stop overdoing cardio and hit the damn weights!!!

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Replies

  • ATGsquats
    ATGsquats Posts: 227 Member
    I wish more females would lift. They look so much better with tone muscle than a marathon runner who looks starved.

    well excuse me but women should do what keeps them happy and healthy, what they love, what they are passionate about.our lives do not revolve around being sexually appealing to YOU. we are not here for your purposes, we have our own purposes and a woman looks best when she is happy and living her life how she wants.we are not bodies to be gawked at, we are whole human beings. a woman does not look 'better' when she does any particular kind of work out, we all have our own ways we want to look, our own lives to live, our own aesthetic.


    Relax...was an opinion
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    I wish more females would lift. They look so much better with tone muscle than a marathon runner who looks starved.

    well excuse me but women should do what keeps them happy and healthy, what they love, what they are passionate about.our lives do not revolve around being sexually appealing to YOU. we are not here for your purposes, we have our own purposes and a woman looks best when she is happy and living her life how she wants.we are not bodies to be gawked at, we are whole human beings. a woman does not look 'better' when she does any particular kind of work out, we all have our own ways we want to look, our own lives to live, our own aesthetic.


    Relax...was an opinion

    No uterus...

    ...no opinion.






    (I learned that rule on an MFP thread once.)
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    I wish more females would lift. They look so much better with tone muscle than a marathon runner who looks starved.

    well excuse me but women should do what keeps them happy and healthy, what they love, what they are passionate about.our lives do not revolve around being sexually appealing to YOU. we are not here for your purposes, we have our own purposes and a woman looks best when she is happy and living her life how she wants.we are not bodies to be gawked at, we are whole human beings. a woman does not look 'better' when she does any particular kind of work out, we all have our own ways we want to look, our own lives to live, our own aesthetic.


    Relax...was an opinion

    No uterus...

    ...no opinion.






    (I learned that rule on an MFP thread once.)

    tumblr_m4ckc8oNSp1qzydh2o1_500.gif
  • 06mommy87
    06mommy87 Posts: 5 Member
    I like doing a mixture of both. I tend to use some weights while working a cardio circuit. This helps me create a toned look while still burning fat.
  • jennibear22
    jennibear22 Posts: 95 Member
    I just have no clue about weights or lifting so I stick to cardio and "meta fit" or circuits which have a mixture of both.

    But I have use of a fantastically well equpped (and totally free) gym every day at work so I would like to know more about toning and lifting for women. Are there any good sites for beginners to this? I think a lot of females just are not sure which types of weights to do and so stick woth cardio.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I just have no clue about weights or lifting so I stick to cardio and "meta fit" or circuits which have a mixture of both.

    But I have use of a fantastically well equpped (and totally free) gym every day at work so I would like to know more about toning and lifting for women. Are there any good sites for beginners to this? I think a lot of females just are not sure which types of weights to do and so stick woth cardio.

    Starting Strength is a good beginner program. If money is tight, Stronglifts is free but it's a bit infomerically and you have to wade through that to get to the program. Some like New Rules of Lifting for Women-- it seemed overly complex to me but on the plus side you would learn a lot of different exercises.

    The basis for whatever you choose should be compound lifts-- squats, deadlifts, bench, rows, and overhead press (my old nemesis) are going to be the starting point for most good beginner programs.
  • DuckDynastyMakesMeLaugh
    DuckDynastyMakesMeLaugh Posts: 363 Member
    Bump
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    Okay, so I was in this thread eons ago before I started lifting.

    I didn't think I would enjoy lifting, but I decided to try it because I wanted to increase my strength to be able to accomplish things that I hadn't really been able to do before because I had too little arm strength.

    I do like it and I mostly like the asthetics with increasing my lean muscle.

    That being said, I STILL feel like women should do whatever makes them happy.

    I've seen plenty of runners / joggers who have lovely bodies. And even if I DON'T think someone's body is lovely, it's really not for me to decide.
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    Many women, including me, don't WANT to look muscular. I'm strong enough to do farm work, but I would rather be dead than look like those female body builders. Seriously.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Many women, including me, don't WANT to look muscular. I'm strong enough to do farm work, but I would rather be dead than look like those female body builders. Seriously.
    Don't worry, there's no risk of that ever happening to you.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Many women, including me, don't WANT to look muscular. I'm strong enough to do farm work, but I would rather be dead than look like those female body builders. Seriously.

    That's kind of offensive.

    And really insulting given the amount of work it takes to actually get there. I do farm work- I still looked muscular- nothing wrong with looking muscular.

    There is a really really big difference between professional body builder- and looking muscular. it's laughable hard to get there and really insulting to think it can be done with just a little weight training. it's not a magical over night- "lift a heavy weight"BOOM vascularity- HA- if only it was that easy.

