Weight Lifting vs Weight Loss

[JSMencer]

OK fellow sleevers. Do you/Have you Lost all your weight first, and then started lifting weights, OR started lifting weights during your weight loss. I know if you don't lift, some of the weight you lose will be muscle weight. While I don't want to lose much muscle, I feel that working out has caused me not to really lose weight. I think I lost maybe a pound this week. With only 27lbs more till my goal, should I wait to add the weights?

[PR8R]

A good friend of mine had the sleeve and he waited to he hit his weight loss goal before he lifted weights. Said he wanted to ensure weight loss before he gained weight from muscle. I know that the personal trainer also agreed with him saying that focusing on one goal at a time will ensure results.

[natex14]

I don't like to tell people they are wrong, but that personal trainer was wrong.

Our body burns calories every day based on many things, but one of the biggest is muscle. Muscle burns a lot of calories, so the more you have, the more calories you are just naturally burning. This is why lifting weights will at first appear to slow things down, but you are still losing fat faster with more muscle. Then the weight will fall off quicker.

With weights if you don't want to bulk up, do less weight and more reps. So, do 20 reps if you want to shape and burn fat, do enough weight to only do 8 if you want to bulk up.

Study this on the internet, this is not my theory, this is a proven fact that personal trainers of all people should know.

Sorry if this came off as mean, it was not my intention.

[SharonS]

Everyone has personal opinions - so here is my two-cents worth. I have been lifting with a personal trainer for many years. I am only one week out of surgery but can't wait to get back into the gym. My trainer and doctor both agree that it is very important to exercise (and exercise means gaining muscle). Get in the gym, start slow and low weights and build up. You will love the way your new body looks and feels - and besides a "goal weight" is just an arbitrary number on a scale and is given too much control over our lives. As far as the PT telling the guy NOT to work out - I can't believe that. In all my years I have never met a PT who would tell someone not to be in the gym doing something.

Ok - I'll get off of my soapbox now. Good luck to you.

[JSMencer]

Nathan you're right behind me in surgery date. Mine was 1/30/14. I am at 227lbs. My Dr's goal for me is 200. I understand all of what you said, I understand what Mike said as well. I have heard both of them before. I'm just not sure what I want to do. Will I really lose much muscle mass waiting for 27lbs to drop off me. I'm maintaing cardio workouts.

[JSMencer]

I went to bodybuilding.com, here is what i found
Bodybuilding.com - How Can You Preserve Muscle While Cutting?

To me it seems that it is very hard to lose fat while gaining muscle or even maintaing muscle. I know our bodies are different then most, but that being said. I may wait for the strength training. I know I will want to bulk up, and doing that will be hard to do while trying to lose weight.

[natex14]

Do you guys realize that cardio is building muscle? You are just doing it on your legs instead of everywhere else.

Study more on it, you won't find any well known trainer out there that will tell you not to build muscle. Think of the biggest loser or other shows like it.

[sraebaer]

Don't wait for weights! Weight training is great for you, and should help tone any extra skin you may have. I alternate between weights and cardio. First three months I just walked, then at 3 months joined the gym to start everything else. (Spin, step, body pump, yoga, etc.)

[JSMencer]

Yeah I know cardio builds muscle in your legs...

[pdotmullen]

Just from my experience, I noticed I burned more fat when i lifted weights, and I can't wait to hit the weights again. My doc said to forget the scale, and pay attention to the way my body looks, feels and the inches lost. He said he didn't want me to get too caught up in a number, and I agree. Just eat right, lift weights, do my cardio and the weight will come off...plain and simple. This is what works for me though, i'm not saying this will work for everyone. This is just what my doctor told me...good luck to everyone

[jenniferboyd81]

Weight lifting is the best. U can throw some cardio in but I say weights are best why go by a scale to determine when you are ready. Do it now you wont regret it. If you lift you may never lose all your weight but you will look better then if you had. Lots of people on here with photos of themself lighter without lifting and heavier with lifting and look smaller at a higher weight because they are lean. You need to do more research. If a number on a scale is all you care about then I guess how you get there isnt really relevant. I just had my sleeve but plan to lift as soon as the doctor allows.

[PR8R]

I wad just repeating what was said to me. By no means am I telling someone what to do. Im not a PT, if I was I'd be smaller and healthier. Basically what he was saying is focus one one goal and move to the next. Not to over do it by doing both. I guess it just depends on how much you trust your PT.

[Kodi's Mom]

When I worked out at a gym, I did NO cardio (I am totally bored by cardio.) and only weight training. I lost 75 #s in 8 months. Unfortunately I had a job related injury, had to stop lifting and gained it all back. I felt stronger and was better toned. As was stated earlier, even on The Biggest Loser, the trainers don't wait until the contestants are at goal to incorporate weight training. It is done from the beginning.

[JSMencer]

When I worked out at a gym, I did NO cardio (I am totally bored by cardio.) and only weight training. I lost 75 #s in 8 months. Unfortunately I had a job related injury, had to stop lifting and gained it all back. I felt stronger and was better toned. As was stated earlier, even on The Biggest Loser, the trainers don't wait until the contestants are at goal to incorporate weight training. It is done from the beginning.

Very True. I didnt think about the biggest loser

[jessiejess]

This is the exact same thing I was told. Muscle burns fat and is better than cardio even. Less weight, more reps.

I don't like to tell people they are wrong, but that personal trainer was wrong.

Our body burns calories every day based on many things, but one of the biggest is muscle. Muscle burns a lot of calories, so the more you have, the more calories you are just naturally burning. This is why lifting weights will at first appear to slow things down, but you are still losing fat faster with more muscle. Then the weight will fall off quicker.

With weights if you don't want to bulk up, do less weight and more reps. So, do 20 reps if you want to shape and burn fat, do enough weight to only do 8 if you want to bulk up.

Study this on the internet, this is not my theory, this is a proven fact that personal trainers of all people should know.

Sorry if this came off as mean, it was not my intention.