Weight lifting - doesn't make you bulky

[ChinFluff46]

This is more of trying to give myself a kick up the backside.

I have decided that weight lifting is a viable weight loss strategy for me.

I yo yo dieted in my 20s and 30s, love carbs and sugar.

Then came the pandemic and illness, gained more weight.

I went quite strict on a diet (Fast 800) and lost a few stone.

After a few failed attempts at maintaining, I stumbled onto weight lifting.

This was a total game changer.

For me, my diet plan is weight lifting. I found it very good for mental training, for hormones, memory etc.

Am totally average, nothing special but managed to find the thing that is sustainable.

I'm now back to a higher weight again as I fell off the weight lifting waggon during work stress, so I'm getting back onto it.

Bring it on 2026!

Will try and post pics.

First photo is start of weight loss.

Second pic is end of weight loss.

Third pic is start of weight lifting journey early mid 40s, no bum muscle 🤣

Fourth pic - left is at the top my bulk (was eating a calorie surplus, around 2000 calories a day for 3 months), on the right is after a 10 week cut on about 1850 calories a day. I wanted to show how I got there.

Can't seem to add it yet but will come back.

End result in final pic - a this point I could plank for three minutes non stop, could squat my body weight, and leg press 200kg.

Here's the journey pic. Left is 10 weeks at 2000 calories. Right is 8 weeks at 1850 calories.

Putting it here to remind myself it works.

You look fantastic! Great goal to aim for that again.

I have fallen out of love with lifting so I am going to focus on my favourite high energy group cardio classes for a bit, fall back in love with exercise and then add more lifting days back in.

That's such a good idea. That was how I stumbled on it - I started swimming, got bored of that, thought I'd try spin, then got curious about the Les Mills classes. Once 5kg was too easy I thought I'd try the gym.

By chance I saw they then had a PT offering a free session. I was then doing 1 PT session a week, and 2 independent sessions, following the programme the PT gave me.

It progresses quite quick when it starts. My plan this weekend hopefully is to create some meals on MFP and do a food shop, I remember the calorie tracking being a bit of a faff at the start so want to make it as easy as possible.

Defo agree picking somewhere enjoyable to start is key. As long as you're consistent I think the body tells you when it's ready to go harder.

My problem is that I don’t find lifting enjoyable but I prefer the look of toned and slightly muscular over cardio queen slim.

If only I could build glutes in aerobics class!