Is weight lifting absolutely necessary to build muscle?

SoonerVet
SoonerVet Posts: 65
edited January 8 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm about 5 pounds from my new goal weight. I'm currently at 125 (my original goal weight), but I decided I wasn't entirely happy with my body and I decided to go for 120 (5'6" is my height). I'm basically trying to avoid the "skinny fat" or whatever.

ANYWAY, I currently eat at or below my calorie goal for the most part. I also use the elliptical 3-4x a week at a high enough resistance to keep my heart rate in the cardio range. I also have some dumbbells at home (5, 10, and 20) that I use along with an exercise ball. I lose weight pretty steadily, so that's not the problem.

Now to my question. Do you guys think that using these materials alone, along with losing 5 pounds, will be enough to "tone up" (I know some of you hate the phrase, but sorry)?? I ask because everyone on here recommends weight lifting for building muscle. I've tried it, I like it okay, but I absolutely HATE going to the gym. I literally never want to go. I own an elliptical as well as the other things I already mentioned and I am completely motivated to use them at home.

OVERALL QUESTION: Is weight-lifting absolutely essential for toning up/building muscle/etc.? Or is cardio/dumbbells/at-home workouts good enough?

Oh and no I don't have the time to do Insanity or anything that requires more than 1 hour more than 3-4 days a week

Replies

  • JustPeachy044
    JustPeachy044 Posts: 770 Member
    I am far and away NOT an expert, but I think you do need resistance exercise to get great muscle tone. I used to be afraid to lift more than 5 or 10 lbs. but now I do kettlebells up to 40 lbs. depending on the exercise. I am getting very toned but am not bulky.

    I don't think you should have to put in a hour weight lifting 3x4 times per week...my facility incorporates weights but we don't do purely weights, and our TOTAL workout is usually about 50 minutes.

    What about doing a Jillian DVD or other at-home program?
  • rapat
    rapat Posts: 108 Member
    No you don't need to lift weights to lose 5lbs.
    It would help to do some resistance training or higher intensity cardio.
    If you don't want to lift, try doing bodyweight exercises -- squats, pushups, pullups.
    Or just up the intensity of your cardio a couple days a week
  • SoonerVet
    SoonerVet Posts: 65
    yeah I'm fine with doing DVDs! I guess I'm just pessimistic that those videos are good for cardio, but aren't as great at building muscle? Maybe I will focus on videos meant for building muscle as opposed to just the 30DS stuff I've tried

    and sorry I meant 1 hour total of cardio and/or weight lifting
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