Question about strength training and seeing results

Thanks everyone so much! This is so encouraging and uplifting to read all these replies, I am more pumped up than ever. I have always viewed exercise as a horrible chore, cardio I still haven't gotten into besides walking the dog but I am willing to lift weights and strength train, it feels different and more doable to me and I really liked it. I am sore today, not horribly but I can definitely feel where I worked all of my muscles, my thighs and arms are really feeling it and I like that I actually used these poor wasted muscles, it feels so good, I can't believe how empowered I feel by this. I am going to check out all the books mentioned and keep with this, I feel such excitement and anticipation about having started! I think I'll add an additonal protein shake for a while since I'm still not where I should be yet with food as well protein wise. I can't wait to be strong!

I think that within 6 weeks you will see a difference.  I've exercised for awhile now, but when I started following a book called the 28 day body makeover (or something like that) I saw a huge difference.  My muscles never looked so long, lean, and shapely.  I guess it's all in the combination of exercises too.  Good luck to you---stay with it and you will be amazed. Wanda

No joke, you will begin to see your muscles better after a few workouts - I always do! Muscles get pumped up with usage. Though we will never look like we have never been overweight, we can make ourselves look better with exercise.  It takes a full year after losing weight for your skin to mold the way it will stay.  You will know then if you have real skin issues. Factors to consider:  genetics, amount of time you've had your excess weight, age, skin condition (stretch marks) - I might be leaving something out; I'm real tired:).  Anyways a younger person with good skin genetics who has lost 80-120lbs would probably end up looking good without PS.  A person who loses 150+ probably won't be able to "fake it". Good Luck on your journey, L

Oh, start with low and slow then build yourself up as the weeks and months go by.  You will definately feel yourself getting stronger and stronger. You can get  a 1 to 5lb free weight set  or resistance bands to start. Best, L

I did a '4 week body makeover' work out from MSN (link on my profile)... it said you could see results in as little as 2 weeks.... at 2 weeks I didnt see, but at 3 weeks I did and by the end of 4 I was amazed at the changes.  It really depends on the routine you are doing, how heavy the weights are, how many reps/sets you are doing etc.  As for the ab work... my abs are still hidden under flub so I never see any results there! :-)