
Originally Posted by
TKO Performance
First, at 23 you should have no problem cutting weight with proper diet and cardio. Definitely take the advice about getting over to the diet forum. At 23 I thought I knew how to eat, and I knew nothing. It's only from getting sound advice and doing a lot of reading that I really learned what diet is all about.
Weight training does burn calories directly, but that's not the main advantage for a dieter looking to lose weight. Muscle mass burns calories all the time because it increases your basal metabolism. Cardio will not do that. Toning up will also help to make you look leaner. If your waistline is the issue work your abs. It won't reduce the fat directly, that's called "the myth of spot reduction", but by toning the underlying muscles it will help tighten up the appearance of your stomach, even with skin and subcutaneous fat over top of the muscles.