Weight Lifting-When and where to start

TemikaThompson
TemikaThompson Posts: 222 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
PLEASE HELP

***I've read many dif things and have heard dif ppl say when a person should start lifting weights.

{I want to hear from ppl that have actually done it with results.}

I want to start lifting but I have 62 lbs to lose. I want to build strength and muscle while I lose so that when my weight/fat is gone, I will already be toned.

???Is this the right way to go or should I wait until I have lost all the fat and then start lifting???

***Please help. If I should start lifting, what should I do 1st and how much? Also can you please tell me if you started lifting right away or did you wait until you lost weight.

Replies

  • DrNerdy
    DrNerdy Posts: 168 Member
    I would start lifting right now. It is a great way to lose fat! It will help you on your weight loss journey.

    You could always start with 5lb weights and youtube videos.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Start now. If you have access to a gym:

    Stronglifts 5x5
    or
    New Rules of Lifting For Women

    If you don't have access to a gym:
    dumbbells and youtube videos
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    I feel people should work in strength training as a part of their total program. Adding lean muscle mass will increase your resting metabolism and help you reduce fat (you might not see it on the scale, but you will see it in inches). If you're completely scale driven, this will be very difficult for you to do.

    If you decide you're willing to start a strength training program, you can start with just body weight exercises (air squats, walking lunges, wall push ups, knee push ups, push ups, assisted pull ups, low bar pulls, etc.). Once you're proficient with these, then you can start adding weight (starting light, but adding progressively more weight). Focus on good form, then lift as heavy as you can.
  • scottix111
    scottix111 Posts: 24
    id recommend stating straight away and getting in to it if u have acsess to a gym ask a personal trainer about what would be best for you at the gym you are at if not id be glad to help u out
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    When to start?

    Now - the sooner the better. Lifting while losing weight will mean you preserve the muscle you already have and ensure most of your weight loss comes from fat, not muscle.

    Where to start?

    Gain some good background knowledge on lifting and good form. Read Starting Strength or New Rules of Lifting for Women (easily available books, I imagine there are Kindle versions too). Ideally join a gym if you're not a member already. Get a few sessions with a trainer if you can. But emphasise you want to follow a heavy lifting schedule and wish to learn good form (many gym trainers will get women using light weights, high reps and circuit training).

    Edited to add- a beginner routine will usually involve a full body lifting workout about 3 times per week.


    Good luck!
  • JeninBelgium
    JeninBelgium Posts: 804 Member
    I still have tons to go, and my weight loss has slowed but since I have started to incorporate weights my dress size has gone down and I feel much more confident.

    I don't have access to a gym but need guidance- so I checked out youtube videos and dvds until I found one I like
    I really enjoy Chris Freytag's 10lb slimdown Xtreme (the workouts are bout 40-45 minutes each) - circuit training using weights, some cardio (but only short segments and no jumping required - she has low impact options)
    for shorter workouts there is also Chris Freytag's 10lb slimdown (each video just over 20 minutes)
    in one of the series she has 10 minute bonus videos

    - both of these series are available on youtube, as dvds, and at least one via itunes

    what I like about them is that they are broken down by body part (upper body, lower body, abs, complete body but even the arms or legs video includes both abs and legs or arms (so while the focus is on a particular body part you still get something for the rest) of your body, there is also a very doable yoga video (this all in addition to Chris- because I think she is great)

    Chris recommends two sets of weights as parts of your body are going to be stronger than others (personally my biceps are MUCH stronger than my shoulders)

    anyway, I think she is a great place to start

    A lot of others love Jillian Michaels - and her dvds are easy to find (my issue with her is that she does a lot of plyometrics (jumping) which I cannot do, due to injury)

    good luck!

    (ps also Chris recommends going "heavy" when you can- for me these means heavy enough that I cannot complete her sets (or at least not the second time around) as she does a lot of reps- and this has made a difference - just increasing the weight by one pound/1/2 kg and I really noticed improvement!)
  • naturallyme36
    naturallyme36 Posts: 155 Member
    I would say start now because it will help you to get that SLIM VISUAL :smokin: Also once you start to use weights don't worry about the scale because it will fluctuate but its for the better because you will be building muscle. I try to get it in my mind that a pound is a pound no matter what, but I would rather have a 1 pound bar of sleek gold than a 1 pound bag of fluffy feathers. Hope this helps. You've been doing really good keep it up :drinker:
  • TemikaThompson
    TemikaThompson Posts: 222 Member
    id recommend stating straight away and getting in to it if u have acsess to a gym ask a personal trainer about what would be best for you at the gym you are at if not id be glad to help u out

    I am at the gym but i really appreciate you offering your personal assistance. That was very sweet of you!


    THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR COMMENTS!
  • TemikaThompson
    TemikaThompson Posts: 222 Member
    I do circuit training with weights on the machine at planet fitness. It's for 30 mins total. I work each muscle group. I do the step for 2 mins and then weight lift for 2 mins. Its a switch back and forth with a 30 sec rest in between. Is this considered weight training or will this help me build muscle or is this just cardio?
  • scottix111
    scottix111 Posts: 24
    It is but it also depends on what type of muscle group and exersize you are doing for it
  • scottix111
    scottix111 Posts: 24
    Also I would recommend doing some body weight exersizes and u also can make them into a cardio/Bodley weight movement which is really fun and helps build and tone

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