Strength Training

KKF79 · January 2016

I am having a really difficult time with this. Especially anything that has to do with push ups or planks i have even tried the modified versions but i still can't achieve perfect form. I am currently on day 25 of Jillian Michael's 90 day body revolution and sometimes i just do something entirely different when the set has anything to do with my lower body and this is really frustrating. I can do cardio all day everyday I really enjoy cardio so my question is can I just do Cardio and forget about strength or would there be a downside to doing this?

jemhh · January 2016

The downside is loss of muscle mass. Muscles are a use it or lose it kind of thing, especially if you are cutting calories.

Don't let perfect get in the way of good. Keep doing your push ups and planks and eventually you'll get them spot on. Your body still benefits from your non-perfect exercises (assuming you aren't doing anything dangerous.)

betsy329 · January 2016

The "perfect form" will come with time. You have build up the muscles used for that action, and soon you'll be able to do it in proper form. I guess you could say it takes practice...? Also, strength training aids in weight loss

Cherimoose · January 2016

Try incline pushups & planks -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6crpkXx0cHo
The higher the hands, the easier it is.
Video yourself to check your form.

SonyaCele · January 2016

you dont have to do strength training, lots of people live great happy healthy lives without ever picking up a weight or stepping into a gym. but if it something you really wanna do, it just takes time and patience and consistency. You can do it if you want, just keep at it

BrianSharpe · January 2016

KKF79 wrote: »

I am having a really difficult time with this. Especially anything that has to do with push ups or planks i have even tried the modified versions but i still can't achieve perfect form. I am currently on day 25 of Jillian Michael's 90 day body revolution and sometimes i just do something entirely different when the set has anything to do with my lower body and this is really frustrating. I can do cardio all day everyday I really enjoy cardio so my question is can I just do Cardio and forget about strength or would there be a downside to doing this?

You're only on day 25, be patient. Everyone experiences improvements in fitness at their own rate. (One of the things I dislike about programs that are called "90 days this" or "21 days that" is that they give the misleading impression that it's a "one size fits all" kind of world)

Keep at it consistently and the improvements will come.

pondee629 · January 2016

KKF79 wrote: »

I am having a really difficult time with this. Especially anything that has to do with push ups or planks i have even tried the modified versions but i still can't achieve perfect form. I am currently on day 25 of Jillian Michael's 90 day body revolution and sometimes i just do something entirely different when the set has anything to do with my lower body and this is really frustrating. I can do cardio all day everyday I really enjoy cardio so my question is can I just do Cardio and forget about strength or would there be a downside to doing this?

The downside in not doing strength training is in losing muscle faster, OK you can't YET do the exercises in perfect form the entire way. Are you doing better than when you started? Are you better this week than last week? Depending on where you start, you may, or may not, have farther to go. But if you are going in the right direction, and doing the exercise is the right direction, you'll get to where you want to be. Keep at it. you're getting better.

Asher_Ethan · January 2016

I hate Jillian Michaels. I use to do her DVD years ago and they made me hate strength training also. Have you looked into stronglifts 5x5? It's made me actually like doing strength training.

WeaponXI · January 2016

SonyaCele wrote: »

you dont have to do strength training, lots of people live great happy healthy lives without ever picking up a weight or stepping into a gym. but if it something you really wanna do, it just takes time and patience and consistency. You can do it if you want, just keep at it

^So much this.
Personally, I love to throw the iron around, but strength training is not required. Are there benefits with doing a strength training routine? Absolutely, just like there are benefits with doing a cardio routine. You're happy doing cardio, keep doing it. As long as you keep your calorie intake from getting too low, your body will not cannibalize muscle.

nordlead2005 · January 2016

http://www.startbodyweight.com has great resources for progressing through bodyweight exercises. For the point above about it not being required, yes it isn't required. However, just 2x/week full body resistance training will provide health benefits. You don't have to squat +250lb though.

http://www.startbodyweight.com/p/push-up-progression.html
http://www.startbodyweight.com/p/plank-progression.html

Instead of doing them at the DVD rate, do them at whatever rate you can do them and work from there. Just make sure you are pushing yourself to progress with every session.

WeaponXI · January 2016

@nordlead2005 I definitely agree with you, it doesn't take much to reap the benefits of strength training. Like I said in my post above, I love it, but if the OP has come to the decision that she doesn't enjoy it, how much benefit do you get out of doing something you don't enjoy? It's better she continue doing something she likes, than possibly get to the point of doing something she doesn't with poor effort, cause that could negate any benefit.
OP needs to assess to see if Strength Training is part of her goals or not.

KKF79 · January 2016

Thank you guys. Really good advice I will keep at it, I guess practice makes perfect.

Strength Training

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