Weight Lifting & Weight Loss

Ok, so I'm pretty sure this is BS, but the lady on staff at my gym tonight told me that doing any kind of weight training will not help me lose weight! Really?? Opinions????

Only a calorie defict will help you lose weight, but weight lifting will definitely help decrease your bodyfat %

If she specifically said it will not help, then she is wrong.

It's actually super difficult to get bulky when you're female! Our hormones aren't built to allow it. I used to worry about being one of those bodybuilder women but I just lift smaller weights with more reps and I've built muscle without it being in your face:)

Yeah, she is clueless. I lifted heavy when I was not overweight and looked GREAT. Not remotely "bulky". Just curvy and built. I looked great. What people refer to as "bulk" is usually just a simple case of the woman in question having a low level of body fat and the complainer not being accustomed to seeing defined muscles on a woman. If the woman has a low average to average level of body fat, there typically aren't those sorts of remarks made about her.

It's correct that speaking in general terms, female hormones do not support us getting "bulky". That said, there are plenty of women with messed up hormones, or who just happen to naturally have more male hormones than other women. But in general, no, women do not get "bulky".

"Bulky" is also a really subjective thing. There are people who find elite athletes and even "fitness models" bulky, and others who do not.

Lift heavy. Your fat loss WILL register on the scale. But don't obsess over the scale if you're lifting because it will seem to stall and move more slowly. That is normal due to all sorts of things including the water your muscles retain after lifting. Pay more attention to your measurements and whether or not your fitness and strength are improving. Make sure you're eating enough to support your BMR and your activity levels. If you're eating properly and lifting, everything will work out fine. Don't listen to this woman at your gym.

to be a waitress, you dont have to know jack about food.

to work at a gym, you dont have to know jack about fitness.

true story.

She is on the staff of the gym.... I assume she's the person who goes around cleaning up the machines and vacuuming at the end of the day?

Ugh its CRAP! You only have to look at the lady lifters to see it! Christmas Abbot is now my girl crush...
It makes me wonder what kind of qualifications she has to be telling you that. Im with taso42, are you sure she wasn't a cleaner?
That said, I bought a fitness magazine last week (I know... cardinal sin) and even THAT said 'Low weight, high rep' as soon as I read that it went in the bin. After my 9 week stint with Shaun T Im getting mah lift on.

She probably meant that it might not register on the scale. You could lose say 10lbs fat but only lose 4 on the scales because it's been replaced by muscle. Lifting weights is good because the more muscle you have the more calories you naturally burn at rest (I think it's an extra 50 cals per lb of muscle). You just need to be careful and keep more of a focus on measurements as these will show the difference!

This isnt technically correct either because you can not replace muscle with fat nor can you actually gain any muscle while on a calorie deficit. The OP would need to be in a surplus and trying to gain weight. Now fat loss will be masked like you said but it will be masked by water weight not muscle.


Op, the calorie deficit is for weight loss and weight training helps retain muscle. Essentially weight training will make you look fit.