Strength Training: how long until results are noticeable?

princesspocahontas87
princesspocahontas87 Posts: 6
in Fitness and Exercise
I just recently started strength training 3x a week in combination with running 3x a week. I am curious how long it took others to notice a difference in their bodies once they started strength training. I don't care about weight loss/gain, just definition.

Replies

  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    It depends on how your eating is going & how hard you are lifting.
  • dshalbert
    dshalbert Posts: 677 Member
    I stared to notice and feel definition in about a two weeks. I'm not sure if anyone else did . . . . :wink:
  • dshalbert
    dshalbert Posts: 677 Member
    I stared to notice and feel definition in about a two weeks. I'm not sure if anyone else did . . . . :wink:

    I'll also add that that was in my arms, which where you will notice it first. Legs, thighs, then core, tends to take longer depending on how much fat is covering it up, but you will start to feel yourself getting stronger in all of those areas pretty quickly.
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    It's your weight loss/gain that will provide your definition. Read up on bodyfat % and how that attributes to the way you look.

    Otherwise beginner men tend to gain muscle at a ratio of 1:1 with fat gain. Due to their physiology, women can expect to make gains a bit slower than that, even when training optimally.

    If you're dieting, you'll probably notice "definition" soon enough once you start droping your fat mass. You seem relatively skinny, so I figure in about 3-5 lbs you'll notice a change in the way you look, but that's a total guess, and it might not look so great if you don't have enough muscle underneath to give you some shape.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    It's your weight loss/gain that will provide your definition. Read up on bodyfat % and how that attributes to the way you look.

    Otherwise beginner men tend to gain muscle at a ratio of 1:1 with fat gain. Due to their physiology, women can expect to make gains a bit slower than that, even when training optimally.

    If you're dieting, you'll probably notice "definition" soon enough once you start dropping your fat mass. You seem relatively skinny, so I figure in about 3-5 lbs you'll notice a change in the way you look, but that's a total guess, and it might not look so great if you don't have enough muscle underneath to give you some shape.

    pretty much this.

    Definition is almost purely a function of BF%... you'll probably see gains in your lifts before you see gains visually.
  • ChrisLindsay9
    ChrisLindsay9 Posts: 837 Member
    I just recently started strength training 3x a week in combination with running 3x a week. I am curious how long it took others to notice a difference in their bodies once they started strength training. I don't care about weight loss/gain, just definition.
    It may be faster for you to tell, if you take pictures. The changes can be subtle, so it might be harder to notice right away. But if you take pictures every couple of weeks, then you should be able to see changes from the first picture to the most recent.

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