You can't build muscle with a deficit, so why am I lifting weights?

I know there has to be a reason!  Am I doing it to keep the muscle I have?  To burn fat?  I have always included weight and resistance exercises in my workouts and am trying to have a deficit every day to lose some weight (15-20lbs) and was wondering what the purpose of my lifting was! 

Thanks!

yogagirl, thanks for the compliments! But it's hard to see in the other pictures, check the new one. Again I'm not huge but my upper body is starting to look like Kelly Ripa or Madonna. I have mixed feelings about that look, I don't hate it but it's also not the most feminine. I'm not there yet, it's still good but I just don't know how to proceed. Should I keep increasing the weight or the reps? Any ideas?

 YOU LOOK AWESOME!!!!!   I want it!  Spell out what you have been eating/doing because that is an awesome change in a couple months!

Original Post by karozel:

Well, if that's you in the picture.  I would *love* to have shoulders and arms like that!

Unless you are continuing to lose weight and your measurements are getting bigger I doubt you are adding much muscle.  It's just being revealed in all it's glory. 

Very well done!!!

 Thanks! Of course it's me, it's hardly a point if I just put someone else's pic.  Could you switch muscle for fat and still keep the same measurements? You gave an idea, measure the biceps contracted and compare in a month or two to be more accurate.

Anyways, if these muscles are already there, strip naked I'm gorgeous! Fat and skin striped that is. Ha ha. Bottom line, strength training is very important, building up or not. I love what viperman7 said, it's all about losing fat not necessarily weight. Throwing the scale out the window, it refuses to let me out of the 160s.

mcoll3, do look for melkor fitness tips. It was actually him that opened my eyes for the numerous sets and reps I was doing. I do 3 sets of 10-12 and the last one of the set should be really hard. Rest between sets (30-60secs). When the last one becomes a breeze I increase the weight 10lbs and reduce the number of reps. But do refer to melkor as I'm no expert and just learning myself.

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

 YOU LOOK AWESOME!!!!!   I want it!  Spell out what you have been eating/doing because that is an awesome change in a couple months!

 THANKS!!!!! Well as I said it was hardly in a couple of months but in March/April I started to drink whey protein mixed in Light soy milk. I use the one from Walmart from Body Fortress - Super advanced whey protein. I only drink when I do strength and right after it. Just there is 32g of protein. And I'm trying hard to eat more proteins and not less than 1800 cal a day. And I do increase the weight not the reps from time to time to keep putting some stress on the muscles. I use the Lifefitness weight machines at the gym, but most body builders recommend doing free weights as you use more muscles to keep balance. The New rules of Lifting for women (NROLFW) is a good book to start. But if I could just give one tip for upper body strength I'd say: push ups! I had a noticeable increase or definition (whatever your belief) when I was doing the 100 push up challenge (hundredpushups.com). I did only for 4 weeks but what a difference! I do push ups from time to time. I like Jillian Michael's 30 day shred, it can get repetitive but the strength part of each circuit is awesome.

Original Post by healthmd:

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

 YOU LOOK AWESOME!!!!!   I want it!  Spell out what you have been eating/doing because that is an awesome change in a couple months!

 THANKS!!!!! Well as I said it was hardly in a couple of months but in March/April I started to drink whey protein mixed in Light soy milk. I use the one from Walmart from Body Fortress - Super advanced whey protein. I only drink when I do strength and right after it. Just there is 32g of protein. And I'm trying hard to eat more proteins and not less than 1800 cal a day. And I do increase the weight not the reps from time to time to keep putting some stress on the muscles. I use the Lifefitness weight machines at the gym, but most body builders recommend doing free weights as you use more muscles to keep balance. The New rules of Lifting for women (NROLFW) is a good book to start. But if I could just give one tip for upper body strength I'd say: push ups! I had a noticeable increase or definition (whatever your belief) when I was doing the 100 push up challenge (hundredpushups.com). I did only for 4 weeks but what a difference! I do push ups from time to time. I like Jillian Michael's 30 day shred, it can get repetitive but the strength part of each circuit is awesome.

Thanks - I have done NROLFW front to back and am now doing NROL.  I have seen some added muscle, but i want/need more!  The rest of my body is pretty low in fat, but my arms likes to hang on to it.  I probably just need to lose a little more fat!  I may try the pushup stuff!  Congrats on your progress! 

Original Post by yogagirl6853:

Thanks - I have done NROLFW front to back and am now doing NROL.  I have seen some added muscle, but i want/need more!  The rest of my body is pretty low in fat, but my arms likes to hang on to it.  I probably just need to lose a little more fat!  I may try the pushup stuff!  Congrats on your progress! 

 Don't you just love when the body "hangs" to fat despite all your efforts? You're lucky if you have that just on the arms. I have islands of fat everywhere, arms, back, belly and the worse, tighs. I've looked everywhere for a solution and keep getting the same answer: you cannot spot reduce. Argh! I kind of gave up on spot reducing and decided to just keep on doing what I'm doing, maybe it'll improve and it has. I guess I have to pay for the years of neglect to my body, but cannot complain, I'm very happy where I am right now. The pushup is fun, try it. Good luck!

You are doing Great!  So you should be happy!  I guess, so should I....  A couple years ago, I was a smoker, a non-exerciser.  Yeah- I pretty much ate anything I wanted without gaining weight, but I was a perfect example of skinny-fat.  I look much better now!

Keep up the great work and I wouldn't change a thing if I were you!

A very inspiring thread!!  I don't normally do this but everyone was raving about you Healthmd so I peeked at your pics.  Wow, what an awesome transformation in such a short time.  You have done a fabulous job and what a great example and inspiration you must be to those around you!!!  Your enthusiasm and excitement just leaps off the page here...lol.   And I agree, you look fabulous!!!  I love these success story threads!!! 

From experience I know it's tough to build much muscle while losing weight, because of the calorie deficit.  Basically it takes calories to build muscle, and if you are lifting weights your metabolism increases, your calories burned increases, so on top of already having a calorie deficit, there just aren't enough calories to go around to build any significant muscle.  You do build some, they do get much harder, they feel better, you feel stronger so it's all worth it of course, but to build large amounts of muscle you need to monitor your eating habits, get lots of protein and have a calorie surplus.   Focus on losing the weight first, through some cardio and weights, and then focus on building more muscle if you still have that desire when you get to your goal weight. 

Thanks Johnny! But it's not in a short time, it's been 14 months with consistent eating and exercising. And forgiving the bad days. I'm definitely focusing on the weight loss and I feel fine with the muscles I have now, I don't think I want any more increase, just maintenance. Thanks again for the words of encouragement and advice!