Air Force Personal Trainer

aaubrey

My friend is on the weightloss kick right now too. We work out at the same gym on Lackland AFB, The AF actually has an enlisted job of personal trainer (insane I know). But, I told my friend that she needed to start adding some weights to the eliptical routine and it will help her get in shape faster...the whole muscle burns more and it will keep her from just losing muscle weight. She told the p trainer there and he told her that I was wrong and that she needs to stay in the cardio room until she loses at least half of the 30 lbs she wants to lose. I have NEVER heard that and now she thinks I am an idiot. So, whos right?

aaubrey

My friend is on the weightloss kick right now too. We work out at the same gym on Lackland AFB, The AF actually has an enlisted job of personal trainer (insane I know). But, I told my friend that she needed to start adding some weights to the eliptical routine and it will help her get in shape faster...the whole muscle burns more and it will keep her from just losing muscle weight. She told the p trainer there and he told her that I was wrong and that she needs to stay in the cardio room until she loses at least half of the 30 lbs she wants to lose. I have NEVER heard that and now she thinks I am an idiot. So, whos right?

lotusfromthemud

Everyone, no matter what their size, benefits from weight training.

period.

Muscle mass does burn more calories at rest (although the difference is not as big as some older studies suggest.)

But, the fact that he pointed her in the "cardio only" direction is, well, just plain wrong based on everything I've ever heard or read.

sixtyinchesoffury

I totally agree with you!!! I have noticed though that when I started lifting weights I actually gained a few. Frustrating yes but I have the type of body that easily puts on muscle. That led me to focus more on measurements rather than weigh ins. Hopefully this helps you and your friend.

iftcheiaf

Not only that, muscle is very important especially for women, because of upcoming years of osteoporosis and bone density loss. It helps to give the bones good support and prevents fractures later on. I'd hate to be in my 50s and then start building muscle. I don't think you were wrong. I think there needs to be balance.

ColeenSanLeon

My friend is on the weightloss kick right now too. We work out at the same gym on Lackland AFB, The AF actually has an enlisted job of personal trainer (insane I know). But, I told my friend that she needed to start adding some weights to the eliptical routine and it will help her get in shape faster...the whole muscle burns more and it will keep her from just losing muscle weight. She told the p trainer there and he told her that I was wrong and that she needs to stay in the cardio room until she loses at least half of the 30 lbs she wants to lose. I have NEVER heard that and now she thinks I am an idiot. So, whos right?

There seems to be a running argument about that in my gym too. But I trained years ago with professional world class body builders, (I worked for a supplement company and they had many bodybuilder professionals on staff, including several Mr, and Mrs. Olympias, who would work with me for free, which makes me ponder why those good habits didn't stick??) Anyway, cardio is great for losing weight and for building your endurance/healthy heart etc, but working with weights is equally important for toning and/or building muscle. Remember too when you work a muscle with weights it continues to burn calories for something like 4 hours, cardio stops when you stop doing it. My personal opinion is that a balance is of both good thing.

aaubrey

What I am doing right now that works for me is I run for 30 mins (sometimes there is walking in that to ) and then I alternate days upper body and lower body and I do the ol' abs every day. It seems to be working so far, and I told her too to mix it up to keep her body from getting used to it. She said the guy told her she was just fine to stay on the eliptical. I feel bad for her because she is one of those women (like a lot of women) that doesnt feel comfortable in a gym, especially the weight room with all the men, She is a dependant wife not in the military so she isnt used to being in there. I am really trying to help her (I work with her husband he asked me to help her) but, I think I am starting to come off like a bossy know it all. I guess everyone has to get there their own way.

mrsyac2

My friend is on the weightloss kick right now too. We work out at the same gym on Lackland AFB, The AF actually has an enlisted job of personal trainer (insane I know). But, I told my friend that she needed to start adding some weights to the eliptical routine and it will help her get in shape faster...the whole muscle burns more and it will keep her from just losing muscle weight. She told the p trainer there and he told her that I was wrong and that she needs to stay in the cardio room until she loses at least half of the 30 lbs she wants to lose. I have NEVER heard that and now she thinks I am an idiot. So, whos right?

A personal trainer at my mom's job said the same thing-- to do straight cardio until you lose half of your pounds then you may start bringing in the weight training-- I never heard of it before but he did go to school to become a personal trainer and I didn't

mrsyac2

also its not like the trainer told her to never use weights and to always just do cardio he just said not until you lose some weight-- of course she is going to have to add in weights later on just right now she needs to focus on losing weight through cardio-- I'm sure if she sticks to the cardio and eats right she will start to lose the weight and then she can incorporate the weights later on-- let her do it her own way Losing weight is hard enough- if she rather listen to a professional let her thats what they are there for.

akplum11

You were completely right to suggest the weights, it really will help her feel better and stronger as well as building muscle. If her trainer feels she shouldn't be doing weights, is he at least helping her by making sure she gets some form of strength training in each work out? Strength doesn't have to be purely done using weights; lunges and body weight squats, push ups are all simple steps to getting stronger that you can do in your living room if you have to. Having strength with the cardio is really important because stronger muscles will also support your joints and keep them healthier and being only 22 but having had both of my knees reconstructed due to torn ligaments I can really attest to the difference strength training can make in an ache joint.

overthehillsandfaraway

My friend is on the weightloss kick right now too. We work out at the same gym on Lackland AFB, The AF actually has an enlisted job of personal trainer (insane I know). But, I told my friend that she needed to start adding some weights to the eliptical routine and it will help her get in shape faster...the whole muscle burns more and it will keep her from just losing muscle weight. She told the p trainer there and he told her that I was wrong and that she needs to stay in the cardio room until she loses at least half of the 30 lbs she wants to lose. I have NEVER heard that and now she thinks I am an idiot. So, whos right?

Wow, really? Weight training helped me lose about 80lbs and the other 20lb was a difference in lifestyle. Extensive medical research has been done on this subject and the effective results were achieved by substantial weight training. Not to discredit the trainer, whom has an education for the matter because running is also really excellent in achieving nice weight lost as well as improving your agility.

Running is excellent cardio and a benefit to the whole "exercise package" for me, however, I'll stick with the weights always. :laugh: