Weight Loss and Strength Training

Cait_G

How important is strength training when it comes to losing weight? And what would be a good routine? Is it better to do full body strength training, or focus on specific muscles on specific days? Any recommendations for someone trying to lose weight and just starting with strength training? Thanks! And add me if you want...I need motivating, encouraging, determined, and inspirational friends

shadow2soul

Very important. It helps you maintain your LBM (which includes your muscles). It helps you lose inches (in other words, helps to target mostly fat loss). Muscles burn more calories at rest than fat, so you want to maintain as much as possible. Muscle is very hard for women to gain, so you want to keep as much of your existing muscles as possible.

Good programs are:

Stronglifts 5x5:
This is the one I would pick if I had access to the weights. Its a full body workout 3 days a week. It's also free.
About it - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary
Progress pics from women who do it - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/948109-progress-photos

New Rules of Lifting for Women (NROLW):
This is another one that is highly recommended around here. I don't know much about it, other than it is a book.

Cait_G

Very important. It helps you maintain your LBM (which includes your muscles). It helps you lose inches (in other words, helps to target mostly fat loss). Muscles burn more calories at rest than fat, so you want to maintain as much as possible. Muscle is very hard for women to gain, so you want to keep as much of your existing muscles as possible.

Good programs are:

Stronglifts 5x5:
This is the one I would pick if I had access to the weights. Its a full body workout 3 days a week. It's also free.
About it - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary
Progress pics from women who do it - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/948109-progress-photos

New Rules of Lifting for Women (NROLW):
This is another one that is highly recommended around here. I don't know much about it, other than it is a book.

Great! Thank you!!

jakichan

Muscles burn more calories at rest than fat, so you want to maintain as much as possible.

This is true, but overstated.

http://www.builtlean.com/2013/04/16/muscle-burn-calories/

However building muscle is still a good idea. (Or keeping what you have.)