OK, this time when I lost weight I have noticed that at 198 pounds I look more like I did when I was 180.

Is that becuase I am lifting some and exercising to lose weight instead of just dieting this time to lose the weight? I notice I am getting very toned already too, despite still weighing about 198 at 5'8".

Has anyone else noticed this happening? Like I think I heard of someone weighting in the 160's and being able to wear a size 6! Does this really happen?

Hi kierr!

I walk, do cardio, and also do weight training. I also do yoga. All these except walking are new to me in the last year. I had dieted before but never really exercised other than run after my two boys and play with them (swim, baseball, basketball, ride bikes etc.). After reading a lot about diet vs. diet PLUS exercise, I knew that the exercise piece was what I needed to do to get these accumulated pounds OFF!

I DEFINITELY agree with you that exercise/weight lifting allows you to look MUCH smaller than just dieting alone! I also have been able to lower my BMI considerably since I have been doing all the exercise. I have come down four sizes since I lost the fifty pounds. At this rate, by the time I lose my last fifty pounds, I SHOULD be down another four sizes. That would place me two sizes SMALLER than I wore at my wedding but the SAME WEIGHT as I was at my wedding. (My goal is to weigh what I weighed at my own wedding on my oldest son's wedding day next August.)

Now I know that there have been some changes in cut and size of clothing over the years, and what WAS a size 10 years ago may not be what a size 10 is today. Regardless of all that, I truly believe that I have gotten more firm and actually take up less space on the planet because of my exercise routine. Weights have helped as well as the other activities. I wish I would have incorporated more exercise into my daily plan sooner, but I guess it's not to late to teach an old dog a few new "tricks!"

Good luck on your plan! Sounds like it's a good one!

Cheryl

Hi Kierr, congrats on your loss! I am about your size to start, and when I got down to 190 b/w baby 1 and 2, I was wearing a 12/14, so using a rule of approx. 1 size down for every 10 lbs lost, yes, I think the example you gave would be realistic. I was walking a TON on my last venture, plus circuit training, and making good eating choices (altho I would not call it clean, bc I still went out to eat and had my favorites foods, but in moderation). This time I am using a freeweight routine and working every major muscle group instead of just some, so I am really excited to see what size I will be by the time I get back down to your size again.

Absolutely! When I first hit my goal weight almost 5 years ago, I was doing a lot of cardio, circuit training, and playing tennis. I was thrilled with the number on the scale, but not quite as thrilled with the body I saw in the mirror. I wore between a size 6 and 8. A friend introduced me to a bodybuilder and personal trainer. When I started with him, my body was 27% fat. Three months of HEAVY weight training, continued good nutrition and cardio, and my body fat was 20%, my scale weight the SAME, and I fit comfortably into size 4 jeans. Years of continuing the lifestyle have given me more muscle, less fat, a lower body fat %, and a lower number on the scale.

Why? an equivalent poundage of muscle takes up less space than the same poundage of fat. Muscle isn't "heavier" than fat- it just takes up less space.

Mel

i was watching FitDoctor the other day on Fit channel and he had in one hand what was equal to 5 lbs of fat and in the other 5 lbs of muscle. i couldnt believe the difference in size of the two replicas!!!! i was like holy cow batman!!

oh and sorry for jumping in...but i just recently started back on weight lifting and have been nosing around in here!!! HI!!

Hi JuneBug! Isn't it amazing? Have you ever seen this pic of five pounds of fat and five pounds of muscle?



Kinda makes me want to go work out!

Ah, you beat me to it, Meg! I was trying to post that

Mel

thats EXACTLY what that doctor was holding up!!!

its completely crazy!!!

Thanks for the replies! So I am not crazy, at least not about this! I'll keep hitting the weights!

Mel, could you elaborate on what you did to lose 7% bodyfat in three months? How heavy is HEAVY?

I've been a bit disappointed with my body fat reduction since I started working seriously on weight lifting (only a bit over 1% in over 6 months). Should one get to goal weight (I've got 6 lbs. to make my "high" weight goal, but 14 for my desired goal of 100 lbs. lost) before worrying about body fat reduction? I work with a trainer, and since my principal goals were to lose the weight and get stronger, maybe it's time to re-evaluate where I want to be. When I discovered how much my trainer weighs, I was pretty floored. She looks so tiny in her clothes, and she said most people think she weighs about 110 lbs., but she weighs 136.