Strength Training; now or later?

lostinureyes17
lostinureyes17 Posts: 112 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am sorry if this topic has been posted before...but when should I start strength training? Do I wait until I am closer to goal or begin now?

Also I hear everyone say they lift "heavy" so what is a good beginners workout? I've heard of new rules of weight lifting but can't afford the book.

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!:smile:
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Replies

  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Yesterday. But before that, if you can.

    if you want free, look up Stronglifts
  • Generalle
    Generalle Posts: 201 Member
    or have a look on bodybuilding.com, they have tonnes of programs to do
  • Tdk4685
    Tdk4685 Posts: 293 Member
    I would start now. I started at the beginning of my weight loss a year ago and I am so glad I did. Start out with the weights you can and go from there.
  • MrsBully4
    MrsBully4 Posts: 304 Member
    Today!

    I've noticed a huge difference in the way my body sheds weight and how I look since strength training ... pure cardio kind of shrunk me all over, but strength training is really improving the shape of my body instead of just shrinking (my upper arms are more solid, my belly is vanishing, my legs are more shapely, my chest is perkier, etc etc).
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Yesterday. But before that, if you can.

    if you want free, look up Stronglifts

    Totally this! You also may want to think differently about you goal and make it a lower body fat goal as opposed to losing weight. Would you really care what the scale said if you were fitter, stronger, looked great, felt great and were in the best health of your life?
  • lostinureyes17
    lostinureyes17 Posts: 112 Member
    Thanks everyone! I will def. have to look up that site. I would be ok with weighing more but having a smaller bf %
  • melinda2308
    melinda2308 Posts: 16 Member
    When I started last year I did the elliptical and upper body with 5 lb weights. In the first 3 months i lost almost 4 inches around my chest/upper back area. The scale moved 1 pound. But the inches fell off. I would do weights and interval training every workout. cardio and upper body one day, cardio and lower body next day. day off, then repeat. Works for the inches but your scale may not move for months
  • lostinureyes17
    lostinureyes17 Posts: 112 Member
    I'd be happy with the inches falling off. I am more concerned with being happier and fitting into my clothes
  • Caligirl_92
    Caligirl_92 Posts: 53 Member
    Right this second:happy: . It can be sorta discouraging to lose weight slowly because you feel like you work your butt off but if you do strength training you almost immediately see the results. Not on the scale but for sure on how you look and how you fit into things. I'm slowly losing weight but I'm already 2 sizes down and i can feel my abs and getting toned arms. Trust me way better to do it all at once :)
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    When?
    Now! As for heavy or lite, yes....do both.
  • tabulator32
    tabulator32 Posts: 701 Member
    Always.
  • JonathonMars
    JonathonMars Posts: 358 Member
    I'm just intimidated by the whole thing. About getting hurt, doing things "wrong". I guess I should just throw caution to the wind.
  • HealthyLivingKathy
    HealthyLivingKathy Posts: 190 Member
    weight training will help build muscles which will boost your metabolism
  • divediva2
    divediva2 Posts: 297 Member
    Strength training is excellent, it boosts your metabolism so you burn long after your work out is over. You will find that it leans you out all over so you will see definition and shape change quickly. Far more rewarding than a number on a scale. In fact the number on the scale is just that a number, no one but you sees it really. However everyone sees you every day and how you look. They will notice the way your arms are starting to look more defined, when you reach for something or catch sight of your bicep or tricep for the the first time, you will be so amazed! Start today.
  • thistimeismytime
    thistimeismytime Posts: 711 Member
    Now, now, now--it's ALWAYS now!! :flowerforyou:
  • UrbanRunner81
    UrbanRunner81 Posts: 1,207 Member
    now, do it now. No reason to wait!
  • Papillon22
    Papillon22 Posts: 1,160 Member
    Also I hear everyone say they lift "heavy" so what is a good beginners workout? I've heard of new rules of weight lifting but can't afford the book.
    I checked NROLFW out from my local library. Look it up in yours!
  • lostinureyes17
    lostinureyes17 Posts: 112 Member
    Also I hear everyone say they lift "heavy" so what is a good beginners workout? I've heard of new rules of weight lifting but can't afford the book.
    I checked NROLFW out from my local library. Look it up in yours!

    I'll have to check it out. I have a kindle so maybe I can download it from the library on there.
  • lostinureyes17
    lostinureyes17 Posts: 112 Member
    Thanks for all the replies. I do some of the weight machines at the gym but I'm very weak and never sure if I'm actually making an impact or not.
  • plbrown81
    plbrown81 Posts: 32 Member
    Try and look up "Body for Life" as well. It's at least a good starting point for weight lifting, and has a few routines written out in it. It's not effective FOREVER, but if you've never weight lifted before it's not a bad place to go to get some idea.

