Weight training & CD....

geri:

There are no non-surgical methods for losing weight in a specific place. You just have to lose weight and eventually the belly will go away.

But any form of weight training will increase your metabolism and help you lose fat. There's another old myth that a pound of fat burns no calories but a bound of muscle burns 100 calories a day. That's false (there are studies that sorta show that, but it's only true for the first three pounds of muscle you gain), but lifting weights does raise your metabolism, even for hours after your workout. Another important thing is that dieting makes you lose fat and muscle, but weight training will really help you keep the muscle (and even build muscle if you're getting enough protein) while you lose fat.

The bottom line to losing fat is burning more calories than you eat. Building muscle will increase your metabolism and make that easier, and it'll make you look better, and it'll hide fat by making your stomach flatter and your whole physique firmer. Doing aerobic/cardio exercise will of course raise your metabolism while you're doing it, and it'll build some muscle and make you live longer and feel better. But just eating less is by far the most effective way to lose weight.

Here's a kinda sad example. Last year I was sick for 10 days straight. I almost never get sick, and I had a horrible case of the flu. I had almost nothing but Gatorade for a week. I went from around 195-200 lbs. down to 177. And I really had awesome abs at the end of that!

I know it's inconvenient (I'd much rather skip breakfast and have a big lunch/dinner), but if you eat several small meals it's really easy to eat less calories. Your stomach will shrink and you'll get full easier. It's like your own mini gastric bypass. And eating big meals is really bad, because you can only metabolize so much. Once you replenish your energy, most of the rest of that meal gets turned to fat. It's much more complicated than that, and there's also important stuff to look at with regard to spiking your insulin with certain foods, but eating a bunch of smaller meals really helps.

Ok, I'll jump in. I train daily. I have successfully used a combination of cardio (running, elliptical and jump rope) and a hi-rep/lo-weight routine to go from about 220 + pounds to 188 over the course of a few months. I restrict the lightweight stuff to the upper body. The legs do the heavy lifting--I lead off with squats, incline leg press, leg curls and the hip abductor machine. (I believe I am among the few here who think bulking up the bottom half can create a more femme appearance. I still use a bit of hip padding, but I let my backside go au natural when en femme) I then get the cardio going with the jump rope. Then I go for 40-50 minutes on the elliptical machine and try to kill at least 600-700 calories. After that, I hit the sauna, which has no real weight loss benefit, but it sure feels good.

Also, remember to do your weight training prior to your cardio if you are going to combine the two. To burn fat during your cardio workout, you have to be in an aerobic state-- be able to breathe that is, as the body needs the oxygen to burn the fat. If you're in an anaerobic state, your body will still burn calories, but it will use sugars and carbs, not the fat. Post workout eating is also a must. Have a meal within 45 minutes or so after your gym time. Small meals throughout the day also help keep you trim.

Cheers,


Jill

I train with weights ... dumbells at home and on occasion hit the gym.

But ... my experience won't be much help. I tend towards being an ectomorph. I can bulk up some, but not enough to make me unpassably muscular.

My pecs are now getting enough definition to look good in either mode. :heehee:

I am like Ms Kingston above, I do ballet and some free weight training, concentrating on abdominal and legs, the largest muscle groups. I don't do anything in the shoulders/arms. Seems to be working, lost 30+ lbs in 2 years and waist from 34 to a 31.

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Originally Posted by DonnaT

I also swim, which helps avoid the bulking up.

A CDing friend of mine holds several world records in power lifting, yet she isn't bulky. Probably because she doesn't do a lot of reps with the heavy weights. So it's possible to gain strength without bulking up.

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I found swimming helped me achive the best look for CDing. Only problem is the gym was so crowded I had to wait for a lane...switched to a gym with less customers but no pool.

I never lifted weights but did tons of cardo and swimming when I really had a figure going on. Fell off the wagon but back at it again.:Angry3: