Look 15 pounds lighter, in 2 easy steps: Eat and Lift

krisjohnson121

You look great! I am really interested in starting to lift but unfortunately I do not have a gym buddy to help with spotting etc. Do you think you can get similar results from the machines?

Dre8604

I do not mind cardio but I have to be honest and admit that I don't do a lot of it. I sometimes bust out a Jillian video if I'm feeling it and I walk to the store once or twice a week, but most of my work is spent lifting heavy and doing body weight stuff to improve my flexibility and balance, which I do to help me with my lifting.

What are you referring to when you say body weight stuff?

And amazing job!!.. Congrats on your progress! :-)

Achrya

You look great! I am really interested in starting to lift but unfortunately I do not have a gym buddy to help with spotting etc. Do you think you can get similar results from the machines?

You can certainly start with/use machines but the results won't be the same. You won't be using your stabilizing muscles or be able to do compound lifts/movements, which allow you to work more of your body at once. With compound movements I can get done in 30-60 minutes depending on how heavy my weights are and such. To work your who body with machines it'll take all day.

But don't be discouraged, I currently don't work with a gym buddy anymore (Haven't since the end of June). It's a little scary at first but as long as your careful and know your limits you'll be fine.

Achrya

I do not mind cardio but I have to be honest and admit that I don't do a lot of it. I sometimes bust out a Jillian video if I'm feeling it and I walk to the store once or twice a week, but most of my work is spent lifting heavy and doing body weight stuff to improve my flexibility and balance, which I do to help me with my lifting.

What are you referring to when you say body weight stuff?

And amazing job!!.. Congrats on your progress! :-)

Body weight exercises are routines that don't use weights but instead use your own body weight. (Pushups for example) I find that it's helped me with my balance (which has always been dodgy) and flexibility as I've moved into progressively harder moves.

I'm using the Body by You book for my routine but other people speak highly of Be Your Own Gym (Book and App by the same guy who did Body by You) and Convict Conditioning (which I know nothing about.)

http://www.marklauren.com/ Link to the BYOG/BBY page

RunFarLiveHappy

Love these testimonies!!! Currently in the process of throwing my scale out the window lol. I've been lifting for awhile but just started Stronglifts on 7/1. Thanks for sharing! You look amazing! Big changes in your composition! WTG!

Achrya

Love these testimonies!!! Currently in the process of throwing my scale out the window lol. I've been lifting for awhile but just started Stronglifts on 7/1. Thanks for sharing! You look amazing! Big changes in your composition! WTG!

Well thank you very much, and WTG to you, losing over 100 pounds! That's amazing.

Scales are often liars, so while I do use mine I don't stress out about it. It can't tell my anything my clothes don't already tell me. I hope you're enjoying, and continue to enjoy, Stronglifts. I'm in love with it right now, but I like things simple and to the point.

Achrya

You look great! I am really interested in starting to lift but unfortunately I do not have a gym buddy to help with spotting etc. Do you think you can get similar results from the machines?

You can certainly start with/use machines but the results won't be the same. You won't be using your stabilizing muscles or be able to do compound lifts/movements, which allow you to work more of your body at once. With compound movements I can get done in 30-60 minutes depending on how heavy my weights are and such. To work your who body with machines it'll take all day.

But don't be discouraged, I currently don't work with a gym buddy anymore (Haven't since the end of June). It's a little scary at first but as long as your careful and know your limits you'll be fine.

Follow up, for further info, as supplied by someone who knows more stuff about stuff than me

The benefit is that no matter what their goal, they will get there faster and easier with free weights.

Compound free weight exercises are worth learning because they make reaching your goals much much easier

delicious_cocktail

Whoodang I didn't see the pics till now. Nice work!!!!!!!!!!!

luckiedaniels

Agree with the other comments - you look great! I'm not seeing the weight loss I'd hoped I would from 7 weeks of my calorie counting & cardio combo. Maybe resistance training is what's missing? Thanks for the inspiration!:)

taso42

This right here is what it's all about!

DavPul

10/10 thread. Would read again

mareeee1234

amazing!!!!!!! xxx

Achrya

Agree with the other comments - you look great! I'm not seeing the weight loss I'd hoped I would from 7 weeks of my calorie counting & cardio combo. Maybe resistance training is what's missing? Thanks for the inspiration!:)

I would say give it a shot (I mean obviously that's what I would say.) But even without my bias you have to think: What do you have to lose? Some time? Losing weight takes time anyway, so might as well.

Count the calories, keep a reasonable deficit, lift the weights, give it a few months, and see what develops. If you don't like it then you know you don't like it and can move on knowing at least you tried it, and you'll lose weight anyway cause deficit. Literally no downside.

sadshah

Can u plz tell ur weightlifting routine i wna do that i just have dumbells

Achrya

Can u plz tell ur weightlifting routine i wna do that i just have dumbells

I'm doing Stronglifts 5x5 right now.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary

These sets are for your WORKWEIGHT (the weight you are lifting that day) and do not include warmup sets.

