women should lift weights?? wtf?

suzycreamcheese

and i did take it as a bit of an attempted dig. Not nasty, but it did make me raise an eyebrow, but im not offended so dont worry, i accept that you say it wasnt meant that way

fteale

Saying anyone NEEDS to lift weights is completely stupid. Clearly they don't as millions of people across the world manage to maintain their weight and be perfectly fit without lifting weights.


IF you want a certain body shape, then weights can help get you there. How about that. That's really all there is to it. It's not a NEED for anyone.

fteale

My measurements are 34 26 36. My butt is lifted, i'm not loose, I'm like four weeks away for having rock hard abs, and you can bounce quarter off my a**. Now that's hot!

Sadly arrogance isn't.

Elleinnz

Women should indeed lift weights - but it's mostly for building bone density as women are more prone to osteoporosis than men. Bones get dense in response to bearing weight.

^^^ This ^^^ There is a really good book by Miriam Nelson called Strong Woman Stay Young - below a synopsis of the premise of the book....well worth reading it.....

Studies have shown that weight-bearing exercise improves bone density, crucial to preventing osteoporosis in women. Nelson's research at the School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, the results of which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, proves that strength training also improves balance, increases energy, and helps to control weight, especially when used in conjunction with regular aerobic activity.

The other book that is really worth reading is The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess by Lou Schuler......

fteale

But then studies have also shown that running is one of the best ways to increase bone density in the leg bones, which are the ones that are most important not to break as we get older.

marianne_s

Having said that Osteoporosis is a big issue for women and it is recomended that weight bearing exercise helps with bone density. So if you can find it in your heart to add a bit of strength training into your workout you will benefit in the long run!

YES...... because of this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I say women, especially over the age of 30 SHOULD do strength training.... and lift heavy....
I see strength training as a complement to my cardio exercise, and something that also provides health benefits in the longer term.

suzycreamcheese

most exercises are good for bone health

http://weighttraining.about.com/od/weighttrainingforhealth/a/osteo.htm

joehempel

ive been told id benefit from core training actually

EVERYONE can benefit from core training. You have a strong core then you have better form with your exercising, running, weights, etc.

Core training is what's helping my back pain go away when running longer distances.

suzycreamcheese

i have quite a wide pelvis, which is probably not ideal for a runner, and hypermobile joints. I also think 3 pregnancies has taken its toll, especially my middle one as he weighed 10lb at birth. I dont get back pain, but my hips do start to hurt in long runs, and when i had my gait analysed, she said my pelvis looked a bit unstable

lauristewart

I will attempt to keep this short...I hear your sarcasim and I KNOW what you are saying about people here and thier opinions!! But you look young, in your 20's possibly, and take it from someone....well....let's say older than you! LOL!! That weight lifting does help with metabolism! When you hit the BIG 4-0, your metabolism takes a nose dive!! I use The Firm videos and other dvd's to help w/my weights b/c I really don't know what I am doing in the gym!! I can't run either, b/c of flat feet and planters fiatiatis.......anyhoo, do what you want to do! That is all that matters, doing what makes you happy!!

suzycreamcheese

thankyou very much!! i like that photo,but i dont think i look that young today. Im 35 and i think i look it

lcarter25

I hear what you are saying but I'm sure people giving you advice don't expect you to take it as gospel! I posted about how to get a smaller waist someone said I should eat no carbs and no sugar - did I get offended no because that's their opinion. Maybe stop posting things if you take advice so abdly

lcarter25

And I've looked at your pics and you look good! SO keep doing what you are doing! You know what's good for you

myofibril

i keep hearing this all the time on here. Why?

I presume it is because from what I can gather the ultimate goals of most (though not all) people who post here is to improve their body composition (the ratio of fat to muscle they have) look better naked and be generally healthier.

The most efficient way of doing that good diet coupled with resistance training. Is it the only way? Of course not.

If your predominant goal is to simply lose indiscriminate weight and improve cardio vascular performance then the advice would probably be different. You would still end up with a fairly nice physique as well. There is the mistaken belief that cardio is catabolic but that is not technically true. It is the overly large calorie deficit which can be caused by excessive amounts of cardio which is the main reason for that.

