weight loss and toning at the same time

lisamdavis84
lisamdavis84 Posts: 21
edited November 10 in Health and Weight Loss
I am currently 160lbs and 5'6". I am looking to loose around 30 pounds as I carry most of my weight in my tummy and hips. Should I be doing something other than my cardio and calorie counting to help me fix these problem areas?
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Replies

  • adidrea
    adidrea Posts: 275 Member
    Yes, lift heavy weights!
  • lisamdavis84
    lisamdavis84 Posts: 21
    as in benching or what type of lifting? i do not really want to be buff, just a girly toned i guess.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Yes, lift heavy weights!

    this.

    by doing cardio and dieting alone you risk losing some of the lean muscle you already have. Lifting heavy weights and getting adequate protein will help ensure that you retain most of your lean muscle as you lose the fat. This means that at your goal weight you will have a lower BF% and be more fit and stronger then if you did cardio and diet only.

    Doing both helps you avoid being the dreaded skinny fat (thin with a high body fat %)
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    as in benching or what type of lifting? i do not really want to be buff, just a girly toned i guess.

    girls will not get "buff", all lifting will do is make sure you don't lose muscle. It takes a caloric surplus and serious lifting, to gain muscle and is easier with higher levels of testosterone that women don't have, so you don't have to worry about that.

    I would suggest you take a look at the book "New Rules of Lifting for Women"
  • Lizabee84
    Lizabee84 Posts: 346 Member
    I have been wondering the same thing. I want to be toned and not flabby though lose 21 pounds along the way
  • 987Runner
    987Runner Posts: 209
    Girls don't usually get bulky. I'm doing handheld weights for my arms at home with a bench and my arms are getting nicely toned, not buff. I'm using 15lb weights, that's up from 10lbs when I started. I'll keep going up as I get stronger! Reps are key too! Good luck!
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    as in benching or what type of lifting? i do not really want to be buff, just a girly toned i guess.

    as in like this.

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

    Good luck. !!!!!
  • AlaskanPhoenix
    AlaskanPhoenix Posts: 8
    If you want to maintain your strength and lean muscle, as well as tone up, I would suggest a full-body strength training session a few times a week, with each exercise at a weight that is a moderate challenge for your muscles. I, however, am no expert. If you go to a gym, there should be someone there who can give you some great advice. :) I'm always asking questions at mine.
  • Galaxybounce03
    Galaxybounce03 Posts: 1 Member
    I do a lot of muscle building moves but without weights too. Squats, lunges, pushups, and crunches. This ensures that once your muscles are more visible, that they will look nice and toned. I make a playlist on itunes and each 16 count of music will do a different one of these exercises. Change it up every time so you don't get bored.
  • lisamdavis84
    lisamdavis84 Posts: 21
    so my every other day regimen of crunches, girl push ups, squats and leg lifts won't cut it then?
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    have you heard about staci??

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

    on the left she's 131 lbs. on the right she's 142, 11lbs heavier.
    Screen-Shot-2011-07-21-at-92311-AM.jpg
  • ahealthy4u
    ahealthy4u Posts: 442 Member
    I do free weights/ along with outher weight training I have a weight bench in the basement along with a diffrent serious of free weights I work with those at least two to 3 days a week.
  • Cgrnlaw
    Cgrnlaw Posts: 84 Member
    Now that makes sense...Thanks
  • lisamdavis84
    lisamdavis84 Posts: 21
    would absolutely love for my stomach to look like that, and so would my boyfriend I bet!
  • HauteP1nk
    HauteP1nk Posts: 2,139 Member
    Strength training is very important!

    I myself do a lot of calisthenics (using my own body weight)....push-ups, squats, lunges, jumping jacks, etc. They get the heart rate up and are building strength. :)
  • DisneySkaGirl
    DisneySkaGirl Posts: 161
    as in like this.

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

    Good luck. !!!!!

    I love that article! I re-read it any time someone posts it!
  • marquesajen
    marquesajen Posts: 641
    You won't get crazy buff, don't worry. I lift weights and use the machines around the gym so that I keep my muscle, but lose the fat. Otherwise I'd lose fat and muscle and just look flabby at my goal weight. Ew.

