Should you wait until you've lost weight for weights?
tanny20171
Posts: 46 Member
I recently got my body composition measured and the result was "solid build", as I have high levels of fat but also high levels of muscle. I am currently 235lbs and 5ft 7, but have a very defined hourglass shape and don't store much weight on my stomach (there's a 15 inch difference between my bust and waist and hips and waist). So I went ahead and took myself to the free weights section of my gym. I do cardio too but as an RN I'm used to being on my feet and running around for 13 hours a day. The cardio was tiring but not too challenging. I started doing walking lunges with substantial weights/squatting with weights and in minutes I was panting and my body was burning. I felt like that was more effective so favour weights. However a trainer at the gym told me I should NOT do weights until I've reduced fat. He said if I pack muscle over fat I will look huge and worse, and should cardio only until I've lost a substantial amount of body fat. Is this true?
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Replies
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Run far far away from the person who told you that20
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No.
As a woman, gaining muscle is difficult. No offence to you, but you likely have more fat and less muscle than you think. Gaining muscle in a deficit is even more challenging, and highly unlikely, so no, lifting weights now is not a bad idea. Its really a good idea - you want to try and maintain the muscle you have, and resistance training helps that.
I was in a similar position for years, and thought I was of "solid build with big bones", using it as an excuse for being heavier. Then I lost weight and realised I was actually capable of being tiny.
Now, when you make an effort to bulk, eating in a caloric surplus, to grow muscle and inevitably put on fat (over the top) in the process, then you can look bulky. Doing weights and making an effort to reduce body fat by monitoring your calorie intake won't make you bulky.9 -
Thankyou, yeah this makes sense. My sister who is a fitness fanatic said the same as the trainer though which made me doubt myself. I'm gonna continue with the weights then, it makes sense and if the fat goes anyway then the results will be there might just take longer to see them6
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This trainer is a clown - avoid like the plague.tanny20171 wrote: »However a trainer at the gym told me I should NOT do weights until I've reduced fat. He said if I pack muscle over fat I will look huge and worse, and should cardio only until I've lost a substantial amount of body fat. Is this true?
You won't pack on muscle in a deficit.
You won't get bigger while losing weight.
Now is always the time to do weights whether losing, gaining or maintaining weight. The only reason not to would be if you really detest it!
Do it now for optimal body composition when you get to goal. Otherwise the risk is that in the future you join the vast ranks of people who say "I've got to goal weight but I'm not happy with my body...."
That strength training may feel harder has nothing to do with the calories expended - it's a far lower calorie burn than even moderate cardio.The cardio was tiring but not too challenging. I started doing walking lunges with substantial weights/squatting with weights and in minutes I was panting and my body was burning. I felt like that was more effective so favour weights.
Calories don't have feelings!
Cardio is for health and fitness, not weight loss or fat burning.
But strength training isn't for weight or fat loss either.
That's a simple function of a calorie deficit over an extended period of time.
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This trainer sounds like he knows his *kitten*. Not.
Stay away from him.1 -
This trainer is a clown - avoid like the plague.tanny20171 wrote: »However a trainer at the gym told me I should NOT do weights until I've reduced fat. He said if I pack muscle over fat I will look huge and worse, and should cardio only until I've lost a substantial amount of body fat. Is this true?
You won't pack on muscle in a deficit.
You won't get bigger while losing weight.
Now is always the time to do weights whether losing, gaining or maintaining weight. The only reason not to would be if you really detest it!
Do it now for optimal body composition when you get to goal. Otherwise the risk is that in the future you join the vast ranks of people who say "I've got to goal weight but I'm not happy with my body...."
That strength training may feel harder has nothing to do with the calories expended - it's a far lower calorie burn than even moderate cardio.The cardio was tiring but not too challenging. I started doing walking lunges with substantial weights/squatting with weights and in minutes I was panting and my body was burning. I felt like that was more effective so favour weights.
Calories don't have feelings!
Cardio is for health and fitness, not weight loss or fat burning.
But strength training isn't for weight or fat loss either.
That's a simple function of a calorie deficit over an extended period of time.
Really? Thankyou I didn't know that. I thought the fact that I was working harder meant I was burning more calories. I also was way more out of breath squatting with weights when I wasn't actually moving than running in the treadmill.
