When to bring in strength training?

openexpression
openexpression Posts: 8 Member
edited December 19 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi MFP Community!

I am fairly new to MFP and have some questions about fitness. I have about 180 pound to lose. I have started to do cardio: Zumba, treadmill, and elliptical, but I was wondering how soon should I start strength training? Should I focus on cardio and dropping weight now? OR Should I also incorporate strength training? And, if so, what exercises (machines) at the gym should I be focusing on? All comments are appreciated and please add illustrations if possible!

Replies

  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Day 1.

    forget cardio and lift weights 3 times a week.

    Enjoy your fat loss!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,029 Member
    Yesterday.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • 87missc87
    87missc87 Posts: 41
    Yesterday.

    Agreed! :-)
  • FlyeredUp
    FlyeredUp Posts: 632 Member
    Yesterday.

    Agreed! :-)
    Agreed! X 2! : )
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    start now. right now. in fact stop reading this thread and get to it!

    strength training will help you hold on to as much possible while you eat at a deficit.
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    Yesterday.

    Agreed! :-)
    Agreed! X 2! : )

    I disagree.

    Last Tuesday.
  • ericgAU
    ericgAU Posts: 271
    I wish I'd started my current serious weight lifting program when I was still somewhat overweight. Ended up losing too much weight and now have to bulk up. I would start immediately!
  • blytheandbonnie
    blytheandbonnie Posts: 3,275 Member
    If all you want to do is lose weight, lifting might be all you need. But there are many other benefits to cardio besides just weight loss.
    Here's an article: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/kick-up-cardio-exercise
  • openexpression
    openexpression Posts: 8 Member
    Lol at the responses so far! So, can anyone point me to a beginner's guide to strength training or what a sample strength training workout should look like? I'm new to this fitness game and have been overweight since the age of six, so a little guidance is needed. :wink:
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    Lol at the responses so far! So, can anyone point me to a beginner's guide to strength training or what a sample strength training workout should look like? I'm new to this fitness game and have been overweight since the age of six, so a little guidance is needed. :wink:

    I do StrongLifts 5 x 5, it's very easy with no complicated moves. There is a group of women here who do it.

    I started out with New Rules of Lifting for Women, but it has a few different lifts, and I had a knee injury, so I switched it out to StrongLifts for ease of use.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    try new rules of lifting for women. it's a book from amazon and a pretty good primer for women new to lifting. there's also stronglifts (free on the interwebs)

    happy lifting!
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    try new rules of lifting for women. it's a book from amazon and a pretty good primer for women new to lifting. there's also stronglifts (free on the interwebs)

    happy lifting!

    LOL -- Snap!
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    try new rules of lifting for women. it's a book from amazon and a pretty good primer for women new to lifting. there's also stronglifts (free on the interwebs)

    happy lifting!

    LOL -- Snap!

    jinx. buy me some lifting strap!
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    try new rules of lifting for women. it's a book from amazon and a pretty good primer for women new to lifting. there's also stronglifts (free on the interwebs)

    happy lifting!

    LOL -- Snap!

    jinx. buy me some lifting strap!

    If you are good.
  • mariagabriella
    mariagabriella Posts: 267 Member
    as soon as you know what you're doing. it's important to have a plan/program before you start, and ensure you know how to do those exercises with good form. start after that.
  • summergirl73
    summergirl73 Posts: 70 Member
    try new rules of lifting for women. it's a book from amazon and a pretty good primer for women new to lifting. there's also stronglifts (free on the interwebs)

    happy lifting!
    this
  • anawhatsme
    anawhatsme Posts: 261 Member
    sorry to butt in, but i have the same question as the original poster.
    i checked out strong lifts and it seems geared toward men.
    am i missing something?
    5x5 says you will add 100 pounds to your lifting weight each month?
    huh??
    i don't want to lift crazy amounts, i just want to get in shape.
    help!?
  • rlv2680
    rlv2680 Posts: 289 Member
    bump
  • Cait_Sidhe
    Cait_Sidhe Posts: 3,150 Member
    sorry to butt in, but i have the same question as the original poster.
    i checked out strong lifts and it seems geared toward men.
    am i missing something?
    5x5 says you will add 100 pounds to your lifting weight each month?
    huh??
    i don't want to lift crazy amounts, i just want to get in shape.
    help!?
    Any weight lifting program designed for a man can also be done by a woman. It doesn't matter what sex you are to lift heavy things.
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    sorry to butt in, but i have the same question as the original poster.
    i checked out strong lifts and it seems geared toward men.
    am i missing something?
    5x5 says you will add 100 pounds to your lifting weight each month?
    huh??
    i don't want to lift crazy amounts, i just want to get in shape.
    help!?
    Any weight lifting program designed for a man can also be done by a woman. It doesn't matter what sex you are to lift heavy things.

    This.

    AND lifting crazy amounts will help you achieve your goals.

    I'm in the starting phases of StrongLifts. I started with an empty bar, which weighs 20kg/44lbs and now (after 3wks) I'm already lifting twice that much on all of the lifts.
  • LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou
    LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou Posts: 101 Member
    PLEASE READ!

    New Rules For Women is an excellent book! Go for it...BUT...Make sure you have your gym instructor goes over the moves / lifts with you to ensure you are doing it properly. If you haven't lifted before, there are right and wrong ways to do it. You can "feel" like you are doing it right, but without someone checking you could come a cropper like me and hurt your back doing squats and deadlifts. Don't let it put you off. Strength training is an essential part of health and fitness whatever your starting weight, just do it properly and healthily. Good luck with your weightloss :flowerforyou:
  • dvisser1
    dvisser1 Posts: 788 Member
    sorry to butt in, but i have the same question as the original poster.
    i checked out strong lifts and it seems geared toward men.
    am i missing something?
    5x5 says you will add 100 pounds to your lifting weight each month?
    huh??
    i don't want to lift crazy amounts, i just want to get in shape.
    help!?

    men and women have all the same major muscle groups and lifting form is universal. All that really differs is the amount of weight being moved and your end goal. Best thing when first starting out is to learn the exercises with free weights, what muscles they target, and how to do the lift in proper form. Lifting with proper form and starting with light weight and building to heavy weight helps prevent injury while lifting. Strength training helps reduce injuries overall.

    Work with a personal trainer, if you're comfortable doing so and can afford it, to learn that proper form. Or study the proper forms as detailed in NROLFW or 5x5. Once you learn the exercises you can build a lifting plan tailored for yourself (or the PT can help you with that if you're employing one).
  • ericgAU
    ericgAU Posts: 271
    No sure if this has already been posted or not but check out bodybuilding.com. If you can look past the constant barrage of banner ads trying to sell you supps theres some really good programs put together by those that have been there done that. Sorry if this has already been mentioned ;)
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