But, what if I don't want to lift?
AmberStarr_87
Posts: 1,291 Member
I do the 30 day shred 5 times a week & I do yoga 5 days a week (this isn't new, I've been doing it for years) & I walk/jog 1-2 miles pretty much everyday. Now, I have 4 kids so finding the time to workout in a gym lifting or doing crossfit or any other type of similar program is pretty close to impossible. Is there not a way to get a toned body after I loose all this fat without lifting? Reading post after post of advice, it seems like that's the only answer.
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You have to use the muscles a bit beyond their capacity in your training in order to "tone" (and by "tone" I mean increase strength and have musculature visible as the fat goes). Maybe what you are doing will work for you. Time will tell.0
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I lift nothing heavier than a beer glass... And occasionally my bike when I need to put it on my car's bike rack...
There is no requirement to do strength training, especially depending on your goals.0 -
You don't have to at all
If you want to find something to do at home like that you could easily do bodyweight exercises nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/
If you don't, don't
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It really depends on your goals. I'd say you're unlikely to be happy with your body if you only diet and don't exercise, but yoga, bodyweight exercises, and cardio are great for strength and muscle tone.0
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You could incorporate body weight excerises like someone else said.
Planks, squats, lunges..ect.0 -
You could cut out a couple days of your cardio and replace that time slot with A strength training routine.
You could also get set up to do this at home so you wouldn't have to go to the gym if you don't want. You could get some dumb bells or kettlebells and do it at home. You don't have to lift super heavy if you don't want to. There's plenty of people that do it at home.0 -
You don't HAVE to lift... but if you want overall fitness, it would be foolish not to do so. (Bodyweight exercises are great, and I use them abundantly, but they're no substitute.)0
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If you don't want to, or can't - then don't. If you're getting good results you're happy with then don't worry about it..... oh 4 kids here too - 12, 9, 17 months, 7 months old.0
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Jennloella wrote: »If you don't want to, or can't - then don't. If you're getting good results you're happy with then don't worry about it..... oh 4 kids here too - 12, 9, 17 months, 7 months old.
9, 7, 3, & 13 months. 3 boys- youngest is a girl. She KILLED my body- boys were a cake walk, literally!
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You could always re evaluate after you get to your goal weight - if you're happy, then continue as you are. If not, you could look into some of the strength training suggestions above, like using your own bodyweight.0
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Lifting has great physical benefits. You are not required to lift, unless you want the physical aesthetic of a weight lifter. In general resistance training (versus cardio) is great for your body. However, from the sounds of your routine, you should be most proud of yourself already. Lots of things do lots of things. Poledancing is apparently great. Parkour looks a hoot. Don't feel bad about not doing ALL TEH THINGS!!10
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amberstarrcogle wrote: »Jennloella wrote: »If you don't want to, or can't - then don't. If you're getting good results you're happy with then don't worry about it..... oh 4 kids here too - 12, 9, 17 months, 7 months old.
9, 7, 3, & 13 months. 3 boys- youngest is a girl. She KILLED my body- boys were a cake walk, literally!
my last two are girls, 10.5 months apart. My body was DONE. Just about back though.
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You don't HAVE to lift... but if you want overall fitness, it would be foolish not to do so. (Bodyweight exercises are great, and I use them abundantly, but they're no substitute.)
Yoga & the shred video I do commonly repeat planks, lunges & squats. I assumed they werent enough. The yoga especially, because my body is accustomed to it. Is adding weights (no more than 10lbs) a better strategy?0 -
You have to use the muscles a bit beyond their capacity in your training in order to "tone" (and by "tone" I mean increase strength and have musculature visible as the fat goes). Maybe what you are doing will work for you. Time will tell.
This . . . also, you really don't "tone" your muscles, most of them are naturally that shape. You're just using them beyond regular capacity which increases the size of them. That combined with lowering your body fat overall gives you a "toned" look.
Body weight exercises maybe . . . or just keep doing what you're doing . . . do you really, absolutely need/want the "toned" look? If so, you may need to find the time to lift and increase the size of your muscles.
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One of the first pieces of equipment I bought was bowflex adjustable weights, money well spent, take up little room and you can do a lot with them since they adjust - heavy squats, lighter for presses, etc. I've got about a full gym at home now, but my dumb bells still sit at the end of the kitchen and I do sets while dinner is cooking if I had a time crunch day.0
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If you want to look gross like me, lift weights.
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If you don't want to, then don't. But you may change your mind once you reach "goal weight" if you find that you're still not happy with results.
And as others have said, you don't have to lift heavy or do crossfit, but some form of resistance training along with the cardio (or in place of some of it) can make a big difference. There are lots of body weight things you can do without ever touching the weights.0 -
I'd personally rather die than do only cardio, but lifting isn't a requirement. If you don't want to do it, don't.