    Good luck!
  • snaus70
    snaus70 Posts: 39
    as in like this.

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

    Good luck. !!!!!

    I love that article! I re-read it any time someone posts it!

    Thank you so much for sharing this!! I had not read this article before and it is SOOOO inspiring!! That's how I want to be!!
  • kstep88
    kstep88 Posts: 403 Member
    so my every other day regimen of crunches, girl push ups, squats and leg lifts won't cut it then?


    ^^^ Sorry to say, but that is not enough work to build muscle, lose fat, and get the image you are dreaming of. You need cardio days and real strength training days--and you also need to get enough good, clean foods. Fiber are Protein are your friends.

    I am doing a workout program set up by the Jillian Michaels website..and I do a whole lot more than that, and per information on the site...If you want a killer body, you have to work hard for it. :)
  • malins2
    malins2 Posts: 154 Member
    Definitely do strenght training, pereferably lifting heavy. It has worked wonders for me, and I combine it with High intensity interval training. I have lost a lot of fat (I had a lot especially around tummy and hips) and also gained muscle.
  • LJC44
    LJC44 Posts: 221
    I am currently 160lbs and 5'6". I am looking to loose around 30 pounds as I carry most of my weight in my tummy and hips. Should I be doing something other than my cardio and calorie counting to help me fix these problem areas?

    Everyone suggesting to lift heavy..100% agree! I started lifting heavy a long time ago and actually shrank! I lost inches first and then some weight came off. So as mentioned already (and will be mentioned many times) LIFT HEAVY! People will ask for advice and not use it but trust those who have tried it! Alot of the same comments are repeated on here but people enjoy sharing their thoughts and things that have worked for them.
  • LJC44
    LJC44 Posts: 221
    Definitely do strenght training, pereferably lifting heavy. It has worked wonders for me, and I combine it with High intensity interval training. I have lost a lot of fat (I had a lot especially around tummy and hips) and also gained muscle.

    This is my exact routine and it truly works!
  • smalacarne
    smalacarne Posts: 89
    I started interval training with a trainer at work about 3 weeks ago, and I'm not losing as much lbs as I want...but my clothes fit better only have 3 weeks. He does 30 secs of strength training, then 30 secs of cardio. Good luck :)
  • LJC44
    LJC44 Posts: 221
    That is because you lost inches :)
  • DisneySkaGirl
    DisneySkaGirl Posts: 161
    so my every other day regimen of crunches, girl push ups, squats and leg lifts won't cut it then?

    I would say that if you are starting from a fitness level of ZERO, it might be an okay place to start. But you have to keep in mind that the human body is amazingly adaptable, and will get used to those things vrey quickly. You have to up the intensity, and that doens't mean doing 100 crunches/pushups /etc. instead of 50... you have to get up the courage to move on to the prone jackknife, "real" pushups, and squat with increased weight.

    As someone else mentioned, try reading New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women. I'm a recent convert to strength training, and in the first month and a half of the program I have seen my muscles get firmer and tighter, and my strength increase. Scale hasn't moved, but I'm learning to be okay with that.

    Best of luck, feel free to add me :)
  • tequila09
    tequila09 Posts: 764 Member
    What weight machines at the gym would you recommend?? I wanna get toned :)
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    First picture is at 135# from doing cardio, body weight exercises, and stuff with 5# dumbbells.

    Second picture is at 133# from doing cardio and heavy weights.

    camo-suit-back-june-jan.jpg
  • lisamdavis84
    lisamdavis84 Posts: 21
    I boughht my bf a weighth bench and it's just sitting in the basement. I am not sure how to even use it and cannot afford a gym membership. I know how to bench press and do curls but do not know how that is going to help me withh my stomach and hips.
  • lisamdavis84
    lisamdavis84 Posts: 21
    everyone keeps saying heavy weights, please specify what you do when using heavy weights.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Google squats and deadlifts.

    There's also training plans like this: http://videos.bodybuilding.com/show/jamie-eason-12-week-livefit-trainer and a lot of people love the New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women book.

    Heavy is relative. It's the heaviest you can lift for 8-10 reps. If you can lift it with ease, it's too light. If you're struggling by the last rep, you've got the right amount.
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