Strength training or weight loss.

[bearboy1988]

Hey everyone, I have started going back to the gym since I have hit my heaviest. There is a debate that I am trying to figure out. If I am wanting to strength train ( I'm not trying to have a certain physique I'm just looking to get bigger muscles and strength), then should I be trying to lose weight first by only doing cardio or weight lifting with a bit of cardio on the side?

[bRobertson]

If you're trying to build strength, then cardio is not going to make progress towards your goal - and, in fact, may impede it due to increased cortisol levels. Why would you worry about losing weight if you're not, in fact, trying to achieve a given body composition?

[Ender]

"Weight Loss" is not really most peoples goal is!! What people desire is FAT Loss. And to frame this in a more precise way... They want to decrease their percent of Body Fat to Lean Tissue to a minimum.

So you can either try to lose fat which your body has been design to prevent as a result of the many thousands of years our ancestors spent trying not to starve death as hunter gatherers. Or you can try increase the muscle mass of your body. Having a lot of muscle mass will cause your body to burn more calories all the time. But a maintaining a lot of muscle is a heavy drain on your body's resouces... An if you don't continue to engage in the activity that forced your body to gain the extra muscle your body will the muscle you worked so hard to gain...

So you need to build muscle and watch your diet so as not to ad excessive amount of fat as you build muscle... And remember you will only keep the lean muscular body you can build is the continue the program that give you that body for the rest of your live...

[inm]

What Ender said. fat loss is done in the kitchen. Strength training makes the weight loss created in the kitchen be from fat, so you maintain your muscle.

So none of that "low weight, high reps for cutting" nonsense, either. do a bit of cardio only to create a larger calorie deficit, if required.

[Ender]

Thanks... I frequently get get too deep in details... I also missed making the point that the whole process is a journey not a destination.

If you don't work to maintain your new body you will go back to what you had to start with.