Cardio vs. Strength training results (pic)

Mcctin65

I needed this message so badly right now! Perfect timing! I've been considering lifting AND ditching my scale.

Lula16

you look awesome! thank you for sharing

mogriff1

Awesome results! I've been recently thinking of incorporating lifting heavy weights into my work out regimen. I currently strength train with light weights and feel I may to up it some. Thanks for the motivation!

pandasmama3

Great job!!!

Tennybird

Congrats! I really needed to see this today. I also recently cut back on cardio to try heavy lifting. Since I started I have only seen the scale go down 1/2 pound. Can I ask how you are eating? Did you keep you calories the same as when you were doing mostly cardio or did you up your calories? I'm so confused about how much I should eat.

Thank you! Cardio helps you lose faster, but strength training ensures that what you lose is fat. It's slower, but so worth it. I took a pic every Saturday and even when my weight loss slowed, the pics show me I'm still making progress. Measurements do that too and give you the decrease in numbers that you want to see.

My first month I was netting around 1200. Once I started lifting I upped it to 1400 and recently to 1600. Depending on the workout i do, I net anywhere between 1500-2200 and I try to hit my macros of 30protein/25fat/45carbs. I've stayed at 158 for the last two weeks, since upping my cals, but I should go back down once my body adjusts.

If you're hungry on days you work out, even if you're netting your goal, maybe try upping your cals. You might stay at the same weight, but the loss should continue once your body adjusts. My maintenance number is around 2200 cals, so anything below that is a deficit that should lead to weight loss. I try not to net below 1500 or else I usually get grumpy, hungry, and sleepy. Lol, I could give SnowWhite's dwarves a run for their money.

Thank you so much for answering mine and other's questions, that is so sweet of you!!

Arunakae

Wow! Your results are inspirational!

OfficialPR

Great Job!

butterfli7o

Awesome!!!

Snapplejac

Congrats - you look amazing. I've just started NROL4W so this is great to see

Cmonnowguys

Looking hot You're about the same weight/shape I am so I think I'm going to have to go research this 5x5 stronglift thing!!

Thank you!
I'm one of those top heavy, apple-ish shaped girls, so I wanted women to see that there is still hope for us! Heavy lifting is the one thing that is finally helping me tighten everything up. =]

Cmonnowguys

WOW!!!!! GREAT JOB!

Its amazing to see your results from end of March to May 5...

If I were to take a guess just looking at the pics, I would have said you lost at least another 5-7 lbs... but for it to only be 3 that just shows that the number on the scale means NOTHING and toning and inches are everything!

Thanks so much! Yea, it's a good thing I took a pic every Saturday, because I would have been a little disheartened if I had gone by the scale alone. Plus, I don't know if it's just me, but I can't distinguish changes on my body when I look in the mirror every day. Something about pictures makes it concrete though!

Cmonnowguys

Wow...great results! Your benhind & girls got a natural lift, not to mention the free tummy tuck too Thanks for posting & keep it up!

Thank you! People here are so motivating and I would have never thought to start if I hadn't seen the surgery-free results of other women on here.

emmamcblain

You have a gorgeous figure! Fabulous work.

Cmonnowguys

Awesome results! I've been recently thinking of incorporating lifting heavy weights into my work out regimen. I currently strength train with light weights and feel I may to up it some. Thanks for the motivation!

You'll enjoy it! It's hard, but you'll start noticing those little changes soon. I actually have decent tricep muscles now! Weights are intimidating at first, but so rewarding. Good luck!

mmapags

Awesome results! You just prove what I mean when I say that a heavy lifting women is a thing of beauty!! Congrats and keep it up!!

mandypooh2103

Awesome u look great!

DestroyTheOpposition

Nice work! Looking great!

Aprill42

Is 5X5 some sort of weight lifting program?

juicemoogan

Wow you look fantastic,,

I'm on Stage 1 of New rules of lifting for women now..

Hope to get lean like you.,

A_New_Horizon

WOW - thanks for sharing. I am starting to lift as well, and this was just the encouragement I needed. Thanks for sharing - those pictures mean alot to me (and probably alot of others as well). Also, congrats - you look amazing

tuffytuffy1

You look fantastic!!! Great results in such a short time. I totally agree with the strength training, I have completely changed my body shape in the past 11 months

ThinUpGirl

Amazing results, your midsection looks great!! Keep it up girl!!

mmapags

Is 5X5 some sort of weight lifting program?

Stronglifts 5X5 is a strength training program aimed mostly at beginers with an aswesome iPhone app.

Cmonnowguys

WOW - thanks for sharing. I am starting to lift as well, and this was just the encouragement I needed. Thanks for sharing - those pictures mean alot to me (and probably alot of others as well). Also, congrats - you look amazing

Thank you! Seeing pictures of other women lifting made me realize I could change my body too. I figured other people could see my progress and see that there's hope, lol.

Cmonnowguys

Wow you look fantastic,,

I'm on Stage 1 of New rules of lifting for women now..

Hope to get lean like you.,

Let me know how you like it! I plan on doing that starting this fall. I loved the book.

amivox

That is awesome!!! Good job! I have been using resistance bands, but I am moving soon and the gym at my new place has free weights, so I will definitely be getting on that grind and working HARD. So inspiring.

Fit_SailorsWife

So motivational!

kylTKe

5% body fat on a person weighing 162lbs should be slightly over 8lbs. The numbers don't really add up, be careful of anecdotal evidence it may send you down the wrong path.

Cmonnowguys

5% body fat on a person weighing 162lbs should be slightly over 8lbs. The numbers don't really add up, be careful of anecdotal evidence it may send you down the wrong path.

I assume that while I lost body fat I I also put on a couple pounds of muscle (not much, but some). One offset the other. That is probably why the scale loss was only 3 lbs in the last month. I lost 2 inches off my chest, 2 off my hips, 5 off my waist, and .5 off my neck, so I'm pretty sure that is a moderate amount of fat loss.

kylTKe

5% body fat on a person weighing 162lbs should be slightly over 8lbs. The numbers don't really add up, be careful of anecdotal evidence it may send you down the wrong path.

I assume that while I lost body fat I I also put on a couple pounds of muscle (not much, but some). One offset the other. That is probably why the scale loss was only 3 lbs in the last month. I lost 2 inches off my chest, 2 off my hips, 5 off my waist, and .5 off my neck, so I'm pretty sure that is a moderate amount of fat loss.

You can only put on like 1-2 lbs of muscle in a month, even for a beginner.
In addition to that, you're really not going to be adding muscle mass while eating at a calorie deficit.

I think you're getting great results, just be careful about attributing them to the workout of the week. The human mind is very good at finding patterns, especially where they don't exist. Check out this little article http://blog.asmartbear.com/pattern-seeking-fallacy.html