How does weight training relate to weight loss?

I am an overweight 40 year old male and have been seeing a nutritionist and working out for two months now. I am doing great and have lost 16 lbs! I have only been doing cardio (walking, treadmill, and eliptical) as my exercise routine. I want to incorporate weight training, but do not understand the benefits. How will this help me lose weight? I understand that is will benefit me in the long run with toning up my muscles etc.. but right now I am trying to focus on weight loss. Should I start the weight training now or wait until I lose more weight.

Well if you strength train you will grow larger muscles, and the more muscle you have the faster your metabolism is... thus the more calories you burn at rest. That it the best explanation i can' give and i hope that answer your question. Good luck

Weight training can do a lot for strength as well as looking good and feeling good. It will also help you improve your cardio workouts long term. No reason you SHOULDN'T add the weights.

It has little or no impact on weight loss though. The gym rats will try to tell you that lean muscle burns more calories, and that's true, but the numbers are not significant unless you're spending hours in the gym building bulk. Even then, the difference doesn't amount to as much as 30 minutes on the treadmill.

If you're time limited and the goal is weight loss, your time is better spent on the aerobic activities.

The benefits of weight training of course help to increase strength. For every extra pound of muscle that you put on your body will burn an extra 50 calories per days so it will help to burn the extra fat. As far as weight loss and weight training go, muscle actually weighs more than fat so there is a chance that your weight may actually increase while on a weight program.... But don't be discouraged because your body composition will be better and you will see a decrease in body fat which is actually the problem. Body fat percentage is the more accurate measure of health as opposed to your weight (although weight is a good measurement).

I say you should add the weights to your workout routine. The more muscle you have the higher your metabolism will be. Your higher metabolism will help to burn more fat.

If you want more of a cardio weight workout you should do circuit training. Basically you would do a set of bench press, then immediately do a set of pull ups with no break. This way you will keep your heart rate up and get a nice cardio workout plus get your weight training in.

A good resource site is http://fitnessarticles.excellentabc.com/ . They have a bunch of good articles on weight loss.

Congrats on losing your 1st 16lbs and best of luck losing more!