Is pilates good for weight loss? (muscles, lifting, gym, yoga)

[Journey2LS]

I have been working out 3-4 days a week for 30-60 minutes a day for the past 3 months. Included in that is 2 days of weight lifting. I have been watching what I eat for the most part, but I do splurge every once in a while. So far I have not lost weight, but I have increased my strength. I heard that adding pilates about 3x a week should help jump start weight loss.

I wanted to know if any of you actually lost weight doing pilates? Was it also effective for losing inches?

[songinthewind7]

I haven't done pilates but I do yoga.
I think that some of the breathing and poses I do help strengthen the ab muscles and tighten the belly.

[michelleleigh]

Did you take your meassurements before you started working out. If you are doing weight training a lot you gain muscle so maybe you should get on the scale every 2 weeks or just once a week and do your measurments every month. Pilates helps lenghthen and strengthen your body its good for weight loss. Keep up with what you are doing. Good luck, hope this helps

[Journey2LS]

I did not take any measurements. I have been slowly increasing my weights at the gym and this is making me really happy. I know that the slower the weight loss the more likely it is to stay off, but not seeing weight loss makes it harder to stay motivated. But at least my clothes are starting to become looser.

[cdc3217]

I do pilates and it does tighten you up all over, so you everyone thinks you lost weight, but the scale may not agree. You do elevate your heart rate somewhat in pilates, but its no substitute for cardio.

It sounds like you're converting fat to muscle, which is good, but I feel your pain at the scale!

[jeannie216]

I've heard from others that swear by it, but I found pilates not to do enough for me as far as any weight loss. I need more of a cardio workout to see any results such as step aerobics.

[IamInShape]

The only way to lose weight is to do aerobic exersize 3 times a week for 45 minutes--and eat well---I garauntee you will lose weight

[Joshhh]

You won't really loose any weight doing pilates. You need to be doing weight-training if you really want to loose weight.

If your not loosing 1-2lbs a week, your program is not working effectivly.

I went from 24% Body fat down to 17%, 220 down to 180, then back to 210 (all muscle!)

A good combination of 4 days of weight lifting, and 3-4 days of cardio a week, and you should see amazing results!

A good diet is 80% of your weight loss though, you need to be strict.

[zorst]

Originally Posted by ksgator

I have been working out 3-4 days a week for 30-60 minutes a day for the past 3 months. Included in that is 2 days of weight lifting. I have been watching what I eat for the most part, but I do splurge every once in a while. So far I have not lost weight, but I have increased my strength. I heard that adding pilates about 3x a week should help jump start weight loss.

I wanted to know if any of you actually lost weight doing pilates? Was it also effective for losing inches?

I used to lift weights and do all the cross training stuff. I was trying to add mass and went from 160 lbs to 200lbs in about five years. I was strong.

I've been doing yoga and pilaltes for over 4 years. I have lost a little weight. I've gone from a 38inch waist to a 35inch waist (on a fifty year old man). The type of yoga I do is Iyengar yoga, also called Hatha yoga. (I also do Kriya yoga but that's for another thread.) At my current weight of about 184lbs, doing yoga and pilates, I feel stronger than when I lifted weights. I also look better, I sit up straight, walk straight and am a lot more flexible. As for pilates it is an aerobic workout. I use Windsor/Pilates methods and Joseph Pilates Methods. Also as IAmInShape says "Eat well".

How much weight are you trying to lose? Also who cares how much you weigh if your body is a hard one and you fit into the size clothes you are trying to fit into?

[Torn2pieces]

I lost weight - then did pilates to tighten my abs and other areas up.

I've heard it's best to lose first then do the pilate workouts.