Strength training - bleh!

bcattoes

I really hate strength training. I do a little because I know I should, but I just really have to force myself because, well, I hate it. Weights, weight machines, barbells, dumbells, push-ups, resistance bands, squats, lunges, OMG even the words sound boring. And yes, I'm sure there are many muscle building words I don't even know, but I'll be they are just as boring. I just don't understand how anyone enjoys it. Ugh! <mini rant over>

Riebop

LOL!! I don't enjoy it, but I don't enjoy going to work everyday either. I do it because my body likes it, and I want to be strong. I don't like saying "Hun, can you take the cat litter upstairs?" I want to be able to carry that stuff up the 2 flights of stairs without my husband's help.

RGPargy

Doing a body pump class might make it a lot more bearable!

VeganGal84

:laugh: I am the same way. I'm just not into strength training.

However, I love cardio! If left to my own devices, I would do nothing but cardio for exercise. And in fact, that is what I did for a very long time. Now, I do mostly cardio, but I add in some strength training with DVDs that do interval training and I also combine cardio with strength, like doing curls while biking (stationary!).

You just have to DO IT if you want to get that rock-solid body.

staceyseeger

I feel the same way...I definitely prefer to hit the roads, running or riding. I finally sucked it up, bought a few dumbells & started lifting at home. My regimen consists of only 6 exercises, but the results have been great. I have now decided to join Crossfit for a more structured & guided workout - tonights my first night - wish me luck!

ellercircus

OMG! My feelings exactly! I don't have any advice, just commiserating with you. If anyone has any ideas on how to make it more appealing, I'd like to know, as well.

Loko_Ino

I love strength training. I find running the elliptical or treadmill or outdoors to be boring. When I lift it is a contant challenge to myself to lift a few pounds more then a I did last time, or contract the muscle just a certain way, or hold the weight a little longer.

ski0721

Agree with RGPargy. Doing it in a class environment gets me through.

HeidiMightyRawr

I feel the same about cardio! haha I suppose everybody has to sometimes do things they may not enjoy to get the results they want. Strength training isn't a necessity, but without it a person can't achieve much muscle tone and that's how a person gets really lean, toned stomachs/thighs/arms etc etc Same goes for me and cardio, I hate it but without it I'd be really unfit, my blood pressure has gone down to a normal level since doing it, and I'm able to drop my BF% easier.

I love strength training personally - mainly because I see results and improvements faster than with anything else. I aso love the feeling of getting stronger. What motivates you to workout? Most people will have something that motivates them to do things, work = money, gym = health + great body. If you can find something then it will make it easier to get through. Maybe you could find a friend who is into that and go along with them? They may help change your mind, research different exercises.. there are all the ones that people hate, and then there's the ones that people can't get enough of

Heidi

YukonJoy

I LOVE my strength training days! Love them to pieces!!


I HATE HATE cardio days! Boo!! :sick: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING

melaniecheeks

Another vote for a class like Body Pump from me!

When I lost my first stone (14 lbs) I messaged my Body Pump instructor to thank him for making the class such fun, as I was sure that the strength training had been a big part of my weight loss.

bcattoes

Doing a body pump class might make it a lot more bearable!

I don't know what 'body pump' is. Do they have DVDs? I don't really have time for a class.

welloiledmachine

I love strength training. I find running the elliptical or treadmill or outdoors to be boring. When I lift it is a contant challenge to myself to lift a few pounds more then a I did last time, or contract the muscle just a certain way, or hold the weight a little longer.

Me too. Knowing the benefits and outcome of lifting weights is enough to keep me coming back. I'm very competitive and always try to increase or beat my last work out. I feel so good afterwards and love feeling that pump and seeing those muscles popping out. I'd pick lifting weights over cardio any day. Of course, I do my cardio too.

Rogiefreida

I can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't like it when I started, but I knew that I had to do it to see results. The more I strength trained, the more I started to like it. Now I really like it, even more than cardio! It helps that I really started seeing results once I started weight training 3 days a week. If you keep to it, you might find yourself growing fond of it.

Loko_Ino

Gotta do cardio..thank goodness for netflix and the iPhone..except for spinning, for some reason I love spinning.

dragonflydi

I'm an anomaly ... I like both weight training and cardio. It's OK though, I'm used to being the oddball LOL

MiladyMetal

try to find a wii strength training game that might make it more fun and challenging. good luck! I truly understand. When I was younger I loved it now I dread it!

bcattoes

What motivates you to workout? Most people will have something that motivates them to do things, work = money, gym = health + great body. If you can find something then it will make it easier to get through. Maybe you could find a friend who is into that and go along with them? They may help change your mind, research different exercises.. there are all the ones that people hate, and then there's the ones that people can't get enough of

Heidi

My main motivation is health. I'm older (50's) so staying fit becomes more important every year because I am dead set on NOT being one of those old people who has to take fists full of pills everyday just to keep BP, lipids, glucose, etc. in check. But I really need the exercise to be fun. I do Zumba and just love it. The hour goes by so fast because I'm having fun. I just can't seem to find any muscle building exercises that are fun. Right now I use my breaks at work to do desk pushups (front and back) squats and resistance bands. I'm up to 100 pushups and don't have time for more on my breaks so I'm adding some reps with 10 lb dumbells in the eveings. I hate all of it. I do it. But I hate it.

bcattoes

try to find a wii strength training game that might make it more fun and challenging. good luck! I truly understand. When I was younger I loved it now I dread it!

