Too fat to lift weights?

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Replies

  • happymommy321
    happymommy321 Posts: 60 Member
    See if your gym offers some kind of training session or something. Form is super important for lifting so you want to make sure you are doing it right. This will also give you more confidence in using the equipment.
  • formerfatboy1
    formerfatboy1 Posts: 76 Member
    I started out at 300lbs and turned my garage into a gym. Invested in some weights from Academy and a stationary bike. Wife bought me a treadmill for Christmas one year but I was still over weight and the treadmill had a limit of 250lbs so it wouldn't work till I was under that weight limit. Throughout my journey I stayed on the weight training and daily cardio. 3yrs in Nov and I'm still going strong. Invest in some equipment if you are not feeling the gym. Stay strong you got this!
  • ntw25
    ntw25 Posts: 149 Member
    Started in the gym at 330lbs, started with Stronglifts 5x5, I like it as a entry way in to lifting, but I am starting to add a few more lifts with the help of a weekly PT session. As many have said, most people at the gym are more concerned about what they are doing than what you are, that said, I have never had a bad response when I asked a question about form or equipment.

    I really enjoy lifting weights, I will never be the strongest, I will never be ripped, but I am determined to be healthy and to be an ispiration to my wife, my kids and anyone else that cares to need it.

    Go and enjoy yourself, you will not regret it
  • Cielazul
    Cielazul Posts: 77 Member
    Also, people who are fat usually have a fair bit of lean body mass (including muscle) because we have been hauling around a lot of extra personal poundage over time. So in fact, OP, as an overweight person, you are probably particularly qualified to start lifting weights!
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member


    ........I will never be the strongest, I will never be ripped, ..............


    tsk tsk tsk......
    So sad
  • BigLifter10
    BigLifter10 Posts: 1,153 Member
    At the gym I go to, there is this one particular guy who weighs appx 300 + lbs. He started a couple of yrs ago and focused mainly on weights, eventually feeling like he had enough change in his body to do cardio. He has many times of stopping and starting (he told me he likes to eat and fights that all the time). However, that man can pump out 25 minutes on the step mill like nobody's business. He didn't start that way, but even now, with extra weight....he owns that thing and I believe it has a lot to do with his weight lifting that he started with. You just know he is packing muscle under the excess.

    Personally, I would love to see him shed the extra fat layers just to see what he'd look like, but also for him alone. I want to see him succeed. He never asks for any advice and I don't just offer any...but I always give him a thumbs up or a nice to see you when I see him there. I do believe someday he will break through in the way he needs to, but for now....it is just great he is there. He keeps on and doesn't let anything in the gym derail him.

    Just go and do your thing....you never know who you will be impressing!
  • ysienkiewicz
    ysienkiewicz Posts: 86 Member
    I signed up with a personal trainer. I am 50, very out of shape/overweight, and had a shoulder injury earlier this year. I want to lose weight efficiently, and safely. I am really excited! She helps pump me up, try new things. she is teaching me proper form. It is helping with my confidence. It isn't cheap, but I quit smoking 4 years ago. I was a pack a day smoker for about 25 years. I figure I was spending at least $180/month on cigarettes and now I am spending that on my health!
  • lgpperry1
    lgpperry1 Posts: 11 Member
    I do recommend getting a trainer to at least show you proper form. If you pick a beginning lifting program like Starting Strength or StrongLifts, you can stick to that instead of keeping a trainer on board to work with you long term (hiring a trainer can get pretty expensive).

    People in the weight room might look intimidating, but they're really no different than people anywhere else: a few of them might not be super friendly, but most people are pretty nice as long as you don't get in their way. In general, watch where you're going and don't walk where anyone's range of motion is while they're lifting. If you catch people looking at you they are either A. thinking about how cool it is that you're getting into lifting or B. eyeballing that heavy weight you're lifting just in case they need to jump in and give you a spot so that you don't squish yourself. I worked out in a giant commercial gym full of meathead types for close to a year and never once did I see anyone being mean to anyone else.

