as I've just started my own weight lifting journey.

cherryblossomrose

Great results. Very inspiring. Thanks for posting.

heatherpg47

Great post thanks for the information and NICE WORK!

lin7604

how tall are you?

i started strength training, i am doing chalean extreme... and it's a 4 month program and i am have finished 2.5 months of it so far and not any big changes yet, was hoping for a success story like yours...

fitandgeeky

how tall are you?

i started strength training, i am doing chalean extreme... and it's a 4 month program and i am have finished 2.5 months of it so far and not any big changes yet, was hoping for a success story like yours...

I'm 5'4". Have you taken pictures and measurements? I had no weight change the first month I started lifting. If it wasn't for pictures, I'd have been really discouraged. I do have to say that I think diet played a big part in my progress.

WarriorReady

Awesome work and results! :drinker:

eikito

WOW, you look AMAZING!!!! You are very inspiring

AbbeyDove

I think you looked great before you started lifting, and you look great now, and more muscular. You have a lovely shape!