losing weight while getting toned?

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When I initially started, I had 40 lbs. to lose so I concentrated on the weight first. After two weeks, I gradually added walking and then cardio exercises to my routine. If you want to do both at the same time, go for it. There is no right or wrong way just what works for you. I did it in two steps because I was afraid that if I tried to do both at the same time I would lose my stamina and not follow through with my goals. Yesterday was my one year anniversary I have lost 35 lbs but I still need to work at toning. Good Luck!

Start strength training no later than last Tuesday!!

First time lifters can take advantage of lean gains; a period of time where you can actually build muscle in a calorie deficit. And after that, strength training helps you preserve that muscle.

Happy lifting!!

You may not be able to gain muscle mass from strength training while restricting your calories, but it will keep you from losing muscle mass. Point being that your body will not destory those things that it needs/uses for its survival.

Muscle weighs more then fat so it will look like you are gaining weight as you strentgh train but...muscle burns more calories even in a rested state. It is important to have both cardio and strength training in you healthy life style. Cardiio is more for your heart and strength training helps keep muscles strong and keep bones healthy to help avoid bone lose and osteoarthritis or bone breaks as you get older. it also guards you against back problems.

You don't have to become a major body builder just using 2-3lb weights or even just your own body weight in things like yoga or pilates is strentgh training and will be benficial in toning and weight lose. I would say if you feel up too it, go ahead. it wont hurt you but it will help.

P.S. you only need to weight train 2-3 times a week not everyday thats over kill and doesn't allow your muscles time to recover from the last workout. Cardio can be done more frequently.

I started running about 1 1/2 year ago and lost alot of body fat. I looked alot more defined. Now I also do Yoga and Pilates and my body has never looked better. I would focus on cardio first if your goal is to loose bodyfat.

Muscle is what helps you to burn fat. You have a percentage of muscle and a percentage of fat in your body. Muscle is more efficient at burning fat than fat itself. So the higher your muscle percentage, the more effective your cardio. In addition, if you have muscle mass, your daily activities will cause you to burn fat too. Just be doing your normal, every day stuff!

Muscle building is ESSENTIAL to burning fat. You can't just do cardio and expect some serious fat burning. Yes muscle is denser than fat, yes you will see the scale go up if you have more muscle, sometimes faster than how fast you burn fat, but you will feel stronger, you will see the change in the mirror and in your clothes, and you will be healthier and less prone to injury.

Message me or friend me if you want to learn more about this stuff! I love talking about it. ^_^

Great Advice this is exactly what my trainers are telling me too.

hey, if anyone can help me understand the process of this! I want to get toned while losing weight is that even possible? or do I need to lose weight first from cardio than start getting toned through strength training?

Hi there, I have almost 30 lbs to lose, I do cardio daily & started strength training 4x a week in Feb 2012. I haven't lost any lbs on the scale. I have however dropped 2 pant/dress sizes & can see the changes in my body. So I just put the scale away, & keep on keeping on because I like what's happening to my body, and that's more important to me than a number on the scale.

I say go for it.