Lifting Heavy- Should I Expect to Stop Losing?

You get 100 million points for being the first person to actually read other thread titles when posting. You broke the combination of 10 "Has anyone heard of Zumba?" posts and 3 "Am I eating too much protein?" topics.

Depends. What is your goal? do you still want to lose weight? Do you want to gain muscle? I really can help you figure out a plan to do either or both. Send me a message and I will help you design a plan!

I've lost 20 inches all together, and no weight. I know it will be coming off soon, but I lift heavy 2 days a week and do cardio at least 5. Since i've started lifting, i see the scale as my enemy. I measure once a month, and I have an outfit that i'm going fit into eventually, that's how I measure.

Wow! I'm glad there's support out there for lifting. Frankly, I don't know if 140 lb is good for me- I have been measured at 22% bodyfat and I'm not sure if that is a good number or not.

I'd love to build muscle but if I work out more, eat more, I suppose measurements are the only accurate measure of body fat loss? Maybe, just maybe, what I'm asking is what the optimal body fat percentage AND the total weight I should be? THEN I should ask how to measure it.

And thanks for being nice to me I get nervous on the forums

:flowerforyou:

That's actually the point...the weight isn't really relevant. 22% bodyfat is pretty healthy for a woman (for a man it's even in the healthy range if I recall...to be honest). Your bodyfat is really the only true measure of health. I mean...look at me, I'm 190lbs right now, and since my injury I'm back up to about 22% bodydat myself (most of my pictures in my profile...I'm about 18%). By the BMI chart, I'm obese lol. But the point I'm making is...no one would look at me and say 'wow, that guy's overweight!'. That's all the number on the scale is, a number.

If you'd like to drop more bodyfat, keep lifting heavy, and keep eating clean on a deficit. It will just keep dropping. Once you're happy where you are (bodyfat wise!)...raise your rough calorie intake to maintenance...and you'll be set.

That is an awesome thing! You're doing great. It's tough to get out of the mindset that the number on the scale is what matters, I still get discouraged from time to time when I weigh myself, but then I remember that I'm building and losing inches.

Wow! I'm glad there's support out there for lifting. Frankly, I don't know if 140 lb is good for me- I have been measured at 22% bodyfat and I'm not sure if that is a good number or not.

I'd love to build muscle but if I work out more, eat more, I suppose measurements are the only accurate measure of body fat loss? Maybe, just maybe, what I'm asking is what the optimal body fat percentage AND the total weight I should be? THEN I should ask how to measure it.

And thanks for being nice to me I get nervous on the forums

:flowerforyou:

That's actually the point...the weight isn't really relevant. 22% bodyfat is pretty healthy for a woman (for a man it's even in the healthy range if I recall...to be honest). Your bodyfat is really the only true measure of health. I mean...look at me, I'm 190lbs right now, and since my injury I'm back up to about 22% bodydat myself (most of my pictures in my profile...I'm about 18%). By the BMI chart, I'm obese lol. But the point I'm making is...no one would look at me and say 'wow, that guy's overweight!'. That's all the number on the scale is, a number.

If you'd like to drop more bodyfat, keep lifting heavy, and keep eating clean on a deficit. It will just keep dropping. Once you're happy where you are (bodyfat wise!)...raise your rough calorie intake to maintenance...and you'll be set.

You make me wish it was a "body fat percentage ticker" instead of "weight loss". I just did my measurements and realized that I've lost 2 pounds but 3 inches from my waist. I don't know much, but I have a feeling that's a good thing.

There have bee a lot of people who have suggested the BF ticker would be a good idea

3" is a lot - and the fact that you have not lost a huge amount on the scale is a big indicator of decreased BF%.

Whether you stay the same or lose lbs really depends on a bunch of factors : how heavy, how often, your calorie deficit, genetics etc etc. Here is a good post to see how much lifting can do without impacting the scales:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/580019-the-scale-is-a-lying-torture-device-i-m-proof

Yeah...I've decided to dump the scale. After getting so much information from you guys it seems like my scale-centric ways were really hindering me. I was seriously considering stopping all but only a little cario and going on a severe calorie deficit because I was so desperate to see "results". Now I know what real reselts look like!!!

Good girl!!

You'll thank yourself in the long run .

You're weight loss might be slower but you can still lose weight, but yeah, it's not the most important thing. Hopefully you'll keep most of your muscle and only lose fat. This fat will take up more space though than any muscle fat combinations you might have lost before, so your size will decrease faster relative to your weight. I looked at your diary (just yesterday actually) and I might suggest actually eating more, maybe around 1800 or so.

Oh, how I wish there was a body fat % ticker, too. I've been stuck at the same weight for roughly 10 months now and have only noticed modest changes to the areas I really want to see firm (ie. arms, belly). I'm starting NROLFW with the hope that lifting will improve on what I've already accomplished. I like the idea of lifting heavy. Good luck to you, OP!

From my personal experience, it did take me a while to get round the idea of the numbers on the scale not going down & I was frustrated but once you start losing bodyfat and inches it's all worth it. The best thing I did after going down the strength training route was to only weigh my self every couple of months. The losses would be small like 5lbs in 2 months but the difference in my body was amazing in itself. I still have a long way to go, before I reach my goal but i'm much happier doing it this way.

I've only lost nine pounds total and 2 or 3 sizes depending on the brand. I LOOK tons better. And also, after you lift, you tend to retain some water as the muscles heal, so don't panic if you actually go up a pound or two. (Better yet, just go ahead and hide the scale)

Thank you for asking this question. I've been nervous as heck about whether or not my weight loss will stall. I've been lifting pretty heavy for the last month, and so far I haven't stalled. I've slowed down, but I'm still losing every week. So long as my body keeps transforming I'll be happy.

You can lose weight if you want, it's all about calories in versus calories burned.

Most people, when they want to build muscle, will INCREASE their calories, because you need to introduce building blocks to build with. Muscle burns more calories, though, so the net result is generally a better metabolism.

In your case, you quoted a very decent body fat percentage number. I'd talk to a trainer or get some help from some bodybuilding experts about what you want to increase your caloric intake to, what balance of fat/protein/carbs you want that caloric intake to be in, and get a regimen going. If your body fat percentage is anywhere close to what you said, I think your "weight loss" days are behind you, honestly.

thanks for the encouraging words! I need to buy a tape measure, and stop weighing myself. i stopped losing weight and actually gained 2 pounds, but i feel great and my abs are starting to form. i'm thinking it's just turning into muscle, i'll buy a tape and see where i'm at. excited to see the difference, i'll have to post about it later.