For me, this is why WEIGHTS over CARDIO is KEY!

Beeps2011

^^^ 21 months of heavy-lifting free weights - THAT is the picture on the right-hand-side.

On the left-hand side is me, after 25+ YEARS as a cardio-gym rat.

Yes, I still do SOME cardio, but my exercise-focus is on lifting heavy free weights.

And, yes, I'm "busy" like everybody else. I am 44 years old, a professional career-woman with more than 20 full-time years invested in my profession. I am a wife, mother of 3, volunteer, but I choose to take care of myself and as I come upon nearly 2-full-years focused on weight-lifting (instead of cardio), I'm very pleased with my progress.

Oh, and I'm 5'9" tall....for all you stats people!

Replies

allergictodiets

Your legs look amazing! What a transformation!

kcragg

You look fantastic. you should be really proud of your achievement. I love it how weights can change your body shape, it happened to me too. I lost most of my weight without doing any cardio. I only started it when I hit a plateau, and it did help.

I am thinking of the Venus Index, would you recommend it?

:flowerforyou:

JamieH1984

Awesome job! I just started weight training with my trainer, I can hardly wait to post my before and afters!

Slatzuk

Excellent results from your dedication.

Well done.

Remember folks, lose weight in the kitchen, get fit in the gym. Lift heavy and live well.

Iron_Feline

You are awesome - love the pictures :drinker:

Cranquistador

BAM.

Strangegirlz

This is awesome and inspirational especially for those of us who are trying to realise that the scale is not the best measure of success. You look great and yes you lost 15lbs, but I bet people would have guessed it was much more than that. Thanks for posting this

JennC831

Awesome job Beeps!!! You've done such a great job and it shows!!! Beautiful transformation!!

Iron_Lotus

Amazing!

SexyLovinmeCook

The results speaks Volumes...nice

TygerTwoTails

You are amazing! I was stuck in the plateaued land of cardio for quite a while before I discovered heavy lifting, I have seen so many wonderful changes just since Feb., but I hope to one day have amazing before and after pictures, like you do!

Beeps2011

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Particularly "shout outs" to my mfp friends - who have shown up to this thread to provide me some support! Awesome!

Yes, my "saddle-bag area" is my MOST unfavourite body-part(s) and, while still a work-in-progress, I do believe I am headed in the right direction!

floop1207

amazing and inspiring :flowerforyou:

my thighs are the worst part of my body and i fear they will never go but seeing this......they WILL go!!

italian_bella_xo

you look amazing!!

lafilleavectoi

Fabulous!

jpolinisse

Congrats on the results, you look fab. But, I don't think it needs to be weights over cardio, it can be both.

margojr4

WTG! Hard work has paid off!

I'm with you.. weights all the way! Keep going, it only gets better!

cathead9

Amazing transformation! Thanks for the photos, they're very inspirational for a newbie like me. :-)

Beeps2011

For me, the difference really was taking the time I chose to spend in the gym, and spending it on weight-training. (I admit that I am time-crunched and have chosen to spend 5-hours per week in the gym.)

25 years of cardio got me a very healthy heart - and was very good for my asthma, but my body was fluffy.

2 years of weight-training has still been very good for my asthma, and my body is much more the shape that I want it to be.

cmurphy252

Bump

p00ki3nb00

Great Job! look amazing!

JewelsinBigD

weights are awesome - no back issues though? I had some back issues creep up on me about 15 months into lifting...

Frankietb

You look fantastic, healthy and fit! Well done!

Beeps2011

jewelsinbig - I *used* to have lower-back/hip issues. About 8 years ago I injured myself (not through any exercise endeavour). However, strength-training has eliminated these problems, completely! (Even 2.5 years of bikram hot yoga didn't "eliminate" the back/hip problem areas, although it did alleviate most of the pain.)

LorinaLynn

jewelsinbig - I *used* to have lower-back/hip issues. About 8 years ago I injured myself (not through any exercise endeavour). However, strength-training has eliminated these problems, completely! (Even 2.5 years of bikram hot yoga didn't "eliminate" the back/hip problem areas, although it did alleviate most of the pain.)

Same here. I didn't have any official diagnosed back problems, but I used to wrench my back a couple times a year. I was re-reading an old journal from about 5-6 years ago, and I'm amazed at how many times I was writing, "Hurt my back today." "Must've slept funny last night, because I can't stand up straight today." "Threw my back out at work." "On the couch, taking muscle relaxants." "Called off work today."

None since I've been lifting.

mantium999

Once I get into that 130 or 120 range then I will start using weights but for now its just going to be cardio for me. From my understand, cardio slims and tightens you up while lifting weights builds muscle and hides those carbs you eat easily.

No. Start now. Lifting will maintain the muscle you already have, while you lose the fat above. If you are eating at a deficit you will not build muscle. Without resistance training, you will lose both muscle and fat, and it is a whole lot harder and not nearly efficient to build back the muscle you never should have lost in the first place.

mantium999

Great job OP!

mlb567

Wowza!
Looking good.
I just ordered a kettlebell and some free weights.
No idea where to start but I have the weights, and a DVD and I am ready to go!

kramalicious

You look great. Thanks for posting that, and for posting your weight training info. I love weight lifting . What did/do you do for cardio when you did it?

benjicloverdale

bump