Does anyone else succeed with ONLY yoga and running/walking?

spartangirl79

Hello! I thought I just posted but I don't see it, so I apologize if this turns out to be a duplicate post.

I am new to yoga and new to this group, but have been on a fitness and weight loss journey for a LONG time.

I am wondering if anyone here has transitioned from what is mainstream right now -- lifting heavy weights, interval training, working out to exhaustion, boot camp and crossfit style exercise programs -- and succeeded with ONLY yoga and walking/running?

As a personal trainer I was taught that the best way to lose weight was by lifting heavy weights, building muscle, and doing interval training for cardio.

After much thought, I decided that for ME, this was putting too much stress on my body (I already have a pretty stressful lifestyle, and am trying to figure out some weird medical issues). I did all the "right" things and never lost weight.

Then I discovered yoga, and have ditched the strength training and interval training, decided I am not mud run/extreme training/warrior dash/crossfit material, and have been running/walking and doing yoga. I already notice a difference.

I would love to hear your stories and if anyone else has made a similar change. I am nervous that without the weight lifting I will be "flabby", but between the typical runner's body and a yoga body, I think that would be an excellent combination to shoot for! I am 6' tall, will never be waif-thin (don't want to be) and really have no desire to be super buff.

I look forward to reading your stories!

yogibella

I am actually transitioning the other way -- from yoga & cardio to more running and bootcamp this month. Would love to start lifting heavy someday soon too! But I will not ever give up yoga---just taking a small break to shake up my routine. And I figure running and weights will improve my overall conditioning and I'm hoping it will make a difference when I get back to the mat.

I think with yoga, there are so many different types and levels that it really depends what you actually end up doing, for it to replace your strength training. In my experience, when I first started with Hatha & Hatha Flow classes it was just a great overall workout. It felt great! I still do them to ground myself, stretch out and de-stress. Now I do mostly Power & Power Flow classes and I find there are much more muscle work involved and I LOVE it! I've noticed a difference, gained great strength & muscle and feel like I'm constantly challenging myself with difficult poses and taking them further. And I do work them until I'm at my "edge" or exhaustion. (so not so different from other types of workouts in that sense?)

If you love it, it works for you and you notice a difference, then by all means, keep it up! I don't think you'll ever get "flabby" unless you stop challenging yourself. Best of luck and welcome to the group:flowerforyou:

spartangirl79

Thanks for the reply! I taught boot camps and did weights for 3+ years, also was a personal trainer... never saw the results I wanted. I have been doing power, hot and power flow as well, and I love the classes so far. I am exhausted at the end, but not in pain the next day, which I always was after boot camps and lifting. I will be interested to know how you progress with your new regimen; I'll add you as a friend if you don't mind.

nikirtehsuxlol

I have kept up with a few friends from my old gym (that I met in that gym's yoga class). The gym closed down but about 2 or 3 of them I've kept in touch with and they still do yoga/pilates type stuff and not really anymore lifting (bc they dont have a gym they like to go to). They're actually in great shape. One guy has maintained his weight (he teaches yoga more than does it, though ... but I am fairly certain he doenst have a side lifting program going on). The other girl is into her 40s and she mainly does pilates and I'll run into her at the hot yoga class and she still looks great! She has been able to maintain her weight from her 30s into her 40s. So I dont know if that's proof but I definitely think it can be done!

I think yoga can really help out a lot of your strength. The only thing you cant really re-create with yoga exercises is that pullup motion. The neat thing about yoga is when you are doing the "hard" part of the pose, most of the time the muscle is lengthened (versus in a bicep curl when your muscle is squeezed small during the "hard" part). ANd I think that helps with creating a lean body shape!

I've never had luck walking and losing weight. I think that running 3 miles a few times a week helped my waistline out a lot.

I do some crossfit and I am finding it's hard to lose weight. That could have more to do with my diet though ...

spartangirl79

Thanks for your reply! I definitely feel tired after class, so I know I'm working, but not *sore*, which is nice. I got tired of being in so much pain after boot camps and lifting.

Have to agree with you on walking. I never feel like I've done much after just going for a walk. :embarassed:

I can't do a pull-up without assistance anyway, *but*, I do actually feel tired in my lats and triceps today, after attempting a crow pose yesterday. I noticed some triceps popping out too, which is great! :bigsmile:

Keep me posted on your crossfit experience; I'm interested to know how others do with it. I'm not interested in doing it myself (just now) -- looking for more peaceful avenues for myself at this point in my life, and boot camps and interval training and crossfit always make me angry. :mad: I hope you start to see the results you are after! :flowerforyou: