I do both cardio and strength training.  My pictures I think speak for themselves.  To me it makes no sense whatsoever to not build muscle while losing fat.  As a person that works in physical therapy (physiotherapy for those outside the US) I could see this as a ticket to overuse injury and pain.  Building muscle helps to protect your joints and is a worthwhile activity.  Plus, muscle also is a calorie burner more so than fat.  Building muscle will help your metabolism.

If you do just cardio you will not just lose fat, but also muscle and losing muscle is not a good thing for the average person.

Does this mean it will take longer for the scale to move?  It might because muscle is more dense than fat, so it will make it seem like you are not losing weight, but you will notice that your jeans fit better, or your waist is smaller.  That means your body composition is better.  Who cares if the scale stays at 180 pounds as long as the body fat composition improves.  LIke this week I only lost 1 pound, but my BF went from 37.5% to 35.3% on mu home scale.  I'll take that

Eww, I know exactly what you mean and it isn't a healthy glowing look for sure!

wow samjohn!  you must be a fixture at your gym!  I don't have that kind of time for that much with two little monkeys at home and all the activities they do

Can I join this thread?  I am trying to figure out how to get physically healthy again, but safely and slowly.  I want to be muscular but flexible, lean yet curvy.
What is the program you mention Sassenach?

I have been tempted to go back to gym and try spinning, same as you - the foot problems you have sound like my knee issues.  But - so much I am reading now says all that cardio does not really help much!

History - used to run a lot - 1/2 marathons, did do weights for strength, also tae Bo for fun,swimming,roller blades biking - anything outside and fun. Coming back from colon cancer in 2008 - lost a ton of weight, which meant also a ton of muscle.  By the time they finished up with me I was pitiful.  so in the last year - gained a lot of weight back eating whatever would stay down and stay solid - and with no exercise now I am just a blob.

Now I see hope - with Paleo I am losing yet feel so much stronger. 
I am doing Pilates every other day for core stength and to build back my poor abdomen. I also have an elliptical - tried that Tabata....wow!  loved it and don't particularly want to go back to long sessions of cardio like I used to do.

So for now - is Pilates and Tabata going to help me?  Is there anything else out there that you might suggest?

I love to kayak, and want to be back in shape by spring so I can Blast the Bay (chesapeake...) also - want to stay away from blowing out my knees which all the running ruined.....

Let me know what you are doing!

The only way to not lose muscle while trying to lose fat is to train to gain muscle. The gym attendant lost 100lbs. and not all of that was fat.

Can I join this thread?  I am trying to figure out how to get physically healthy again, but safely and slowly.  I want to be muscular but flexible, lean yet curvy.
What is the program you mention Sassenach?

I have been tempted to go back to gym and try spinning, same as you - the foot problems you have sound like my knee issues.  But - so much I am reading now says all that cardio does not really help much!

History - used to run a lot - 1/2 marathons, did do weights for strength, also tae Bo for fun,swimming,roller blades biking - anything outside and fun. Coming back from colon cancer in 2008 - lost a ton of weight, which meant also a ton of muscle.  By the time they finished up with me I was pitiful.  so in the last year - gained a lot of weight back eating whatever would stay down and stay solid - and with no exercise now I am just a blob.

Now I see hope - with Paleo I am losing yet feel so much stronger. 
I am doing Pilates every other day for core stength and to build back my poor abdomen. I also have an elliptical - tried that Tabata....wow!  loved it and don't particularly want to go back to long sessions of cardio like I used to do.

So for now - is Pilates and Tabata going to help me?  Is there anything else out there that you might suggest?

I love to kayak, and want to be back in shape by spring so I can Blast the Bay (chesapeake...) also - want to stay away from blowing out my knees which all the running ruined.....

Let me know what you are doing!

Of course you can join!  Pilates and Tabata sound good to me....Pilates is lots of body weight exercises.  But Wlfdg would be a good one for other specific exercises.  I am doing compound moves with weights and spinning now. 

Thanks guys - I love the encouragement.
Did do Tabata today before breakfast, it is hard!

The pilates I do with a 'reformer' band, there are four pieces to keep me stabilizing and stretching, much like you would do on the real reformer machine.  I can really feel it working my core.

Sassenach this lose fat yet keep muscle is a real balance and I hope we can figure it out!
Warren  you hit the nail on the head with the physical confidence comment. Yeah I do feel like I worked so hard for physical fitness and then lost it.  somehow I will get it back!