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    Females only - lifting/weight training results?

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    Replies

    • Posts: 406 Member
      Motivation is always great. but keep in mind that in order to see the results you want to see, you will need to first lower your body fat percentage. Lifting weights is fine and good to get stronger and it's supposed to be good for your bones, but most people suggest waiting until you reach your goal body fat percentage before trying to build muscle. Unless you're morbidly obese, I hear it's next to impossible to build muscle and lose weight at the same time. Building muscle is difficult for women because they have significantly less testosterone than men, but it can still be done. Best of luck to all the women weight trainers out there!

      I want to get stronger too but I still have some more weight to lose. I'm close to my first goal (when I'll finally not be considered overweight for my height and build) but I want to get even lower so I have a low enough body fat percentage to actually see the muscles I'll be building. :)
    • Posts: 291 Member
      bump
    • Posts: 157 Member
      Bump
    • Posts: 1,953 Member
      Motivation is always great. but keep in mind that in order to see the results you want to see, you will need to first lower your body fat percentage. Lifting weights is fine and good to get stronger and it's supposed to be good for your bones, but most people suggest waiting until you reach your goal body fat percentage before trying to build muscle.

      I started lifting while still in the obese category and I am now just into "overweight". About ten years ago I wore the same size I currently do but I was 20 pounds lighter. The difference is, I am doing heavy lifting and haven't waited until I am a lower body fat %. I like being strong, I get to eat a bit more and I certainly look a whole lot less bulky than I did when I weighed more.

      For me, I do weights because I like lifting. A lot. And because I want to be strong and feel good. I need to be able to do the things I want to do and not wait until I'm lighter before I finally get some strength. So all that to say, if you want to lift now, lift now. It feels good and it's sure made me look better.
    • Posts: 16,913 Member
      I am so inspired by all your pics... my body shape is much like a pear and I think I may have some hope now:) thank you for showing all the pictures!! So this is the first day back in a long time, I kinda started over a year ago and gave up very fast. Fingers crossed I stick with it this time.


      I meannnnn...if you're a pear shape there is a good chance you'll always be a pear.

      I was a bigger pear. I lifted weights and lost fat. Now I'm a smaller pear.
    • Posts: 12,209 Member
      Motivation is always great. but keep in mind that in order to see the results you want to see, you will need to first lower your body fat percentage. Lifting weights is fine and good to get stronger and it's supposed to be good for your bones, but most people suggest waiting until you reach your goal body fat percentage before trying to build muscle. Unless you're morbidly obese, I hear it's next to impossible to build muscle and lose weight at the same time. Building muscle is difficult for women because they have significantly less testosterone than men, but it can still be done. Best of luck to all the women weight trainers out there!

      I want to get stronger too but I still have some more weight to lose. I'm close to my first goal (when I'll finally not be considered overweight for my height and build) but I want to get even lower so I have a low enough body fat percentage to actually see the muscles I'll be building. :)

      This doesn't make sense to me.

      I makes much more sense to me to lift while trying to lose body fat, because then you'll retain all the muscle that you already had. You might lose more weight, but some of that weight will be muscle.
    • Posts: 28,072 Member
      Motivation is always great. but keep in mind that in order to see the results you want to see, you will need to first lower your body fat percentage. Lifting weights is fine and good to get stronger and it's supposed to be good for your bones, but most people suggest waiting until you reach your goal body fat percentage before trying to build muscle. Unless you're morbidly obese, I hear it's next to impossible to build muscle and lose weight at the same time. Building muscle is difficult for women because they have significantly less testosterone than men, but it can still be done. Best of luck to all the women weight trainers out there!

      I want to get stronger too but I still have some more weight to lose. I'm close to my first goal (when I'll finally not be considered overweight for my height and build) but I want to get even lower so I have a low enough body fat percentage to actually see the muscles I'll be building. :)

      Most people do not suggest waiting. The point of resistance training while dieting is to preserve the muscle mass you have.

      Also - it really depends on your starting BF% as to how much and when your efforts will show.

      You do not have to be morbidly obese to be able to gain muscle while losing fat. It is possible while overweight - results will vary however depending on a number of variables including how much you are overweight, whether you are new to lifting, your caloric deficit, your training routine and your genetics. Another exception to gaining muscle on a deficit, even if relatively lean, is if you are new to lifting - aka 'newbie gains'.

      There is absolutely no point in waiting, especially as resistance training has a host of other benefits over and above body composition.
    • Posts: 1 Member
      ::bump:: I wouldn't care if the scale never budged again if I gained nothing but muscle and dropped inches and inches! Hitting the gym afresh (after years away and weighing 191 at 5'8") with a huge focus on HIIT cardio and dedicated weight lifting. Looking forward to becoming a success story. You ladies kill it....I am going to take "before" pics tomorrow and can't wait to have "afters" to contribute one day soon. Thanks for inspiring!
    • Posts: 311 Member
      I love all these success stories!
    • Posts: 289 Member
      Talk to your trainer or get a new one. I'm not a fan of weight machines-used them for years with NO results. Then started using free weights, kettlebells, pull up bars and body weight exercises and the results are completely different!! Some trainers at the gym get a little lazy and some are GREAT so you may have to shop around!!! Perhaps you can use a combination of them, but I agree with other posts- you work other muscles- especially stabilizing muscles- far better when you use free weights. Machines are great if you are a beginner, what to isolate muscles groups, you are "afraid" or "nervous" about free weights, have some physical limitations that you are trying to improve, etc- they have their place in the grand scheme of things and can be a great complement to your entire weight training routine. But let's face it Samson was a strong man and there was not a bicep curl machine to be found LOL!!! Seriously though, have a chat with you trainer about your goals and the rationale to their decision to put you on all machines, then talk to another one on the low-low and compare notes.
    • Posts: 58
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    • Posts: 18
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    • Posts: 39 Member
      Before
      Kimbefore.jpg
      P1020239_zpsd148cb63.jpg
      After 1 year of lifting and cutting.
      Kimback.jpg
      c66222fc-3f83-43a5-bcd9-468c0f557ec4_zpseece0183.jpg

