lifting weights for weight loss

if i lift weights 3 times a week and the only cardio i do is walking and i mean minimal walking, will this still work?  there's been a lot of articles on supporting weight training for weight loss because it burns fat better than cardio, but i'm confused.  is it because the toning and increase in muscle mass that burns fat? or is it because it raises the metabolism?

Original Post by amethystgirl:

Actually, spiro is a pretty avid runner in addition to her weight lifting, and floggingsully, another lifter on this site, does triathlons.

My point is that in every paragraph of your verrrry long post, you talk about how important endurance is for certain activities. No question that if you are doing martial arts or swimming or running or anything like that, you need endurance. But the original post was about weight loss, not performing certain activities, and weight training with heavy weights is good for that. That's not saying that endurance training doesn't have its uses, but instead of going on a diatribe about how endurance is more practical, try considering the goals of the original poster, not your goals.

I am actually considering her goals. And I am doing so with alacrity and precision, not trying to convert anyone, just adding some possible alternative perspective here. To say that endurance training 'has its uses' is kind of a condescending statement, in all honesty. I don't think I have sounded as condescending once. I never once said ' strength training has its uses' as if to say that it is complete **** outside those uses. You have basically just implied that, outside its uses, endurance training is essentially useless. Which is a fallacious approach to all around physical health. 

Original Post by melkor:

*sigh*
 
 You've really lost track of where you were going with this, haven't you?

 Why the 40lbs limit? Is that going to work the same for a 97lbs 17-year old girl as it is for me? Why resistance bands with their resistance profiles that do not mimic any functional strength need in your daily life?

 Why is what professional athletes on more drugs than any three pharmacies stock relevant to the discussion of how the average person should train?

The relevance comes into play when you consider ability to circumvent obstacles in any training regiment. The 40 pound dumbell limit was an example, I don't think the 97 pound 17 year old girl is going to be lifting the 40 pound dumbell more than a couple of times, till s/he builds the mass that can support the weight of those dumbells relative to her back and bone density. 

You, on the other hand, will get more endurance out of lifting a set of 40 pound dumbells 25 times in a row than you will get from lifting a set of 80 pound dumbells 10 times in a row, even though it will not make you bigger. And so on and so forth. I have seen guys who can throw a 500 pound washing machines 15 feet across the air, they apparently had the body weight to do this. But this does not mean they can jump a rope for an hour, or jog 10 miles, or even have use in practical scenarios. 

The common theme I am introducing here is that there is a practical alternative to heavy weight lifting, which is endurance exercises. The latter give you a better cardio disposition during practical situations. Think, if you are a fireman, for example, and you have to race up and down stares all day long. Some strength will definitely be required to perform this exercise, but endurance will be your primary ally. If you are a 270 pound muscle man, the extra weight might hinder the performance of your job as opposed to enhance it.  

I am basically saying that, in addition to its fat loss ability, endurance exercise can grant you another very important gift that is of very practical usage. The gift of getting through lifes obstacles with endurance, both psychologically and physically. 

Original Post by nameless_shape_shifter:

This means that exercises, in time, will be performed with more adaptability resistance through endurance training, which can make it just as hard, and even harder, in several ways, than lifting 200 pound barbells 10 times in a row.

 Now your just making words up.

Original Post by nameless_shape_shifter:

The relevance comes into play when you consider ability to circumvent obstacles in any training regiment. The 40 pound dumbell limit was an example, I don't think the 97 pound 17 year old girl is going to be lifting the 40 pound dumbell more than a couple of times, till s/he builds the mass that can support the weight of those dumbells relative to her back and bone density. 

 Um, the 97 lb, 17 year old girl I think Melkor is refering to is state champion power-lifter and deadlifts something like 2 and a half times her weight, so I'm pretty sure that she's got plenty of strength to supprot those dumbells and the 40lbs limit that you claim is all that is necessary for anyone would be pretty worthless for her just as it would for, oh let's see... everyone else.

Original Post by nameless_shape_shifter:

Original Post by melkor:

*sigh*
 
 You've really lost track of where you were going with this, haven't you?

 Why the 40lbs limit? Is that going to work the same for a 97lbs 17-year old girl as it is for me? Why resistance bands with their resistance profiles that do not mimic any functional strength need in your daily life?

 Why is what professional athletes on more drugs than any three pharmacies stock relevant to the discussion of how the average person should train?

The relevance comes into play when you consider ability to circumvent obstacles in any training regiment. The 40 pound dumbell limit was an example, I don't think the 97 pound 17 year old girl is going to be lifting the 40 pound dumbell more than a couple of times, till s/he builds the mass that can support the weight of those dumbells relative to her back and bone density. 

You, on the other hand, will get more endurance out of lifting a set of 40 pound dumbells 25 times in a row than you will get from lifting a set of 80 pound dumbells 10 times in a row, even though it will not make you bigger. And so on and so forth. I have seen guys who can throw a 500 pound washing machines 15 feet across the air, they apparently had the body weight to do this. But this does not mean they can jump a rope for an hour, or jog 10 miles, or even have use in practical scenarios. 

The common theme I am introducing here is that there is a practical alternative to heavy weight lifting, which is endurance exercises. The latter give you a better cardio disposition during practical situations. Think, if you are a fireman, for example, and you have to race up and down stares all day long. Some strength will definitely be required to perform this exercise, but endurance will be your primary ally. If you are a 270 pound muscle man, the extra weight might hinder the performance of your job as opposed to enhance it.  

I am basically saying that, in addition to its fat loss ability, endurance exercise can grant you another very important gift that is of very practical usage. The gift of getting through lifes obstacles with endurance, both psychologically and physically. 