    The gym is a weird little community. In general, people don't want to talk to other people while they're working out, but everyone wants to see everyone else succeed... especially when you get into it and become a familiar face.
  • Redheadllena
    Redheadllena Posts: 353 Member
    I think as a male you'll have less people chatting you up, and if anything, they'll be offering advice, or to help spot you. I agree with what the other posters said - no one will judge you, if anything they'll be happy to see you in there working on yourself.

    Repeating what the others have said; a personal training session would be a good start to get acquainted with the gym and what they have there. Then after that, Youtube is your best friend. That is where I learned and perfected my form the most, just watching videos of people showing proper technique. I also read up as much as I can, because as with anything, there are a lot of opinions out there on how do things.

    I still get intimidated to go lift by myself and I've been at it 1.5 years (and I'm a pretty confident girl) but if you just remind yourself why you want to do it, and stay focused, the sooner you'll be in and out of the gym. I just keep my head down and get to business on my workout. I also recommend a lifting app, such as Fitocracy for example. I use it to track my workouts and so I can remember how much I lifted on which exercises the last time I did them.

    Best of luck to you!!
  • Redheadllena
    Redheadllena Posts: 353 Member
    Oh and afterthought, I recommend using free weights as much possible (dumbbells & barbells) - get well acquainted with those, particularly the big lifts (full body compound lifts like bench press, deadlifts, squats). You will get the most "bang for your buck" with those as they work out your whole body.
  • jennifurballs
    jennifurballs Posts: 247 Member
    People need to stop believing this you should not lift weight myths and only do cardio.

    You're right. Early on in my life change, a very wise man told me not to wait until I reach my goal to start lifting weights. So I started immediately and not only does it make me feel better, but it hasn't slowed my weight loss down one bit. I lift and do cardio every day.
  • Herelum
    Herelum Posts: 68 Member
    So I'm a fairly overweight guy at 280 is lbs.
    I'm a member of a gym that I'd been having an on and off relationship with for a while. Now though, I want to get back to it and have been reading various articles online about the big benefits of weight lifting (not on the machines but with the bells) to weight loss.
    Problem is, I'm a complete newb and am afraid of what people may say if I venture to that area of the gym... I'm also rather shy and wouldn't have anyone to bring to the gym with me to help out anyway.
    Does anyone have tips or advice/motivation for those of us in my situation?
    Thanks!

    Go lift....you will be glad you did.
    Screw what other people say......

    Good Luck

    Srs....GO LIFT!!!
    Get your diet in order,
    Have a trainer walk you through a workout routine comprising of compound lifts.....I would say go full body workouts...at least 3 days a week.
    Get form and technique right.

    Thanks man, definitely something I needed to get me to the gym! Also thanks to all in general for all the suggestions and encouragement! Guess I'll be rocking out at the weights this week after doing some homework left for me here :)
  • soosun
    soosun Posts: 129 Member
    Good for you that you want to do this!
    You will come to love it and the way your feel when you are done is such a confidence and esteem builder. Go for it and use that membership.
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member


    ........I will never be the strongest, I will never be ripped, ..............


    I will be both those things. Where's your sense of adventure people? Where's your sense of purpose?!
  • jacqueline7599
    jacqueline7599 Posts: 159 Member
    Most gym people love to help others.
  • MercenaryNoetic26
    MercenaryNoetic26 Posts: 2,747 Member
    Get an 'awesome' personal trainer man. A good one will get you started and teach you what you need to know until you get the hang of it.

    I know a lot of people are "self-taught", but if you can put the cash out to be taught by an expert, do eet.

    You're never too fat to lift weights. That's just preposterous. LOL tell it to all the happily fat powerlifters out there. If you're interested in weights it's the best route to fast results in body composition change.

