images Some people  think that they shouldn’t lift weights until they lose most of their weight because otherwise they’ll look even bigger.   Is this true?

Actually, the answer is  no, quite the opposite.  You’ll burn calories during your strength workouts, and if you use enough resistance, you will gain muscle, which, in turn, can speed up your metabolism.  In fact, if you lose weight without lifting weights, you’re likely to lose muscle along with fat; with less muscle, your metabolism will slow down.  Be sure you lift heavy-enough weights that your muscles fatigue between eight and twelve repetitions.  With lighter weights, you won’t develop enough muscle to make a significant difference.  Don’t worry, moderately heavy weights will not make you look bigger: “Women have to lift extremely heavy weights in order to see big gains in muscle size” says Evanston, Ill., trainer CC Cunningham, M.S., a spokeswoman for the American Council on Exercise.  With a moderate strength-training program, you’ll develop tone, not bulk.

Keep in mind that while muscle is heavier than fat, it takes up less space.  “Most women report that as they start to develop muscle, their clothes fit better,” Cunningham says.  Plus, you’ll have more power when you hike, jog or use the stair climber, which means you can work at a higher level and burn even more calories.

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