Co-Worker Claims His Workout Is Superior

jennz81
jennz81 Posts: 194 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Not really sure where to post this, so if it has to be moved then it has to be moved.

Somehow we got into a discussion on what kind of workouts each of us like to do. He told me he only does 30 minutes of walking over day, and no more. When he asked what I did, I told him that I do a combination of cardio and weight lifting three to four times a week, for about two and a half hours. He then proceeds to tell me that weights are useless and dangerous, and strength training does nothing - either with weight loss or losing inches. He's somewhat flabby and has a penchant for junk food and carbs.

I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. :( Definitely need some support on this one. :(
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Replies

  • PtheronJr
    PtheronJr Posts: 108 Member
    Why the hell would you need support to swat down something that stupid? He's either messing with you or he's a humongous moron.

    EDIT: You are perfectly fine and doing everything as you should.
  • robinsondel
    robinsondel Posts: 47
    Not really sure where to post this, so if it has to be moved then it has to be moved.

    Somehow we got into a discussion on what kind of workouts each of us like to do. He told me he only does 30 minutes of walking over day, and no more. When he asked what I did, I told him that I do a combination of cardio and weight lifting three to four times a week, for about two and a half hours. He then proceeds to tell me that weights are useless and dangerous, and strength training does nothing - either with weight loss or losing inches. He's somewhat flabby and has a penchant for junk food and carbs.

    I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. :( Definitely need some support on this one. :(


    I'm just now really starting out, and I'm by no means a professional...but it should be pretty obvious, that more exercise is better. I'm pretty sure that you already know that the comment "weights are useless and dangerous" is the biggest piece of crap advice anyone can give you. Sounds to me like someone who thinks they are getting fit, is jealous that you are actually attempting it and it just brings more attention to how little he is doing. Like I said, I'm just starting out and I'm already getting a lot of negative comments about what I'm doing from other fat people in my life who are too lazy or not motivated enough to do something about their own situation.
  • misschoppo
    misschoppo Posts: 463 Member
    He then proceeds to tell me that weights are useless and dangerous, and strength training does nothing - either with weight loss or losing inches. He's somewhat flabby and has a penchant for junk food and carbs.

    er...I think you have answered your own question.....he has no idea what he is talking about
  • padams2359
    padams2359 Posts: 1,093 Member
    Of course he does. Lol. Would you expect him to say, "I'm too lazy to do what you are doing even though it is better."? Stupid is as stupid does.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Why the hell would you need support to swat down something that stupid? He's either messing with you or he's a humongous moron.

    this
  • fivethreeone
    fivethreeone Posts: 8,196 Member
    really, you need support?

    to tell you that your tubby coworker hasn't discovered the magical walking secret?

    alrighty then.
  • Hildy_J
    Hildy_J Posts: 1,050 Member
    He's just challenging you. Rise above it and ignore him from here on in like he's invisible.
  • lacroyx
    lacroyx Posts: 5,754 Member
    Not really sure where to post this, so if it has to be moved then it has to be moved.

    Somehow we got into a discussion on what kind of workouts each of us like to do. He told me he only does 30 minutes of walking over day, and no more. When he asked what I did, I told him that I do a combination of cardio and weight lifting three to four times a week, for about two and a half hours. He then proceeds to tell me that weights are useless and dangerous, and strength training does nothing - either with weight loss or losing inches. He's somewhat flabby and has a penchant for junk food and carbs.

    I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. :( Definitely need some support on this one. :(

    post-15478-Nathan-Fillion-speechless-gif-esWR.gif
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    Why the hell would you need support to swat down something that stupid? He's either messing with you or he's a humongous moron.

    this

    +1
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    He is an idiot or winding you up...or both.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    What the what? He's clearly in denial.:noway:
  • mrsmaslin
    mrsmaslin Posts: 11 Member
    it isn't necessary to workout for 2.5 hours a day to get results.

    im massively into women weight lifting. and it really does work wonders for us!

    lift heavy. get results. a weight lifting programme shouldn't take you longer than 45-60 minutes in the gym.
  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
    Just look at your own ticker to see how well you are doing!! Sounds like this guy is trying to defend his lack of exercise (compared to yours)by putting yours down. As you say he is flabby and eats junk food all the time. Would you take his nutritional advice too?

    *Also just noticed you are female. Unfortunately some guys still get hung up on women lifting especially when they lift heavy. The fact that he is trying to dismiss you lifting is because it does not just make him feel lazy but also less masculine as he knows you could probably lift more than him.
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,854 Member
    I'd smile and say "That's an interesting hypothesis" and then change the subject.
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Well if it is working for you.......then who care what he think?
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    He is an idiot or winding you up...or both.
  • DPernet
    DPernet Posts: 481 Member
    I had somebody at work say almost exactly the same thing to me. He said that walking the dog every day gave him all the exercise he needed and that I was nuts for working out any more than this. I asked him if he wanted me to put that in his eulogy? :huh:
  • samammay
    samammay Posts: 468
    There are some people in this world who clearly need to be junk punched.
  • jackielou867
    jackielou867 Posts: 422 Member
    I go to the gym several times a week. I lift weights alternate days, I am becoming leaner, and stronger, and fitter. I would like to compare my last 3 month before and after pictures with your co-worker. Are you doing 2 1/2 hours per day, that does seem a bit excessive. Most people I know max out at 60-90 minutes.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Sounds to me like you need to buy him a pair of 2 lb. dumbbells for his 30 minute walks (get em the pink ones)....... :laugh: Keep on doing what your doing and don't listen to those that know nothing of what they speak....... Best of Luck
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    Why do you care what he thinks?

