hate strength training.. need help!

cutmd

I don't like it either. But I do like the results! Muscle tone makes a huge difference in your appearance! I say start with Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred and then No More Trouble Zones (all strength but compound circuit training-type stuff) as that is definitely not boring. I will also do 20-30 minute circuits of chest, back, bicep/tricep compounded as much as possible with lower body work at the gym before I do my cardio now just to get some heavier lifting in, but I still get a great work out from Jillian's dvds. They are only like 10 bucks, so check them out!

killagb

My best suggestion is spread those workouts out. The most efficient way to build muscle and lose fat at the same time are these high intensity circuit type workouts that rip your muscles all apart on large areas of your body and basically eat you up and crap you out within 2 hours at the gym. However, the body also isn't naturally built for that kind of thing, and it tells you EXTREMELY loud and clear. You'll feel crappy, you'll want to puke, you'll be dizzy, and it's completely normal.

So what you do, is train your body not to hate the burn so much, and a good way to do that is to not constantly push your limits. Choose 2 strength workouts every day... so, I'm gonna do pushups and situps today. And then just do them at different times, and focus only on that one exercise at that time, push through the burn as much as you can for that one single thing.

It's much easier to not lose focus since you know you don't have to save any energy for the next 4 sets or anything like that, and you'll slowly train yourself to tolerate higher lactic acid levels without freaking out. After 2-3 months of this you should be able to go through the more intense workouts again without as much hatred of them, and the simpler focus exercises that are separated from everything else, you may actually grow to like doing. I often find myself taking a break from homework reading or what not by taking 5 minutes out to do situps. I couldn't have even imagined actually wanting to do situps 3 months ago.

[edit] If you're getting bored you're not lifting enough weight. For a weighted exercise, to tone muscle, you should only be doing 20-40 reps, and it's best to do at least 2 workouts a month strength training, 8 reps per set (don't worry about getting hulkish, it's impossible to do that accidentally). Some things like push ups you can make harder by using push up bars to dip your chest deeper or plant your hands further down your body not right under your shoulders.

This information could not be more wrong. It's really simple...go to Stronglifts.com and get the 5x5 report, look it over. The 5x5 is beautifully simple in that you alternate between 2 workouts, 3 different exercises per workout(in all between the 2 workouts it's 5 different ones), with 5 sets of 5 reps.

snacker127

Does your gym have any strength-training group fitness classes? My gym offers Les Mills Body Pump, and it really is a great full-body workout. Between the great music, the instructor motivation, and even some friendly competition with the other participants, it really does make the time go much faster. I push through harder than I would if I were on my own - I don't want to look like I can't keep up, and I certainly don't want to walk out when 15 other people are pushing through! A boot camp style class would work, as well.

This and also the Les Mils Body Flow. Great combo of strength and core.