I want to start adding weights to my workout any suggestions

Andrea7701

I've been doing nothing but cardio and have lost almost 15 lbs. I'm about 15 lbs away from my goal. I'd like to tone up, but I'm always worried that adding the weights will increase my weight. Any thoughts or suggestions???

kdiamond

It might slow down weight loss, but since you're so close to your goal that may be the case anyway.

I gained 5 pounds when I started lifting heavy weights, but I still fit in the same clothes and look better (plus I lose inches). Muscle takes up less volume than fat and makes you appear smaller and firmer.

Get pumping!

Xaspar

Lower weights, higher number of repititions will strengthen and 'tone' You most likely WILL gain weight as you gain muscle, but weight should not be your only indication of health.

rockabillydarlin

If you don't include weights in your routine you will start to lose muscle mass -- meaning that while the number on the scale may go down, you won't notice any difference in the mirror. Plus, building muscle burns more calories after the fact than cardio does. Don't be afraid of a little "gain" on the scale; trust your mirror more. You will feel better and, while you might see a little increase in weight number, you will look much better in the long run!

rockabillydarlin

If you don't include weights in your routine you will start to lose muscle mass -- meaning that while the number on the scale may go down, you won't notice any difference in the mirror. Plus, building muscle burns more calories after the fact than cardio does. Don't be afraid of a little "gain" on the scale; trust your mirror more. You will feel better and, while you might see a little increase in weight number, you will look much better in the long run!

End6ame

Lower weights, higher number of repititions will strengthen and 'tone' You most likely WILL gain weight as you gain muscle, but weight should not be your only indication of health.

Actually, heavier weight and lower reps will build more strength. Lighter weight at higher reps will build more size. There are two different types of hypertrophy that engage under different loads and rep ranges.

There is no such thing as toning. Your muscles can get bigger and your fat can get smaller, that’s it.

jennywrens

I always look at it that muscle 'burns' fat, so although you're gaining muscle it's therefore burning more fat therefore helping your weight loss in the long run!

I don't lift particularly heavy - and I don't do free weights, just the machines, but I lift (push, pull - whatever!) as heavy as I can manage and I go by the rule that you should be barely able to finish the last few reps of the last round. Generally I do 12-15 reps three times.

kimmerroze

It takes MONTHS to gain one pound of lean muscle.

Don't worry about gainin tons of weight, it wont happen.

Get lifting, it doesn't matter whether or not you lift light for a lot of reps, or heavy for a few reps. The goal is to find a weight that you can lift barely 10 time, and then do that three times or Three SETS.

I would try to focus your energy on something rather than the scale, because your weight will start moving really slow, and its only going to frustrate you, and then you will probably go back to doing just cardio which isn't good for you.

instead work on measuring yourself, because as you lift weight you will shrink exponentially, inches wise, not WEIGHT.

Plus doing cardio only helps to eat your muscle, so its extremely important to weight lift as well as do cardio.

End6ame

I think many of you talking about gaining muscle could benefit from a former topic I posted.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/234432-if-you-think-you-gained-muscle-read-this?hl="if+you+think+you+gained+muscle"

jennywrens

I think many of you talking about gaining muscle could benefit from a former topic I posted.

That's great, and I'm sure I didn't use the right phrasing with what I said. However, I didn't understand what on earth you were talking about, far too many technical terms - I think when people use the phrase 'gained muscle' you might want to think that not everyone knows the scientific terminology! Not meaning to be snarky, just defending myself and anyone else who has offended you by using the wrong wording.