    Really, I am mystified by why you gave this advice any kind of importance whatsoever.
  • wingchungym
    wingchungym Posts: 30
    :laugh: :smile: Let him do his thing, walking is nice, just know HE IS SO WRONG!
    Not really sure where to post this, so if it has to be moved then it has to be moved.

    Somehow we got into a discussion on what kind of workouts each of us like to do. He told me he only does 30 minutes of walking over day, and no more. When he asked what I did, I told him that I do a combination of cardio and weight lifting three to four times a week, for about two and a half hours. He then proceeds to tell me that weights are useless and dangerous, and strength training does nothing - either with weight loss or losing inches. He's somewhat flabby and has a penchant for junk food and carbs.

    I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. :( Definitely need some support on this one. :(

    post-15478-Nathan-Fillion-speechless-gif-esWR.gif
  • stt43
    stt43 Posts: 487
    Everyone has to think their workout is superior. If not they wouldn't be doing it.
  • nathalier71
    nathalier71 Posts: 570 Member
    He's just challenging you. Rise above it and ignore him from here on in like he's invisible.

    Don't ignore him but ignore the comment. You are both adults right? This is the sort of behaviour I see in my grade 4 class =)

    Agree to disagree and move on. You are doing what's good for you, he's doing what he thinks is good for him. Who cares what he thinks? or anyone else for that matter =)
  • GuybrushThreepw00d
    GuybrushThreepw00d Posts: 784 Member
    He then proceeds to tell me that weights are useless and dangerous, and strength training does nothing - either with weight loss or losing inches.

    He's somewhat flabby.

    you've answered your own question.

    take advice from people who are qualified to give it. every assh0le can have an opinion.
  • gwenr
    gwenr Posts: 139 Member
    Not really sure where to post this, so if it has to be moved then it has to be moved.

    Somehow we got into a discussion on what kind of workouts each of us like to do. He told me he only does 30 minutes of walking over day, and no more. When he asked what I did, I told him that I do a combination of cardio and weight lifting three to four times a week, for about two and a half hours. He then proceeds to tell me that weights are useless and dangerous, and strength training does nothing - either with weight loss or losing inches. He's somewhat flabby and has a penchant for junk food and carbs.

    I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. :( Definitely need some support on this one. :(

    Don't let what other people think is right to derail you from what you KNOW is right. Not everyone has the discipline to do what you're doing!!
  • jennz81
    jennz81 Posts: 194 Member
    Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it.

    For starters, I probably should have went into more detail, but I wanted to get things down while the event was still fresh in my mind - I simply needed a place to vent. Perhaps 'support' wasn't the proper word to use, but I was in a hurry, and pretty angry. Did I believe what he was telling me? No. Everything just was just so far out of left field, that it was a bit hard to swallow. (Plus, it was getting towards the end of my break, so I had to be quick with what I was posting.)


    The reason that we got into the conversation in the first place was because he DID notice that I was losing weight, and had asked me how I was doing it - because he has been trying to shed a few pounds himself. I didn't offer advice, or say anything, I just flat out told him what I was DOING - I wasn't going to give advice, because that's best left to a professional. After I mentioned this to him, he started in why he thought I was wrong for doing was I was doing - going on the spiel that I posted here on the forum.

    Rest assured that I did not argue with this person, I was extremely polite and decided to change the subject. If anything, I said that was awesome that he was doing what he was doing, and offered encouragement.
  • gregpack
    gregpack Posts: 426 Member
    If you look at medical literature, there is a ton of supposed health benefits from walking 30 minutes a day five or more days per week: decreased risk of stroke, heart disease, reduced BP and cholesterol, etc. Plus, it is easy on the joints. In addition, it is sustainable for most people. It IS about the long term, and if anyone has the discipline to walk five days a week for thirty minutes, well good for them. That is probably where he gets the idea that it is "superior to yours". So in all fairness, that is a decent exercise regimen for the average person that wants to prevent general medical problems. It's certainly better than what the majority of people in my area is doing, which is NOTHING.

    However, there is research based evidence that resistance training is hugely beneficial. Also, as we age, sarcopenia, or age related muscle loss, becomes an issue for a myriad of health problems. So it's best to pack the muscle on now, and fight to keep it on.

    I will however say that if you are spending 3-4 times per week doing 2.5 hour workouts to be careful not to flame out. Depending on your age and amount of caloric restriction your body may not be able to recover adequately from the previous workout and it could eventually become counter productive. Do it if you like, but listen to your body and don't feel guilty if you need to slow down a bit. You need much less time in the gym than that to make great strides. You've got a long way to go on your weight loss regimen. Slow and steady wins the race.

    Done properly, resistance training 1-2X a week, and HIIT 1-2x week is more than adequate for gains and is more sustainable over the rest of your life. But it also means eating less. And I'll be the first to admit I I exercise more so I can eat more. I ran 2 miles yesterday,primarily because I ate some pancakes. :)
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Why do you care what he thinks?

    Really, I am mystified by why you gave this advice any kind of importance whatsoever.
    Agreed! Why would you care what some moron says?
  • Mischievous_Rascal
    Mischievous_Rascal Posts: 1,791 Member
    Why the hell would you need support to swat down something that stupid? He's either messing with you or he's a humongous moron.

    EDIT: You are perfectly fine and doing everything as you should.

    Exactly. Do your thing and let him do his. Then you can just smile and nod knowingly at him as you start to rock it! :)

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