Will I come to love strength training?

lokihen

People keep telling me that I'm going to love strength training and become addicted. It hasn't happened yet; still a chore.

I found a spreadsheet that I can fill out to track progress, which helps keep my nerd side engaged. But it would be wonderful if it became something I looked forward to, like cycling.

My question is: were you converted to the strength training side and how long did it take?

sammyliftsandeats

I converted for sure. It took a structured program to really get me to love it so about six weeks. Wish I started sooner.

rileysowner

What program are you using? That can make a big difference.

AnnPT77

I really don't love the activity itself, but if I can keep myself going until I start to see strength gains, and get that steady nice, taut, worked-out feeling going on the reg, I can usually stick with it. Which activities people get addicted to is a pretty individual thing. Personally, I'm only addicted to on-water rowing.

lokihen

rileysowner wrote: »

What program are you using? That can make a big difference.

Just dumbbells at home.

eisterunicorn

Honestly, I tried to be one of the cool weight lifting kids for a while, bout a year ago. Don't get me wrong! No regrets here!
It was exciting when I conquered my fear of the weight room and started learning how to do the exercises, BUT over time and as my weight started going up and it became more challenging, I really just became more afraid of the workouts and dreaded each set. All I could think about after a while was "omg I have to do this for the rest of my life to stay in this kind of shape???" For me, it wasn't worth it.

Now I do a lot of cycling and yoga and while I probably won't get sculpted from it, I actually enjoy and look forward to exercising now.

So in my opinion you just gotta do what you enjoy, do what you'll stick with and that you wanna get good at. There's something for everybody!!

Gallowmere1984

As already noted, some do, and some don't. Personally, I was hooked within the first week. Them noob gains made for great initial motivation, and by the time they died out, I had become obsessed with the idea of any improvement and progression being better than none.

Meganthedogmom

I loved it right away. It's cardio that I have a love/hate relationship with.

kenyonhaff

I'm more of a cardio type of girl myself. It's not that I don't like strength training, but I don't really enjoy the same exercises month in month out. But strength training does not have to use weights. I tend to rely on "Classical Stretch" by Miranda Osmond-White which is more yoga/tai chi/dance based.

TavistockToad

I have never really enjoyed it. i do just about enough to get the health benefits. body weight stuff isn't to bad.

sijomial

Maybe you will, maybe you won't.
Maybe you might like the results so much you "endure" it rather than enjoy it?

Personally I took to it immediately (in about 1974....).
Loved getting, feeling and looking stronger. Also made a big difference to a bullying situation at school - not just the strength but the self-confidence it gave me.

On the other hand - long distance running I immediately loathed and still loathe it now.
I will cycle all day and absolutely love it but running for anything other than sport or sprinting bores me to death.


PS - "just dumbbells at home" could be a great and productive workout or could be virtually a waste of time. Depends what you do with them!

mir1104

May I ask you something? Are you working out for a specific sport that means you are bound to do strength training the way you do?
Because if it's not the case, if you are working out for general fitness, for getting healthier, living longer, etc...there is no reason why you shouldn't pick an activity you like more.
I deeply dislike all ball sports, if I had to play them I'd not last a week...even if someone told me I'd come to love them, just not! But I found sports I love and it's not a chore to do them, even at 4 in the morning on a cold winter day/night.
Personally I suggest that you look for something you can enjoy, not force yourself to do something you don't because it's a sure, safe and tested recipe for failure.

Azdak

At some point, you will learn to love the results and that should help.

I find it a chore myself at first, but I figure out some tricks to stay engaged and then when I reached a certain level where I could actually feel the muscles engage and start to do "strong things", I became more internally motivated.

If you don't enjoy it now, then o also recommend just doing the basics. With the right intensity and exercises, you can get a lot of benefits with 6-8 exercises.

Chieflrg

Will you? Thst is a question you can answer for yourself.

Me? I was never converted. I fell in love with it the first time I held a barbbell at age 12 some 35 years ago. Some things we are ready for at different points of life. Never force yourself to love some thing or someone, it doesn't work that way.

ew_david

I loved it immediately, but that doesn't mean you will and that's totally okay. Lifting was the first exercise I looked forward to doing.

sardelsa

It's great, but I really fell in love after seeing how amazing the results were (the strength, the progression, the aesthetics) and finding the right program was a must for me.

lokihen

Thanks for all the replies.

It's cycling I really enjoy; I do get up at 4:00 a.m. to use my stationary bike on work days.

There are a few reasons I wanted to include a little strength into my life. I'm getting close to the half-way point in my weight loss (84 lbs down so far) and this feels like the right time. My son won't always be around to do the heavy stuff. I'd like to be able to clean the chicken coop without feeling like I'm going to die.

jjpptt2

lokihen wrote: »

People keep telling me that I'm going to love strength training and become addicted. It hasn't happened yet; still a chore.

I found a spreadsheet that I can fill out to track progress, which helps keep my nerd side engaged. But it would be wonderful if it became something I looked forward to, like cycling.

My question is: were you converted to the strength training side and how long did it take?

I can echo every part of this post.

Lifting is a grind for me. Period. Seeing regular progress helps a lot, but it's never been something I do for the love of it (like cycling). Some lifts and certain programming help make it less of a drudge, but even then it's a means to an end for me.