    Good luck man.
  • MoochieRama
    MoochieRama Posts: 71 Member
    You have to try kettleworkx, it will get u ready for 6 weeks before u start lifting. It's only 6 weeks & used by the military.
  • MoochieRama
    MoochieRama Posts: 71 Member
    Never say never. U can do it.
  • ROBOTFOOD
    ROBOTFOOD Posts: 5,527 Member
    You can never be too fat to lift weights. Always a way to do it. Then add some cardio. Win.
  • mullaneywt
    mullaneywt Posts: 28 Member
    Right or wrong, most people DO judge one-another. I've judged the thin guys who are doing a workout that, to me at least, looks ridiculous and not productive. I'm sure that they judge me for my weight and struggling through what would be easy for them. Etc Etc. That said, I probably spend about 10 seconds doing that, and then am back to doing my own stuff, and I imagine that they are doing the same. I've never said anything to anyone, and nobody has ever made comments or made me feel out of place or anything. They do their thing, I do mine. Actually, after a few months of getting more exercise in (most NOT in the gym though), I did have one person come up to me while I was on an elliptical who wanted to ask me some questions to get his own motivation/courage/whatever up. It was a little strange, but actually kind of cool; I never expected I'd be giving any fitness advice.

    I made a ton of excuses for not going to the gym, or cycling, or whatever at first; people will judge me and make fun of me, I'll feel out of place, it will be too busy, I'll get hurt, I'll fail at something and look stupid, etc. It turns out that none of that has happened, and slowly I started to figure out which friends/acquaintances like to go to the gym, cycle, ski, whatever.

    The best part of doing any exercise with a quantitative component is seeing how you progress. How much weight you can lift compared to a month ago. How long you can be on a piece of cardio equipment. How fast you can ride up a hill or what gearing you can maintain. How steep a hill you can ski down in control, or how long you can go without stopping. Every time I cycle a road or a trail and realize, "at the beginning of the season, you were in the lowest gearing, now you're near the highest," that makes me smile. The feeling from that is 100x stronger than any feelings or worry that the person cycling the other way thinks I'm a fat *kitten* with no place on two wheels.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    So I'm a fairly overweight guy at 280 is lbs.
    I'm a member of a gym that I'd been having an on and off relationship with for a while. Now though, I want to get back to it and have been reading various articles online about the big benefits of weight lifting (not on the machines but with the bells) to weight loss.
    Problem is, I'm a complete newb and am afraid of what people may say if I venture to that area of the gym... I'm also rather shy and wouldn't have anyone to bring to the gym with me to help out anyway.
    Does anyone have tips or advice/motivation for those of us in my situation?
    Thanks!

    You are NOT too fat to lift. When I started lifting, I was 5"2' tall and 228lbs-- so obese that after losing 45lbs I STILL have to lose 20 to be 'overweight'. That was 2 years ago. I'm still obese, but I work with the hottest trainer in the gym, and I'm lifting more than a few of the guys! A few of my one rep maxs--squat 210, deadlift 185, bench 140, leg press 528. I can row with 55 lb bells!! I have big muscled guys come over and congratulate me on lifts :) I used to feel uncomfortable when people stopped to gawk, but now I know its because they are in awe...
  • CoachMigs
    CoachMigs Posts: 22
    I used to be overweight too and had those feelings long ago... Just do it. Even try to be friendly. Some people are jerks, but some are nice, and everything in between. Make some new friends there and that will help you to keep going. IF you need some training wheels for the first few times (don't do this all the time or you won't make friends): use headphones and be in your own little world - work out to the music and let it pump you up! Bonus tip: (be VERY careful if you try this): Looks like you wear glasses. Unless you totally can't see anything - leave them in the locker room... the muscular guys will then be fuzzy and you won't know if they're overweight or muscular :p This may even help you go up to some fuzzy fit people and make new friends or at least spout out a "hey how are you doing?" easier. I've gone back and forth over the years with weight so was occasionally the fat guy and other times the muscular guy. Now I'm committed to staying the fit/muscular guy. I put myself in a position where I coach people and help them stay accountable getting fit, so I have to be a good role model - now I am forced to stay fit! (In your 30's losing fat gets tougher, and gaining fat easier.) Another bonus tip: When you start lifting regularly and the fat melts off - you will naturally likely have AWESOME legs from carrying the extra weight for so long - something that people that come from skinny childhood struggle to get. Chisel them and OWN it :)

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