Workout Routine

[fendigirl19]

I have been working out 4x a week doing 30 minutes of cardio, either on the eliptical or tread mill. I am to afraid of lifting weights until I lose more weight. Does anyone know if lifting weights will increase the weight loss? I know muscle wights more than fat, but it will really unmotivate me if I stop losing before I'm ready.

[REDFIRE]

I encourage you to lift weights. Muscle burns fat... so the more muscle you have = the more fat you will burn. I will be honest with you, I am on a routine right now were I go to the gym at 5:30 in the morning and lift for 1-1 1/2 hours, then to work. After work, I go back to the gym and do 30 mins of high intensity cardio. Since doing this, I have stalled in the weight loss, and actually gained a few pounds, but I feel, and look better.

Would you rather be 10lbs lighter and look soft and out of shape, or....

10lbs heavier and look and feel better.

One of the major things alot of people neglect while trying to lose wight is working out. It is essential.

The more muscle you put on will result in a boosted metabolism, and lower body fat %.

The key is not to look at the actual weight on the scale, but how you feel and look.

I would much rather be 260lbs @ 18% body fat, then 220lbs @ 25%+ body fat.


Another thing i hear alot is, I dont want to get too big... Trust me you will not get big overnight... It takes years and years of training to get "big"

Hopefully that helps.

[NEWMOMMYFL]

I am with you. I dont want to start lifting weights until I am almost at my goal weight, it is more mental than anything. As of now I want to see the numbers on the scale go down, I dont want to have to convince myself that I am just gaining muscle. They do say that weight training helps you to burn calories though, the more muscle you have the more calories you will burn. So it is kind of a darned if you do darned if you dont situation. But the way I look at is you have to lose the fat before the muscle will show, so I am gonna work on that first. Sorry I rambled!

[MelissaCTX1977]

personally I have always the best results when I do both cardio and weights.
The weight comes off faster and my clothes get looser all over.
It helps with the weight loss distributing evenly--not to mention the toning and how good it feels to be strong and you will not get bulky--I lift almost every other day long before I lost any weight. I recommend 100 % to incorporate weight training with cardio.

[megatron]

My husband (Mr. Research and Pre-med student) says that lifting weights doesn't burn as many calories at one time like cardio does, but after lifting weights, you're rebuilding muscle tissue, it burns calories for 24-48 hours after you work out. So even though muscle weighs more, it burns calories to build up that muscle.