Do you have to burn fat before you try lifting weights or doing any resistance training?

If you are doing resistance training with heavier weights you will bulk up a little. But having more muscle will help you burn the fat. In my opinion, the best way to lose the fat while you build muscle is to do endurance training with lighter weights, which will strengthen your muscles and help you lose the fat.

I've heard that the fat doesn't really have an effect on building muscle mass or toning. The muscle will just be building under the fat, and while the fat is still there, you won't be able to see the muscle. In any case, you want to do a variety of excercises so you never get bored.

When I hired my personal trainer he was insistant on doing at least 20 minutes of aerobics with the weight training. He said that I would never loose weight if I only did the weight training. Something about doing the aerobics speeds up your metabolism and therefore burns the fat. Working out won't do that... Also, a great way to help all the working out is to balance your carbs and proteins. And, if eating carbs go for the brown as much as you can. For me, I love high fiber bread but can't stand that high fiber wheat pasta. Do what you can...don't go to far or you won't be able to stick with it.

No. The "bulking up" prcess and the fat-burning process work together quite well as you raise your metabolism. You'll need to COMBINE a regimen of strength and aerobic training on alternate days to balance you workout and allow your muscles to recover from strength training, which can cause injury if done too vigorously without stretching.

Actually you will burn more calories by strength training or weight training. It's a good idea to get warmed up beforehand, and it's probably a good idea to do some cardio every other day as well.

Burning fat and building muscle happen simultaneously when you are working out. You do NOT need to do seperately workout to burn fat and tone muscle.

It's easier to put on muscle while you have a little fat on your body, and then strip off the fat through proper diet and exercise.

This is true. You should try to lose the weight you want to lose first and then begin a resistance routine.

there are so many variables... seek out a professional - at the local gym, if you get a membership or have a membership there is usually a person there that knows all this ... there are just so many variables.