I hate strength training

nicothepotato

There I said it. I hate the weights. I'm not a huge fan of cardio but I do it, I feel like I have accomplished something. Weights just make me sore and I'm starting to get a little bulky.

My arms were already defined and I already had nice obliques. I was told strength training was the key to weight loss but I'm not seeing it. My arms have gone from dainty and toned to big and bulky, not my goal. I've gone from hourglass to hard obliques and a pot belly. My fat thighs are still just as fat but I can do more squats with more weight.

I don't even get too much protein. I stick to a strict vegetarian diet, almost vegan, and struggle to get half the protein requirements here most day because I don't like too much soy.

I'm just frustrated.

CaptainMFP

Here's a biologist's take on the whole strength/cardio thing. Skeletal muscle is the body's biggest "energy hog." That is, it burns more energy than any other tissue. Strength training itself is anaerobic (does not use oxygen) and does NOT burn fat effectively. However, strength training increases muscle mass, and larger masses of muscle will burn more energy more efficiently than smaller muscle masses. This is the reason you hear so much emphasis on strength training. I totally get your frustration and would offer two bits of advice: (1) When you do strength training, decrease weight and increase reps. This will focus your exercise on improving/maintaining tone rather than adding muscle mass. (2) Switch your exercise proportions...proportionally more cardio than strength. This could be accomplished by either decreasing your time strength training or by increasing your cardio time. Good luck!

jjdoom

Sounds as though you have great genes! Wish i could put on muscle so easy... Keep shifting iron but go lower weight higher reps. Strength trainimg works as it forces your body to repair muscle tissue while you rest, and more muscle equals more energy being burnt for maintenance. You can always lose the muscle later by doing loads of cardio, best of luck!

Edit: said better in above comment!

nicothepotato

I miss roller derby. It was tons of cardio/endurance and little strength training. It would have been great if it didn't also include a bunch of beer and nachos with the girls after practice and games.