When to start weights

I'm 17 years old and was just wondering when I should start using weights.

When I was 15, I was 260 pounds. Since then (almost 2 years) I've lost about 70 pounds (I weigh about 193). In my mind, I've always said once I get small enough I'll start weights but I'm not sure.

I'm afraid if I use weights because I'll get big. My goal in the first place was to look tall and skinny, with some muscle if I ever take my shirt off. I'm 6'2 in height. I don't want to look big in clothes just because I have a lot of muscle, this has happened to a lot of my friends.

I also do about 3-5 miles a day on the treadmill for a workout.

Should I wait untill I'm 180 pounds and then start working out?

People have TOO MANY misconceptions about resistance training. This is largley due to the fact theweight training has been stereotyped as for people who want to be big or for bodybuilder or for athletes. In fact, people need to open their eyes to the reality.

Fist and foremost, a few things ned to be understood. Weightlifting, is anaerobic and has A LOT OF CARDIOVACULAR BENEFITS!! Do not allow yourself to misuse the word to the word cardio to ONLY meaning aerobic exerise.

Now, look at life. How often do you need to do something, anything for a short period of time and do it fast? For example, chasing a school bus, lifting a heavy box? How about shoveling snow or moving dirt? Walking up a flight of stairs or countless other daily activities... Our life is ANAEROBIC but we train (exercise) aerobically. Jogging will make a fast sprinter (nor vice verse), you will never lift heavy object by running. We live anaerobic lives so train that way!