QUETA2212

I dont understand what the fuss is about....people should lift weight because it makes you stronger and healthier. when I lift weight i dont do it to lose weight I do it to tone because i dont want to look tiny and fragile after weightloss but fit and sexy... and a combination of both cardio and strength will do that, along with eating right. However some people dont care about their appearnce only the scale so, I say if u dont care , do not do it, its simple. Dont fuss at people because of their opinion because their entitled to theirs, like you are to yours.

Alyx128

This is a fun discussion.

Alyx128

Duplicate post.

suzycreamcheese

I hear what you are saying but I'm sure people giving you advice don't expect you to take it as gospel! I posted about how to get a smaller waist someone said I should eat no carbs and no sugar - did I get offended no because that's their opinion. Maybe stop posting things if you take advice so abdly

noooo, im not taking advice badly or anything. I dont have a problem with people recommending things or giving solicited advice etc. I do get a bit annoyed with unsolicited uninformed opinions or people saying you SHOULD do this etc.
Its just a bit of a rant because its been annoying me over time. The idea you cant get good results unless you do things a specific way etc. Its not even just this. The clean eating brigade is another one that bugs me. You wont lose weight if you eat processed food sometimes etc. You wont lose weight if you eat carbs. You wont get a nice body if you dont lift weights. this wont happen if you dont drink 6 litres of water a day etc, you need a specific number of grams of protein a day or youll wither away etc./

Im fully aware people can post what they like, but im also allowed to pull people up if i think its not true too. Thats what its all about. People can also pull me up too if they dont like what i post, but i generally dont give unsolicted advice
There are many different roads to your goal

suzycreamcheese

And I've looked at your pics and you look good! SO keep doing what you are doing! You know what's good for you

thankyou :flowerforyou:

Alyx128

Everyone should find what works for them. Having strict ideas about what you need to do for a workout, rather than finding something that they truly love to do, will often lead to failure. If you don't enjoy working out you will be much less likely to do it. When i was younger I thought sustained running is what you did if you wanted to be healthy and fit (maybe because my mom runs marathons). Since I hate running I could never stick to it so it didn't work out very well. Now I have discovered other forms of exercise that I truly love, like boxing and krav maga for instance. Now, I look forward to my workout. I think that is the key to success finding something that you love. I think that was part of OP's point, that giving such rigid advice about what people should do might discourage people.

That being said resistance training is important though because it has so many health benefits. There are so many forms of resistance training that go beyond just lifting weights. So think everyone should probably try to find a form of resistance training that they like and do it at least twice a week. There thats my 2 cents.

myofibril

If you don't enjoy working out you be much less likely to do it.

In addition to this, I think finding a form of exercise you love also helps with dietary adherence. You work out. You like it. You then pay more attention to your diet. You begin to consciously make better choices. You want to do it more. Its a self reinforcing circle.

I often find when I stop working out consistently by diet goes to hell as well. I'm sure I'm not the only one...

crmhaske

Body weight exercises like pushups, crunches, lunges, squats, chin ups etc. are just as effective at toning as is weight lifting. I prefer body weight exercises because as a martial artist I need to be able to use my muscles in conjunction with others, I need superior balance, and I need proper hip alignment. Machines have no crossover to real life. It has been demonstrated in several studies that a person who built their muscle using machines is no better at using their body in the real world than they were before they started training. If I do strength training I do it with real life things like flipping truck tires or heaving sand bags. I also like a good 10 lb medicine ball.

Here's a good article on the body weight exercises vs. free weights vs. machines debate: http://liftforlife.com/content/bodybuilding-fitness-diet-health-articles/training-articles/252-bodyweight-exercise

dad106

Going with everyone else on this post.. it's not really should or need, it's more that we are encouraged to lift weights.

I know that when I started my fitness/weight loss journey in January, if I hadn't started lifting with my trainer I wouldn't be as tiny-looking in the middle as I am now. My legs/arms wouldn't be as tight as they are, without all the jiggle. So there are benefits to weight training.. but only if you like to weight train.

I personally am trying to get into the weight room more.. I see a trainer twice a month, but then on our off weeks, I don't really lift... mainly because I am terrified of someone watching me or coming over to yell at me that I'm doing something wrong. Currently that fear is dissipating a bit, but not by much!

crmhaske

Also, to add to my previous post, those who are losing a lot of weight (50 lb or more) NEED to build muscle. It helps your skin fit to your body once the fat is gone instead of drooping. Toning is what helps your skin heal.

Emma1903

Body weight exercises like pushups, crunches, lunges, squats, chin ups etc. are just as effective at toning as is weight lifting. I prefer body weight exercises because as a martial artist I need to be able to use my muscles in conjunction with others, I need superior balance, and I need proper hip alignment. Machines have no crossover to real life. It has been demonstrated in several studies that a person who built their muscle using machines is no better at using their body in the real world than they were before they started training. If I do strength training I do it with real life things like flipping truck tires or heaving sand bags. I also like a good 10 lb medicine ball.

Here's a good article on the body weight exercises vs. free weights vs. machines debate: http://liftforlife.com/content/bodybuilding-fitness-diet-health-articles/training-articles/252-bodyweight-exercise

Agree where ever possible use weights kettle bells dumb bells barbells instead of machine, with free weights you let your body move the way it want to not in alignment with a machine. Or use rope pulleys.

rybo

Pages & pages of mildly entertaining debate, just because one person takes exception to what they "should" do.

Gotta love internet forums.

suzycreamcheese

my reason for posting this is just that ive been thinking about it a while.
Its diets as well as exercise. People constantly depriving themselves of things they like and being very very restrictive and strict, or even forcing themselves to eat things they dont actually like because its "good for them", then doing exercises they hate, or overdoing the exercise, which while is fine for crash weight-loss in the short term, y'know if youre doing it for a specific occasion, then thats fine, but youre not going to get a realistic idea of your natural input or output or anything.

I think there are sooo many ways to acheive a healthy lifestyle and a healthy weight, but to do it long term, its got to involve living normally to a certain extent. I believe EVERYONE has their sport. They just need to find it

crmhaske

Body weight exercises like pushups, crunches, lunges, squats, chin ups etc. are just as effective at toning as is weight lifting. I prefer body weight exercises because as a martial artist I need to be able to use my muscles in conjunction with others, I need superior balance, and I need proper hip alignment. Machines have no crossover to real life. It has been demonstrated in several studies that a person who built their muscle using machines is no better at using their body in the real world than they were before they started training. If I do strength training I do it with real life things like flipping truck tires or heaving sand bags. I also like a good 10 lb medicine ball.

Here's a good article on the body weight exercises vs. free weights vs. machines debate: http://liftforlife.com/content/bodybuilding-fitness-diet-health-articles/training-articles/252-bodyweight-exercise

Agree where ever possible use weights kettle bells dumb bells barbells instead of machine, with free weights you let your body move the way it want to not in alignment with a machine. Or use rope pulleys.

I really love rope pulleys! We do an exercise at taekwondo where you partner up and one person takes off their belt with one person holding either end. One person has to pull the other person towards them with the belt, and the other person has to resist by leaning their body weight back.

katkins3

Body weight exercises like pushups, crunches, lunges, squats, chin ups etc. are just as effective at toning as is weight lifting. I prefer body weight exercises because as a martial artist I need to be able to use my muscles in conjunction with others, I need superior balance, and I need proper hip alignment. Machines have no crossover to real life. It has been demonstrated in several studies that a person who built their muscle using machines is no better at using their body in the real world than they were before they started training.

I practice Tai Chi and agree that toning exercises help balance and posture as well as strength.
If you don't enjoy these exercises though its unlikely you will do them. Perhaps you would enjoy them more to music.
Jazzercise has a body sculpting class that make it fun; maybe you could find something like that. It's more like dancing that just hoisting hand weights.

lcarter25

I agree that people should find exercises that they like suzycreamcheese as there's no point slugging away at stuff you hate. Like I used to do spinning and aerobics - is it good at burning calories yes do I like it hell no!! So i took up zumba, street dance and belly dancing which I love and cannot miss a class!