stop overdoing cardio and hit the damn weights!!!

Smash666

Being an ex cardio junkie myself... And having learned the error of my ways, it drives me bonkers to watch girls spend hours going a steady lengthy time on any cardio machine and then leave without even giving the weights a glance.
And they wonder why they dont make any progress in the gym...
For one... Im a firm believer in interval training... And how a mix of different intensity (fartlick) is far more beneficial in the long run then going full boar for a full 20 minutes straight.
Two... Muscle burns cals... Even at rest... The more muscle you have the more cals you burn... Even when your sleeping... And no lifting weights won't make you manly and huge
Unless that's what your working for and have an exercise routine to make that happen.

Amwhite1986

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.

Well, if your goal is not a great looking body, but rather just not being fat, then keep doing whatcha doing...

"A great looking body" is up to the individual.

I guess that's hard for you to understand.

Exactly. A great body for me isn't having visible muscle definition, abs or even being skinny. It's being healthy and looking the way I want to look which involves soft curves. I not only look smaller than the last time I was this weight, I look a lot healthier. My legs are a lot firmer and I'm ACTIVE. The key component for better health, being active in general.

Amwhite1986

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.

I don't feel that anyone has to hit the weights (reasons 1-3 make sense), but your fourth reason for not doing it is that you're going to to do it eventually..? So why not start now if you're going to be doing it anyway? And not being able to do squats or lunges is more motivation to work on them so you can actually do a few.

I said I'm going to tone eventually. Not that I'm going to lift. I have no intentions of lifting. That would be a $62/month gym membership.
I am starting to do body weight excerises, I only started last week. Which is why I can't do much yet. And I'll do the 30 day shred. Lifting isn't the only way to tone.

HexyleneGlycol

I do find weight lifting helps tone your body and Idk why people are saying they dont lift weights cuz they only have 5 pound weights. I have only ever used 3-5 pound weights and they work fine, its just the way you use them. If you incorporate weights into your pilates, lunges and your cardio workout, they work just as well as toning. Repetitive lifts that take your muscles to temporary fatigue is all it takes and you dont need any more than 3-8 pound weights to do that, especially if youre a woman...I am considering purchasing some 8 pound weights though...Only because I want to see more definition faster.

tyraun_b

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?


overdoing cardio: hours and hours of slow, low intensity, steady state cardio without barely breaking a sweat day in and day out. and this would be their only type of exercise PERIOD!!! another definition would be....either hours and hours of high/moderate intensity cardio without incorporating ANY type of resistance exercise. hence.....one of these will cause the person to look exactly the same (they would be better off staying home or walking to the corner store..which would be damn near equivalent), or they end up doing so much that they burn away the muscle that they already had. WHICH could POSSIBLY result them in having a higher fat percentage then they originally had.

this is not intended to be a sexist topic where i'm just picking on women, because this goes for EVERYONE!!!! it's just simple conversation and something i wanted to express and hear the views of, because it's something i see and hear way too often. and yes ALOT of MEN fall into this category too. i even have some of my friends who are like this. it just doesn't normally apply to most guys as it does with women, because men have a tendency to wanna be muscular and not too skinny. to top this off i enjoy hearing how women go hard in the gym. i like to hear that women aren't shy/intimidated to bang with the fellas in the gym.
it's something that i believe would help push them harder. it would allow them to set a higher bar for themselves so they could reach their goals!!!

from the famous Ronnie Coleman: "people wanna get stronger but people don't wanna lift no heavy a#% weight!!"
to break that down for you....that means lifting more than what you're use to in order to stimulate muscle growth..but at the same time not doing more than what you can really handle!!!

kelly_e_montana

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!

You were laughed at?

I have never been laughed at (that I know of). Usually I have found guys to be pretty encouraging.

We had a women's area at my gym when I started lifting. I worked out there for years until it became open to both men and women. Still, it's mostly women. I've gotten more into barbells lately and have ventured into the main weight area (I've only seen another woman in there once). The guys give me a lot of weird looks and in fact sometimes, roll their eyes and leave the room when I walk in. I know proper form. I've had a trainer.

I have thought about switching to another gym but frankly I won't because they just have one main area and I'd rather deal with the smaller woman-inhabited weight area at my current gym. I get a lot of support from guys when I'm lifting in CrossFit but even then there are a few haters who always say I didn't do as many reps as I did or who contradict all of my coaches and tell them I shouldn't try lifting that heavy or I shouldn't try setting new personal records. For example, when I had a female coach, my deadlift was 200 and before that all the guys in my class were telling me to stick with 145 two weeks earlier. That being said, I do have some great male coaches who encourage me and I appreciate them very much for understanding I can try more and just drop weight if my form starts breaking down (and making me do so).

