Heavy lifting to lose weight...

[Xanwolf1337]

Hey guys, i used powerlifting for quite some time, so i know my way around a few weights. However when i was doing this i always always bulking up, so im not too sure on the weight loss side of things.

But i stopped and basically gained quite alot of weight (dam takeaways lol) but i really want to lose this, however i was wondering if it is possible for me to lose it through lifting heavy (like i did when i was powerlifting) and maybe doing a little cardio if i feel upto it?

Just to note, in the past year my asthma has been very bad and the doctor gave me a stronger inhaler, so lots and lots of cardio isnt really a option . Also i can go to the gym to train anytime i want for free as my brother manages 2 different ones so i get in for free .

Also is there any powerlifters on here?

As i was wondering, how do you go about training on your own with the bench etc, as my old trainer has moved house and i unfortunately dont know where he lives.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Hey guys, i used powerlifting for quite some time, so i know my way around a few weights. However when i was doing this i always always bulking up, so im not too sure on the weight loss side of things.

But i stopped and basically gained quite alot of weight (dam takeaways lol) but i really want to lose this, however i was wondering if it is possible for me to lose it through lifting heavy (like i did when i was powerlifting) and maybe doing a little cardio if i feel upto it?

Just to note, in the past year my asthma has been very bad and the doctor gave me a stronger inhaler, so lots and lots of cardio isnt really a option . Also i can go to the gym to train anytime i want for free as my brother manages 2 different ones so i get in for free .

Also is there any powerlifters on here?

As i was wondering, how do you go about training on your own with the bench etc, as my old trainer has moved house and i unfortunately dont know where he lives.

While you're young, those heavy weights, damn they're tempting, squats, really heavy great rush--but when the body finally answers, and it will, does a ruptured disk, nerve damage, etc., really make it worth the price?  If I had the last 30+ years to do over, less heavy, loads more cardio, and I really would have liked to have tried a half iron man.  Think on this dude, you still have time, and a back.   Fortunately my back surgeries, 2 in 2001, left me with no pain, but no chance to ever try that again.
Also, when you're lifting heavy, the calories are taken care of, but when you stop, you also have to stop chewing--that's a real disconnect--and not a fun one if you really like food, and have good, tasty food available.

[Razor X]

As i was wondering, how do you go about training on your own with the bench etc, as my old trainer has moved house and i unfortunately dont know where he lives.

If you don't have someone to spot you, then put a flat bench under a counterbalanced Smith machine.  It's not quite as effective as free weights, but it's safer.  You may be able to put a little more weight on it than you would with a free barbell, to compensate.

[Xanwolf1337]

Cheers for the replies guys, i know what you mean about stopping eating when you stop lifting, i think thats also one of the reasons i put on so much weight xD.

Hopefully i'll get to the gym today at some point and try abit of cardio to see how my asthma takes it, and take it slow and do a few weights.

Hopefully if i manage to lose some weight that i'm carrying, my asthma might ease of.

I'll post back later on and let you guys know how it goes .

[baldtribesman]

From my understanding having a lot of muscle tissue gives you a metabolic advantage because (and I am not saying to soley rely on this) having a high percentage of muscle you are burning calories even when you are not training, while your sleeping.  The other fact if you combine weight training with only eating good carbs (no white bread, no regular potatoes, etc) and eating good fats, and eating high protein foods like chicken or fish, baked not fried, and get your phytonutrients from green leafy vegetables like spinach.

The last thing I know from my understanding of working out is that, if you do very heavy weights but low number of reps, you will build bulk and not that much definition, however the opposite is true if you do lower weights but a high number of reps, you will tone up and get high definition instead of the other situation.

I am interested in this stuff because I am coming back to the gym after a 10 year break, so if what i said above is not accurate let me know.

Fred Man

[fcb2001]

iam thinking of going back to the gym to do lifting, but i have to get under 200 before i set foot in the gym, iam concerned about altitude, iam at almost 5000 feet above sea level,

[Xanwolf1337]

Hey guys, thought i'd update, i didnt manage to get to the gym yesterday (my brother was'nt working). But he's booking me in to be taken around the gym on friday .

But i started my diet yesterday and did few sets of weights with some dumbbells i have, but to be honest they do seem very light, even when all the weights are on lol.

[TheBaldAndBeautiful]

From my understanding having a lot of muscle tissue gives you a metabolic advantage because (and I am not saying to soley rely on this) having a high percentage of muscle you are burning calories even when you are not training, while your sleeping.  The other fact if you combine weight training with only eating good carbs (no white bread, no regular potatoes, etc) and eating good fats, and eating high protein foods like chicken or fish, baked not fried, and get your phytonutrients from green leafy vegetables like spinach.

The last thing I know from my understanding of working out is that, if you do very heavy weights but low number of reps, you will build bulk and not that much definition, however the opposite is true if you do lower weights but a high number of reps, you will tone up and get high definition instead of the other situation.

