lifting for weight loss

lilac_duchess
lilac_duchess Posts: 15
in Health and Weight Loss
I had a fb friend that lost several pounds in 4 months by lifting. It's a woman. I have a lot to lose, she said she didn't do anything else. Is only lifting ok, it seemed to work for her. Also, any advice on lifting you can do at home? We can't afford much of anything at the moment.

Replies

  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
    If you have a deficit and lift there is no need to cardio, from which I read here other than having a healthy cardiovascular health. You can always use your own bodyweight and as you progress add heavier items, like a weighted backpack, water gallons, etc. Good luck hun! I'm on the same journey :)
  • wibutterflymagic
    wibutterflymagic Posts: 788 Member
    Any activity that you do while eating at a deficit will help you lose weight. Weight lifting will help you gain muscle which burns more calories while resting.

    Sure, you can just weight lift. You can start out at home with body weight exercises and weighted objects but to truly get the most out of weight lifting you have to lift heavy which means a gym or a gym setup at home with real dumbbells(not the colored ones), barbells etc.

    Some good exercises to start are lunges, squats, pushups, all types of core work, step-ups, bicep curls. Do a google search. There are tons on things out there.

    Optimally you would want to do lifting with some cardio. More intense cardio like running will strengthen your cardiovascular system(endurance), but just adding some walking will help burn some additional calories. My trainer has me doing both.

    Lifting while losing slowly will also help with sagging skin. Not eliminate it but help lessen it.

    Good luck!
  • lilac_duchess
    lilac_duchess Posts: 15
    Good advice so far. Is resistance training the same thing? Our local community center offers TRX training, it these bands or something and you use your own weight. It's pretty inexpensive...thoughts?
  • lilac_duchess
    lilac_duchess Posts: 15
    http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/total-body-workout-11

    Is this considered lifting? I think of lifting as only free weights or machines.
  • segovm
    segovm Posts: 512 Member
    Honestly to lose weight you just need to eat a little less. No exercise required. A lot of people like some form of resistance training just because it makes them look a little better and not being weak is sort of nice. You can get a lot of benefit from just doing push ups, pull ups, sit ups, dips and squats at home with your own body weight.

    Gyms and weights are greats but not at all required for being healthy.
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    I find these "other people's stories" can be quite deceiving...we don't get the whole picture: what they do, what they eat, if they do one thing or several at the same time...we only have their words for it...I usually get depressed by these stories because some of these people just say "I just quit eating xx and run 2 miles a day and I lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks"...while I work my butt off and see no result...

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