So my point is, I get where you are at. If I had continued doing it on my own at the gym, I was ready to seek out a male lifting partner. The fear is way, way more challenging than anything you will lift.

jimmmer

At the end of the day: lifting is challenging. It's supposed to be.

If you are being put off from doing it because you are bothered by the looks that you think other people are giving you, well you're going to have to get over that real quick if you are going to make a go of it.

Man, women, girl, boy. There's someone out there stronger than you. There's someone out there faster than you. There's someone out there who knows more than you. You're getting older and losing what you had, they're younger than you and getting better. Welcome to life.

Time to get out of the pity mindset and just move the damn Iron. Get into a relationship with it. Forget about the rest of the bullsh!t that's either already in the weight room, or you bring in with you.

Get it done for yourself. Other people and your thoughts on them are irrelevant.

kelly_e_montana

At the end of the day: lifting is challenging. It's supposed to be.

If you are being put off from doing it because you are bothered by the looks that you think other people are giving you, well you're going to have to get over that real quick if you are going to make a go of it.

Man, women, girl, boy. There's someone out there stronger than you. There's someone out there faster than you. There's someone out there who knows more than you. You're getting older and losing what you had, they're younger than you and getting better. Welcome to life.

Time to get out of the pity mindset and just move the damn Iron. Get into a relationship with it. Forget about the rest of the bullsh!t that's either already in the weight room, or you bring in with you.

Get it done for yourself. Other people and your thoughts on them are irrelevant.

Not exactly. I lift and have been lifting for years. I disagree. You are a man and I am a woman and you really can't put yourself ini my place, so your thoughts on this are not relevant to me.


P.S. Come to pole dance class with me and see if you feel comfortable. It is a great total bodyweight and flexibility building program. I bet you would feel strange the first few times.
I definitely think there are ways to lift weights that are less intimidating to women, so I'm not encouraging women not to do it. However, the process of going to a gym and lifting is much harder than the actual exercise. Don't let it stop you, ladies, but don't let a man tell you your feelings aren't valid.

Rai007

I would love to lift after losing some more weight.
but i need a gym and proper guidance as how to lift.
and hiring a trainer seems to be expensive in my city.

jimmmer

I definitely think there are ways to lift weights that are less intimidating to women, so I'm not encouraging women not to do it. However, the process of going to a gym and lifting is much harder than the actual exercise. Don't let it stop you, ladies, but don't let a man tell you your feelings aren't valid.

You misunderstand me. I'm not saying your feelings aren't valid.

I'm saying that you need to transcend them.

People are always trying to put you in boxes. Don't put yourself in one.

Nicolee_2014

I try to do more lifting but I like cardio more......I will take your advice thanking you :happy:

xLaPetiteFille

Weights have done wonders on my body

robinsondel

At the end of the day: lifting is challenging. It's supposed to be.

If you are being put off from doing it because you are bothered by the looks that you think other people are giving you, well you're going to have to get over that real quick if you are going to make a go of it.

Man, women, girl, boy. There's someone out there stronger than you. There's someone out there faster than you. There's someone out there who knows more than you. You're getting older and losing what you had, they're younger than you and getting better. Welcome to life.

Time to get out of the pity mindset and just move the damn Iron. Get into a relationship with it. Forget about the rest of the bullsh!t that's either already in the weight room, or you bring in with you.

Get it done for yourself. Other people and your thoughts on them are irrelevant.

^^this.... I usually go to my gym late at night, because I just don't like being seen with all my nearly 500lbs of fat flabbing around. You'd think fitness minded people would actually think it's cool that a fatty is trying to do something about it, but there are a lot of people who are there to put on a show and flit around looking at themselves in the mirrors and admire how they look, and I'm not talking about the women at my local gym acting like that, it's the dudes. The other night, I was in a situation to go early, or not go at all and I didn't want to miss, so I went. Sure enough, it was semi-crowded and some of those types were there and I really didn't want to go in, but I decided to suck it up and do it. I did get quite a few of those "eww, what's your fat *kitten* doing here" looks and attitude but I climbed my mountainous self on the treadmill and did my 30 minutes.

I almost skipped my weight training all together, because I didn't want to leave the relative isolation of the cardio area, I say "relative" because other than people coming in and out or going to the water fountain, you're separated rated from view of the gym floor. Bad part, a couple of the ones who kept giving me the ugly looks when they'd come to the water fountain were EMT's, hopefully my life never depends on them lol, but anyways, I digress. I decided to suck it up and do my weight training. I actually hate the cardio and love the lifting weights, so I wasn't going to skip it because of attitude. I'm really glad I did and I think it will actually make me more comfortable going again when I'm not guaranteed to be alone. In the end, I'm doing this for me and don't give a damn what people think, so I shouldn't care what they think while I'm in the process.

