stop overdoing cardio and hit the damn weights!!!
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I'd rather not thanks. For a start I can't afford weights and certainly can't afford to join a gym (and wouldn't anyway, they are overpriced.) Secondly I wouldn't enjoy it, whereas I love the cycling I do every day.
If I get to the stage where I think lifting will benefit me then I might look into it again, but for now I'm still losing weight and inches by just doing cardio so I'm going to stick with it.
If you ever decide you want to do some weight training, Walmart has dumbbells that are less than $5. You don't have to join a gym or buy expensive equipment in order to do weight lifting.0 -
1. Toning takes time. If you start now, when you lose the 70 pounds, a beautifully toned and shaped muscle will appear.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.
#4 is where I am at, it may be bass ackwards but I don't understand toning muscle that is hidden behind 70lbs of fat. Once I am closer to my goal weight I will tone up my body as I do enjoy lifiting and doing cardio
2. It's not only about aesthetics. Resistance training helps with weight loss.0 -
I've just begun the 5x5 and I'm excited to see how it changes my body. I'm very inspired by the women that I see lift heavy.0
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I actually do feel that weights have made me bulky in some areas, more so than when I was more focused on just cardio. Before I was just fat and now I have that look of a defensive football player, only on a miniature scale. However, I need to lose some bodyfat. Right now my calves and biceps have more muscle mass than I would like to see, and they don't have a lot of fat on them. I don't think I would trade that though for the gains I've seen in strength and power and the positive changes in my back and shoulders. I feel that I am an anomaly. I don't see anyone else in my gym who is female and looks like me.
I seem to bulk real easy especially the upper body! I still have body fat though ....its just weird! LOL!0 -
I actually do feel that weights have made me bulky in some areas, more so than when I was more focused on just cardio. Before I was just fat and now I have that look of a defensive football player, only on a miniature scale. However, I need to lose some bodyfat. Right now my calves and biceps have more muscle mass than I would like to see, and they don't have a lot of fat on them. I don't think I would trade that though for the gains I've seen in strength and power and the positive changes in my back and shoulders. I feel that I am an anomaly. I don't see anyone else in my gym who is female and looks like me.
I seem to bulk real easy especially the upper body! I still have body fat though ....its just weird! LOL!
Then there are a ton of people who want your secret.0 -
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.
Except for #4, this is absolutely me! As for 4, I am still losing fat, but I actually do squats, lunges and other toning exercises for my abs, arms, legs and butt, but I do not "lift" per the definition you are going with, I think. I don't enjoy it - heck, I don't even LIKE it. People should do what works for THEM because ANY exercise that is done on a regular and consistent basis is GOOD. Why do you even care what someone else does?0 -
I think that most people forget that while you're running, walking, or doing any kind of cardio, you're still improving your muscles. You don't have to do EVERYTHING you can just do whatever you feel like doing. I barely lift weights because I don't have a personal trainer, I am not used to lifting and when I lift something or do exercised I tend to do something wrong and ache without getting any better. I really think that you need to improve your strenght before getting into lifting. When I began this journey I was feeling tired after a simple walk, I don't even want to think about what would have happened if I started lifting back then.0
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I think a lot of people don't understand how intimidating it is for a woman to start lifting. I do some body weight exercises at home and will work on weight machines in the gym but the free weight room is full of huge guys, I just don't feel welcomed and my efforts were sometimes laughed at. Additionally I feel to properly lift heavy you really need instruction, or can risk some serious injuries, and I definitely cannot afford a personal trainer!
Can you do one session with a personal trainer to get them to show you around and help you do a routine? A lot of people will do that.
When i started I bought some weights and a book and learned form myself at home.
You don't need a personal trainer. There are even you tube videos out there now to show you proper form on any machine or weight you can think of.0 -
I do both!!! :bigsmile:0
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I think OP is just referring to the fact that many women feel like cardio is what they "should" always be doing. I used to be the same way. I would walk into the gym and head straight to the elliptical; the weights section was for dudes and it was scary. Thanks to being on here I've realized how beneficial getting into the scary weight section actually is. Yes, it's kind of intimidating busting up into a group of dudes and grabbing a big barbell. But you get used to it. Youtube videos help, bodybuilding.com videos help. I think doing a combo of weights and cardio is ideal, but cardio is definitely not the only answer to reshaping your body.0
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One thing I do find is that people often say, "Wow, you've lost so much weight lately." And I respond that I have not lost weight in a year. I changed my body composition.
