General Comment About People Who Don't Lift

I think you are wrong there too, since resistance bands can provide the same results as lighter weights, which is where one would start. But it did make me smile when you quoted my "Yes" and cut off the rest so could you pretend I was saying weights and resistance bands were the same and "correct" me. So thanks for that little laugh. :laugh:

I'll echo the above poster: how do you get a "firm" toned body without heavy resistance work?

They're moderate resistance work.

I have agreed from the beginning that people can achieve physiques they desire by doing things other than lifting. That is a simple fact.

If your goal is to "lose weight and get in shape" then chances that the best way to do that isn't to start orienteering. If you love orienteering then that's great.

The point I've been making since the beginning is that orienteering, treadmills, ellipticals, and surfing will not produce the results lifting will.

I have agreed from the beginning that people can achieve physiques they desire by doing things other than lifting.

Lifting is more effective at producing the results the vast majority of people want than the stuff they currently do.

But don't pretend that your hours on the elliptical with pink dumbbells or doing yoga is going to produce the same kinds of results.

If it can be done, why is it 'silly'?

If you love orienteering and hate lifting weights, orienteering is a "better" way to get in shape. Once again, consistency trumps efficiency long term

if I found out today that I could achieve my goal physique in a year doing body pump for an hour daily, or I could achieve it in five years doing what I'm doing now (lifting, cardio, and martial arts) I'd choose what I'm doing now. I enjoy it more, I'll be happier, and I'm more likely to stick with that for five years than the year of hell that would be body pump. I don't know that you understand the point I'm trying to make.

then I'd say "fine, do what you want to do, just don't try to tell us that lifting is every bit as good as body pump."

Lifting works better than anything else to achieve the results most people want. If you don't want to lift, then don't lift. But you should accept that what you are doing will produce inferior results.

I understand that point. And that's fine. Do what you want to do. Assuming body pump was significantly superior to lifting in terms of results, then I'd say "fine, do what you want to do, just don't try to tell us that lifting is every bit as good as body pump."

Lifting works better than anything else to achieve the results most people want. If you don't want to lift, then don't lift. But you should accept that what you are doing will produce inferior results.

*sigh - I give up

You can't separate efficiency from effectiveness. You keep claiming it's superior or better because you think it's faster.

“The most fatal illusion is the settled point of view. Since life is growth and motion, a fixed point of view kills anybody who has one.”

Not that I'm in immediate danger of either, but I'd rather have a dancer's body than a lifter's body.

have you seen dancers nowadays? at least broadway dancers. RIPPED

I think you are wrong there too, since resistance bands can provide the same results as lighter weights, which is where one would start. But it did make me smile when you quoted my "Yes" and cut off the rest so could you pretend I was saying weights and resistance bands were the same and "correct" me. So thanks for that little laugh. :laugh:

They don't. That's a simple fact. Sorry.

I think you are wrong there too, since resistance bands can provide the same results as lighter weights, which is where one would start. But it did make me smile when you quoted my "Yes" and cut off the rest so could you pretend I was saying weights and resistance bands were the same and "correct" me. So thanks for that little laugh. :laugh:

They don't. That's a simple fact. Sorry.

Why are you sorry? Because for once you agreed with me?

Are you mature enough and capable enough to let anything go ever?? Or is argueing an endurance sport for you?

Wow, this has been a very strange and argumentative thread.

For my part, I lost over 40 pounds with strictly diet and mild sorts of cardio and walking over the course of about 2 years (yes I very purposefully lost that slowly). I got around goal and went basically to maintenance, but I didn't like my body. Last fall I started in with body weight exercises and this spring I am in the gym lifting weights in the free weights section. Yesterday I pulled out a pair of pants that in this past year I could only button with major tummy tamer and girdle appliances worn. And they buttoned easily and were comfortable to wear all day long without any sort of appliances to hold my gut in. I have actually gained 5 lbs from wear I was when last I wore them and it is a pretty huge difference, but in a good way IYSWIM.

So, if you don't want to lift weights, and you are happy with your body, don't lift them. But for my time and energy, I sure as hell wish I had been around here when I started losing weight to have had more information on this subject.

My 2c, if you have any doubts about your potential level of satisfaction about your body when you get to goal if you are doing it without at least some wort of weight lifting, start now before you have eaten all that muscle away. I lost extremely slowly, well below what most people try to do, and I still lost about 7 lbs of muscle out of that 42 lbs lost total.

A most excellent post and example. There is something to be said for weight training being the most direct and efficient route. I think Rtlencar's point was that if someone doesn't enjoy it, they won't do it. So effective and efficient can be 2 different things.