Can you suggest a routine to get me started? I went on the treadmill/cross trainer but it has a heart rate monitor, and it kept slowing me down/stopping because my heart rate was going to 200's. But my heart rate is often high, it's like 68-70 at rest but when I am at work and have taken my vitals my heart rate is always 120-140. The trainer I spoke to at the gym said to walk because I have weight but honestly I don't think walking will help much. Some days at work I get in 20,000 steps plus I am moving people all day moving beds running to pharmacy etc etc. I am fat because I eat ridiculous amounts of food. I tracked for one week and my average intake is 5-6000 calories per day. For example I regularly go to an all you can eat buffet and will have 3-4 plates of food followed by 2-3 plates of dessert. I'm always hungry and I eat the wrong food. Eating real food does fill me up, I can eat ten chocolate bars but never eaten ten pieces of salmon. So I would say the activity level is not the problem. But the people at my gym act like because I'm fat I would have never moved before and are telling me to walk on the treadmill when that doesn't help. I don't know what to do :-(1 -
Building muscle by lifting weights will help burn more fat than any amount of cardio on the treadmill. Your metabolism will continue to burn fat for at least 2 days after you've had a good weights session. Treadmill/cardio is good for your health but will not boost your metabolism for more than the day you do it. Please don't listen to that silly man je needs to go read up on effective exercises. All women should lift some weights. Apart from helping lose fat you change your body shape and you strengthen your bone density. All in all keep going. You can do it always believe in your abilities. I am a fitness and pilates instructor so you know I'm not just pulling things out of no where.6
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The crucial thing is you feel you are working harder. It's a total irrelevance - it's physics not feelings that determine energy expenditure.
If a strong person moves xxxlbs easily and a weaker person really struggles to move the same weight they have done the same amount of work and burned the same calories.
Remember though that for exercises like squats and lunges your own bodyweight is significant not just the weights on the bar or in your hands.
You are getting enough walking at work - pointless to spend gym time doing the same thing. Spend that time doing an effective full body workout. Three times a week, full body, big compound moves predominately would be great for a beginner.
Your cardio of choice should be complimenting your walking so moderate to higher intensity / HR but try to modulate that to a sensible level. Whether 200bpm is OK for you isn't possible for others to say - that's when perceived exertion is actually useful.
I would have passed out long before that number but my brother could hit 200bpm well into his 50's.
You have identified the big issue - eating too much! Admire your honesty. :flowerforyou:
Personally I like the approach of about 80% of good nutritious foods I need, 10% mostly for taste, 10% pure (impure?) treats.
Luckily I do actually enjoy the vast majority of the 80% too.2 -
Building muscle by lifting weights will help burn more fat than any amount of cardio on the treadmill. Your metabolism will continue to burn fat for at least 2 days after you've had a good weights session. Treadmill/cardio is good for your health but will not boost your metabolism for more than the day you do it. Please don't listen to that silly man je needs to go read up on effective exercises. All women should lift some weights. Apart from helping lose fat you change your body shape and you strengthen your bone density. All in all keep going. You can do it always believe in your abilities. I am a fitness and pilates instructor so you know I'm not just pulling things out of no where.
Thankyou, I had no idea fat continues to burn post weights session so that has given me more motivation. Thanks for your post
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The crucial thing is you feel you are working harder. It's a total irrelevance - it's physics not feelings that determine energy expenditure.
If a strong person moves xxxlbs easily and a weaker person really struggles to move the same weight they have done the same amount of work and burned the same calories.
Remember though that for exercises like squats and lunges your own bodyweight is significant not just the weights on the bar or in your hands.
You are getting enough walking at work - pointless to spend gym time doing the same thing. Spend that time doing an effective full body workout. Three times a week, full body, big compound moves predominately would be great for a beginner.
Your cardio of choice should be complimenting your walking so moderate to higher intensity / HR but try to modulate that to a sensible level. Whether 200bpm is OK for you isn't possible for others to say - that's when perceived exertion is actually useful.
I would have passed out long before that number but my brother could hit 200bpm well into his 50's.
You have identified the big issue - eating too much! Admire your honesty. :flowerforyou:
Personally I like the approach of about 80% of good nutritious foods I need, 10% mostly for taste, 10% pure (impure?) treats.
Luckily I do actually enjoy the vast majority of the 80% too.
Thanks for your reply, yeah I'm under no illusion I eat too much lol. The whole of everything I do revolves around food so I'm gonna try to swap that for exercise/activity....instead of going out to dinner going for a hike or walking around the park. It's a big change but all the advice I'm getting from peeps on here is really helping. Thanks again for your reply
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tanny20171 wrote: »Building muscle by lifting weights will help burn more fat than any amount of cardio on the treadmill. Your metabolism will continue to burn fat for at least 2 days after you've had a good weights session. Treadmill/cardio is good for your health but will not boost your metabolism for more than the day you do it. Please don't listen to that silly man je needs to go read up on effective exercises. All women should lift some weights. Apart from helping lose fat you change your body shape and you strengthen your bone density. All in all keep going. You can do it always believe in your abilities. I am a fitness and pilates instructor so you know I'm not just pulling things out of no where.