You could also do body weight "strength" training. (Excuse the quotes, but I have a hard time calling body weight squats anything but cardio, but some people are into it.) This would at least engage your muscles more than usual. The worst that will happen due to lack of strength training is that you'll lose muscle you already have as you lose the fat. And you'll be weak. If you're cool with that, skip strength training.
Four kids at 27? Dang, you've been busy.0 -
Burt_Huttz wrote: »You are not required to lift, unless you want the physical aesthetic of a weight lifter.1
This! I don't! I don't even need a 6-pack (unless it's of blue moon).. Also, thank you! It's a lot of work, but I'm trying!0 -
You don't HAVE to lift... but if you want overall fitness, it would be foolish not to do so. (Bodyweight exercises are great, and I use them abundantly, but they're no substitute.)
Pfft! Nonsense. Most people are just looking to get fit, not become body builders. You can gain plenty of muscle with a home workout of pushups, pullups, lunges and squats. A set of dumbells would help to add extra resistance for the squats.0 -
amberstarrcogle wrote: »You don't HAVE to lift... but if you want overall fitness, it would be foolish not to do so. (Bodyweight exercises are great, and I use them abundantly, but they're no substitute.)
Yoga & the shred video I do commonly repeat planks, lunges & squats. I assumed they werent enough. The yoga especially, because my body is accustomed to it. Is adding weights (no more than 10lbs) a better strategy?
No more than 10 pounds? Nah, besides for a very few exercises, you're going to need more than that. I'd just stick with body weight stuff if you're not going to pick up anything heavy.0 -
Do you get sore muscles doing what you're doing? If yes, you are probably toning/building muscle. If no, you may want to push it a little. Add hills/incline to your runs etc. Or just lift.0
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You most certainly don't need to lift but there's a lot of great reasons for doing it and you're right that you'll get better results if you do. Here's another way to look at it. It's easier to maintain the muscle you have than to build new muscle. The more extra weight you're carrying around, the more muscle your body has built to move that weight around on a daily basis. As you lose weight, you're going to lose some of that muscle. Wouldn't you rather simply maintain it now than have to work a lot harder for it later?
Replace two of your 30 day shred sessions for weight sessions. If you don't have time for the gym right now buy some hand weights and resistance bands to start. You can even make your own weights with stuff around the house. A gallon milk jug filled with sand or water is pretty heavy!
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LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »
Four kids at 27? Dang, you've been busy.
You don't say!0 -
goldthistime wrote: »Do you get sore muscles doing what you're doing? If yes, you are probably toning/building muscle. If no, you may want to push it a little. Add hills/incline to your runs etc. Or just lift.
I do. My body hurts! Ive been dieting a month & added the shred video to my normal walk & daily Yoga 2 1/2 weeks ago- it's the same video everyday & I still wake up the next morning praying I'll find the ibuprofen next to the bed.0 -
Agreed, and here's a success story for bodyweight exercises:You don't have to at all
If you want to find something to do at home like that you could easily do bodyweight exercises nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/
If you don't, don't
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1428309/what-can-calisthenics-do-for-you-let-me-show-you0 -
There is no "need" to lift. Lifting is very popular on this site, but obviously people survive without lifting and also obviously many people manage to have great bodies and be in good health without lifting. To lose weight, you need to control how many calories you eat vs how many calories you burn. To have an overall good health and look fit, you need to do some sort of exercise, preferably some combination of cardio and strength training. What form of exercise you choose, it is up to you, to your personal preferences, schedule and lifestyle. If you ask people around you in real life, ones who have bodies you like, you will get a variety of activities. Not everyone lifts, same as not everyone runs, or does pilates or swims or is into martial arts. Obviously there is nothing wrong with heavy lifting, same as there is nothing wrong with basketball, dancing or calisthenics, but heavy lifting is definitely not a requirement in general. Figure out what type of exercise works for you and go for it.0
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amberstarrcogle wrote: »goldthistime wrote: »Do you get sore muscles doing what you're doing? If yes, you are probably toning/building muscle. If no, you may want to push it a little. Add hills/incline to your runs etc. Or just lift.
I do. My body hurts! Ive been dieting a month & added the shred video to my normal walk & daily Yoga 2 1/2 weeks ago- it's the same video everyday & I still wake up the next morning praying I'll find the ibuprofen next to the bed.
You're doing stuff. You'll look good. It's just a different look. My friend is a serious yoga instructor and she asked me how I got my arms (I lift heavy) and my response was "NOT yoga". I was just teasing her obviously, but it's true. She looks great too, just different.
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Like others have said, you don't have to if you don't want to. I do it, but my goals are a bit different from the normal female who wants a toned, slender body. I don't just want to be toned, I want to look FIT. That means I want to be nicely cut. That requires a bit more effort.0
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