Ooh, now that idea intrigues me. I didn't know they had wii strength training. I do like video games. I'll research that. Thanks!

Articeluvsmemphis

you guys are just funny. I use to feel that way, but I love strength and cardio equally now

FitCoachJen

I look forward to strength training days :-). Everyone can benefit from it, try focusing on the positives or training with a specific goal in mind. Try high weight low reps for strength (5 x 5), low weight high reps for endurance (2 x 20), middle of the road for hypertrophy (3 x 10).

Can you do 10 unmodified push-ups? 5 chin-ups? Bench press 50% of your body weight?

Once a month I download new podcasts and music to keep my workouts interesting. It definitely helps with the monotony.

Punkedpoetess

Not a big strength training person either, but I normally do some strength training about 2-3 times a week now, especially for my arms and abs/core muscles. Just added that in for the past month or so. With the cardio that I do my legs get worked out a lot, but the rest of me really needs the strength training a few days a week.

ShannonMpls

I can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't like it when I started, but I knew that I had to do it to see results. The more I strength trained, the more I started to like it. Now I really like it, even more than cardio! It helps that I really started seeing results once I started weight training 3 days a week. If you keep to it, you might find yourself growing fond of it.

I agree completely with this. I have a trainer I see every other week for a new program. I LOVE strength training days and kind of dread cardio. Strength is fun and a new challenge all the time. I do strength in a fast-paced circuit so it's something new every few minutes. I never used to when I would waste my time on the machines, but now I love strength days

bcattoes

Can you do 10 unmodified push-ups? 5 chin-ups? Bench press 50% of your body weight?

Yes to the pushups. I seriously doubt it to the others, but I don't have a bench or chin-up bar so no way to test it.

corpus_validum

U say strength training - bleh!"

I say your body without strength training - bleh!





Then again,
A body without cardio - bleh!

A body balanced with strength training, cardio and flexibility - hhhmmmm!!!
Just my opinion

tkopps

Give pilates a try! It is usually in a small class setting with a lot of instructor attention. It works the whole body with a focus on core strength. I have been doing it at least twice a week for one and a half years and love it! Good luck finding something that fits you.

HeidiMightyRawr

What motivates you to workout? Most people will have something that motivates them to do things, work = money, gym = health + great body. If you can find something then it will make it easier to get through. Maybe you could find a friend who is into that and go along with them? They may help change your mind, research different exercises.. there are all the ones that people hate, and then there's the ones that people can't get enough of

Heidi

My main motivation is health. I'm older (50's) so staying fit becomes more important every year because I am dead set on NOT being one of those old people who has to take fists full of pills everyday just to keep BP, lipids, glucose, etc. in check. But I really need the exercise to be fun. I do Zumba and just love it. The hour goes by so fast because I'm having fun. I just can't seem to find any muscle building exercises that are fun. Right now I use my breaks at work to do desk pushups (front and back) squats and resistance bands. I'm up to 100 pushups and don't have time for more on my breaks so I'm adding some reps with 10 lb dumbells in the eveings. I hate all of it. I do it. But I hate it.

Great job on the push ups, that's an amazing amount! I wouldn't suggest adding any more reps, just stick to adding the dumbells, you'll find you can increase them over time which is a great motivator Also, you can buy wrist+ankle straps for day to day use, you start light and work yourself up gradually and it just adds a bit of resistance to your daily activities. At any age for women really but especially as you get older it gets more important to keep your bones strong (as you probably hear alot) so you are less at risk of getting the problems usually associated with aging such as osteoperosis.
Also, as a few others have suggested a group class might be more fun. Or if you are pushed for time I'm sure there are several workout dvds out there that combine fun dance type stuff such as zumba with strength training moves. I've heard a few good things on here recently about kettlebell workouts on dvd - never tried them myself personally but I want to and they seem great for strength.

ninerbuff

I really hate strength training. I do a little because I know I should, but I just really have to force myself because, well, I hate it. Weights, weight machines, barbells, dumbells, push-ups, resistance bands, squats, lunges, OMG even the words sound boring. And yes, I'm sure there are many muscle building words I don't even know, but I'll be they are just as boring. I just don't understand how anyone enjoys it. Ugh! <mini rant over>

You do realize that there are ways to strength train and have it fun? Have you tried strength classes?

ninerbuff

:laugh: I am the same way. I'm just not into strength training.

However, I love cardio! If left to my own devices, I would do nothing but cardio for exercise. And in fact, that is what I did for a very long time. Now, I do mostly cardio, but I add in some strength training with DVDs that do interval training and I also combine cardio with strength, like doing curls while biking (stationary!).

You just have to DO IT if you want to get that rock-solid body.

Love cardio...............then do things like sprints, sprinting upstairs, kickboxing with gloves on a bag. These involve cardio, but are usually considered anaerobic since you use a lot of strength and power.

ninerbuff

I don't really like cardio, but I happen to be a kickboxing instructor so I fake it.

SoCalSwimmerDude

I'm an anomaly ... I like both weight training and cardio. It's OK though, I'm used to being the oddball LOL

Same here. I used to be a cardio guy, but as I lost weight I wanted those muscles to show more. Now that I've been splitting my time between the 2 (3 hard lifting days, 2 long cardio days, and 2 HIIT on the cardio days), I really love how my workout has evolved. And once you see the results from lifting (yes, even for women), you can't go back!