Rai007

i think everyone who promotes lifting is doing a great job!!
because cardio leads to low fat but low muscle as well
and for being healthy we need low fat but good muscle
and lifting actully does this.

Sarauk2sf

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!

You were laughed at?

I have never been laughed at (that I know of). Usually I have found guys to be pretty encouraging.

We had a women's area at my gym when I started lifting. I worked out there for years until it became open to both men and women. Still, it's mostly women. I've gotten more into barbells lately and have ventured into the main weight area (I've only seen another woman in there once). The guys give me a lot of weird looks and in fact sometimes, roll their eyes and leave the room when I walk in. I know proper form. I've had a trainer.

I have thought about switching to another gym but frankly I won't because they just have one main area and I'd rather deal with the smaller woman-inhabited weight area at my current gym. I get a lot of support from guys when I'm lifting in CrossFit but even then there are a few haters who always say I didn't do as many reps as I did or who contradict all of my coaches and tell them I shouldn't try lifting that heavy or I shouldn't try setting new personal records. For example, when I had a female coach, my deadlift was 200 and before that all the guys in my class were telling me to stick with 145 two weeks earlier. That being said, I do have some great male coaches who encourage me and I appreciate them very much for understanding I can try more and just drop weight if my form starts breaking down (and making me do so).

So my point is, I get where you are at. If I had continued doing it on my own at the gym, I was ready to seek out a male lifting partner. The fear is way, way more challenging than anything you will lift.

If they leave the room - more equipment for you is freed up

Unfortunately you get idiots all over the place. I just keep myself in my own zone in my head, knowing that my form is better than the majority of people there.

I do get you though, the challenge is getting into that zone. After a while it really does get easier - it's like anything new.

Sarauk2sf

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.

I don't feel that anyone has to hit the weights (reasons 1-3 make sense), but your fourth reason for not doing it is that you're going to to do it eventually..? So why not start now if you're going to be doing it anyway? And not being able to do squats or lunges is more motivation to work on them so you can actually do a few.

I said I'm going to tone eventually. Not that I'm going to lift. I have no intentions of lifting. That would be a $62/month gym membership.
I am starting to do body weight excerises, I only started last week. Which is why I can't do much yet. And I'll do the 30 day shred. Lifting isn't the only way to tone.

Programs like Convict Conditioning and You Are Your Own Gym are a good way to get some resistance training that incorporates progressive loading - they are body weight routines. Something to look into.

AntWrig

i think everyone who promotes lifting is doing a great job!!
because cardio leads to low fat but low muscle as well
and for being healthy we need low fat but good muscle
and lifting actully does this.

Saying "cardio leads to low fat but low muscle as well" is way too broad.

Very low calorie intake coupled with too much cardio, and no resistance training can (most probably will) lead to "low fat but low muscle".

That is why general statements are bad, especially when they are not in the correct context.

fashionosack

I suggest you use it healthy weight loss, healthy weight loss is not difficult, in one sentence, exercise plus diet, it must pay attention to diet: balanced nutrition, but also strictly control the intake of calories, this is my personal experience, I before eating hormone, a lot of fat, sick after a good man like bread made ​​up of the same, but, after nearly two years to lose weight, I've been close to ordinary people!

DemetersRest

I do both, but the feeling I get from doing a cardio session, whether that be a Park Run, 10km, Half Marathon, whatever far outweighs that which I feel after a weights session. Psychologically I feel like I ahve achieved more... I KNOW it's not the case but it feels that way. Although I would suggest this is probably not the reason that stops most women lifting.

msf74

I do both, but the feeling I get from doing a cardio session, whether that be a Park Run, 10km, Half Marathon, whatever far outweighs that which I feel after a weights session. Psychologically I feel like I ahve achieved more... I KNOW it's not the case but it feels that way. Although I would suggest this is probably not the reason that stops most women lifting.

I think that's a good point.

Cardio does have more of an instant gratification aspect than weights in my experience. In addition there are less barriers to entry for women when it comes to cardio than weights. You can put on a pair of shoes and off you go. With weights you have more of a process and learning curve to get through before you can even begin. Couple that with it takes a little longer to see results, the fear that weights rooms are male environments and the fear of looking bulky and therefore "unfeminine" and you have a lot to get past.

It's a shame really as I think on an intellectual level many women actually know there are huge benefits to weight training but practicalities and emotional hold them back.

AccioFitness

Well I'd lift if it was not going to injure my back some more. So I do cardio instead.

You can't know why people can't lift. Yes some people CAN NOT LIFT at all.

A similar boat, I'm in one.

I have an autoimmune disease and it has been a gradual process to get to the fitness level I'm at now. Eventually I would love to lift, but that could easily be months (more likely years) away. For now I do cardio that is high in resistance to push my muscles and get my heart rate up and then focus on resistance bands, light weights, and Pilates-like exercises for my strength training.

