people that want to lose weight and tone

beankid

What's the best way to go about this? Do you lose first and then tone, or do you do it consecutively?

gashinshotan

Toning is a myth.... to get cut you just gotta lose fat and gain muscle by weightlifting and creating a deficit through diet and cardio.

addisondisease2

Pick a routine, learn the proper form of the 6 major lifts, get strong.

Routines:
Starting Strength - Mark Rippetoe
5x5 - just google it
5/3/1 - Wendler

6 major lifts ALL weight lifters should know and do:
Squat
Dead-lift
Bench Press
Over Head Press
Snatch
Clean & Jerk

gashinshotan

I lost 30 lbs and I'm still not cut despite not looking overweight so I started weigptlifting to get more muscle definition while increasing my metabolic rate to burn more calories for fat loss.

What's the best way to go about this? Do you lose first and then tone, or do you do it consecutively?

jarrettd

I suggest New Rules of Lifting for Women. Some good info on losing fat while preserving muscle.

bcattoes

I lost weight with just cardio, which also toned my legs. Then after I'd lost most of the weight I added squats, lunges, modified pushups, dumbells, resistance bands and free step with weight to keep things toned and increase the burn.

Tubby2Toned

I agree whole heartedly with assisondiseas on the 6 major lifts. They might seem daunting at first, but they are doable. They're full body compound lifts. The only way to go.

I think, however, that you could lift using the above approach (which is more of a power lifting style), but follow a body builders diet.
Power lifters and body builders have completely different goals. Power lifters want to get strong. Body builders want to look good.
Power lifters eat to feed muscles. Body builders eat with an eye toward eventually having to stand on a stage and flex with other people in single digit body fat % range.

Research how body builders diet. The science is there to do it correctly. Good luck!

TeaBea

I don't have specific figures. But generally if you have lots of weight to lose, no one is going to see the toned muscle anyway. So, as you get "closer" to your goal add more & more resistance training. Don't wait until you are AT goal, start toning before.

Most of all, if exercise is a "new" lifestyle change for you - start with what you "like" to do. Liking your exercise routine will make you much more consistant at it.

CorinthiaB

I have alot to lose and I do a combination of the two. I do 3 days strength training with cardio and 2 or 3 days strictly cardio. I need to say I am following a program designed by the trainer at my gym.

gashinshotan

Yeah losing weight through cardio only - you end up looking flabby even though you lost a lot of weight. I did it the wrong way and lost 30 lbs over 3 months with 1220 net cals a day and 25-30 miles a week of running.... I lost a lot of fat but Im super weak now and still don't look cut.