Should I lose fat before weight training?

NatashaB8
NatashaB8 Posts: 202
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi!

I am re-joining the gym tomorrow and am wanting to start weight lifting. I have always admired women with strong muscular bodies and want to become one!
However I am unsure whether to stick to cardio first to lose fat and then start weight training, or can I combine cardio and weight training? Will my body still come out looking the same?

Thanks in advance for any advice, I am a newbie when it comes to weights! :)
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Replies

  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Start weights now.
  • NatashaB8
    NatashaB8 Posts: 202
    Awesome, cardio alone bores me! Will feel better doing both I think too!
  • SlimSharonSlim
    SlimSharonSlim Posts: 85 Member
    Hi, It depends on what you want. I prefer to lose the weight then tone up. I know a lot of people who are overweight and hit the gym- they not only lose weight but gain muscle too. Don't over do the weights - you don't want to look masculine !
  • tonightokayalright
    tonightokayalright Posts: 289 Member
    Do both.
  • MissAnjy
    MissAnjy Posts: 2,480 Member
    Start weights now! You'll get the best results this way. Cardio and weights is the way to go.
  • stephdeeable
    stephdeeable Posts: 1,407 Member
    I'm wondering the same thing, I am in the "morbidly obese" range and was planning on waiting a few months to lose more weight before starting with weights. But I'm capable of pushing myself pretty hard despite my size, and am getting antsy to start working out hard. Just not sure if it's better to lose another 20/30 pounds first.
  • Vonwarr
    Vonwarr Posts: 390 Member
    Go to the gym, lift heavy, look awesome. Weight training is arguably more important than cardio for healthy weight loss. :)

    Check this out, especially the pictures - http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
  • MissAnjy
    MissAnjy Posts: 2,480 Member
    Hi, It depends on what you want. I prefer to lose the weight then tone up. I know a lot of people who are overweight and hit the gym- they not only lose weight but gain muscle too. Don't over do the weights - you don't want to look masculine !

    This is ridiculous. Women don't have enough testosterone to look "masculine" by lifting weights. Unless you're shooting hormones, this isn't a problem.
  • ripemango
    ripemango Posts: 534 Member
    do both. the idea that you should lose weight and then weight train is uninformed regarding how our body functions. Muscles burn more calories than cardio. By weight training you are building muscle and burning calories in addition to the cardio you do. It's a win win situation.
  • dorothytd
    dorothytd Posts: 1,138 Member
    Both.
  • CTCMom2009
    CTCMom2009 Posts: 263 Member
    I agree with starting weights now, but also keep cardio going at the same time. I do cardio every time I go to the gym and then I alternate lower body/upper body with weight training.
  • Sapporo
    Sapporo Posts: 693 Member
    Weight train now, look hot sooner.
    I'm weight training already so that when my fat is gone I don't have to worry about "toning" a skinny fat droopy body.
  • SweetLillyM
    SweetLillyM Posts: 58
    Definitely do both, I do! I do cardio every day and do the strength training every other day.
  • NatashaB8
    NatashaB8 Posts: 202

    Check this out, especially the pictures - http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    Woah thats inspiring!
  • NatashaB8
    NatashaB8 Posts: 202
    Thanks everyone!

    I am so excited to start now. :)
  • zombilishious
    zombilishious Posts: 1,250 Member
    Check this out, especially the pictures - http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    Staci is my hero!

    If you are unsure where to start, take a look at New Rules of Lifting for Women, Stronglifts 5x5, or the fitness plans on bodybuilding.com. LIft like a man to look like a goddess :)
  • chachita7
    chachita7 Posts: 996 Member
    A great combination of both would give you faster and better results...
  • NatashaB8
    NatashaB8 Posts: 202
    Check this out, especially the pictures - http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    Staci is my hero!

