Too fat to lift

I am in a deficit calories diet, trying to eat mostly fruit, Greek yogurt, fibers, turkey or fish. I lost almost 20 pounds in two months. I started at 211 lbs after giving birth.
Some days I don't go down with the weight or I even go up a couple pounds !
For exercise I'm walking 3-4 miles every day or hiking up hill.
I want to start weight lifting, but my husband says is better I keep walking until I am in the 160 lbs or II'll have the muscles under the fat and I will ruin my progress/diet because I will be starving after workout.
What do you think ?
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Replies

  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    Muscle isn't bad. You might stall out for a little bit if you add lifting, but you'll catch up in no time.
  • sunnybeaches105
    sunnybeaches105 Posts: 2,831 Member
    Start lifting. His point regarding increased hunger is certainly true for some, but the benefits of muscle retention far outweigh any increase in hunger. That hunger may also be alleviated with a high protein diet, which will have the added benefit of helping muscle retention.
  • shumm090
    shumm090 Posts: 23 Member
    Your husband had no idea what he's talking about. I agree with previous comments. Lift NOW! I started lifting at 198lbs after having a baby. I am now almost at my prepregnancy weight. I am smaller and look much better than I did before baby. Get to lifting!!
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    I agree with those that say start lifting now. It will help preserve the muscle you have now. It's much easier to keep it than to try to rebuild it. You may be more hungry (I always am), but you can eat a little more, because you're working out. It took a while to find the right balance of nutrients and while meal timing doesn't influence your weight loss, you may find that certain eating patterns work better for you. These are individual factors, so you will need to experiment. I love how strong I feel when I'm lifting regularly.
  • cinnag4225
    cinnag4225 Posts: 126 Member
    As others mentioned, your husband doesn't seem very well informed on the matter. When I was going to the gym I was 300+ and was able to handle lifting. The only thing that would keep me from doing it now (besides interest) is that I'm in need of some chiropractic therapy atm to fix some problems in my spine's C and upper T zones.

    Your best bet would be to research lifting for beginners. Even if you're not ready to do the general recommendations, you can always cut pack weight, reps or sets to something you can sustain with moderate effort.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Here are the most popular programmes

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

    Read theough them and find one you think will work for you.
    Most can be adapted for hand weights when you begin. I did body weight until I was a bit stronger. Loved Nerdfitness.

    Start slow and low, concentrate on form. There is no rush, this is your goal.

    Also, try to hit 1g of protein per lbs of what your weigh would be mid normal BMI.

    Remember MFP is designed for you to eat back calories earned through exercise. (Your deficit is built into your basic goal) Start doing that now. 50-75% is what most eat back as MFP can overestimate.
    You will need all of those calories so your exercise doesn't drain energy from your everyday life.

    Cheers, h.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    If you want to lift, start tomorrow. There is no reason to wait. Your mind and body composition will thank you.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Start lifting. I started at 5'3" and 240 lbs. I'm now 157 lbs and looking pretty darn fabulous thanks to lifting. There's no reason to wait. Start slow to ensure you don't overdo it, but start! Now!!

    This is a great point. Lifting when you are bigger will give you an entirely different look when you diet down, even when you are on the heavier end of average/healthy. I'm 5'6ish and hover around 148-150. I look so much better now than I did 15 years ago at the same weight and the difference is the muscle base.

    And this.

    I'm 5'4" and I look just as small at 130-135lbs compared to other women my height at 120lbs, who don't lift.

    BTW I'm heavier in my profile pic so don't judge
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    lift now,I started 4 years ago when I was at my heaviest 209 lbs. I wear smaller size clothing now weighing 25lbs more than I did when I was 25lbs less. it will change your body for sure.
  • silvia32444
    silvia32444 Posts: 26 Member
    Thanks to everyone that took the time to read and answer. You all are nice.
  • cathipa
    cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
    I am in a deficit calories diet, trying to eat mostly fruit, Greek yogurt, fibers, turkey or fish. I lost almost 20 pounds in two months. I started at 211 lbs after giving birth.
    Some days I don't go down with the weight or I even go up a couple pounds !
    For exercise I'm walking 3-4 miles every day or hiking up hill.
    I want to start weight lifting, but my husband says is better I keep walking until I am in the 160 lbs or II'll have the muscles under the fat and I will ruin my progress/diet because I will be starving after workout.
    What do you think ?