Weight lifting is great for helping women achieve and maintain bone density, so don't knock it just because you happen to like cardio better. I happen to like both. I feel that weights have had a much greater impact on how I look though.
This is why I lift weights. I'm 61, I have osteopenia and I don't want to get osteoporosis. I also know that as I get older, I lose muscle mass faster. For these 2 reasons alone, I began lifting weights. I continue because I really love it, and because I get the ego bump of "wow you look great" I'm still fat - I still have a long way to go, and I'm not in any sort of hurry!0 -
Use weights for your upper body. I have bad knees but am still able to do squats, I just don't do lunges.0
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I do both.
30 min. of cardio followed by an 60-70 min of lifting. The cardio leans me out and the lifting gives me muscles.
A woman will never get bulky unless she is taking steroids period. I lift heavy (for me) and I love it. I like the way my body has been transformed, I like seeing my muscles and having people tell me I should compete or ask me if I'm a gymnast.0 -
Why can't I love doing both? I think everything in moderation is key. Lift a couple days, cardio a couple days. I truly enjoy both and I won't give up running just to solely lift because I enjoy it.
I will say that while I have not “bulked” up because I eat at a deficit so that makes it impossible (that and estrogen), I have noticed my shoulders are now broader… I could stand to do without that, but that comes with lifting unfortunately and I do like being stronger.0 -
For those of you stuck on cardio and didn't look at the link at the beginning of this thread, look at it!! Here it is again: LOOK AT THE PHOTOS!
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
Here's another one:
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/yahoo-spotlight/why-your-cardio-routine-making-you-fat
I always looked 10-20lbs lighter because of weight lifting. I do not lift heavy, I do not do it at a gym. I have free weights at home and I do it to a DVD, although you don't need a work out DVD. Did you know that weights makes you a better runner too?
No one is telling you to stop your cardio routine, just start using weights in place of it for 2-3 days a week. If I had my choice, I would never do cardio and only do weights. Did you know that lifting increases your heart rate too?
Forget the scale. When my scale said 150, I was in a size 8 jeans and no one could believe I was over 135.
And no, don't wait until you get to a certain size to tone up, lifting will help you burn faster and even well after your done working out.
Try it for 6 weeks, 30min three times a week. See how your clothes fit.
Again , it worked for you but why does that give you authority to tell other people that they shouldn't be doing cardio if that's what they truly enjoy. It's their choice, trying to dissuade other people from doing what they like makes no sense to me.
I also agree with some of the comments above, cardio bashing is so old and pointless. Some people can't afford the gym or purchasing weights for the home, they may not have access to the equipment but at least they are getting up , moving around and exercising.
I am not dissuading anyone as exercise is exercise. What I am doing is encouraging women who don't lift to at least try it. I am speaking of my own experiences. I started using weights almost 30 years ago using 5 measly pounds doing The Firm workout. It changed my life. I get so many compliments when I wear a tank top, even now, being overweight.0 -
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.
Lifting burns fat and maintains muscle mass. Why would you want to lose both fat and LBM to get to a number on a scale then have to go through the painstaking work of trying to put muscle back on (which is verify difficult, especially for women), when you could lift now, maintain LBM, and lose mostly fat. Sure, the scale won't move as much, but the tape measure will, and you'd probably be more happy with the "tone" you have before you get to your goal weight....IMHO.
Edit: I do both (actually, a bit more cardio) and after reading the rest of this thread, wow there is a lot of misconception out there that "lifting does noting but help with asthetics, and lifters are vain".... wow.0 -
I enjoy doing both
I've been lifting heavy for a little while, and now I'm starting the 5/3/1 program (we'll see how that goes, but I'm excited to have a set routine!).
Lifting heavy things is fun, and makes me feel like a stronger person. My cardio, usually elliptical or running, gives me more leeway for food (yeesssss) and keeps my heart pumping.
I loove, love, love the definition in my shoulders and my legs, and I recently tried on a dress that I fit into when I was about 10 lbs lighter, so I am a big proponent of lifting. The long-term health benefits, in terms of bone density and overall faster recovery in case of injury, speak for themselves.
