should I continue weight lifting?

Prologue · 02-08-2012, 11:13 PM

a part of me is waiting to get flamed for asking this, but I've found it hard to get a decisive answer, so I'll consult you guys...

right now I'm doing about 3 muay thai classes, 3 bjj classes, and 2 days of weights a week, doing 1 upper body and 1 lower body... my goals for the most part have been to lose fat, and my diet has been geared towards that goal... I've gotten a bit of definition in my physique but at the same time I'm not really looking to bulk up and put on too much muscle...

so my question is, would I be better off continuing my MT/BJJ training and dropping the weights or would it be better for me to continue on regardless... I would guess that there is some strength training involved in both classes and I'd like to keep the muscle that I do have but at the same time and I'm wondering if the MT/BJJ training would suffice in doing that...

thanks for any points... if I'm missing any info let me know and I'll fill in the gaps...

LitteringAnd · 02-08-2012, 11:27 PM

Are you asking if lifting twice a week is going to make you too bulky and muscular?

If that is what you are asking then the answer is no, you will be fine.

Prologue · 02-08-2012, 11:48 PM

I was wondering if I should focus more on just the MT/BJJ training and should cut weights out considering my goals...

I think I'm asking because weights are becoming a bit of a labored task considering the amount of training I'm doing mixed with my schedule outside of the gym... it was different before since the gym I'm training at had fewer classes but now that they've been adding more I find myself trading weights to take those classes...

I guess I'm wondering if it's okay to skip out weights for more MT/BJJ training from a physical perspective...

redaxe · 02-09-2012, 12:23 AM

How serious are you about MT, BJJ, and MMA? Are you trying to go pro? Or is it just a hobby for you? What's your height, weight, and BF%? Are you trying to be in a particular weight class?

LZD · 02-09-2012, 12:26 AM

Simple answer: Do whatever you want. Lifting weights wont necessarily help or hinder your primary goal of fat-loss. It may however, help you retain muscle mass whilst you achieve that goal. But if you don't care, and can't think of any other reasons to lift, then don't.

....on the other hand..... if you want to be a strong human being, want to look muscular, if lifting in and of itself makes you happy....... or you want to compete at some time in the future.... then.... you should probably consider it.

Thunderkopf · 02-09-2012, 12:49 AM

I'm in the same boat here, as I train BJJ 3-5x a week now and also plan to train boxing on the side as well.

If you're only concerned about strength and (presumably) explosiveness, then make your workouts short but sweet. Use high/medium sets and low reps schemes (3 x 3, 5 x 3, 5 x 5, for example) Take out all BS exercises (Read: Isolation movements e.g. curls, tricep extensions, etc.) and stick with compound exercises such as snatches, cleans, jerks, pullups, rows, bench presses, glute ham raise, squats, and deadlifts to name a few.

I also workout with sandbags, Bulgarian bags, weight sleds, and kegs. Really good stuff as they mimic the movement of a human body more than a static, uniform free weight.

Whether or not you want to bulk up depends on how many calories you ingest everyday.

Oh, and never lift weights after MT or BJJ. Do it before them.

Midnighter · 02-09-2012, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LZD

Simple answer: Do whatever you want. Lifting weights wont necessarily help or hinder your primary goal of fat-loss. It may however, help you retain muscle mass whilst you achieve that goal. But if you don't care, and can't think of any other reasons to lift, then don't.

....on the other hand..... if you want to be a strong human being, want to look muscular, if lifting in and of itself makes you happy....... or you want to compete at some time in the future.... then.... you should probably consider it.

How will lifting weights not help fat loss?

LZD · 02-09-2012, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnighter

How will lifting weights not help fat loss?

Your question doesn't make sense. But I will answer the question I assume you intended to ask.

Lifting weights wont necessarily help him to lose weight if the lifting is such that he has to reduce his other training.

**Dogstarman** · 02-09-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LZD

Your question doesn't make sense. But I will answer the question I assume you intended to ask.

Lifting weights wont necessarily help him to lose weight if the lifting is such that he has to reduce his other training.

Actually weight loss was not the question. You specifically said fat loss. So how will weight lifting not help fat loss. Weight loss and fat loss are 2 different things.

LZD · 02-09-2012, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogstarman

Actually weight loss was not the question. You specifically said fat loss. So how will weight lifting not help fat loss. Weight loss and fat loss are 2 different things.

I said fat loss. He said fat loss. Then I referred to a loss of weight. Fat weighs something. Hence, the losing of it, incurs a loss of weight, irrespective of whether or not that loss of weight is off-set by some other gain. If the requirements of recovery force him into reducing his other training, his fat loss objectives MAY be impacted.

Stick to the heavies. Lol.