I'm pretty overweight but I want to be "fit" not just skinny. But my question is, should I just do cardio for a while to lose fat first or should I be working on gaining muscle while I'm losing fat?

You should do a combination of both.

Basically what the other poster said. By doing both you tone the muscle and make it more visible so you won't just be "skinny fat".

Quoting lov'n Morgan:" I'm pretty overweight but I want to be "fit" not just skinny. But my question is, should I just do cardio for a while to lose fat first or should I be working on gaining muscle while I'm losing fat?"

A trainer told me to try to lose my fat first, with cardio and what not, that way i don't turn all the fat I have now, into muscle, and still be big. And then really concentrate on toning that up.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Chey's Mama:</b>" A trainer told me to try to lose my fat first, with cardio and what not, that way i don't turn all the fat I have now, into muscle, and still be big. And then really concentrate on toning that up."</blockquote>




If you have a lot of fat, and do that you will have tons of sagging skin.

Quoting I'm Marbles:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Chey's Mama:</b>" A trainer told me to try to lose my fat first, ... [snip!] ... on toning that up."</blockquote> If you have a lot of fat, and do that you will have tons of sagging skin."

That is what I mentioned and they said it wasn't like I was just losing it as a quick diet plan. Idk, just sayin what the trainer said ;)

I agree do both, free weights for women help them to lose weight and fat faster, just don't use too heavy of weights, less weight more reps, means a toned body not muscular which is what you want. You should always do a combination or cardio and weights when trying to lose weight/get in shape   good luck and don't forget to enjoy it!!! And drink lots of water!!!

Both. However I personally suggest focusing more on strength training. It will burn fat, and muscle actually burns more fat even at rest. I know I generally lose the most in inches when I strength train, even if I do little to no cardio. However, the scale WILL move slower because you are not just getting rid of fat, you're replacing it with muscle with his more dense. So you'll look better even if the scale doesn't move much.