    You'd be better at your farm work if you lifted weights... trust me I lived on a horse ranch- but- as noted- there is no way that it would happen to you.
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    Many women, including me, don't WANT to look muscular. I'm strong enough to do farm work, but I would rather be dead than look like those female body builders. Seriously.

    Body building women have to work very hard and micro-manage their diet and exercise routines to build up that kind of muscle. From your previous post (about the chores you do) you already "lift heavy" and you don't look like a body builder, do you? We women generally have too much estrogen to get bulked-up without a whole lot of dedication and effort.
  • fitandfortyish
    fitandfortyish Posts: 194 Member
    Fascinating thread...I'm a cardio-aholic and spend quite a bit of time on a C2, rowing on water or running sprints for HIIT. I'm toned and would happily compare my a** , shoulders and legs to every female lifter over 40 on this site.

    There are Cardio folks that can have toned bodies-- but like everything, it depends on so many factors.

    The number of times I've seen "lifters" in the gym anemically thrashing away on the machines or with free weights reminds me blanket statements like "lifting is the only way to go" applies only to those who know what they are doing. For some on this site, wandering into the local gym and lifting isn't going to get them where they need to go and may lead to disappointment.

    Cardio on the other hand is easy, cheap and can be effective and it is a good start point. My position on this is great if you are a lifter. So many women and men on this site look amazing and achieved that through lifting alone. But don't knock cardio bodies--we are not all skinny waifs with no tone.
  • blueboxgeek
    blueboxgeek Posts: 574 Member
    Can I ask a question please? When people say "lifting".... does it have to be in the gym, lifting weight, increasing weights kind of stuff?

    I really did enjoy lifting for a while but started to get a bit bored. My gym was full of posers and people who I really didn't want to be around.

    So I bought kettlebells to work out at home. I now alternate between running and a home kettlebell workout which includes squats, deadlifts and as many other things I can squeeze in, plus things like planks and press ups.

    So when people say if you want to change your shape you have to lift.... can other strength workouts, such as kettlebells or body weight workouts be just as effective for toning and shaping the body?
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Can I ask a question please? When people say "lifting".... does it have to be in the gym, lifting weight, increasing weights kind of stuff?

    I really did enjoy lifting for a while but started to get a bit bored. My gym was full of posers and people who I really didn't want to be around.

    So I bought kettlebells to work out at home. I now alternate between running and a home kettlebell workout which includes squats, deadlifts and as many other things I can squeeze in, plus things like planks and press ups.

    So when people say if you want to change your shape you have to lift.... can other strength workouts, such as kettlebells or body weight workouts be just as effective for toning and shaping the body?
    It's shorthand for progressive resistance exercise so yeah :D
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Many women, including me, don't WANT to look muscular. I'm strong enough to do farm work, but I would rather be dead than look like those female body builders. Seriously.

    I was really afraid of becoming a brain surgeon so I decided not to go to nursing school.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Many women, including me, don't WANT to look muscular. I'm strong enough to do farm work, but I would rather be dead than look like those female body builders. Seriously.

    I was really afraid of becoming a brain surgeon so I decided not to go to nursing school.

    I love you so hard.
  • MissStatement
    MissStatement Posts: 92 Member
    Many women, including me, don't WANT to look muscular. I'm strong enough to do farm work, but I would rather be dead than look like those female body builders. Seriously.

    Unless a woman makes a concerted effort to achieve the muscular look, it will not happen with your garden variety resistance training program. It just won't.

    You may be doing adequate work with the chores that you do, but most women don't do that and they are missing out on one of the most important benefits of strength training - preservation of bone density as they age. Study after study demonstrates that older adults who have resistance trained are less prone to breaks and less susceptible to osteoporosis.

    Edit to quote post.
  • Foodiethinking
    Foodiethinking Posts: 240 Member
    Umm, no. I will not hit the weights. And not because I think it'll make me bulky.
    1. I don't want to.
    2. I reeeaallly enjoy walking and jogging.
    3. I have no intentions of paying for a full gym membership to have access to weights.
    4. I'm still working on losing fat, toning is for when I'm closer to my goal. I can barely do many squats or lunges right now.

    I don't get why so many people think everyone should lift. People are going to do what they enjoy.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Umm, no. I will not hit the weights. And not because I think it'll make me bulky.
    1. I don't want to.
    2. I reeeaallly enjoy walking and jogging.
    3. I have no intentions of paying for a full gym membership to have access to weights.
    4. I'm still working on losing fat, toning is for when I'm closer to my goal. I can barely do many squats or lunges right now.