Thankyou, I had no idea fat continues to burn post weights session so that has given me more motivation. Thanks for your post
The 'afterburn' effect is no where near as good as that post makes it seem... you're talking tens of calories not hundreds.5 -
It depends on your strategy. If you are going low calorie and have decreased your intake to the point where any activity will cause a catabolic state then yes hold off on training till your goal is reached. If you are balancing your calorie intake with additional activity to allow for muscle growth then you can train and see results. Clean eating and portion control is critical if you go this route and you might even gain a little weight I would recommend following your body fat percentage more then your weight if your lifting and trying to reshape your body.7
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It depends on your strategy. If you are going low calorie and have decreased your intake to the point where any activity will cause a catabolic state then yes hold off on training till your goal is reached. If you are balancing your calorie intake with additional activity to allow for muscle growth then you can train and see results. Clean eating and portion control is critical if you go this route and you might even gain a little weight I would recommend following your body fat percentage more then your weight if your lifting and trying to reshape your body.
No, no it doesn't depend on your strategy. Always strength train. In a deficit it preserves muscle.4 -
I sincerely hope you were not paying that trainer for that horrible advice.
Possibly more important than the physical benefits of weight training (of which there are many) is the fact that you enjoyed it more and felt challenged. That sounds like it'll be something you stick with.
My husband gets all his cardio in at work and weight trains almost exclusively for his intentional exercise, and it works great for him. By the way, he started before he reached his goal weight and never looked bad at all. My work is more sedentary, so my exercise time is split between lifting and cardio. That works great for me. People throwing out generic (and bad) fitness advice without even taking into account what kind of work you do probably aren't worth listening to. 0 -
"Can you suggest a routine to get me started?"
I use Strong Lifts 5x5. I like the program and I like the app on my iPhone. There are several. Search for beginner lifting programs, pick one, try it. If you like it, continue. If you don't like it, try another.0 -
Do not listen to that trainer. He is very very wrong. Lifting weights in a caloric deficit will help you retain the muscle or at least minimize muscle loss while you are loosing weight.0
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Lift weights.
The end.4 -
I'm the classic example of someone who waited to lift weights while losing weight. Don't follow my lead. Started at 220, lost consistently and fabulously, about 10 pounds per month, for the first six months. I was completely jazzed...then lost the final 15 over the subsequent 6 months; much slower but still losing. Got to goal weight, and hey, what's this? Loose skin on my upper arms, stomach (and I'm very much like you; hourglass/pear-shape), and thighs. Blech. I started as a big marshmallow and ended up as a smaller marshmallow.
I wish to holy heck I had incorporated weight lifting while losing. I realized I had been losing both fat and significant muscle while in my deficit (even though I was jogging! Walking! Biking! all sorts of good stuff! [...cardio only]), but the excitement of continual weight loss was blinding me to that fact.
When you lift weights, properly (progressively heavier weights, correct form, solid program), you reduce the amount of muscle lost while in a deficit; you maintain more muscle that way. And, when you get to your desirable weight, you will find yourself much happier with the results.
However, you may not lose weight as quickly as one who does not incorporate progressive weight lifting. Do not fear; you will be WAY happier in the long run.
Search for the "HALP! Weight lifting made me SUPAH bulky" thread. There are more buried in here too that show the benefits of starting NOW.