SpartyGirl35

My trainer has told me that doing strength training (weight machines) has an overall longer effect of burning calories. She called it EPOC?? whereas the Cardio u go on the treadmill, burn calories and that's just it. you burned it off.

do people agree?

anupama1234

lifting helped me a lot...lost nearly 16 kgs...lift dumbells 6kgs...squarts n lunges, deadlift, sidelunges....etc perfect for loosing wt..

bridezilla206

being strong makes me feel sexy and less jiggly.smart girls lift dumbbells....

msf74

My trainer has told me that doing strength training (weight machines) has an overall longer effect of burning calories. She called it EPOC?? whereas the Cardio u go on the treadmill, burn calories and that's just it. you burned it off.

do people agree?

The length of EPOC is determined not only by intensity but duration. It is certainly true that weights illicit a greater EPOC response (because it's high intensity) but (low intensity) cardio on the treadmill does illicit some.

However, if calorie burn is your thing it is likely that overall calorie burn even factoring in EPOC will be greater in the cardio session simply because people tend to do it for much longer than the average weight session meaning a much higher calorie burn in the time spent actually exercising.

In all honesty though it's not worth worrying about.

Llamedos1960

I'm just starting my journey at 115kg, 53 years of age, not exercised at all for a very long time. I know I look fat and frumpy and totally unhealthy.

I'm currently trying to pluck up the courage to go to a Zumba class (I can wear normal comfortable clothes there). I've got horrible ideas in my head of this fat old(ish) woman falling head over tits, giving herself black eyes from the free ranging, aforementioned appendages. I've already chickened out once. Hopefully, I'll get there this week.

I'm having so much trouble just getting out there, can you really imagine me being able to go to a gym (in suitable clothing) to do lifting?!?!

I hope to get there one day but, lets be realistic, it'll be a while yet.

There's more than one reason for sticking with cardio.

Mareebzz

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.

+1

I'm just not interested in weight lifting at this time. Some people, girls and guys seem to talk about how "skinny fat" is just wrong, or something about how we look bad naked? Idk I get confused. Anyways, I am perfectly happy with "skinny fat" and I find cardio easier and more accessible, I can walk, jog, use elliptical, bike etc. whereas the only weights I have are 5lb hand weights. No gym membership for me. Out of our price range. Cardio is just easier, I may do some weight stuff later when I hit goal, but honestly, probably not.

I agree. I hate weight lifting, always have, and I will never stick with it.

jillianbeeee

I love lifting! I really like to incorporate it with cardio through HIIT. Its fun! I don't lift that heavy although I would like to but maybe in time. My legs feel sculpted, my butt feels toned and my arms have thinned (thinner then in my profile pic) I don't pay for a gym. Got my weights at yard sales and my bench too. Nothing more empowering then lifting while listening to loud music. Hell, yesterday I was able to move 5 bags of 50 lb sand without even breaking a sweat! I am 43! Women will not bulk like a man unless they have "some added help" Whats not sexy about sculpted, toned muscles? I have lost 59 lbs, not much sagging or extra skin hanging. I couldn't have done that without toning with weights. By the way, I am starting to run. I truly believe that the key to successful weight loss is cardio AND weights. But its only what works for me, everyone is different.

mrzdew

I use to be one of those people in the gym who was in to cardio and never touched the weights. Having been an avid runner most of my life I do thoroughly enjoy it, however lifting heavy has so many benefits I can't believe I went so many years skipping the weights. I lift now almost 5 times a week and have never felt more feminine, I think part of the reason women shy away from weight lifting is because some where over the years we were told we should "tone" and this means using your own body weight and doing mat work when the truth of the matter is you can't tone with out weights. I still love my cardio but I have a new respect for weight lifting and I encourage everyone (men women cardio lovers whoever ) to try it you might be pleasantly surprised I know I have been!!!! (Ps any ladies or men for that matter who lift add me I'm always looking for suggestions and new ideas!)

jillianbeeee

I use to be one of those people in the gym who was in to cardio and never touched the weights. Having been an avid runner most of my life I do thoroughly enjoy it, however lifting heavy has so many benefits I can't believe I went so many years skipping the weights. I lift now almost 5 times a week and have never felt more feminine, I think part of the reason women shy away from weight lifting is because some where over the years we were told we should "tone" and this means using your own body weight and doing mat work when the truth of the matter is you can't tone with out weights. I still love my cardio but I have a new respect for weight lifting and I encourage everyone (men women cardio lovers whoever ) to try it you might be pleasantly surprised I know I have been!!!! (Ps any ladies or men for that matter who lift add me I'm always looking for suggestions and new ideas!)

You are an inspiration! Extremely toned! THAT is what I am aiming for!