Beginner Seeking Advice on Weight Loss Strategy
Hi everyone! I'm new to this sub and could use some advice on the best approach to losing weight while eventually building muscle.
I'm 21F, 5'3", and currently 185 lbs. My goal is around 140 lbs because I'd also like to build lean muscle.
A year ago, I lost weight on keto and got down to the low/mid 160s. I felt significantly better and I was only at the halfway mark! I barely exercised and when I did I did an incline walk on the treadmill. I also attend school in a city so that possibly due to walking a lot (but now I drive) so most of my weight was diet loss was due to diet. Unfortunately, keto wasn't sustainable for me, and I eventually gained the weight back plus some. I do want to try and loose weight without relying on a heavily restrictive diet because it’s not sustainable nor healthy (to someone who started developing unhealthy relationships towards food).
I've recently started weight training, but a friend told me that I should focus on building muscle instead of trying to lose weight and the weight loss would come in the process. They also said that would require me to eat more and that i don’t “eat enough” as is. That left me a little confused.
My main concern is that my current weight isn't healthy, so I feel like fat loss should be my priority. I quite literally feel heavy. At the same time, I've heard beginners can sometimes lose fat and build muscle at the same time through body recomposition, but I'm not sure if that's realistic when I want to lose around 50lbs.
Would it be recommended that I:
- Prioritize weight loss while continuing to strength train?
-Focus mostly on cardio until I reach my goal weight?
-Try to lose fat and build muscle at the same time?
I'd really appreciate hearing what worked for people in a similar situation.