I happen to enjoy weight training somewhat and it is very effective as a means to an end. One thing I thought was very significant about your post is that your overall weight is slightly higher but your body shape is better. I've seen this same story from many women on here. It's counterintuitive but it works. It kind of goes back to the Steve Troutman quote about health, funtionality, performance and physique all being more important than weight and that weight will settle where it should if those things are optimized.

Wow, this has been a very strange and argumentative thread.

For my part, I lost over 40 pounds with strictly diet and mild sorts of cardio and walking over the course of about 2 years (yes I very purposefully lost that slowly). I got around goal and went basically to maintenance, but I didn't like my body. Last fall I started in with body weight exercises and this spring I am in the gym lifting weights in the free weights section. Yesterday I pulled out a pair of pants that in this past year I could only button with major tummy tamer and girdle appliances worn. And they buttoned easily and were comfortable to wear all day long without any sort of appliances to hold my gut in. I have actually gained 5 lbs from wear I was when last I wore them and it is a pretty huge difference, but in a good way IYSWIM.

So, if you don't want to lift weights, and you are happy with your body, don't lift them. But for my time and energy, I sure as hell wish I had been around here when I started losing weight to have had more information on this subject.

My 2c, if you have any doubts about your potential level of satisfaction about your body when you get to goal if you are doing it without at least some wort of weight lifting, start now before you have eaten all that muscle away. I lost extremely slowly, well below what most people try to do, and I still lost about 7 lbs of muscle out of that 42 lbs lost total.

A most excellent post and example. There is something to be said for weight training being the most direct and efficient route. I think Rtlencar's point was that if someone doesn't enjoy it, they won't do it. So effective and efficient can be 2 different things.

I happen to enjoy weight training somewhat and it is very effective as a means to an end. One thing I thought was very significant about your post is that your overall weight is slightly higher but your body shape is better. I've seen this same story from many women on here. It's counterintuitive but it works. It kind of goes back to the Steve Troutman quote about health, funtionality, performance and physique all being more important than weight and that weight will settle where it should if those things are optimized.

Thank you for responding I appreciate it!

And yep, it actually is slightly higher than my lowest weight. Can't say how much of that is from muscle and how much from water weight, because I haven't gone in to the doctor who has that fancy scale I check in on, but the clothes fitting is just so key. And to be really clear, most of that was strictly from body weight training, squats, pushups (I had to start with pushup-as in a single one) and that nerfitness beginner body weight training routine. And I count that as "lifting heavy" because my own body weight was heavy to me at that time. I can do 100 "girl pushups" now! And it is such a change. It has only been since the beginning of this month that I have actually started using real weights in a real gym, I figured I had better be able to lift my own bulk before going crazy. I look forward to further progress

That's wonderful!! Kudos to you for staying with it and getting it done. You are a wonderful example to others here who are just starting and wondering how they will ever get there. I'm guessing as a woman, unless you've intentionally worked at adding muscle mass, it not much more muscle mass but some sarcoplasmic hypertrophy (increase in water and glycogen in the muscle cells) that's causing the increase in weight. But if clothes look better on you and you like you body shape more, who cares!! lol

Again, great work!! :flowerforyou:

Wow, this has been a very strange and argumentative thread.

For my part, I lost over 40 pounds with strictly diet and mild sorts of cardio and walking over the course of about 2 years (yes I very purposefully lost that slowly). I got around goal and went basically to maintenance, but I didn't like my body. Last fall I started in with body weight exercises and this spring I am in the gym lifting weights in the free weights section. Yesterday I pulled out a pair of pants that in this past year I could only button with major tummy tamer and girdle appliances worn. And they buttoned easily and were comfortable to wear all day long without any sort of appliances to hold my gut in. I have actually gained 5 lbs from wear I was when last I wore them and it is a pretty huge difference, but in a good way IYSWIM.

So, if you don't want to lift weights, and you are happy with your body, don't lift them. But for my time and energy, I sure as hell wish I had been around here when I started losing weight to have had more information on this subject.

My 2c, if you have any doubts about your potential level of satisfaction about your body when you get to goal if you are doing it without at least some wort of weight lifting, start now before you have eaten all that muscle away. I lost extremely slowly, well below what most people try to do, and I still lost about 7 lbs of muscle out of that 42 lbs lost total.

A most excellent post and example. There is something to be said for weight training being the most direct and efficient route. I think Rtlencar's point was that if someone doesn't enjoy it, they won't do it. So effective and efficient can be 2 different things.

I happen to enjoy weight training somewhat and it is very effective as a means to an end. One thing I thought was very significant about your post is that your overall weight is slightly higher but your body shape is better. I've seen this same story from many women on here. It's counterintuitive but it works. It kind of goes back to the Steve Troutman quote about health, funtionality, performance and physique all being more important than weight and that weight will settle where it should if those things are optimized.