Lose weight first or...

Hi,

So it is me again, I already posted in the weight training forum once.

My question this time is about losing weight specifically, I am debating now and wondering if I should first focus on losing a good amount of my body fat percentage, while working out relatively little on my muscles. Then after losing body fat and having a good lean look working full force on my muscles.

Or should I just work on both goals at once?

Could anyone give me the pros and cons or which one is better.

The reason I ask this, is because I am sure (as in 85%) that I have quite a good amount of muscle all over my body as I used to do intense martial arts a couple of years ago. I did not notice any loss in strength from that time only that I developed more fat over it all. Yes I did quit 2 years ago b/c I started university and had to take some time off. Although I am thinking of starting again.
 
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Choose a good full body routine like the Homegrown Muscle Series and do HIIT on your off days. It will help both goals,

Diet is the key. What are your stats? I think if you are over 20% BF you should focus your diet on weight loss first.
 
I dont want to contradict Tenpercent, however... If you are new to training your going to make gains very fast for the 1st couple of months no mater what you work on. After the initial phase of training your body then adapts to the new stress of working out and you need to change your diet and or workout or workout intensity to stop your body adapting.

Therefore I would suggest that you eat sensibly and start a full bosy workout for about 2 months.
Then you'll be able to make a desision on what to do next.
But if you do just wanna loose weight then you still want to be weight training as your main form of weight loss
When you do cardio your only burning calories for the time your actually training. But with wieght training your burning calories for the next 2 days as well while your muscles heal. Plus, having more muscle helps you loose weight.

I would suggest... 2 months at a balenced calorie intake, 3 full body workouts and 2-3 30min cardio sessions a week. You can do the cardio on a diff day or the same day as the weights, as long as you do the weights 1st.

After 2 months have a full week off training to rest.

then spend 2 months on a 2 or 3 day split, with a high calorie diet and little CV (so all your calories go to feeding your muscle)

then a week off.
then go to a cutting phase where you'll go back to full body workouts, lots of CV and a low caloire diet.
 
That is not contradictory. I agree. A full body routine will definitely allow for both goals as a newb.
I say focus diet on weight loss first just because I am used to most peole eating like complete crap. :)
 
Thanks for the replies, I learned quite a bit more about fitness from them. I do have another question though, currently I will be away from the gym for about a month and a half specifically cause I use the gym during the year at my school and don't fell like paying for membership at regular gyms.

My question is, will training at home (if done right) accomplish the same effect in those 2 months, as going to the gym and doing full body workouts?
 
Thanks for the replies, I learned quite a bit more about fitness from them. I do have another question though, currently I will be away from the gym for about a month and a half specifically cause I use the gym during the year at my school and don't fell like paying for membership at regular gyms.

My question is, will training at home (if done right) accomplish the same effect in those 2 months, as going to the gym and doing full body workouts?

If you have similar equipment, certainly.

I have a home gym that was once in my garage, and now is in a downstairs room, and I have always trained at home. No waiting for piece of equipment, no dealing with egotistical b-tards :))), no one staring, or weird noises, other than my own. Its always waiting for me, and it always tells me the truth and never lies to me. No having to worry about the weather in the winter, etc, etc, etc. I love it.


Best wishes

Chillen
 
no!

never neglect weight training.

if u diet without weight training you are going to lose muscle mass (not counting slight muscle gained from interval training etc). You do not want to do this as the more muscle you have, the mroe calories you burn at a resting level.
 
Lose weight is a long term program, u should follow step by step and be persistence. U may need a guider to help ur plan in a right and healthy way, I recommend you try P90X, my friend told me it works a lot.
 
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