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Exercising with Weights

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navonodfn

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I am newly diagnosed Type 2 and I am on a strict weight loss program which appears to be working, as my levels and my weight are coming down nicely.

I am also exercising either on an exercise bike or my road bicycle for a minimum of the recommended 30 minutes a day 5 days a week.

I have been advised that using weights will help with the diabetes.

My concern is that by turning some of my ample fat into muscle if I do use weights, am I going to hinder the progress of my weight loss?

Any advice or information gratefully received
 
I asked my doctor the same question. He said that my weight loss might well be affected - but if I was replacing fat with muscle that could only be a good thing as I'd be decreasing my overall insulin resistance. So while weight loss is a good thing, it's really fat loss that's important, particularly circumferential fat loss.

He did warn me against weights though until I managed to get my BP reduced to near normal levels and not to do anaerobic exercise at the expense of the aerobic stuff i.e. if you're going to do it, do it as an extra and not as a replacement to what you're already doing.
 
Hi,

I have been a type 2 diabetic for 12 years and I am on SR Metformin 750 mg 3 times a day. I have found a combination of weight training and running has kept not only my weight down it has really helped me maintain good BLs.

I try and go 2 - 3 times a week combining the weights with cardio work. Being a big girl I was worried about getting too much muscle - but that just isn't the case. It can increase your levels for a couple of hours after exercise, but I have found that seems to diminish the fitter you get. My last HB1C was less than 6.

I also have PCOS - this regime seems to improve my symptoms for Insulin Resistance which is part of the problem.
 
Weights do several great things for you:

You improve your insulin sensitivity so your blood sugar control gets better.

You build muscle so you look great and burn more calories at rest.

You improve the strength of your bones.

You can buy home exercise videos, join a gym or get help from a friend who is keen on fitness.
 
As has been posted already it may hinder your weight loss but it will improve your body fat which is probably a better indicator,its just that muscle is heavier than fat so if your weight loss slows down it will probably be due to more muscle and less fat a far healthier combination.I go to the gym 3-4 times a week i use weights but they are not too heavy and i also do a cardio workout as well,the way my routine is set out for me is that the first day i go in i concentrate on my upper body and then go on to my cardio the next time i am in i concentrate on the lower body and then move on to my cardio which is 5000m on rowing machine and twenty five minutes on cross trainer.
 
Read Bernstein on the subject.
Hana
 
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