[losinginillinois]

Hello Ladies!
I would first like to say I lurk over here sometimes to see how you all are doing or what you have to say. It is very informative and there are a lot of people that know there stuff. I am interested in lifting at some point in my program. I right now can't afford equipment or a gym. Not to mention that dh and I work opposite shifts, so I have the kids in the am. My goal is to try by the fall to get a pass to the Y. I am hoping to have a different job by then ect... I guess my point is do you think that I will get the best results waiting until after I have lost some more weight? I have currently lost 28lbs. But I am feeling rather flabby. That is why I know I want to definately tone before this all said and done. I have been doing either walking or Walk Away the pounds 2-4miles a day. Also it seems like you have to eat a lot more food then I am currently eating for lifting. I am not starving myself but I only eat when I am hungry. I was an enourmous eater before and now I find it takes a lot less to satisfy me. I am a little afraid of the mandatory snacks. Okay I guess that is enought questions for now.

Beth

[Mindi]

hey Beth in IL! Hi from Iowa. *S*

You don't need expensive equipment to lift now, you have it right in your house! Cans, jugs of milk, heavy books, anything that gives you some resistance! You can do squats and lunges and hamstring curls w/nothing but your own body resistance, as you get stronger you may want to invest in some dumbells. Go slow and work your way up but do NOT wait on the strength training!

Weight training, along w/good nutrition, is the KEY to fat loss and good health. You don't need to be a gym person either, you just need to get started. We'll help and welcome!

[3fcuser1058250]

Welcome Beth!!

Don't wait why wait for Spring, DO IT now!!

As Mindi said us cans and stuff at home, even the kids can make great weights depending on how old they are....

Don't be afraid of food, specially good, clean, unprocessed foods...Food is your friend....

[MrsJim]

Hey there Beth!!!

I'll tell you something - if I could go back 12 years to when I was 265 pounds (not that I would want to!!!) I would have started lifting weights back then, most definitely! If you don't have access to a gym - do like these two smart ladies say and find stuff at home to lift. (Krista Scott Dixon's Stumptous website has a whole page on lifting at home, titled "No Weights? No Problem!" at http://www.stumptuous.com/noweights.html ) You also have your own body weight - pushups, crunches, bench dips etc. etc. are great too!

And whatcha need to do is not think of the meals as 'mandatory snacks' - they're meals. The trick is to keep a steady stream of clean nourishment going through your system...once your bod gets used to the every 2-3 hour small meals, it becomes second nature!

And BTW - WELCOME to the Ladies Who Lift!!!

[Jamie (fitnessqueen)]

These ladies are all 100% correct! If you continue to try and lose weight without weight training you will also lose muscle mass along with fat and this will slow down your metabolism. This is what happens when people do too much cardio, skip weight training and eat too little. Weight training is key to changing your body and will also rev your metabolism up so you can eat more.
You can do alot of exercises at home without expensive equipment so do not wait! You may want to pick up a weight training book (something like Body for Life or Body Rx) that will help you with nutrition and weight training.
Also please come back here and post often!

[shelbyw]

Yes! And while you may not see the scale number change too drastically, you will definitely see a difference in the way your clothes fit and the way you look.

Go for it!

[Meg]

Hi Beth! I started lifting weights when I weighed 257 pounds. I KNOW -- beyond the shadow of a doubt -- that I would not have lost, and kept off 125 pounds if I had not lifted from the beginning and done it as intensely as possible.

Building those muscles will help the fat come off. And just wait until the muscles start to show up as the fat melts away!

And don't worry about not being hungry ... it's not a problem for most of us (quite the contrary!) As you build muscle and your metabolism speeds up, you will look forward to every meal!

Please join us in posting and let us know how you are doing!

Meg

[losinginillinois]

Thanks for all the responses ladies. I think I will check out that website and I actually do have a Weightlifting for dummies tape I never even looked at yet. I just got into the walking and really like it and have a hard time switching gears. I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks again!
Beth