Lift now! Find a good program (New Rules of Lifting for Women; Starting Strength; Strong Curves; Stronglifts being a few), and go for it!5 -
Thankyou so much for your post. I am now more convinced than ever that I should be lifting weights from the start. I know it may influence me losing but I'm gonna try not to get caught up in the numbers game. I think I'll always weigh more than some other women. At the moment I am 235lbs (I've included pics below) but I still wear smaller clothes sizes than some women I know that are 30lbs lighter. And I think that's due to having natural muscle. I've seen pics on Instagram of women that weigh LESS than when they started lifting but after lifting look 50lbs lighter. I think I just wanted clarification because I am big and I didn't want to get bigger but after what people have kindly posted I don't think that's likely to happen. Also, I've decided to make my piece with being what I call a man beast (no wish to offend anyone). It used to embarrass me when male staff at work would ask me to crush tablets for them if they couldn't manage it but I'm just gonna go with it now, I am what I am so if I do end up even stronger lol so be it. Thanks again to all that have posted :-)2
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tanny20171 wrote: »Thankyou so much for your post. I am now more convinced than ever that I should be lifting weights from the start. I know it may influence me losing but I'm gonna try not to get caught up in the numbers game. I think I'll always weigh more than some other women. At the moment I am 235lbs (I've included pics below) but I still wear smaller clothes sizes than some women I know that are 30lbs lighter. And I think that's due to having natural muscle. I've seen pics on Instagram of women that weigh LESS than when they started lifting but after lifting look 50lbs lighter. I think I just wanted clarification because I am big and I didn't want to get bigger but after what people have kindly posted I don't think that's likely to happen. Also, I've decided to make my piece with being what I call a man beast (no wish to offend anyone). It used to embarrass me when male staff at work would ask me to crush tablets for them if they couldn't manage it but I'm just gonna go with it now, I am what I am so if I do end up even stronger lol so be it. Thanks again to all that have posted :-)
lol...interesting pics - these were supposed to show your "natural muscle mass" ?? as someone said above, you likely don't have nearly the amount of muscle mass as you keep stating (and these pics don't suggest anything different).2 -
Muscleflex79 wrote: »tanny20171 wrote: »Thankyou so much for your post. I am now more convinced than ever that I should be lifting weights from the start. I know it may influence me losing but I'm gonna try not to get caught up in the numbers game. I think I'll always weigh more than some other women. At the moment I am 235lbs (I've included pics below) but I still wear smaller clothes sizes than some women I know that are 30lbs lighter. And I think that's due to having natural muscle. I've seen pics on Instagram of women that weigh LESS than when they started lifting but after lifting look 50lbs lighter. I think I just wanted clarification because I am big and I didn't want to get bigger but after what people have kindly posted I don't think that's likely to happen. Also, I've decided to make my piece with being what I call a man beast (no wish to offend anyone). It used to embarrass me when male staff at work would ask me to crush tablets for them if they couldn't manage it but I'm just gonna go with it now, I am what I am so if I do end up even stronger lol so be it. Thanks again to all that have posted :-)
lol...interesting pics - these were supposed to show your "natural muscle mass" ?? as someone said above, you likely don't have nearly the amount of muscle mass as you keep stating (and these pics don't suggest anything different).
I don't have visible muscles, as I said I don't lift weights but I am naturally very strong, like I'm known for it. That's what I meant that can be built upon. Im not claiming to be ripped lol as I said I have never lifted a weight in my life so that wouldn't happen and I also eat 5000 cals per day +. So no I am not ripped but I am naturally a larger person and quite strong. My sister is the same height but a smaller build than me. Many moons ago when I weighed about 154lbs, my sister weighed 135lbs. We both wore a UK size 10, which I think is a US size 6? If I had got to 135lbs I literally would have died there would have been nothing of me left but my sister looked healthy at that weight as she is smaller boned. I don't think that's an excuse some people are larger framed than others
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Muscleflex79 wrote: »tanny20171 wrote: »Thankyou so much for your post. I am now more convinced than ever that I should be lifting weights from the start. I know it may influence me losing but I'm gonna try not to get caught up in the numbers game. I think I'll always weigh more than some other women. At the moment I am 235lbs (I've included pics below) but I still wear smaller clothes sizes than some women I know that are 30lbs lighter. And I think that's due to having natural muscle. I've seen pics on Instagram of women that weigh LESS than when they started lifting but after lifting look 50lbs lighter. I think I just wanted clarification because I am big and I didn't want to get bigger but after what people have kindly posted I don't think that's likely to happen. Also, I've decided to make my piece with being what I call a man beast (no wish to offend anyone). It used to embarrass me when male staff at work would ask me to crush tablets for them if they couldn't manage it but I'm just gonna go with it now, I am what I am so if I do end up even stronger lol so be it. Thanks again to all that have posted :-)
lol...interesting pics - these were supposed to show your "natural muscle mass" ?? as someone said above, you likely don't have nearly the amount of muscle mass as you keep stating (and these pics don't suggest anything different).
