How long does it take to see a change w/lifting? *Average*

It really depends on what you're doing. Diet and exercise? You'll see a change faster. If you're drinking plenty of water your body won't hold onto so much, helping you see results a little faster. I would have to agree that it could be as little as a few weeks to several months. The several months would probably be noticeable change where it has some "wow" factor. Your body is going to change slowly and you won't notice it. Try going a week without looking at yourself in the mirror (aside from your face). Then do so. Also, take pictures of yourself so you can track it. I didn't think I was going anywhere until I saw old pictures of me. Holy cow! There was a HUGE difference but had it not been for pictures I never would've noticed it.

I've been lifting for about 6 months. The change for me is very gradual. The change I can really see is in the shape of my body. It's getting better even though my weight loss has slowed down. Plus, every workout that you can add some weight to the barbell - that's a big change.

Congrats on lifting. You will NEVER regret it!

Kassie, it is not going to happen in 2 weeks for your trip. It is more important to take it slowly so you won't re-hurt your ankle because you can make it worse. Swimming is a great total body exercise and will tone your whole body. Try swimming 2 hours every day, if you are trying to do something as fast as possible for your trip. My fragile grandfather becomes very toned in the summer just by swimming every day. And have a great time in Italy!

I noticed at about 2 weeks

Just curious. Like most, I'm totally game for immediate gratification, but I'm not gonna sabotage myself either. I lift 3 times a week and don't do much cardio, though I'm going to start swimming more (hopefully starting today). On AVERAGE how long does it take to see changes regarding lifting? Some say 3 weeks, other say months. From your PERSONAL experience, when did you see a change?

I think I started seeing change after a month. The changes are very miner though. Although it'll depend highly on your body. Some folks start seeing their face slimming. My face, arms, hands, thighs started getting more toned but my stomach is pretty much the same (though I after 3 months I can notice a difference here). It'll depend on your body type and how you workout etc.

I would encourage you to start measuring and tracking it to see if you're losing inches all over your body (wrist, arms, butt, thigh, belly, etc)

I think it took around a month for the smallest changes to start showing, the first being a glimmer of definition along my bicep. It's very slow progress though as I'm eating at a very small deficit and have been strength training for nearly a year now. I don't see any huge differences when I look in the mirror but when I look back at photos from a few months ago there are some striking changes. I definitely recommend taking progress photos as day-to-day changes are not enough to notice.

Consistently increasing the weight I'm lifting is enough for me to know I'm doing something right though.

I don't lift heavy - 5-8 pounds depending on the move. I shot for volume, more reps , less weight and have been doing so 3xs a week since march. It has been a gradual process. I've noticed inches lost, fat lost, and some definition in my upper body. But i think the changes weren't relevant to me until mid April/ beginning of may. I guess it depends on how much fat you have, the type of weight lifting your doing and diet.

I don't think there is a specific time. it really depends if you lift 5+ times a week or 2+ times a week or more/less. All of our bodies are different and each one has it's own way...But hey good luck, ^.^ xxx

I'd say on average about 6-12 weeks, which in the grand scheme of things, isnt that long.

I felt the change sooner than I saw the change,

This. In a few weeks, you will start feeling noticeably different but you won't necessarily see it much.

It took me four months to see any difference. Because I wasn't following a proper diet. You can out eat a proper workout, but you can't out lazy a proper diet. I saw as much change the first month lifting with a proper diet as I did the first four of lifting with no proper diet.

You should start to see changes in about 3-4 weeks they may be small though and hard to notice.

I would take pictures from day to day and then view your first and last photo and see how much of a difference there was.

How much you change really relies on how hard you are working and what you are eating.

The first couple of months you will see fast change.

After about a year things tend to slow down a lot.

Eventually you will hit a plateau and you will have to change something to break through it.

But on average I would say about 3.5 ish weeks to start noticing results from just lifting. This is in strength it might take 1.5 ish months to really start seeing differences in muscle in the mirror.

You will see your results much faster if you add cardio. You will slim down while gaining muscle and that will make a huge difference.

I’ve been lifting for about 4.5 years and when I first started I did heavy weights and cardio but I did not watch my diet carefully. I got the bulky look from the first year or so then I decided to watch what I eat. I did this for about 2 years.

Immediately after this I started losing weight I lost about 15 lbs. in 1 month of extremely heavy exercise and a strict diet. I went from 145 lbs. to 132 lbs. I stayed with this for another 14 months and was in AMAZING shape.

Then I decided to bulk up again but no junk food just a lot of healthy food. In about 5 months of this with lifting and light cardio I went back up to 145 lbs. but I had little fat. My strength increased dramatically but my endurance plummeted.

Then I decided to eat a lot of healthy food but do lifting and cardio. I felt great but I did not have abs.

Finally I decided to try and cut weight, eat medium amounts of food and do medium amounts of cardio and lifting. I am nowhere near as in shape as I was before but I god abs and I looked good. But I was not necessarily in shape.


Wow ok I just got off topic any way that’s some of my story but around 3.5 weeks to notice results from lifting if low body fat %. And 1-2 months for medium and high body fat %.