I am interested in this stuff because I am coming back to the gym after a 10 year break, so if what i said above is not accurate let me know.

Fred Man

From my understanding having a lot of muscle tissue gives you a metabolic advantage because (and I am not saying to soley rely on this) having a high percentage of muscle you are burning calories even when you are not training, while your sleeping.  The other fact if you combine weight training with only eating good carbs (no white bread, no regular potatoes, etc) and eating good fats, and eating high protein foods like chicken or fish, baked not fried, and get your phytonutrients from green leafy vegetables like spinach.

The last thing I know from my understanding of working out is that, if you do very heavy weights but low number of reps, you will build bulk and not that much definition, however the opposite is true if you do lower weights but a high number of reps, you will tone up and get high definition instead of the other situation.

I am interested in this stuff because I am coming back to the gym after a 10 year break, so if what i said above is not accurate let me know.

Fred Man

Well, doesn't definition come from a low-percentage of body-fat?  Everything else is true, but the tone--low weight high-rep thing just seems like a myth to me.

[Razor X]

Well, doesn't definition come from a low-percentage of body-fat?  Everything else is true, but the tone--low weight high-rep thing just seems like a myth to me.

Definition doesn't come from low body fat alone, otherwise every bulimic in the world would look ripped.  Lower weight combined with more reps provides tone without adding bulk.

[ManCaveMilitia]

I'm getting ready to start dropping the extra weight I am carrying. I've had it for years, and I have no health related issues from it, but I want to keep it that way. I'm planning on lifting free weights to build some mass and increase my resting metabolism, and swimming laps for cardio as it's far less stressful on the joins than jogging.

I have read in many places about lower weight and higher reps for toning, but I think I need to bulk up some in addition. I'm starting on Tuesday morning the day after I finish my degree and am free from ever returning to school again.

[Xanwolf1337]

Hey guys, good news since i made the 1st post in this thread i've lost 1/2 a stone =). I've just been doing 50/50 of cardio and weights and keeping check on the amount i eat and eating alot healthy things than i did before .

Also what makes the gym even better, theres lots of nice women who train there too .

[baldtribesman]

ExanWolf thats very encouraging thanks, I have extra motivation now.

Fred Man

[RyanJP]

I myself am big on powerlifting/full body workouts and there are many reasons why and I don't bench because I don't like the bench and I have a bad shoulder due to a bad spotter, I'm also not a fan of bench because everyone I know seems to measure there overall strength on how much they can bench and that Monday at the gym is always bench day....good for you 

I love hitting the squat rack and In the last year I've lost 30 pounds and I'm stronger due to throwing it in.

[BillOnBass]

I think of nutrition and working out basically the same way Baldtribesman does.  

The past 7 months or so I've been trying to gain some muscle and mass.  Since I hadn't habitually worked out since my junior year of college, I eased back into the routine the first month: full body, 1-set, high rep workouts 3 days a week.  

After that I went on to a more strenuous muscle building program:  chest, back, arms, and shoulders on Monday and Thursday, and legs and abs on Tuesday and Friday. 1 set of each exercise, higher weights, lower reps.  Wednesday was an off day.  Resting your muscles is just as important for building them as the actual working out part.

The past month I've switched to a circuit-style program to trim up a little while retaining most of the muscle I've built:  run on the treadmill 3-5 days a week, 1 mile (though I need to run 2 or 3 probably) OR stationary cycle about 7-8 miles.  After running I'll concentrate on upper body weightlifting, same deal: higher weights, lower reps.
  
As far as heavy lifting to lose weight, I can't say if it would work for most of us.  Losing weight is pretty basic:  if you expend more calories than you consume, you lose weight.  But after a hard day of lifting the first thing I want to do is devour food, and lots of it.

Really, nutrition is THE key to losing weight.  Since you have asthma, maybe try a stationary cycle or elliptical for cardio as they might be less taxing than running or swimming or something.  Try concentrating on eating better, as I'm sure most of us could start doing, including myself.

[Xanwolf1337]

Ahh yes, alot of people always say "what do you bench then". I do like the bench but even back when i was powerlifting it wasnt my strongest point. My strong point my legs and biceps (or they used to be lol). My favourite workout was doing the biceps mainly because of the burn .

Is the thing i hear about muscles retaining memory true? I've read that when you start training again your muscles build up faster in comparison to when you first started doing weights.

Yup, i've been working on the cycles Bill, although i was thinking of getting my old bike out again, mainly to encourage me to do more cardio as my asthma does'nt seem to be as bad as i thought. But the only problem i feel i have now is that i know i was once capable of more, so when i do weights etc i tend to push myself too much, which forces me to stop and have a rest.

Hopefully i can get another 1/2 stone lost soon .

Should be pretty easy as i have my last uni exam tomorrow...so i have quite alot of spare time .