Yea I agree.... Maybe OP inserted the wrong photos by accident?2 -
tanny20171 wrote: »Thankyou so much for your post. I am now more convinced than ever that I should be lifting weights from the start. I know it may influence me losing but I'm gonna try not to get caught up in the numbers game. I think I'll always weigh more than some other women. At the moment I am 235lbs (I've included pics below) but I still wear smaller clothes sizes than some women I know that are 30lbs lighter. And I think that's due to having natural muscle. I've seen pics on Instagram of women that weigh LESS than when they started lifting but after lifting look 50lbs lighter. I think I just wanted clarification because I am big and I didn't want to get bigger but after what people have kindly posted I don't think that's likely to happen. Also, I've decided to make my piece with being what I call a man beast (no wish to offend anyone). It used to embarrass me when male staff at work would ask me to crush tablets for them if they couldn't manage it but I'm just gonna go with it now, I am what I am so if I do end up even stronger lol so be it. Thanks again to all that have posted :-)
Why have you posted a picture of your rack OP?5 -
tanny20171 wrote: »I don't think that's an excuse some people are larger framed than others
I was overweight or obese my entire adult life (about 20 years) & used to think this, too. After losing weight the only part of "large frame" I retained was my height.0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »tanny20171 wrote: »Thankyou so much for your post. I am now more convinced than ever that I should be lifting weights from the start. I know it may influence me losing but I'm gonna try not to get caught up in the numbers game. I think I'll always weigh more than some other women. At the moment I am 235lbs (I've included pics below) but I still wear smaller clothes sizes than some women I know that are 30lbs lighter. And I think that's due to having natural muscle. I've seen pics on Instagram of women that weigh LESS than when they started lifting but after lifting look 50lbs lighter. I think I just wanted clarification because I am big and I didn't want to get bigger but after what people have kindly posted I don't think that's likely to happen. Also, I've decided to make my piece with being what I call a man beast (no wish to offend anyone). It used to embarrass me when male staff at work would ask me to crush tablets for them if they couldn't manage it but I'm just gonna go with it now, I am what I am so if I do end up even stronger lol so be it. Thanks again to all that have posted :-)
Why have you posted a picture of your rack OP?
My intention in the pic is not to show I'm muscular I know I'm not.
What I mean to say is right now I am 5ft 7 235lbs and a UK size 16, or US 12. My best friend is 5ft 5, 196lbs and a UK size 18, I think a US 14. I'm not massively taller but I am just bigger. Bigger framed and therefore more natural muscle. My wrists are 17inches that's what defines a large frame is it not.... I'm not saying I'm muscular or rippled just that I am a bigger person naturally and can carry more weight because of that
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that trainer sounds like he just took it for granted the only thing you care about is the way that you look.tanny20171 wrote: »He said if I pack muscle over fat I will look huge
i would personally want to drop some of those weights on his toe, but ymmv about that. if it is in fact what your main purpose is, then i guess he could even be right.
idk though. i've been a member of a heavy-lifting group for women here for three years and seen plenty of progress pics from 'solid' women whose overall shape has been changed by lifting, in ways they seem very happy about.
as far as if you're NOT only motivated by what men like him think of you, then i'd be saying 'why waste the muscle you already have? do it now do it do it!' but i'm speaking from that can-only-dream peanut gallery made up of women who never did have much to begin with and are trying to build from the ground up.
gl either way.
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canadianlbs wrote: »that trainer sounds like he just took it for granted the only thing you care about is the way that you look.tanny20171 wrote: »He said if I pack muscle over fat I will look huge
i would personally want to drop some of those weights on his toe, but ymmv about that. if it is in fact what your main purpose is, then i guess he could even be right.
idk though. i've been a member of a heavy-lifting group for women here for three years and seen plenty of progress pics from 'solid' women whose overall shape has been changed by lifting, in ways they seem very happy about.
as far as if you're NOT only motivated by what men like him think of you, then i'd be saying 'why waste the muscle you already have? do it now do it do it!' but i'm speaking from that can-only-dream peanut gallery made up of women who never did have much to begin with and are trying to build from the ground up.
gl either way.
Haha, this made me laugh thankyou. No metabolic health is more important than appearance, its health that matters the most. Thanks for your post xx
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This whole "where are your muscles" witch hunt thing is reminding me of a similar incident I had at work....when I was warned by the health and safety officer to stop going out alone into the car park to warn off kids doing drugs there....words to the effect of "you think you're Rambo but you're not " lol0
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Just lift weights. Don't worry about what being "too muscular" at this point.
I'd recommend the book New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women. The lifting program gets a little convoluted after the first phase but the text of the book contains solid information and helps settle a lot of the concerns women have about lifting.0 -
tanny20171 wrote: »This whole "where are your muscles" witch hunt thing is reminding me of a similar incident I had at work....when I was warned by the health and safety officer to stop going out alone into the car park to warn off kids doing drugs there....words to the effect of "you think you're Rambo but you're not " lol
I think the confusion is because you keep talking about your naturally muscly build, then post pics of your rack (thanks tavistock for just saying it!)2
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