    Also, if you're a member of a gym, see if you can get an orientation session. Most gyms have one, and they should show you some basic machines and how to use them.
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    Joined a gym one year ago ....... started out just walking on the treadmill ....... now I'm doing all kinds of cardio, plus lifting weights, as well as a few yoga classes each week ...... I love it all !

    Happy journey !
  • lostinureyes17
    lostinureyes17 Posts: 112 Member
    Went to the gym today and did some cardio but threw in some free weights and arm exercises!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Thanks for all the replies. I do some of the weight machines at the gym but I'm very weak and never sure if I'm actually making an impact or not.

    First, I love the massive FMIC you are holding.


    Second, heavy is defined by the user. If you want to increase fat loss, you want to lift heavy (failing around 8 reps). So if you bench and you can only do the bar 4 times, that is great... if you can add 10 lbs to that, even better. Your strength will come as you lift more frequently. Also, don't mix cardio and ST as it can lead your body to fight for resource for repairing it, unless it's a light warm up run. Try to ST 3-4 days a week too.
  • lostinureyes17
    lostinureyes17 Posts: 112 Member
    Thanks for all the replies. I do some of the weight machines at the gym but I'm very weak and never sure if I'm actually making an impact or not.

    First, I love the massive FMIC you are holding.


    Second, heavy is defined by the user. If you want to increase fat loss, you want to lift heavy (failing around 8 reps). So if you bench and you can only do the bar 4 times, that is great... if you can add 10 lbs to that, even better. Your strength will come as you lift more frequently. Also, don't mix cardio and ST as it can lead your body to fight for resource for repairing it, unless it's a light warm up run. Try to ST 3-4 days a week too.

    Thanks. So it's better to lift more than to lift lighter and do more reps?
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Thanks for all the replies. I do some of the weight machines at the gym but I'm very weak and never sure if I'm actually making an impact or not.

    First, I love the massive FMIC you are holding.


    Second, heavy is defined by the user. If you want to increase fat loss, you want to lift heavy (failing around 8 reps). So if you bench and you can only do the bar 4 times, that is great... if you can add 10 lbs to that, even better. Your strength will come as you lift more frequently. Also, don't mix cardio and ST as it can lead your body to fight for resource for repairing it, unless it's a light warm up run. Try to ST 3-4 days a week too.

    Thanks. So it's better to lift more than to lift lighter and do more reps?

    Yep. Light weight is really only or endurance which won't burn as much calories (during or post workout) as heavy lifting which stimulation your body to tear lean tissue, causing it the need to repair.


    http://www.livestrong.com/article/372745-heavy-weight-vs-light-weight-weight-loss/
  • littlelol
    littlelol Posts: 539
    i need to do more strenght training x
  • wildcata77
    wildcata77 Posts: 660
    I was planning on sticking to cardio and swimming until I got rid of some flab, but the wonderful (non-judgmental) lifters on here seemed to enjoy it so much and believe in it so passionately that I recently started and while it hasn't accelerated my weight loss yet, I just FEEL better and it's a great stress reliever compared to hopping on a treadmill for 35 minutes.

    I encourage you to add it now...I do about a 12-13 cardio warm-up on an elliptical, then about 45 minutes of lifting (machines and free weights) then anywhere from a 10-20 minutes cardio cool-down on the treadmill.

    I do it about 2-3 times a week, and I swim laps and/or do Zumba 1-2 times a week.

    Good luck!
  • wildcata77
    wildcata77 Posts: 660
    I'm just intimidated by the whole thing. About getting hurt, doing things "wrong". I guess I should just throw caution to the wind.

    I can't afford a personal trainer, but my gym offers a free equipment orientation, so I had a trainer walk around with me for the first workout and she helped me set the machines at the right heights/settings/weights and watched me do the reps to see how my form was. She only showed me one free weight lift, but I'm planning to work more in by watching what others do.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    I'm just intimidated by the whole thing. About getting hurt, doing things "wrong". I guess I should just throw caution to the wind.

    I can't afford a personal trainer, but my gym offers a free equipment orientation, so I had a trainer walk around with me for the first workout and she helped me set the machines at the right heights/settings/weights and watched me do the reps to see how my form was. She only showed me one free weight lift, but I'm planning to work more in by watching what others do.

    Free weights will provide better results as your body is forced to stabilize the weights more. You can Google routines like Strong Lift 5x5.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    I'm just intimidated by the whole thing. About getting hurt, doing things "wrong". I guess I should just throw caution to the wind.

    I can't afford a personal trainer, but my gym offers a free equipment orientation, so I had a trainer walk around with me for the first workout and she helped me set the machines at the right heights/settings/weights and watched me do the reps to see how my form was. She only showed me one free weight lift, but I'm planning to work more in by watching what others do.

    Free weights will provide better results as your body is forced to stabilize the weights more. You can Google routines like Strong Lift 5x5.

    I completely agree!

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