    Sorry but that is ridiculous. I lost more when I lifted vs just doing cardio. I think you should start lifting now.
  • KetoneKaren
    KetoneKaren Posts: 6,412 Member
    Absolutely start lifting now. Increasing muscle mass improves BMR. Plus it feels good to be strong.
  • novio50
    novio50 Posts: 778 Member
    I'm sure everyone has said how what the hubbs is saying is ca ca, but...they're right. Hit the weights, and watch his jaw drop when things start to tone, lift, and tighten (provided you don't stop cardio). Then he'll be trying to get on your program! #Wordup
  • silvia32444
    silvia32444 Posts: 26 Member
    Yes, this is what I was thinking, to start lifting and don't say nothing, also because my weight now is stalling, even if I keep eating around 1000 calories.
    But I can't understand, really, my husband goes to the gym (I would go to a different gym) and has muscles. In the past, before children, I was going also to do weights.
    And he keeps showing me pictures of fitness models, the ones with my body type, to see how I could be.
    And I would walk or jog faster if I had more muscle.... breathe allowing !
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    If you are truly eating 1000 calories, your weight is probably stalling because you are retaining a boatload of water. Try eating in a moderate deficit while accurately counting and logging calories and you'll lose weight. As a reminder, women's bodies go through a lot of water fluctuations every couple of weeks due to ovulation and menstruation. Don't confuse normal water fluctuation with a fat loss stall.
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    edited August 2016
    I want to start weight lifting, but my husband says is better I keep walking until I am in the 160 lbs or II'll have the muscles under the fat and I will ruin my progress/diet because I will be starving after workout.
    And he keeps showing me pictures of fitness models, the ones with my body type, to see how I could be.

    Ummm.........I hope these are out of context and he is actually a very supportive husband, because this sounds terrible.

    It sounds like you are not too fat too lift. However, I do believe there is a "too fat to lift".....if your body is unable to hold proper form for the lifts you are doing, due to lack of flexibility or fat in the way, then you should not be doing those lifts/movements. Only do things you can do correctly or you are risking injury.
  • carmkizzle
    carmkizzle Posts: 211 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    Start lifting. I started at 5'3" and 240 lbs. I'm now 157 lbs and looking pretty darn fabulous thanks to lifting. There's no reason to wait. Start slow to ensure you don't overdo it, but start! Now!!

    This is a great point. Lifting when you are bigger will give you an entirely different look when you diet down, even when you are on the heavier end of average/healthy. I'm 5'6ish and hover around 148-150. I look so much better now than I did 15 years ago at the same weight and the difference is the muscle base.

    And this.

    I'm 5'4" and I look just as small at 130-135lbs compared to other women my height at 120lbs, who don't lift.

    BTW I'm heavier in my profile pic so don't judge


    Girl, stop. You look awesome in that pic. I can't wait for my arms to have HALF the definition you've got going on over there ;)
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited August 2016
    OP your weight cannot be stalling eating 1000 calories.. You would be loosing it faster, more aggressively. You are gonna want to revisit calories when you start lifting. Lifting is gonna make you hungry sometimes. Plus you want to get in as much fuel as you can, but keep you in a steady deficit. I hope you are using a food scale to weigh food and log your calories!

    For normal water weight/fluctuations, you might want to "trend your weight". Its good for hormonal times during the month (ovulation and menses), sodium, carb intake, muscle repair, hydration and lack there of. You can use the scale as a tool for this.

    Lifting now allows you to take advantage of your weight! Newbie muscle gainz are guaranteed, up the protein and keep lifting as you loose weight to maintain your muscle mass as you lean down even further. More muscles mean up swing in metabolism meaning more calories burned.

  • kendahlj
    kendahlj Posts: 243 Member
    Yes, this is what I was thinking, to start lifting and don't say nothing, also because my weight now is stalling, even if I keep eating around 1000 calories.
    But I can't understand, really, my husband goes to the gym (I would go to a different gym) and has muscles. In the past, before children, I was going also to do weights.
    And he keeps showing me pictures of fitness models, the ones with my body type, to see how I could be.
    And I would walk or jog faster if I had more muscle.... breathe allowing !

    You may not have the energy to lift on a 1000 calorie diet...