HELP! Your opinion about WEIGHTS..Yes ...No or Maybe?

I strongly suggest getting some professional help to start off. A personal training schedule at your local gym is a great way to learn the way and establish some healthy goals for yourself and your strength training. Purchasing a package for three months is a great way to pay into your own "health 401k," - learn the right form, and get a plan you can work on each week while you get stronger.

I've found that the pros are the best to turn to first, then supplement with research on your own and compliment with a healthy eating strategy. I agree with what others have said:
>>strength builds an overall healthy, toned body
>>muscles burn more calories, for a longer period of time especially when strength conditioning is partnered with smart, fun cardio
>>It's the best way to see your body change as you drop weight in fat and build muscle -- so important!

Good luck -- I hope you find the results that make it fun in the long run, and help you build the healthy lifestyle that will last.

Hello mfp pals.
I will try an make this brief. Started at 210 lbs. and my goal is 150 lbs. My weight loss has slowed tremendously. I have done lots of cardio. I just started Supreme 90 Day a week ago. Finally incorporated a strength training (dumbells only)..

My question is do I start lifting heavier now or closer to my goal? Should I ignore the scale and go for it or get to my goal weight first?
''I DUH KNOW ? ( scratching my head about this )

Weights and lifting...
I welcome your pictures, experience and OPINIONS or perhaps anything else concerning lifting that may be helpful.
I would like to thank everyone in advance for your help.

P.S. Where do I start?
Signed Clueless.

Dear Clueless,

First off, this is a very smart question. Most people don't know the answer. So here's the thing - and I'd be happy to link you to a video which goes into the explanations - albiet in medical terms - but something you can understand - that backs up what I'm about to tell you.

When you take off weight it is very had to lose fat and not lose lean body mass (LBM) - generally referred to as lean muscle mass. Health is a mixture of many things, but includes fitness and nutrition.

Our general health improves if we : eat better - monounsaturated fats to lower LDL, Polyunsaturated (n-3) or Omega 3 fatty acids (PUFAs) instead of saturated fats, good protein and good carbs for what we want to do.

Fitness - Turns out that fit people who are "obese" actually have lower health risks than "skinny" couch potatos. This has been proven with research. Fitness, however, doesn't just mean aeorbics. Fitness also means Lean Body Mass or Muscle. Studies show that people with too little lean body mass have greater health risks that if you have increased or normal lean body mass/muscle. There are those that will tell you that muscle has a higher metabolic rate than fat - which is true - and that building muscle will help raise your base metabolic rate - probably true - and that you lose weight faster than aerobic training - (not sure that's really true....not true for all my friends or me anyway). It's debated how much muscle really increases your metabolic rate (ie replace a pound of fat with muscle what's the difference in rate - some say very small, some large. Most say the small number is more accurate).

The bottom line is that with resistance training you'll feel better about how you look and you'll be healthier. You don't have to over do it...but adding resistance training to aerobic training or vise a versa is the ticket to the best cardio benefit.

Have questions: PM me. I am starting a health blog here on Exercise and food, supplements, vitamins, etc. One topic at a time. They will include items like Carbs and Exercise - how much, what types, and when. Same for Protein. Same for Fat. etc.

Good Luck with your Quest! - oh, and the person who recommended you get professional advice for your resistance training - smart person! As with anything, get someone qualified to answer your questions and build a routine that fits your needs.


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Yes.... I started weight training while still unable to stand and support my own weight.. Was walking laps in a therapy pool and using wrist weights, webbed gloves for resistance and ankle weights and water dumbbells and worked my way up from there but I can tell you it has made a huge difference to the fact I am only going to need a circumferential body lift instead of having to do my arms, legs, chest, etc... All those areas have rebounded nicely do to my weight training... Best of Luck


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Uhm.....Uhm....Uhm.... I normally know what I want to say but this is one of the few cases that I HAVE FOUND MYSELF SPEECHLESS....Wow....you have done an amazing job. You have come so far. Your photos alone are amazing!! I can honestly say a picture is worth A THOUSAND WORDS!! Thanks for sharing....Cathy,

YES!! lifting weights is so much fun, and so empowering!! I am very new to lifting, but so far i am having a geat experience. NROL4W has been a lifesaver to me so far! I definitely recommend reading it!

I'm doing Jamie Eason's Live Fit program on bodybuilding.com and I'm only in week 3 and I'm seeing HUGE difference in the shape and look of my body. It's done is 3 phases, and in phase 1 it's only weight lifting, and stage 2 slowly incorporates cardio, with more cardio in stage 3. I highly recommend it, and it's free! It's easy to follow, all your workouts are laid out for you, I'm totally loving it!

Anybody who is serious about their overall health should incorporate some weight training. As others have said, if you aren't sure what to do, get some help at the gym. The YMCA where I live gives you a free one hour consultation where they walk you through how to use every piece of equipment they have and they have personal trainers available beyond that (for a fee).

If you are going to work out....do it right. I always get a good laugh (cry?) at the gym because about 20% of the people don't have any idea about lifting. In general, you need to pick a weight that you can do 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps and do it right (full extensions, full reps). Today, I saw some relatively fit kid walk around and do one set of three reps on each piece of equipment.....and he wasn't even doing much weight. I'm not sure that he did any good while he was there. You won't feel like a hero at first but you'll be doing yourself a favor in the long term. Do not pick a weight where you can't actually do the rep without lurching or cheating to finish it. I saw some idiot doing the whole stack on lat pulls but he was basically flopping his entire body weight against it every time and was only able to pull it halfway down before it was too much. Good way to hurt yourself.

I wasn't lifting much in the first couple months while I was losing weight and I could tell that I was losing lean muscle mass in my arms in particular while keeping my gut. Lifting has changed that.