|
Author: shari
Date: 02-19-03 00:21
Gymmachine, you seem pretty well-versed on weight lifting and I thought I would ask your advice.
I weight lift 3-4 x a week (every other day). I want to tone, not increase bulk. I also need to lose about 60 pounds.
For each exercise, I do 12 reps, 3 sets. As the reps become easier, I increase the weight. I've been documenting the weight I lift and have made quite a bit of an increase in the last couple of months. I've lost about 9-10 inches since October, but only 12 pounds.
I know muscle weighs more than fat, so I shouldn't expect the scale to reflect any major losses due to the weightlifting.
Do you think I should continue increasing the amount of weight I lift as the reps get easier, or continue at the weight I'm lifting now? As I said before, I want to tone, not increase bulk.
I'm so confused about this, please forgive me. I see a dietician every couple of months who purely judges my success based on the scale (guess I need to talk to her about that), plus, I've been weighing myself almost everyday for 25 years.
Better yet - do you think I should have a consultation with a personal trainer?
|
|
Reply To This Message
|
|
Author: GymMachine
Date: 02-19-03 03:08
i think your doing good now...the progressive overload is what its all about (addition of weights)...i think your answering your own question too!..keep lifting those heavier weights until your happy with your 'bulk'...remember women simply dont bulk as easy as u think...you dont have enough testosterone....i suggest you keep lifting weights and adding increments until your happy with your size..then its just a case of continuous lifting without adding on weight to maintain...so yeah keep lifting until that happens...if u have 60 pounds to go, then cardio is your way their ofcourse, and diet, but lifting will help and may effect the scale slightly...yes muscle is more dense and thicker than fat but you should prob still see the scale drops if your still doing cardio with the hope of 60 pounds fat loss...i guess it depends, you do need more than average protein to grow too...make sure you mention your lifting weights to your dietician because body composition will change and such over time...she may even ditch the scale and start using the tape measure because as most will attest too, sometimes you dont lose weight, but lose inches when picking up the weights..it varies individually...maybe you should take measurements too and follow up every second week or something so you dont get dissapointed with scales not dropping, should they decide not to lol...but anyway what your doing now is fine..keep adding the weight until your comfy with your muscle gains and keep doing cardio, the diet also and add some extra protein to your diet and results will come, i gaurentee (i also gaurentee i cant spell guarentee)
|
|
Reply To This Message
|
|
Author: shari
Date: 02-19-03 05:14
One last thing - Obviously, if I have 60 more pounds to lose, I have alot of fat on top of my muscle, therefore, I can't actually see muscle definition. Should I stop when I'm happy being able to lift a certain weight - or should I wait until I actually SEE the results?
Thanks for your advice!
|
|
Reply To This Message
|
|
Author: Sheila
Date: 02-19-03 05:17
Well since everyone else is asking you questions, I might as well as one....
On days I have limited time to do my regular weight routine (three sets of 12 to 15 reps), would it do much good to just do two sets?
|
|
Reply To This Message
|
|
Author: GymMachine
Date: 02-19-03 05:29
i would say see the results because by the time u lose 60 pounds you muscle size would be just right;)...remember muscles dont grow too easily its not the bodies priority...alot of factors must be employed for em to grow and it takes a long while to get some decent results sometimes.
|
|
Reply To This Message
|
|
Author: GymMachine
Date: 02-19-03 05:30
i would still do atleast 3 but lift a bit more heavier to lower the reps and therefore time....this will be of more benfit if you want your muscles to grow, even be it a little bit
|
|
Reply To This Message
|
|
Click here
for a great cookbook
with quick & healthy
recipes
Weight Lifting
For Absolute Beginners:
Illustrated Guide
CLICK HERE
|