    If you are unsure where to start, take a look at New Rules of Lifting for Women, Stronglifts 5x5, or the fitness plans on bodybuilding.com. LIft like a man to look like a goddess :)

    I am writing these all down. Going to sit and read up on everything like this and make a plan. Thank you :)
  • rebeccap13
    rebeccap13 Posts: 754 Member
    Nope, start lifting now. :) I wish I would've done it a LONG time ago.
  • knittingwitch
    knittingwitch Posts: 231 Member
    My co-worker who is a body builder that dose competitions and modeling told me to do cardio every day to burn the fat and strengthen your heart. And to do weight training focus on one part of the body each day have a leg day, back day, arm day, and so on.
  • NatashaB8
    NatashaB8 Posts: 202
    Anyone out there who is doing the same thing, can you send me a friend request? Would find it motivating to watch your progress and would be good if I had a few questions.
  • samwise2
    samwise2 Posts: 3
    Stronglifts 5x5 is a great system to start on, by the way. Very simple, and it'll get results without overdoing it.

    Lifting weights is IMO better for improving your body and health then Cardio, even. Once you start putting on some more muscle you'll burn much more calories doing anything.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    Combine the cardio and weight training. How you look largely will be the result of diet. Be aware that fat is not converted to muscle. You lose the fat through energy expenditure (primarily through a dietary calorie deficit) and build muscle.

    Also be aware that if your fat is distributed disproportionately (by current societal standards) and you are concerned about getting bigger in those areas, you might want to avoid using direct weight resistance on those body parts.
  • flechero
    flechero Posts: 260 Member
    The most important reason to start lifting now is so you don't lose the muscle mass you already have. If you go on a strict diet, and have too much deficit, your body will burn lean mass if you aren't using it. So USE IT by lifting at the gym.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Hi, It depends on what you want. I prefer to lose the weight then tone up. I know a lot of people who are overweight and hit the gym- they not only lose weight but gain muscle too. Don't over do the weights - you don't want to look masculine !

    This is ridiculous. Women don't have enough testosterone to look "masculine" by lifting weights. Unless you're shooting hormones, this isn't a problem.

    Agreed! Totally ridiculous. Start lifting now. It is great for fat burning and for maintianing lean muscle mass.

    Tone up??? Look masculine??? Really???
  • ripemango
    ripemango Posts: 534 Member
    FANTASTIC article, wow. Love it. Everyone read!!!

    Thank you for posting this :)

    Check this out, especially the pictures - http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
    [/quote]
  • NatashaB8
    NatashaB8 Posts: 202
    Combine the cardio and weight training. How you look largely will be the result of diet. Be aware that fat is not converted to muscle. You lose the fat through energy expenditure (primarily through a dietary calorie deficit) and build muscle.

    Also be aware that if your fat is distributed disproportionately (by current societal standards) and you are concerned about getting bigger in those areas, you might want to avoid using direct weight resistance on those body parts.

    My stomach seems to be the worst part of my body as it really sticks out, so I would avoid ab workouts for the time being?
  • petiteLady89
    petiteLady89 Posts: 198 Member
    No, in fact you will lose more fat if you focus on strength training!
  • Cespuglio
    Cespuglio Posts: 385 Member
    Combine the cardio and weight training. How you look largely will be the result of diet. Be aware that fat is not converted to muscle. You lose the fat through energy expenditure (primarily through a dietary calorie deficit) and build muscle.

    Also be aware that if your fat is distributed disproportionately (by current societal standards) and you are concerned about getting bigger in those areas, you might want to avoid using direct weight resistance on those body parts.

    My stomach seems to be the worst part of my body as it really sticks out, so I would avoid ab workouts for the time being?

    It takes about a month for an average beginner male to build just one pound of muscle. Half of that for females so even if your body fat is distributed a certain way, you're more likely to burn fat a lot faster than you gain muscle in the first place. Also, you can't spot train any one body part. That's a myth. The only thing you're going to accomplish by favoring one body part over another is muscular imbalance which can lead to injury.
  • NatashaB8
    NatashaB8 Posts: 202
    FANTASTIC article, wow. Love it. Everyone read!!!

    Thank you for posting this :)

    Check this out, especially the pictures - http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
    [/quote]

    No problem! I am glad my topic is helping more than one person out then :D

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