Losing numbers on the scale...Which type of exercise?

So i've lost about 12/13 lbs since joining CC which is great, but its slowing down a lot recently.

I want to lose about another 6 lbs in the next 4-5 weeks before I move back to university in september. I've been doing mainly cardio but some weights too, but havn't done any weights for about 3 weeks.

Is the best way to see the number drop on the scale in that time by doing just cardio? Im scared that if I do weight training I'll gain a couple or a few lbs due to muscles holding water and what not to help them recover. Am i right by thinking this?

what would you suggest to do? i have 4 and a half more weeks before I leave my current gym and then will be looking to join another gym once i've settled back into University.

Pleese help! thankyouu in advance

I don't know, but I'm curious about this too...

Congrats on the weight loss! You know, you're going to hear again and again how important lifting weights is. Is your goal long-term weight loss? Incorporating weights is a great way to improve physique, get stronger, and be healthier in general. Plus your bones will love you. And you won't be putting on pounds of muscle in a few weeks if you're just adding it to your exercise regimen.As for cardio, start pushing yourself! If you're not running, it's a great way to burn calories in a short period of time.

 Do you want to lose scale weight, lose fat, or become healthier?

 For scale weight, all you need is diet. To lose only fat and avoid muscle loss, all you need is resistance training + diet.

 If you want health, you'll do a bit of everything - strength, cardio and flexibility.

 If you can leave off obsessing over the scale numbers and focus on losing inches instead, you'd do well to do weight training.

Thanks! My goal is long term weight loss yeah but i want to just drop these approx 6lbs before i move away in september, and then once i'm there maybe i could pick up the weight training then and carry on with my weight loss further, the 6 lbs is not my final goal, just a sub goal if you like.

I know how important weight lifting is important but i just had the thought that just cardio would help me for the nxt few weeks then once i've joined a new gym i will start up again with cardio plus weights.

Yep i like running, treadmill is my fav at the gym. usually do interval training on there. thanks for the responses so far :)

I was writing my reply as you were sending yours Melkor. Thanks, I am kinda obbsessed with the scale number right now :$ i've never been this heavy in my life and just want to go back to what i was. i'd just like to know if the weights will make me gain a couple of lbs in the nxt few weeks. :)

 Possibly. But that's a side effect of all exercise if you're starting something completely new - your body will be increasing glycogen storage in the liver and your muscles, and that can add a few pounds of water weight.

 If you're not completely new to working out this effect will be much less noticeable since your glycogen storage will already be increased somewhat - in that case you may experience some temporary muscle swelling and water retention but that'll only last for a day or three, and again it's mostly independent of the exercise you choose.

 Given what you write in your initial post, I'd say that you'd probably see the best results in terms of what your goals are by pickng the weights back up and staying off the scale for a week until the temporary water retention passes - you'll have vastly improved results in terms of fat loss.

 Do a bit of cardio as well, and you'll be well on your way to seeing results you'll be really happy with once you're back at Uni ;)

Thanks again melkor, I've decided I'll be doing some weights 2morow morning at the gym :) I've been hovering around 142-143 for the last 3 weeks now and it's starting to get to me a bit!! :~(

I have the same problem. My current weight is 133 and this month I have only lost 1.7lbs. That's usually what I was losing every week. I have not done anything different so I don't really know what's going on. I do cardio 6x/week and weights 3x/week. Oh and I'm currently on a 1200 calorie diet. I also have been trying to zig zag calories.

Original Post by ddeceive:

I have not done anything different so I don't really know what's going on.

 That's your problem right there.

If you want to continue losing weight at that pace perhaps you could start increasing the amount of cardio you do each day and of course lifting weights never hurt, that is when it comes to looking the way you want too ;)