[BabyRj]

I've been eating clean for a couple weeks now, and been consistently training in MMA, i think i'm doing well, but every resource i find recommends some form of weight training. but the thing is, i don't think i can fit going to the gym into my schedule.

I can defintely run, and do conditioning/calisthenics/floor exercises

i'm not even good at calisthenics (pushups, situps, pullups, dips etc.), so i think i have a lot to gain from these exercises. And i also think the calisthenics & bodyweight exercises would help my kickboxing/grappling training more than lifting at the gym. It also seems like REAL weightlifting is an advanced type of exercise for people with a good strength base.

Is lifting weights a MUST for fat loss? or are they talking any type of resistance exercise more than anything? I mean i'm already doing very explosive/high intensity training with the boxing/MMA.

what do you guys think? I am 30-40 pounds overfat, i'm looking to start competing 8 months to a year from now, so im not in a terrible hurry to lower my bodyfat.

[BabyRj]

oh and i'm 5'6" 190lbs, my lean body mass according to the gym is 157lbs

i'm pretty stocky, for some reason i already have a pretty good amount of muscle, probably from doing sports all my life, but if i had to compare my bone structure to someone it would have to be hermes franca or jorge gurgel. or rickson.

im trying to get down to 155 or 145 if possible.

[hockohock]

if you lift weights then you will gain more muscle which will burn more fat throughout the day while you're not doing anything, but its not a must for fat loss, it will just speed up the process

if you're thinking of getting a bit stronger just do some squats and hang cleans

like i heard bas say one time he would rather have a guy not waste his energy lifting weights when he could be using that energy to improve his technique or his cardio

[Brandon Couden]

keep doing what your doing, run, train, eat clean, and do alot of bodyweight exercises. The thing is you really don't need to do a ton of weight lifting until you can handle your bodyweight in a good balanced manner.

[BabyRj]

thx for the advice guys.

ever since gaining weight, i haven't even been able to do a good 50 pushups. or 5 pullups, this was one of my concerns.

resistance training is resistance training after all right?

[mmuhr2]

yeah i agree with both previous posters, weight training is not NECESSARY at least not in the very beginning, but bodyweight training will only take you so far once you master the techniques (e.g. doing 500 crunches a day isnt going to do much more than 50 crunches a day, at that point you need to consider adding some weights, etc.)

[spirez]

High intensity circuits could easily fit in the place of a calisthenics routine. Doing weights doesn't always mean being in the gym for an hour.

Surprised nobody has mentioned it yet but go check out Ross Enamait's Infinite Intensity program. He's a boxing coach by trade and has tailored his workouts to fit around skill and cardio training as a vital supplement.

Weights isn't just about getting stronger, it's also about strengthening vital components in the body such as tendons, ligaments, bones and the CNS.

I recall BJ Penn stating that the lack of weights was probably part of the reason he blew a rib against Hughes.

[BabyRj]

ok, i think i can compromise. I've been reading alot of fitness books, but i realized one thing.

All these books are intended for non-athletes i.e. sedentary people. I guess that is why they recommend alot of pointless machine movements in they're lifting.

I figure i can head to the gym and do some squats/deadlifts/overhead presses/snatches 2 or 3 times a week, maybe even benchpress, but no more than that. I just dont wanna get into the whole "bodypart splitting" exercises/routines and endless sets/reps, especially with machines, i hate machines. And i don't wanna exhaust my muscles too often with too many exercises.

is that good?

[Saith]

You could get a good 2 or 3 day split with that. I would recommend lifting because you won't get much stronger doing body weight stuff compared to using a good strength building routine. Check the S&P FAQ for good ideas on a 2 or 3 day split routine.