Time for results to show from the gym?

[we32psu]

Hey all,

just started back to the gym, and started weight training for the first time ever. My question is how long until results start showing? I was thinking 8-12 weeks, if i keep up 4 day a week habit. I am not looking for miracles, my trainer and i have a plan that puts me at my ideal weight in about 11 months, and i am good with that.

thanks!

~W

 

[possum]

you gonna show B4 and after shots
and you should notice some change in about 6 weeks

 

[bounder]

What are you going to the gym to do? Gain weight? Lose weight? Put on muscle? Lose fat? How active are you? You didn't give us enough info to be able to give you an answer.

 

[KaraBulut]

It's very hard to generalize on something like this. It is dependent upon whether you've worked out before, what your goals are and your genetics.

In general, it goes something like this:

• Week 1-2: You usually feel sore and generally miserable.
• Week 2-4: You start noticing changes in your energy level, your general mood and you begin seeing improvements in muscle tone.
• Weeks 4-24: You start seeing decreases in fat and increases in lean muscle. You will see this both visually and in the way your clothes fit. You will also see big gains in strength and increases in the amount of weight you are able to lift.
• Weeks 24 -?: You will begin to plateau on the amount of weight you can lift with slower gains on power and you will need to begin to vary your routine more often to acheive specific goals in muscle size and weight loss.

 

[Kirbster66]

Varies considerably. When I started weight training, I lost 3" off my waist in 3 weeks. I was very surprised. I think it ultimately depends on your routine and also what shape you're in to begin with.

I got out of the habit, and my belly is back. I plan to get back into a routine soon (recovering from a surgical procedure right now which prevents me from going to the gym, but in a couple of weeks I plan to restart).

 

[we32psu]

What are you going to the gym to do? Gain weight? Lose weight? Put on muscle? Lose fat? How active are you? You didn't give us enough info to be able to give you an answer.

Ok, thanks for the pointers so I know what questions to answer.

I am trying to lose weight, due to some medical issues and other things over the last year I put on 50+ pounds. I am attempting to take that off and lose some more from where I started. I have never weight trained before, so this is all new to me. I pretty much have a desk job, so when I am in the office I am at my desk most of the time.

Also, I have gotten my diet back under control about 2 months ago, so I am back to a decent diet( lean meats, veggies, etc. no HFC, refined sugar, etc) so that is good.

Thanks.

 

[we32psu]

It's very hard to generalize on something like this. It is dependent upon whether you've worked out before, what your goals are and your genetics.

In general, it goes something like this:

• Week 1-2: You usually feel sore and generally miserable.
  

Um, yeah.... that was me. I could barely walk down the steps, and I live on the third floor!

 

[SaneHatter]

It's very hard to generalize on something like this. It is dependent upon whether you've worked out before, what your goals are and your genetics.

In general, it goes something like this:

• Week 1-2: You usually feel sore and generally miserable.
• Week 2-4: You start noticing changes in your energy level, your general mood and you begin seeing improvements in muscle tone.
• Weeks 4-24: You start seeing decreases in fat and increases in lean muscle. You will see this both visually and in the way your clothes fit. You will also see big gains in strength and increases in the amount of weight you are able to lift.
• Weeks 24 -?: You will begin to plateau on the amount of weight you can lift with slower gains on power and you will need to begin to vary your routine more often to acheive specific goals in muscle size and weight loss.

I generally agree with this. I got really lazy and unhealthy last year and lost a lot of muscle strength and gained a lot of body fat. So, I got more serious last summer and tracked my progress with pics. For the first few months I noticed quick gains, but then the quickly slowed down. It took me about 8-10 months to gain back everything and more. Right now, I'm way stronger and look way better than I ever have. I have horrible genetics and my diet wasn't strictly controlled (I just cut out all unhealthy stuff like soda, etc. ate balanced meals), so perhaps it might be faster for you.

 

[notnidiot2000]

Ok, thanks for the pointers so I know what questions to answer.

I am trying to lose weight, due to some medical issues and other things over the last year I put on 50+ pounds. I am attempting to take that off and lose some more from where I started. I have never weight trained before, so this is all new to me. I pretty much have a desk job, so when I am in the office I am at my desk most of the time.

Also, I have gotten my diet back under control about 2 months ago, so I am back to a decent diet( lean meats, veggies, etc. no HFC, refined sugar, etc) so that is good.

Thanks.

If 'all' you're trying to do is lose weight, remember that you need to look at
calories consumed versus calories burned. A weight workout will help you tone, and add muscle to your body, but, muscle weighs more than fat, so you have to accept the fact that your actual weight loss may not be as large from a poundage standpoint as you are hoping for, at least not immediately.
But, you should start to FEEL and see the benefits in just a couple of weeks, the 1-2 week time period is a good bet.

You don't need to spend 4 days a week in the gym lifting weights to lose weight though! 20-30 minutes a day of walking will help supplement actual calorie consumption and therefore aid weight loss. And, by all means get control of your diet. The good news is that you can eat and still lose weight, the bad news is that you need to lose or at least moderate consumption of things that you crave. Fat, sugar and salt taste good, hence our indulgent consumption of foods containing these ingredients. Alcohol, likewise, empty calories.

I'm sure that you are changing your diet to add more protein and less fats and carbohydrates. Proteins take more energy to use! Likewise muscle burns more calories then fat. Also consider the 5 - 6 smaller meals and snacks schedule as opposed to 3 or less 'big' meals. It should help you maintain control of your appetite, and provide a more constant sugar level in your blood. Sugar level spikes and crashes are responsible for low energy and binge eating, so consider not just adjusting what you eat, but WHEN you eat it.

You have already taken the first, most important step in getting to a better
body weight: you have actually made it into the gym! All you need now is some consistent time and mileage in your new program and YOU will see results. If you are NOT seeing the results, then a) your cheating on workout
time, and / or b) you're cheating on your diet. Remember weight loss is a simple fomula of burn more calories then you consume!

I have never been considered 'overweight' most of my adult life I have weighed 180 (plus/minus) pounds and at 6'3" am pretty trim. I have been a lifelong athlete, but have done some pretty dumb things...I smoked for 25 years (on and off)! Most recently, I quite smoking 3 years ago, watched my weight jump to 212 before I decided that my old diet and exercise plan were just not cutting it for me. I returned to the tried and and true advice (which I provided above), and have shed 30 pounds in 3 years. I have always
(with a couple of lapses) spent a lot time working out in some fashion, but at
52 I am easily in the best shape of my life.
I'll add a pic to my profile...