Ladies and lifting weights while losing weight

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heather0709
heather0709 Posts: 110 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
everyone seems to have different opnions. I need lose 30 pounds hopefully by June. Lost 5 already, but from being pregnant I have a ton of fat on my legs, and little on my arms. Does lifting small weights help?
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Replies

  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
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    Lift da big ones.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
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    Lift da big ones.

    I lost my 27-30 pounds while lifting on a deficit. Thank god someone told me to do that.
  • viclrstew
    viclrstew Posts: 15 Member
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    yep, gotta lift heavy. You won't bulk up if that's a concern, but you'll get strong!
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,150 Member
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    Lift heavy and stay in a deficit.
  • heather0709
    heather0709 Posts: 110 Member
    edited March 2015
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    What about the fat? I don't want to build muscle over fat and gain weight. Thanks for the replies
  • heather0709
    heather0709 Posts: 110 Member
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    I lost 45 pounds 3.5 years ago and now doing it again
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
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    Lift heavier weights. When I think of small weights, I think 5, 10 pounds. A gallon of milk is 8 lbs. A newborn baby is usually 6-8. A year old is 18+. Think of how often you lift those already and you'll realize that "small weights" aren't going to get you too much beyond where you are now, strength-wise.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
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    heather0709 wrote: »
    What about the fat? I don't want to build muscle over fat and gain weight. Thanks for the replies

    Building muscle requires a calorie surplus
    Building strength =/= Building Muscle

    Strength training helps maintain your current muscle mass. A deficit helps to lose fat.

    Without strength training you lose a larger portion of your muscle mass than you would if you did strength training.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
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    heather0709 wrote: »
    What about the fat? I don't want to build muscle over fat and gain weight. Thanks for the replies

    If you're in a calorie deficit, lifting will not cause you to build muscle.

    Lifting while losing helps ensure you're losing fat instead of lean body mass. Look up Stronglifts 5x5 or New Rules of Lifting for Women to find a program that works for you.
  • mkakids
    mkakids Posts: 1,913 Member
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    You can't "build muscle over fat". What will happen if you lift heavy weights while dieting, is you will build a tiny bit of muscle (new lifter gains in a defecit) and preserve the muscle you currently have.

    The only way to actually add a decent amount of muscle is to lift heavy WHILE eating a surplus of calories.

    Lift as heavy as you can.

    Look into the new rules of lifting for women or strong lifts 5x5.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    edited March 2015
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    Here's a good thread for you to look at:
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/977538/halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky/p1

    and
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1045433/women-lifting-heavy-with-pics

    and
    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,150 Member
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    heather0709 wrote: »
    What about the fat? I don't want to build muscle over fat and gain weight. Thanks for the replies

    That won't happen. You don't build muscle unless you're in a surplus.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
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    shadow2soul wrote: »
    Here's a good thread for you to look at:
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/977538/halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky/p1

    and
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1045433/women-lifting-heavy-with-pics

    and
    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
    tumblr_m85bw9fGtf1rqfhi2o1_500.gif

  • heather0709
    heather0709 Posts: 110 Member
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    Thanks ladies!!!!! My 14 month old is 20 pounds! So will do little more than that.
    I'm going to check out the threads, thanks! My husband keeps telling me everything Ya all are saying. I'm gonna check out all that info thanks
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
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    Small weights are less than useful

    lift heavy and heavier
  • SilverRose89
    SilverRose89 Posts: 447 Member
    edited March 2015
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    Hey, I also would like to lose 30lbs by June :)

    I've been working out for 2 months but cardio only. Just added lifting into my plan (I'm doing Stronglifts 5x5) and I freaking LOVE it.

    It preserves muscle, makes you stronger, makes you want to keep at it as you see those increases in strength quickly, will make you look awesome once you've lost the weight on top of those muscles and is so much more interesting to me than cardio. What's not to love?! :smiley:
  • meremaid2014
    meremaid2014 Posts: 18
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    Ooooh I loved doing strong lifts! Definitely lift heavier weights, fewer reps - not lifting teeny tiny weights for infinite reps.
  • SilverRose89
    SilverRose89 Posts: 447 Member
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    meremaid2014 wrote: »
    Ooooh I loved doing strong lifts! Definitely lift heavier weights, fewer reps - not lifting teeny tiny weights for infinite reps.

    It's so good!

    The only problem I have found is it makes you want to be a bit nosey with friends work out plans. My friends all just do teeny weights high high reps and I want to be like "noooo do this it's way more fun!".

    But I don't want to be that person :neutral_face:
  • VagablondViking
    VagablondViking Posts: 22 Member
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    Same here. I've just been swimming laps for two months, but my roommate has been doing Stronglifts and got me started on it. After two weeks, I love it. It's simple enough for me to remember (the phone app is great too, idiotproofs me having to remember what weights I need or which set I'm on).

    The first two workouts were brutal even though the weights were relatively light. I hadn't squatted in a really long time and I think those muscles forgot they existed.

    Also, just the time commitment is great. I can totally commit to getting up early three days per week. I try to do a little swimming after if I have time, but that's not even for the cardio. It just helps me not be so sore the next day.

    And I'm right there with you about watching women lift really light weights for endless reps. Why do two-pound dumbbells even exist!? I don't want to be that person either.... it's not my place to say anything. I love seeing women in the weightroom. There's a ridiculously fit army chick at my gym and she's my daily motivation. She's really nice and always willing to give advice when I ask for it.

    I feel stronger (stairs no longer kill me) and my posture has already improved. I'm planning on doing Stronglifts long-term.

  • Sweet_Heresy
    Sweet_Heresy Posts: 411 Member
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    SilverRose89 wrote: »
    meremaid2014 wrote: »
    Ooooh I loved doing strong lifts! Definitely lift heavier weights, fewer reps - not lifting teeny tiny weights for infinite reps.

    It's so good!

    The only problem I have found is it makes you want to be a bit nosey with friends work out plans. My friends all just do teeny weights high high reps and I want to be like "noooo do this it's way more fun!".

    But I don't want to be that person :neutral_face:

    I kind of am that person. Like "Guys c'mon get off the elliptical and do some squats with me." Lol.

    Lifting heavy is great for weight loss. I'm only 2 weeks into SS and my clothes fit better already. You might not notice much on the scale the first couple of weeks (I haven't bothered to weigh myself), but you'll look and feel much better.

    Good luck!

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