Lifting produces amazing results, but I have a question.

I am just responding to give you a bump in the hopes that someone more knowledgeable will jump on this. Hmmm

Howdy!

Fat loss comes from caloric deficit. Period. The reason most people like to add cardio for fat loss is to increase that deficit - its actually generally more important for people who are leaner to do cardio as otherwise they have a hard time eating low enough to lose while still getting enough nutrients unless they do it. (there are OTHER reasons to do cardio, for health, but its not required to lose weight).

I have not lost as much as you are asking about, but in terms of relative SIZE I've lost about 70 lbs. I went from a size 16 to a comfortable 8 (not tight anywhere) with only 40-50 lbs lost., doing very little deliberate cardio (I did complete C25k at some point last year, and when I first started losing all I did was walk for 45 minutes). Actually today's jeans are a 6, and comfy, but I think they're just a weird cut. If I squeeze, I can wear a six in other things, but its not comfy at ALL.

I am not 'extremely well sculpted or anything' (I'll change my profile pic in a second to a recent one) but hopefully the above helps you? I know its not quite what you asked for but - I did start from very over-fat (210 or so) and I'm now 165ish. Also I eat a LOT more than most people and I'm getting visible results from it - 2100. I attribute that to the lifting, entirely.

I do however, walk more than an average suburbanite with a desk job. My friend and I tend to go across the street for coffee a couple times a week, and we walk a mile round trip to pick up lunch, and on weekends I tend to walk to my local farmers market which is about 3 miles round trip. Not ridiculous amounts or anything but probably a good deal more than many.

ETA - my size 16 was a 'i barely fit in these' 16. It probably should have been an 18. But I was and still kind of am in denial. either way, I was very ...fluffy.

I do both and I have to do some cardio or I won't lose weight. I do have a question, I am new to this site and I do a series of machine and free weights, but I don't get any points for calories burned in the exercise part??!! I am sure that I am doing something wrong and I know that I burn calories when I lift. Any help would be appreciated.

I do both and I have to do some cardio or I won't lose weight. I do have a question, I am new to this site and I do a series of machine and free weights, but I don't get any points for calories burned in the exercise part??!! I am sure that I am doing something wrong and I know that I burn calories when I lift. Any help would be appreciated.

You can find it under cardio - not very intuitive I know.

OMG...I did not know that either !! LOL !

Far from an expert but people usually say cardio will make you look good with clothes on, and strength training makes you look good naked...in other words cardio is a great way to lose weight, but strength training is the really the only way to shape (sculpt) you body. Some will prefer one over the other but a good exercise routine must contain both cardio and strength training to be most effective. Even professional bodybuilders incorporate cardio into their programs. Hope that helps.

I do both and I have to do some cardio or I won't lose weight. I do have a question, I am new to this site and I do a series of machine and free weights, but I don't get any points for calories burned in the exercise part??!! I am sure that I am doing something wrong and I know that I burn calories when I lift. Any help would be appreciated.

Under cardio is a strength training option. Though calculating calories burned while lifting is very difficult. It all depends on weight, intensity, how fast your doing it.

Lifting does not burn near as much while your doing it as cardio does but its the gift that keeps on giving. Muscle burns more energy to rebuild and maintain so your body will burn more at rest the better the shape you get in.

I was 270 when i started losing weight solely though lifting alone (and a bit of scuba diving) but I didnt do any cardio my first year of weight loss

I went from 270-220 ( I am 5'9) with ease - I wasn't really tracking what I ate and I was gaining strength consistently through the first year. My last year I have gone from 220-to now about 203ish this morning and I have had to supplement cardio after every weight session - also my strength gains have significantly slowed down.

That being said I love to lift and its what has kept me at least in the gym for the past two years. I think i was losing weight with lifting initially just because I was so obese. I used a heart rate monitor to try and accurately gauge how many calories i am burning during a full lifting session and unless I am doing heavy deadlifts or squats I guess my body has gotten used to it cause my HR really doesn't get above 120 anymore - where as during stairclimbs it gets well into the 150s and can sustain there for quite sometime.

Do 5/3/1 with power assistance or BBB. I've made more progress with that then 5x5 - I injured myself with 5x5

You are suggesting 5/3/1 to a beginner? Really?

I guess what I'm saying is that I think it's a mistake to try to lose ANY amount of weight with cardio alone. Even if you have no interest in adding any lean mass, you need to do some kind of resistance training to maintain the lean mass you currently have.

Not trying to hijack this thread or anything, but out of curiosity: do exercises with small weights (i.e. 30 Day Shred & other small weight repetition exercises) and using body weight (i.e. push-ups) count as "resistance training" with regard to preserving lean body mass?

Not really - you need to have progressive loading and stay in the strength/hypertrophy range to do that.

Bump to read later.