Workout A
Barbell Squat 5x5
Bench press 5x5
Barbell Row 5x5 (The app and the PDF call them that but they are actually pendlay rows).

Workout B:
Barbell Squat 5x5 (5 sets with 5 reps)
Overhead press 5x5
Deadlift 1x5 (1 set with 5 reps)


I do this 3 times a week, alternating workouts. These lifts do call for a barbell (I'm using your standard Olympic but I started with a light ones) but there are routines out there that use progressively heavy dumbbells. Something like this maybe:
http://produmbbellworkouts.com/dumbbell-routines/5x5-heavy-weight-with-dumbbells/

That said you'll eventually run out of weight to add with dumbbells.

CoderGal

in for the sending out positive lifting body images! And hot ones too!

vjohn04

You have the most amazing figure! wow!!!

You look fantastic!

fghtffyrDEMONS

You look amazing - big butts and big thighs are awesome. I'm learning to be less self conscious about mine! Thanks for this post.

rahlpn

This makes me hopeful! I started lifting about 2 1/2 weeks ago and eating 1550 cals per day as opposed to eating 1300 and doing cardio cardio cardio. I want to trim those inches and lose about 30-40 more lbs, I'm hoping I have the right combo and this post gives me proof that it may work for me too! Congrats, you look amazing!!

wateryphoenix

gorgeous! this =D

msjames1999

Awesome job!!

Achrya

This makes me hopeful! I started lifting about 2 1/2 weeks ago and eating 1550 cals per day as opposed to eating 1300 and doing cardio cardio cardio. I want to trim those inches and lose about 30-40 more lbs, I'm hoping I have the right combo and this post gives me proof that it may work for me too! Congrats, you look amazing!!

I honestly believe this will work for anyone with the patience and desire to follow through. It's not the quickest method (I personally am around a 16% cut) and it can get scary (i gain every time i up my calories, usually for a week or two) but I believe it's the one with the most bang for its buck. If you can stick with it the changes speak for themselves.

Achrya

You have the most amazing figure! wow!!!

You look fantastic!

It's crazy hearing this kind of thing from women I look up to and am inspired by.

And of course thanks to everyone else for their compliments.

VickiG36

very very awesome!!!!!!!! Been trying to get to lifting but I'm afraid of looking too bulky but I think I have seen enough stories where people have lifted and it helped them lose weight and inches. Big difference in front and back!! Keep up the good work=)

Unless your body produces testosterone or you take a "supplement" to do so, you should not get bulky. I'd recommend New Rules for Lifting for Women.

Achrya

very very awesome!!!!!!!! Been trying to get to lifting but I'm afraid of looking too bulky but I think I have seen enough stories where people have lifted and it helped them lose weight and inches. Big difference in front and back!! Keep up the good work=)

Unless your body produces testosterone or you take a "supplement" to do so, you should not get bulky. I'd recommend New Rules for Lifting for Women.

There's no bulking in lifting (if you're a female eating a deficit). I, for example, was far larger pre-lifting. Getting smaller seems like the opposite of bulking.

So never fear, lift your weights heavy!

cupcakes_and_cardio

You look great and your progress is amazing! How many lbs do you lift, if you don't mind me asking? I've been interested in this for awhile, but I don't have access to bigger weights

Redheadllena

I won't bore you with a long set up. Got fat, tried eating way less (1300) and running til my legs fell off. Awful. Ate more (all of my weight has been lost at 1650+, eating at 1825 right now) and lifted heavy weights. Not awful, but rather awesome. I am able to fit into pants I haven't fit into since I was at my goal weight (And I'm not at my goal weight now, obviously) and I'm happier than I've ever been, thanks to eating all the food and lifting all the weights. Also added benefit of feeling like a bad *kitten* while squatting over 2/3 my body weight.

I have a big butt and big thighs. They haven't gotten bulky yet (I hear a lot about big thighs getting bigger around these parts) but I remain hopeful. Cause big butts and big thighs are awesome.

Early May



Now





Bonus pictures: Shorts I haven't worn since I was at my goal weight. They could be a little looser in the front but they gap in the back cause *kitten*. You gotta make due.






And that, my friends, is how you look lighter than you actually are in two easy to follow steps.

Fantastic!! And so true WTG

Achrya

You look great and your progress is amazing! How many lbs do you lift, if you don't mind me asking? I've been interested in this for awhile, but I don't have access to bigger weights

I lift heavy, for me. I do 5 sets of 5 reps for everything, except deadlifts.

Squats: 110lbs
Deads: 135
Barbell row: 75
Bench: 55 (it needs a lot of work.)
Overhead press: 75

You can start lighter (I did) but without a barbell my routine would be hard to follow. There are body weight and dumbbell workouts out there though, if you feel that'd be more up your alley right now.

soniabogonia

You look great ! Awesome job!

pbrahan

bump for after work where I can see the pics!