 

Really? Because  97lbs Suzanna  would handle a 40lbs dumbbell just fine, thankyouverymuch.

 Your argument keeps shifting about - you weren't using an example when you said :

Original Post by nameless_shape_shifter:

As for right now I suggest it unnecessary for anyone of any weight to exceed dumbells of 40 pounds in weight. That is my opinion based on observation. What should instead be employed, instead of adding weight, is adding reps. I think this is healthier in the long term in terms of resistance adaptation techniques. But I once again emphasize you can do this with your own body weight and/or resistance bands which cause little to no joint symptoms.

 So which is it? An absolute prescription, or just an example?

 Endurance for the sake of it is as pointless as strength for the sake of it - nice to have if you enjoy that sort of thing, but it's not the sole and single dimension of health and fitness that you make it out to be. And your alternative for fat loss is no alternative at all - endurance training has negligible impact on fat loss over and above what can be accounted for by diet.

Yeah but 97 lb. Suzanna isn't a fitness newcomer looking to lose weight is she?

Original Post by trhawley:

Yeah but 97 lb. Suzanna isn't a fitness newcomer looking to lose weight is she?

Nope, but apparently she should be using the same weights as a fitness newcomer looking to lose weight. 

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by trhawley:

Yeah but 97 lb. Suzanna isn't a fitness newcomer looking to lose weight is she?

Nope, but apparently she should be using the same weights as a fitness newcomer looking to lose weight. 

 Why?  What would be the benefit?

Original Post by trhawley:

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by trhawley:

Yeah but 97 lb. Suzanna isn't a fitness newcomer looking to lose weight is she?

Nope, but apparently she should be using the same weights as a fitness newcomer looking to lose weight. 

 Why?  What would be the benefit?

Beats me. Ask nameless_shape_shifter:

Original Post by nameless_shape_shifter:

As for right now I suggest it unnecessary for anyone of any weight to exceed dumbells of 40 pounds in weight. That is my opinion based on observation. What should instead be employed, instead of adding weight, is adding reps. I think this is healthier in the long term in terms of resistance adaptation techniques. But I once again emphasize you can do this with your own body weight and/or resistance bands which cause little to no joint symptoms.

Apparently, you too need to limit yourself to a 40lbs dumbbell.

Original Post by melkor:

Original Post by trhawley:

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by trhawley:

Yeah but 97 lb. Suzanna isn't a fitness newcomer looking to lose weight is she?

Nope, but apparently she should be using the same weights as a fitness newcomer looking to lose weight. 

 Why?  What would be the benefit?

Beats me. Ask nameless_shape_shifter:

Original Post by nameless_shape_shifter:

As for right now I suggest it unnecessary for anyone of any weight to exceed dumbells of 40 pounds in weight. That is my opinion based on observation. What should instead be employed, instead of adding weight, is adding reps. I think this is healthier in the long term in terms of resistance adaptation techniques. But I once again emphasize you can do this with your own body weight and/or resistance bands which cause little to no joint symptoms.

Apparently, you too need to limit yourself to a 40lbs dumbbell.

 But what if I want to get stronger?

Original Post by trhawley:

 But what if I want to get stronger?

 Why would you want to get stronger? work on your 'adabtability resistance', that's really where it's at.

ok now people, let's all just take a deep breath. but i do have to say that if i had to add more reps than weight i might go cookoo in the gym.

have we explained properly the op's question?

"is it because the toning and increase in muscle mass that burns fat? or is it because it raises the metabolism?"

cuz i dont think we've fully explained the epoch phenomenon, or have we? im getting confused on this thread. & right now im too lazy to explain it myself, not to mention i have to get to the gym.

Original Post by octo-luv:

"is it because the toning and increase in muscle mass that burns fat? or is it because it raises the metabolism?"

 Both.

Can we go back to having fun now?

Original Post by octo-luv:

ok now people, let's all just take a deep breath. but i do have to say that if i had to add more reps than weight i might go cookoo in the gym.

...

 right now im too lazy to explain it myself, not to mention i have to get to the gym.

 Make sure you do enough reps, octo ;)

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by octo-luv:

"is it because the toning and increase in muscle mass that burns fat? or is it because it raises the metabolism?"

Both.

Can we go back to having fun now?

you people!!! guess i needed a giggle there anyway. ok you can go back to having fun, maybe someone else will take responsibility. i would buts its just easier to think that someone else will & yes once again im going to the gym. have funnnnn.

Original Post by octo-luv:

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by octo-luv:

"is it because the toning and increase in muscle mass that burns fat? or is it because it raises the metabolism?"

Both.

Can we go back to having fun now?

you people!!! guess i needed a giggle there anyway. ok you can go back to having fun, maybe someone else will take responsibility. i would buts its just easier to think that someone else will & yes once again im going to the gym. have funnnnn.

 I tried, on the last page, I swear. But I was told that I was condescending, and so I stopped trying, and now am only here for s&g.

Original Post by spirochete:

PFFT I wipe my butt with 40lb dumbbells

 This is why I don't workout at a gym!

You don't even want to know what I do in cycle shops when no one is looking

Original Post by spirochete:

PFFT I wipe my butt with 40lb dumbbells

35 reps in a row slowly? 

And with regard to the 97 pound 'deadlifter'. The only girl i saw lifting dumbells in that video was a girl who had a bit more body weight than she did. Deadlifting is ergonomically quite similar to lifting one end of a heavy piece of furniture. And my 52 year old mother can do that with no training. just saying.