50+ lb loss- did you weight train from the beginning?

daniat

I still need to lose over 50 lbs. I know weight training is good for you, but I am worried that weight training might stall my loss, as it has in the past. I know we should track inches rather than pounds, but I not there mentally yet. I am thinking of staying away from weight training until I have lost 20+ lbs and then start lifting.

I want to know how those of you who have been down this road approached it.

Also how long did it take you for those of you who only did cardio vs those who also weight trained.

TIA

daniat

anyone?

kazzsjourney

I lost 180+ pounds and did weight training after I lost the first 40 pounds or so. It didnt stall out my weight loss....I primarily did cardio and one session per week of weights...now im closer to goal i prolly do more weight work but still do a couple of days of cardio per week.

PurpleTina

I have lost 70lbs so far, and have always included at least one weight session a week. It used to be in the gym, but now I do BodyPump twice a week. I have had weeks when the scales haven't moved, but those tend to be the weeks when I 'feel' different, and quite often people have notced my weight loss, so I guess it's the toning effect of the weights.

ChasingStarlight

I have lost whatever my sig says and i don't weight train. It took me 15 months, but it did partially take so long as I have gone quite low in body weight now basically from bmi 30 to 20, and it is hard to get ultra skinny.

Edited to clarify I have stopped trying to lose weight and I did it mainly by running, tkd, bootcamp and diet.

Roni_M

I have been doing some arm workouts with dumbbells (started with 5lbs, now use 10lbs) since the start (a year) but nothing seriously considered weight lifting. I mainly do cardio (fast walk on my treadmill - I don't run! LOL). Although all the weight lifters will disagree and probably say "impossible" for various reasons (not heavy lifting, in a deficit, etc.), but between the dumbbells and the incline on my treadmill, I have toned and built muscles in my arms and legs (nothing extreme but I can flex them and some parts are noticeably toned... my calves are crazy!). I'm not an "exercise is my life" kind of person though, even after a year. I do it because I need to, kind of like cleaning the bathroom... just something that has to be done. I am 53 weeks into this and am pretty happy with my progress.

So I guess you would include me in your poll as a non-weight lifter ~ 102lbs in 53 weeks. Inches lost ~ bust: 6.5", waist: 14.5", hips: 11", thighs: 8" each. Size 22 (2x/3x) to 10/12 (M/L) and I'm 5'10" if that matters.

psuLemon

Yes you should. Weight training is much more effective at fat loss than cardio is. Additionally, you will maintain your lean body mass which will provide a ton of benefits; maintaining your metabolism, greater support for your joints and ligaments, a leaner and tighter body (the more muscle you have, the less you have to lose to fill your body), a better immune system, etc...

Technically you will lose a few less pounds during your weight loss, but it's because you will be limiting muscle loss.

mmapags

I'm going to suggest you look at the whole thing in a different light. First weight should not be the primary focus but a byproduct of some other things. As one of out members, Steve Troutman, who is a highly respected fitness and nutrition professional has said, form follows funtion. If you optimize you health, performance, functionallity and physique, your weight will settle where it should.

If I were you, that is how I would set my priorites and where I would place my focus instead of the number on the scale. If you do these things, the number on the scale will take care of itself.

DavPul

Yes. And not only did I strength train from the beginning, I didn't start cardio until well after I started losing weight. All I did was lift and cut my calories back and I was dropping weight like clockwork. After a couple months I started walking, a month after that I started jumping rope, and now I started running but only because I registered for a 10 mile run at the start of next year. When that's over I'm done running.

Now I will grant you that if I did not train with weights for the last 9 months that I would have lost more weight. My ticker would probably read between 60 and 70 pounds lost. But I would have been losing the wrong weight. With lifting, I losses were almost all fat instead of lean muscle mass. Without strength training the scale would show lower number, but I would still look awful with my shirt off.

I know I'm a man, but the same principles apply to women. The only difference is that you won't gain the mass I did from training with weights because you don't have a man's level of testosterone.

Find a gym and start lifting. You will be very pleased with the results.

daniat

Thanks so much guys! Sorry about the late response but I just figured out how to get back to old threads. This is very useful information. I will have to ponder. It's hard to not focus on the scale, but at the end of the day what I really want is to look and feel better.