Strength training

BlackPantherChick123

It's been over a month since I changed my diet and met with my dietician. I eat normal and have gained back to a healthy weight and no longer worried about what the scale says. Now it's about the inches. I still do my cardio but everyone is recommending I do strength training. I'm not a huge fan of it but I don't know where to start. I want to lose 3 more inches off my waist but I don't no what to do. Cardio is so easy to do and strength training sounds difficult to stick with. Can anyone give me advice? Thank u.

galgenstrick

to lose inches off your waist, you need to lose overall body fat. To retain your muscle while losing weight, you need to do strength training and eat adequate protein.

BlackPantherChick123

I just no intense cardio is easy for me, I upped my incline and I started a strength training DVD and I'm trying to do it everyday but I find it hard to stick with.

galgenstrick

If you don't have physique goals, then no need for strength training unless you like it. If you have physique goals, then you'll more than likely need to do strength training and just have to find a program you can tolerate.

BlackPantherChick123

I just no my goal is for a 24 inch waist, I got back into wearing my corset and its working and I still do my 2 hour cardio daily but my family are doing strength training along with cardio and I just don't no if I continue to do my cardio alone that would do it. Does it require cardio and strength training to lose the last 3 inches or can I just continue to do my cardio?

galgenstrick

You only need to be in a caloric deficit to lose inches off your waist. You can do this without doing any cardio or any strength training by just eating less food. Or if you want to eat more, you can do cardio to earn some extra calories. If you want to lose inches and look more muscular "toned" then you need to do strength training.

BlackPantherChick123

Oh ok. That helps a lot. Thank u. I don't really need to be dieting but I eat at maintenance and the lowest I'll go is 1500 now but I burn more calories than maintenance alone.

AliceA2013

It's true that strength training improves your muscle tone and hence your appearance but it is the health benefits that are really important. Strength training improves childbirth, is vital to maintain bone density as women get older (to prevent osteoporosis), improves blood pressure and increases long term metabolism. And it's great to feel extra strength to lift so you don't have to ask for help so often! I love the confidence and sense of wellbeing it gives me.

I think it is important to start at a local gym with a qualified instructor so you do the exercises with good form (to avoid injury). Gyms have started gearing their work to women of all ages and some even have women-only rooms. I stated I wished to try dumbbell exercises only from the beginning as I then bought a set of dumbbells of different weights to do at home - it's cheaper than the gym in the long run and you are more likely to keep at it. Check with a gym instructor every so often and in the meantime read up on progressive resistance training.

Good luck!