Can you lose weight through weights?

Einhard

Hey,
I need to lose about 3 stone. I joined a gym recently and I've managed to lose 6lbs in two weeks, so not off to a bad start. However, due to the fact that my lower limbs are, eh, let's just say somewhat compromised, I'm restricted in what I can do. And I'm getting pretty bored on that dang cross trainer!!:D

So I was thinking of hitting the weights. Figuratively speaking of course. I'm not envisaging deadlifting my own body weight or anything, but maybe two half hour sessions a week. I'd probably get the instructors in the gym to devise some form of routine for me. It'd all be upper body weights.

Anyway, I've always heard that doing weights increases body weight, because muscle is heavier than fat. I know that, in the long run, it all balances out, but it's a horrible feeling to work out all week and find you've lost nothing when hopping on the scales at the end of it all.

So my question is: can I lose weight in the short term by doing weights in the gym?

Muchos gracias.

And yes, I realise I could prpbably have made this shorter!:o

Chancer3001

yes, yes you can.

lifting weights burns calories.
repairing muscles after a session can use up calories for hours
having more muscle in your body requires more calories, so youll burn more calories even when at rest.

google it and youll find 100s of sites which go into more detail. The answer is definitely yes though.


ps - youll mainly lose weight through a better diet...diet is at least 70% of the problem.

Mike87

Well if your talking actual weight. And you want to get those numbers down, then no. Weights wont help a whole bunch- if anything those numbers will eventually go up.

But tHats nots to say some light lifting wont do any harm. Just dont spend half your gym time lifting. Maybe the last 10-15 mins of your session will be more than enough.

If your talking bodyfat (which I suspect you are) then diet is the way to go. Most people seem to strive for the magic sub 10% bodyfat. Its hard to maintain it, but thats half the fun.

Weight loss, muscle gain etc is mostly done in the kitchen. I dont know how many whales I see at the gym killing themselves working out a few times a week and then go out and eat take aways and drink themselves silly at the weekend :eek: :rolleyes: If you dont look after the diet then your just kidding yourself. Its so much easier to say no to extra calories then it is to put in extra hours at the gym.


BTW: Why do you only want to do an "upperbody workout"? You really need to get those legs working too.

squod

There's a million and one bodyweight or assisted bodyweight exercises you can do that will add value to your workout. By using loads of muscle groups together in compound movements you'll feel the benefit in the short term while building the kind of strength you might want in the longer term.

Bodyweight stuff done now makes deadlift, squat & press barbell movements easier when you do want to progress.

I'd also try the green tea thing. 2ltr bottle of cold water into the fridge with two green teabags, leave overnight and drink through-out the following day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiKfLE2K_DI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw3FnkqViKo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3g4wAsu0R4

squod

http://www.livestrong.com/article/291967-green-tea-and-cla-for-weight-loss/

corcaigh1

Thought your supposed to drink green tea hot, what does sticking it into cold water do for you, must taste disgusting right?

squod

corcaigh1 wrote: »

Thought your supposed to drink green tea hot, what does sticking it into cold water do for you, must taste disgusting right?

Lets the CLA stuff out. That's the inexpensive way of making it. The other way is spending money on the tablets in the chemist. No matter how Nordic and cool the name is it's the same stuff, only dearer.

Howjoe1

squod wrote: »

http://www.livestrong.com/article/291967-green-tea-and-cla-for-weight-loss/

have you had success with it?

Is the CLA in the Green Tea? in otherwords do I just need to purchase green tea from supermarket to have all the ingredients.

Chancer3001

i disagree that muscle gain is done in the kitchen.

Weight loss certainly is though. As good as green tea etc are, its all about reducing calorie intake. Weight lifting is going to burn a lot of calories too, and use more calories in repair...

squod

Howjoe1 wrote: »

have you had success with it?

Is the CLA in the Green Tea? in otherwords do I just need to purchase green tea from supermarket to have all the ingredients.

Yep. Supermarket is fine.

Mike87

Chancer3001 wrote: »

i disagree that muscle gain is done in the kitchen.

What makes you think that?

Liam90

Chancer3001 wrote: »

i disagree that muscle gain is done in the kitchen.

You are oh so very wrong then...

christmas2012

weights can bulk you up even more..

rugbyman

Einhard,

i am now five months going to the gym, on average three days a week.
Have not lost a kilo, but have moved in two notches on my belt, wear trousers that could not fit in Jan.
Feeling Great. By the way i should have started with , I am 60 years old and around 119 kgs ,dressed

generally watch my food intake ,but often break out, like fish and chips , or on rare occasions, six to ten drinks, porridge most mornings, rarely drink water ,though I know I should
if I keep this up ,i wont be quite a lean, mean ,fighting machine by Christmas , but hope to be a stone down.

Regards Rugbyman

i am told , and my friends laugh at the idea, but i have been busy changing fat into muscle!

Chancer3001

muscle gain is NOT done in the kitchen.

if you do not lift weights you will not get big muscles. regardless of what you eat.

Burkatron

Chancer3001 wrote: »

muscle gain is NOT done in the kitchen.

if you do not lift weights you will not get big muscles. regardless of what you eat.

But you WONT gain much if any muscle without eating either! You need to be in a calorie surplus to make significant gains, muscle isn't made out of just lifting!

Chancer3001

Yeah. they are totally linked.

So saying muscle gain is not done in the kitchen is true.

Its the gym first then the kitchen,

Whereas weight loss can be entirely the kitchen, you dont "need" exercise.

Liam90

Chancer3001 wrote: »

Yeah. they are totally linked.

So saying muscle gain is not done in the kitchen is true.

Its the gym first then the kitchen,

Whereas weight loss can be entirely the kitchen, you dont "need" exercise.

Again wrong.

priorities for bodybuilding imo are:

1) Nutrition and Sleep
2) Training

All three are very important and you need all of them however for bodybuilding nutrition and sleep is more important than training.

Mike87

Look lets not get sidetracked from the topic at hand.

Chancer, you are just getting pinickity about wording here. Yes, you are right in what your saying, that muscle gain wont happen without training. But at the same time it wont happen with the wrong foods either. You need both of them. If you want to argue about which is the most important then start a new thread.

Chancer3001

lets not get sidetracked from the topic at hand

agreed.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

Einhard

Thanks for the replies people.

What exactly is this thing bout green tea?