      Street clothes in case some might think we look "bulky" or muscular all the time. Pictures above are right after a workout and flexed. Most people are surprised that I lift heavy weights.

      0207031819_zps241708b9.jpg

      2 years lifting, 1 year maintaining.
      P1000151_zpsaaf4d583.jpg

      AWESOME!!
    • Posts: 151 Member
      show previous quotes

      AWESOME!!


      Impressive results! Love the flexin' picture.
    • Posts: 32 Member
      You ladies are officially my new heroes.
    • Posts: 4,298 Member
      show previous quotes

      Annnnd this is silly. Lifting as you lose weight will help you retain the muscle you have, help you become stronger, and improve your fitness. More than that you can certainly do it while lowering your bodyfat and seeing great results. I will demonstrate with a tasteful photo collage (I spend a lot of time playing on my phone...)

      8QTdiAq.jpg?1



      There is no reason not to lift as you lose weight.

      I don't think that is what they are saying.

      They're saying "Lifting weights is fine and good to get stronger and it's supposed to be good for your bones, but most people suggest waiting until you reach your goal body fat percentage before trying to build muscle".

      In other words, lift while you cut for strength and bone health (and to preserve muscle - they left that part out). Wait to build muscle, i.e. bulk until you get to low %BF. Which is the general recommendation so your gains are more LBM, less fat.
    • Posts: 955 Member
      look through my pictures. I've been training for 2.5 years.

      Hello fellow North Carolinian, great progress!
    • Posts: 489 Member
      Bump to save and read later
    • Posts: 877 Member
      show previous quotes

      I don't think that is what they are saying.

      They're saying "Lifting weights is fine and good to get stronger and it's supposed to be good for your bones, but most people suggest waiting until you reach your goal body fat percentage before trying to build muscle".

      In other words, lift while you cut for strength and bone health (and to preserve muscle - they left that part out). Wait to build muscle, i.e. bulk until you get to low %BF. Which is the general recommendation so your gains are more LBM, less fat.

      Actually, if you're a newbie you can definitely do both, and why wouldn't you want to.
    • Posts: 50 Member
      I got on a program on Fitocracy doing reverse pyramid training, 3 days a week with a focus on lifting heavier and hitting personal records. I love a good goal and it's been very motivating to have weekly goals to aim for plus a PLAN when I go to the gym. Plans are great. Coupled with a diet that carb cycles, I've gotten very strong, lost 5 inches on my waist and 4 inches on my hips - I could not be happier!

      Best part:? It's all been a non scale victory! I HAVEN'T LOST A SINGLE POUND.

      Progress over 4 months:
      543fa3a0-f222-40a9-913c-4b52ff1ee104_zps2c835c02.png

      You look fantastic! I can't believe you haven't lost even one pound!
    • Posts: 150 Member
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    • Posts: 24 Member
      Bump ......everyone looks great!
    • Posts: 290 Member
      After just two and a half months of Stronglifts 5x5. Lost -3 kg, but 2 clothes sizes in a year.

      7f53b29237b718df223a19b193038eb4.jpg
    • Posts: 237 Member
      612edada-dc34-4185-850b-d0397d739590_zps5d1f7429.png

      this is 136 lbs down with lifting weights and heavy weights at that! they don't bulk you but infact lean you up!
    • Posts: 248 Member
      BUMP! So inspiring!
    • Posts: 210 Member
      I got on a program on Fitocracy doing reverse pyramid training, 3 days a week with a focus on lifting heavier and hitting personal records. I love a good goal and it's been very motivating to have weekly goals to aim for plus a PLAN when I go to the gym. Plans are great. Coupled with a diet that carb cycles, I've gotten very strong, lost 5 inches on my waist and 4 inches on my hips - I could not be happier!

      Best part:? It's all been a non scale victory! I HAVEN'T LOST A SINGLE POUND.

      Progress over 4 months:
      543fa3a0-f222-40a9-913c-4b52ff1ee104_zps2c835c02.png

      I love this so much. I struggle with the scale not moving even though I'm "heavy" by my heights standards. At 5'3" and 150lbs I always feel like no matter what I'm doing, I should lose SOMETHING because I'm heavy. But then I take into account that I can squat my husband and all seems better with the world :)
    • Posts: 5,481 Member

      I've always been muscular, but before I would exercise to lose weight and the muscles would show up and look nice. Now that I work the muscles to get them stronger and lift heavy you can tell a huge difference. Personally, I love it.

      The stomach has always been my biggest struggle, and it's still major work in process. This is the first picture I've posted of it lol

      WOW!!!!! :drinker:

      Great job!!! :flowerforyou:

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