    I don't get why so many people think everyone should lift. People are going to do what they enjoy.

    this post makes me so sad.
  • ALNoog
    ALNoog Posts: 413 Member
    I do both... I use small weights though because I am still a weakling. So I guess it's not really "lifting" but it's stength training with weights.. I vary my workouts from weight reps to dancing to kick boxing to walking to jogging to step aerobics to resistance training ...I like to mix it up and do things I like and to keep me from getting bored.
  • becky10rp
    becky10rp Posts: 573 Member
    Wow - didn't know this was such a 'hot' topic............!

    I resisted weight lifting till about 7 - 8 months ago - was never afraid I'd 'bulk up' - but I thought it was a 'guy thing'.

    WRONG!!

    Honestly, it's been life-changing.

    While I still like cardio - you get the 'high' - I will continue to do weights - for several reasons:

    1. lifting helps me maintain my weight
    2. my Dr. says it helps ward off osteoporosis - which runs in my family
    3. has toned and tightened areas that cardio NEVER could (my belly)
    4. it has reduced my back pain
    5. it's a stress buster

    So - I'd say - don't be afraid, give it a try - SO many benefits!!
  • norrisski
    norrisski Posts: 1,217 Member
    I do both....I strength train 3 days a week and cardio 3 days per week. I love the feeling of improving what poundage I can lift and it feels good to know that I am strong. And it is never too late to start. I was 53 when I started. with cardio you can lose the weight with weight lifting you can shape the body so it is a matter of what your priorities are. And don't wait to start the lifting start at the beginning so you can lose fat and weight at the same time.

    Recently, I started Venus Index and love the workouts because you are working a lot of muscle groups at the same time and don't have to spend hours in the gym. One of their spokeswomen is here on the site. Check her profile out if you think lifting makes women bulky. Californiagirl2012.

    Good luck on your journey whatever you choose. And remember it boils down to the choices that we make whether it be exercise or the food that we put in our bodies.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I do both... I use small weights though because I am still a weakling. So I guess it's not really "lifting" but it's stength training with weights.. I vary my workouts from weight reps to dancing to kick boxing to walking to jogging to step aerobics to resistance training ...I like to mix it up and do things I like and to keep me from getting bored.

    nah- don't let anyone tell you that.
    lifting is about progressive over load- and has very little to do with the number.

    "heavy" is a rep range- not an actual number. if you can rep it out over 10/15- it's not heavy enough. But if you are doing stuff in working range between 1-10- it's heavy.
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    Umm, no. I will not hit the weights. And not because I think it'll make me bulky.
    1. I don't want to.
    2. I reeeaallly enjoy walking and jogging.
    3. I have no intentions of paying for a full gym membership to have access to weights.
    4. I'm still working on losing fat, toning is for when I'm closer to my goal. I can barely do many squats or lunges right now.

    I don't get why so many people think everyone should lift. People are going to do what they enjoy.




    yes, they will.
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    Many women, including me, don't WANT to look muscular. I'm strong enough to do farm work, but I would rather be dead than look like those female body builders. Seriously.

    That's kind of offensive.

    And really insulting given the amount of work it takes to actually get there. I do farm work- I still looked muscular- nothing wrong with looking muscular.

    There is a really really big difference between professional body builder- and looking muscular. it's laughable hard to get there and really insulting to think it can be done with just a little weight training. it's not a magical over night- "lift a heavy weight"BOOM vascularity- HA- if only it was that easy.

    You'd be better at your farm work if you lifted weights... trust me I lived on a horse ranch- but- as noted- there is no way that it would happen to you.


    Actually, I DO live on a working farm and horse ranch, and I can deadlift 50 to 80 lb. hay bales, carry them to a hay trailer, and stack them 4 rows high, 100 reps or whatever it takes to get the job done. Since we heat with wood, I also haul and stack firewood, and haul grain bags. The thought of doing MORE lifting makes me shudder.
  • ALNoog
    ALNoog Posts: 413 Member
    Well I guess what I mean is.. I am nursing a rotator cuff injury so if I am doing something like curls or squats with weights I use 5 pounds but if I am doing something that requires full range of motion that includes the shoulder I use 3 pounds. I am trying to strengthen it back up a little before I move on to heavier weights.
  • SoreTodayStrongTomorrow222
    SoreTodayStrongTomorrow222 Posts: 252 Member
    So I do sort of both? Idk it feels like both because im out of breath and sweating profusely - like yesterday - run two laps around the gym then lunges, squats, frog leaps - run another two laps and do a variation of lunges, squats frog leaps - then a circut with deadlifts, more squats, planks/active planks, running suicides, box push, battle ropes - repeat X 3 - then death
  • nomorebingesgirl2014
    nomorebingesgirl2014 Posts: 378 Member
    Bump
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    This thread can die now. The women know and are lifting.

    Thanks to the OP for his instrumental posting in making this happen.

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