Is walking and weight lifting enough?

[Anonymous]

I am 40 and have been weight lifting for the past year. I usually lift 1-3 times a week (shooting for a minimum of 2 times) full body workouts using 10 and 20 pound weights. Things like squats/deadlifts/snatches with 20 pounds and flies/triceps extensions with 10 pound weights.

In addition to this I walk every day around 15-20,000 steps. Do you think this is enough to maintain and/or lose weight now that I am 40? I am not "dieting" but do watch what I eat, don't drink that much (2 glasses on wine on the weekends) and drink a lot of water.

[Anonymous]

Well are you maintaining/losing weight now?

But in reality no you’re not doing enough weightlifting. If you have been using the same (fairly light) weights you’re not making progress/building muscle. Lift more and heavier. It will get harder to maintain as you get older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well are you maintaining/losing weight now?

But in reality no you’re not doing enough weightlifting. If you have been using the same (fairly light) weights you’re not making progress/building muscle. Lift more and heavier. It will get harder to maintain as you get older.

Op - I have never lifted weights before. I went from using 5/10 pound weights to 10/20 pound weights. I dont think I can lift higher weights right now. If I up the number of days a week would I be able to increase weight?

[Anonymous]

To lose weight, you need to eat less. You can walk 50,000 steps a day but it doesn't matter if you are eating 5 extra cookies than when you were walking 0 steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To lose weight, you need to eat less. You can walk 50,000 steps a day but it doesn't matter if you are eating 5 extra cookies than when you were walking 0 steps.

So it would make more sense to stop working out and just eat less? When I work out I am hungrier.

[Anonymous]

If you are careful with your diet, yes. Lots of fruits and veggies, minimal meat and processed foods, not drinking your calories etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To lose weight, you need to eat less. You can walk 50,000 steps a day but it doesn't matter if you are eating 5 extra cookies than when you were walking 0 steps.

So it would make more sense to stop working out and just eat less? When I work out I am hungrier.

Working out has other benefits besides weight control. So don’t stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well are you maintaining/losing weight now?

But in reality no you’re not doing enough weightlifting. If you have been using the same (fairly light) weights you’re not making progress/building muscle. Lift more and heavier. It will get harder to maintain as you get older.

I disagree with this. Yes, weight lifting is good, for a variety of reasons that promote longevity.

BUT, OP asked if it is enough to "maintain or lose weight." Walking, moderate strength training, and watching diet is indeed "enough" for that, and SIGNIFICANTLY more than the majority of the population does regularly and maintain weight.

My question to OP though is why are you asking? Seems to me that you would be able to observe whether your weight is changing on your current regimen? You don't need to ask us, you see it on your own body/scale, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well are you maintaining/losing weight now?

But in reality no you’re not doing enough weightlifting. If you have been using the same (fairly light) weights you’re not making progress/building muscle. Lift more and heavier. It will get harder to maintain as you get older.

I disagree with this. Yes, weight lifting is good, for a variety of reasons that promote longevity.

BUT, OP asked if it is enough to "maintain or lose weight." Walking, moderate strength training, and watching diet is indeed "enough" for that, and SIGNIFICANTLY more than the majority of the population does regularly and maintain weight.

My question to OP though is why are you asking? Seems to me that you would be able to observe whether your weight is changing on your current regimen? You don't need to ask us, you see it on your own body/scale, right?

OP - I just turned 40 and I am feeling like I need to do more than what I used to do in my 30s. I never ever watched what I ate and just worked out. Never gained any weight. Now I have hit 40 and boom it feels like any weekend I eat more than I usually do and I put on a pound or two. Its so annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To lose weight, you need to eat less. You can walk 50,000 steps a day but it doesn't matter if you are eating 5 extra cookies than when you were walking 0 steps.

So it would make more sense to stop working out and just eat less? When I work out I am hungrier.

Definitely don’t stop. As for hunger, you aren’t riding a bike for two hours straight. Eventually at the activity level you are describing you will adapt. Part of it might be mental think you have used up a bunch of resources you haven’t.

[Anonymous]

You don’t need to lift heavier to gain muscle. You just have to make sure you are working to failure (can’t do any more reps with proper form). This will take less reps at a higher weight; more reps at a lower weight.

Just keep on keepin’ on, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To lose weight, you need to eat less. You can walk 50,000 steps a day but it doesn't matter if you are eating 5 extra cookies than when you were walking 0 steps.

So it would make more sense to stop working out and just eat less? When I work out I am hungrier.

If you want to lose weight, the best way is to work out AND eat less. Of course you should feel hungry, that's how you lose weight.

[Anonymous]

Hypertrophy is the name of the game. Your weights may not be heavy enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To lose weight, you need to eat less. You can walk 50,000 steps a day but it doesn't matter if you are eating 5 extra cookies than when you were walking 0 steps.

So it would make more sense to stop working out and just eat less? When I work out I am hungrier.

You must keep lifting to maintain the muscle mass. Otherwise you would be skinny-fat and lower your metabolism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well are you maintaining/losing weight now?

But in reality no you’re not doing enough weightlifting. If you have been using the same (fairly light) weights you’re not making progress/building muscle. Lift more and heavier. It will get harder to maintain as you get older.

Op - I have never lifted weights before. I went from using 5/10 pound weights to 10/20 pound weights. I dont think I can lift higher weights right now. If I up the number of days a week would I be able to increase weight?

Look into bodyweight exercises, OP. Unlikely to result in injury and very effective.

Are you trying to lose weight?