Scared to strength train because...

Sarauk2sf

U mean i have to get a bar and weights? I thought like dumbbells would be good enough. Im not interested in gaining tons of muscle, just enough to tone me and help me lose inches. Does that make sense?

You do not have to get a barbell. You can do something like You Are Your Own Gym that has been suggested. Or if you want, you can adapt a barbell program for dumbbells.

There are some suggestions here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/902569-barbell-routines-when-you-only-have-dumbbells

lilawolf

U mean i have to get a bar and weights? I thought like dumbbells would be good enough. Im not interested in gaining tons of muscle, just enough to tone me and help me lose inches. Does that make sense?

A bar and weights would be best because it would allow you to do StrongLifts 5x5, Starting Strength, or New Rules, but isn't necessary for the You Are Your Own Gym program. You will not gain a lot (or any) muscle and will not get bulky unless you start eating at a surplus (as in the opposite of dieting) in which case you will still not get bulky because of a lack of estrogen. The weight training will maintain the muscle that you have, keeping your metabolism high, and making you look toned (and be a smaller size) once you lose the fat. You will get stronger but not bigger no matter what program you choose.

nickylee76

Bump

WhoHa42

There's three times you can gain muscle in a deficit. Being a complete beginner, coming back from an injury, or using steroids. Even if you didn't gain muscle you'd be retaining the muscle you have now while losing weight.

MB_Positif

U mean i have to get a bar and weights? I thought like dumbbells would be good enough. Im not interested in gaining tons of muscle, just enough to tone me and help me lose inches. Does that make sense?

That is what I have and it has helped me lose lots of inches. For me personally, the barbell and plates is more affordable than dumbbells because you can just keep adding plates instead of having to buy more and more dumbbells. Right now the largest dumbbells we have are 30 pounds and they're too light for me for some lifts. I don't want to buy new dumbbells every time I progress to a heavier weight.

LaurenAOK

Already some great responses on here, so I don't have much to add. Just wanted to stress that it really shouldn't rather whether or not the scale is moving if your body is improving, right? Would you rather see the number on the scale go down and not see a big change in your body, or the number says the same but you fit into smaller sizes and get leaner and thinner? I'm guessing you'd choose the second option - most people would. Who cares what the scale says, you are losing fat and getting healthier and that's what matters! Strength training is the best thing I ever did for myself, and many others will tell you the same thing. For reference, I'm the same weight in all of the photos below (I'm still working towards my goal body, but you can see that there's a huge difference in my physique even though there was no scale change!)

Sandytoes71

Wow, impressive pics! That is so cool! Ok, im gonna do it!!!! Thanks everyone!! Im gonna check out the links and books u guys suggested. Thanks again )

MB_Positif

Wow, impressive pics! That is so cool! Ok, im gonna do it!!!! Thanks everyone!! Im gonna check out the links and books u guys suggested. Thanks again )

Excellent!

Cranquistador

I just put this picture somewhere else and thought i would drop it here to show you that lifting progressively heavier weights is nothing to be scared of...you will NOT gain a bunch of muscle and suddenly be she hulk.

I dont think my second picture looks bulky do you? And I am over 40, so this can be done at any age.

Sandytoes71

I just put this picture somewhere else and thought i would drop it here to show you that lifting progressively heavier weights is nothing to be scared of...you will NOT gain a bunch of muscle and suddenly be she hulk.

I dont think my second picture looks bulky do you? And I am over 40, so this can be done at any age.

Wow!!