Sharon_C

I love weight lifting, hate cardio. My husband loves, loves cardio, hates weight lifting. He's a runner. He's tried weight lifting with me and just doesn't like it. I think some people are just like that.

marieamethyst

I still don't after working out for over 3 years now... I guess I'm just a cardio bunny at heart, lol. I enjoy doing push ups/squats/planks, but I get no enjoyment from doing weights and such.

pondee629

While spending some time with Uncle Sam's Misguided Children we questioned why we always chanted about how much we loved PT Our DI finally confided that nobody really loves PT, BUT we have to do it, we are going to do it and it makes it a lot easier if you can convince yourself that you do love it.

You may or may not "love" strength training. It then becomes easier to do regularly if you do "love" it. You either will love, or very much like, the results of strength training and that will be your motivation supplying you the determination to continue. It then becomes easier to continue. If you find yourself not "loving" strength training and/or not being very happy with its results, you'll find something else to love to create the you you want to become.

Seems you have cycling to love, you've also got strength training. If you like strength trainings results you'll just have to put up with it, if you find love does not come. It might, it might not. It just may forever be a chore, kinda like dusting or laundry.

AigreDoux

Maybe, maybe not.

I've been lifting for a little over a year. Like a lot of things, some days it's great, some days it's just ok, and some days I'd rather be elsewhere. Engaging my nerd side does tend to help keep me focused and excited, as well as changing up programming and goals every now and then.

AnnPT77

lokihen wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies.

It's cycling I really enjoy; I do get up at 4:00 a.m. to use my stationary bike on work days.

There are a few reasons I wanted to include a little strength into my life. I'm getting close to the half-way point in my weight loss (84 lbs down so far) and this feels like the right time. My son won't always be around to do the heavy stuff. I'd like to be able to clean the chicken coop without feeling like I'm going to die.

One of the ways I convince myself to weight train (when I do ) is by telling myself - truthfully - that it'll improve my rowing, the thing I actually enjoy & care about, and help me avoid unbalanced-overuse injuries (a risk because rowing is all lower-body push and upper body pull).

This might not be as helpful a 'persuader' with cycling, since I'm not sure (out of ignorance) whether improving the upper body strength, especially, will achieve those things in cycling.

Just a thought, though.

CafeRacer808

lokihen wrote: »

rileysowner wrote: »

What program are you using? That can make a big difference.

Just dumbbells at home.

Regarding structured programs that are dumbbell-specific, I just started this one on Sunday and have found it to be quite fun so far.

https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/dumbbell-only-home-or-gym-fullbody-workout.html

MeanderingMammal

lokihen wrote: »

People keep telling me that I'm going to love strength training and become addicted. It hasn't happened yet; still a chore.

I found a spreadsheet that I can fill out to track progress, which helps keep my nerd side engaged. But it would be wonderful if it became something I looked forward to, like cycling.

My question is: were you converted to the strength training side and how long did it take?

I find it dull as Hel, but it serves a purpose. I'm an endurance runner and it helps that performance.

That said I use a plyometric routine as a means to make it more interesting.

gradchica27

It took me about 3 or 4 months to convert from a die hard runner to a lifter with a running hobby. I started with New Rules of Lifting for Women and the results blew me away--plus the rush of pushing myself every session and lifting heavier.

Getting Bluetooth headphones so i can listen to my audiobooks helps a lot too--otherwise I'd be bored after a while.

canadianlbs

lokihen wrote: »

I'd like to be able to clean the chicken coop without feeling like I'm going to die.

O_O how heavy are your chickens ??? or maybe i should ask what you're feeding them.

i didn't have a 'grow-to-love-it' experience; it was more like seeing someone from across a room for the first time and flinging obstacles/people out of my way until i could lay hands on them. weirdest thing. i knew nothing about it, but i knew that i wanted to do it, for sure. it happened to me with my profession too, now that i think about it. there's never been a form of exercise that i ever 'grew' to love. it's always been: 'i don't care what it takes, i am going to do this', or 'bleh'.

if what you need is enough strength to clean chicken coops, then you could develop that strength by . . . cleaning chicken coops? couldn't you? i mean, the way to get 'good' at lifting weights is to lift weights, so the same kind of thing should apply.

KDar1988

I love it! I started seriously May 2016 with SL 5x5. Now it's an addiction. If I could do the program everyday I would. My obsession now is nailing down sumo deadlifts for form and weight.

lokihen

canadianlbs wrote: »

lokihen wrote: »

I'd like to be able to clean the chicken coop without feeling like I'm going to die.

O_O how heavy are your chickens ??? or maybe i should ask what you're feeding them.

i didn't have a 'grow-to-love-it' experience; it was more like seeing someone from across a room for the first time and flinging obstacles/people out of my way until i could lay hands on them. weirdest thing. i knew nothing about it, but i knew that i wanted to do it, for sure. it happened to me with my profession too, now that i think about it. there's never been a form of exercise that i ever 'grew' to love. it's always been: 'i don't care what it takes, i am going to do this', or 'bleh'.

if what you need is enough strength to clean chicken coops, then you could develop that strength by . . . cleaning chicken coops? couldn't you? i mean, the way to get 'good' at lifting weights is to lift weights, so the same kind of thing should apply.

Lol. I use the deep litter method during the winter, which means in the spring there's at least 8 inches of straw/waste to pitchfork and shovel out into a wheelbarrow and to the compost pile.

Lots of great insights in the replies. Thanks again. I'll keep working at it knowing that even if I never love it, it's still worthwhile.

_incogNEATo_

Some days, lifting is a chore still.

mgalovic01

You are getting sleepy. Veeeery Sleeepy. You love strength training. You can't wait to strength training again, because you enjoy it so much. When I snap my fingers you will awaken with love for strength training. Snap!