Is it necessary in order to lose weight?

necessary? .... no

I guess I should be more specific. What are the positive effects of weights in regards to losing weight?

As a guy that desperately needs to lose weight I asked the same question in other words when I came onto traineo - the answer?

Add muscle, the muscle helps burn the fat. I work out every day, alternating cardio/weight training every other day. Somehow I don't feel like a know-it-all YET, but the numbers are there - I've lost 16.4 kg (a little over 36 lbs) in 25 days, so I must be doing SOMETHING right, no?

Yes

Lean mass is everything!!

You are your lean mass and that is what really counts. The number on the scale can be very misleading, as can weight loss and weight gain. To the uneducated they are merely numbers that either go up or go down.

Lean mass is your quality of life. Lean mass is your health. Lean mass keeps you youthful as your age continues to climb. Lean mass makes you look sexy. Lean mass makes you feel good. Lean mass protects your organs and gives you posture. I can go on......

It's ALL about lean mass

I was hoping you'd reply here Dean - your tips have been some of the best I've gotten!

Thanks for your kind words Spyke, I am really juiced by your goals and your commitment to succeed also. This site gives me a lot, in a multitude of ways, and i am glad that every now and again I can pass that on and help somebody else out.

If you ever want to ask my opinion directly you're all welcome to contact me and ask.

But beware if you do, cos I may just give it to you. Ha ha

Keep up the intensity

Hmm, I should have warned you before you made that offer - I'm likely to do just that!!



No beware needed - the intensity is high enough that I'm now willing to do ANYTHING, and I'd rather suffer with your opinion than suffer doing things wrong and NOT getting healthier ;)

Can't wait to hear from you.

Keep it up!!

Looks like I need to weight train more. Ive only been doing it 2 days a week with 6 days cardio....

I always think of the lean mass as you, and the fat as a kind of suit that goes over the top. I don't associate the person with that fat, cos it is literally what it is, a suit over the top.

At this point you got 2 choices. Do you concentrate on building YOU? or do you spend all day associating yourself with something that literally sits over the top of you?

True, to see the six pack we got to work out how to shed this suit, but I'll be honest with you. Healthy bodies don't need these suits, and as a result when your lean mass kicks in it will reveal itself.

Don't get me wrong, I still do cardio and I enjoy it. However, the muscle is where the quality is, and often by focusing on cutting calories, and sweating a bit more we are starving us and not shedding the suit. Feed the beast, and it will get itself out of the cage!!

Great advice Dean. I just need to find a routine...

You sound like you have already started. Twice a week is enough to begin seeing the benefits.

Apart from that just follow the same old basics. Concentrate on powerlifting moves and exercises that require bigger weights. Bench Press, Squat, Deadlift, Bar-Bell rows blah blah. Yes, it will require a commitment and dedication to learning technique but thats cool, we're training to be winners so nothing else matters.

If you need to pick up the ken and barbie weights to do the exercise then question if you really need to do the exercise at all. Focus on quality and intensity and leave all the other machines and bitty exercises to everyone else. No need to re-invent the wheel. One bar-bell, one set of dumb-bells, one bench and we have more than enough to take over the world!!

Or am I just getting over excited!! Love it!!

If you're not sure about a routine, just put it out to the traineo community. There are some great minds here and I know they will all support you all the way.

Great words of wisdom Dean. During the 1st part of my weight loss journey I was all about the #'s on the scale. As I progressed, I realized that the #s weren't everything. I do kickboxing 3 times a week and cardio 2 times a week. I notice that my weight is lower after cardio days and higher after kickboxing days. However, kickboxing is what gives me definition and cardio produces weight loss. So I can live with the higher #s, knowing that I'm giving myself well-rounded workouts.