But everyone's different, and any exercise is a step in the right direction!0 -
I started my fitness journey back in March of this year. I love cardio but I recently started lifting with a trainer and I LOVE it! I was becoming skinny-fat now I'm becoming skinny-fit.0
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I also agree with some of the comments above, cardio bashing is so old and pointless. Some people can't afford the gym or purchasing weights for the home, they may not have access to the equipment but at least they are getting up , moving around and exercising.
^^^ Totally this. Cardio is great exercise .. and I enjoy doing both cardio and weights. Each person has their own goals and we should all respect that.
Doing weights keeps me from looking pathetic .. but cardio is just plain good for me. So no harm in doing both. End of story.0 -
I do both and I'm never giving up my extensive cardio to solely lift weights. I run marathons and I enjoy being able to call myself an athlete and run distances that most people can't even comprehend. Plus, running changed my life so not a chance I'll ever give it up.0
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Lift all the heavy things. Run all the miles. Eat all the foods. Have all the fun. Be all the sexay.0
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Meh, women can do whatever the hell they want and don't need men to 'educate' them about their own bodies. I rarely formally lift, but running and using the arc trainer is certainly giving me an efficient cardiovascular exchange and some legs that could kill a horse. Other women enjoy lifting and the bodies they get from that, or a combination. Who cares?0
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Meh, women can do whatever the hell they want and don't need men to 'educate' them about their own bodies. I rarely formally lift, but running and using the arc trainer is certainly giving me an efficient cardiovascular exchange and some legs that could kill a horse. Other women enjoy lifting and the bodies they get from that, or a combination. Who cares?
You did read the many replies from women in the thread stating the health benefits.....right?0 -
::: raises hand :::I actually do feel that weights have made me bulky in some areas, more so than when I was more focused on just cardio. Before I was just fat and now I have that look of a defensive football player, only on a miniature scale. However, I need to lose some bodyfat. Right now my calves and biceps have more muscle mass than I would like to see, and they don't have a lot of fat on them. I don't think I would trade that though for the gains I've seen in strength and power and the positive changes in my back and shoulders. I feel that I am an anomaly. I don't see anyone else in my gym who is female and looks like me.
I seem to bulk real easy especially the upper body! I still have body fat though ....its just weird! LOL!
Then there are a ton of people who want your secret.0 -
I think that a toned female body is just a beautiful thing. And for the most part ... the only way that I have seen that toned can really happen is by lifting some weights.
Myself .. I have noticed my body getting more toned since I have started weights. So it does seem to work well.
But I would have to say that from what I have seen here at MFP .. most women are looking to lose body fat, and lose weight. Getting toned is not necessarily the goal for many people .. thus this route is not as popular as it could be.
What do I know any ways ... just spilling out words here.
At first my goal was to solely lose weight.... and all I did was run for my exercise. I lost a lot of weight quickly, and when I started to be happy with the loss, I moved more to weights, etc. I didn't see the scale move much from then on, but I noticed the shape of my body change.
I think both are important, but I think they play different roles for different people at different times in their journeys... but it's good for them to know they are beneficial.0 -
I always suggest lifting to anyone. I wouldn't want to lose a lot of weight only to have flabby skin. Let's tone up.0
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First, lifting weight is good for women. The fastest way to burn fat is to increase muscle mass. Why do you think it's generally easier for men to lose weight? It's because they have more muscle mass.
Secondly, women are more likely to develop osteoporosis, post menopause. The best way to stave off osteoporosis, is to have strong bones. The best way to get strong bones is to pick up heavy things.
The heart is also a muscle so, cardio is important too, but not as important as most people think it is.
My personal routine includes 2 days of cardio, 4 days of weightlifting, 1 day of rest.0 -
Lifting weights cause muscle, muscle burns fat. Hence the more you lift the more you lose. Simple as that.0
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i understand cardio is important(depending on what kind you're doing), but where are women getting the idea that lifting weights will make them aminly and bulky from? for the ladies that do lift...can you PLEASE share with us how lifting weights have made a difference to your physique and health?
Define "overdoing cardio". If someone isn't doing any strength training that doesn't mean that cardio is to blame. Why are you specifically singling out women OP? Why can't men share how lifting has made a difference? Men do things too you know?Lift all the heavy things. Run all the miles. Eat all the foods. Have all the fun. Be all the sexay.
Yes, exactly this.0
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