Strength training - bleh!

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Replies

  • Matiara
    Matiara Posts: 377 Member
    I don't hate strength training, but I do prefer cardio. And by that, I mean things like kickboxing (my fave), step, dance. Basically anything that gets me moving around. I find the treadmill and elliptical quite boring.

    With that being said, I'm currently doing Turbo Jam and in weeks 5 and 6, there is no resistance work. When Turbo Sculpt was added back in for week 7, I realized part of the way into the workout that I was enjoying it and had actually missed it. A little. :)
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I really hate strength training. I do a little because I know I should, but I just really have to force myself because, well, I hate it. Weights, weight machines, barbells, dumbells, push-ups, resistance bands, squats, lunges, OMG even the words sound boring. And yes, I'm sure there are many muscle building words I don't even know, but I'll be they are just as boring. I just don't understand how anyone enjoys it. Ugh! <mini rant over>
    You do realize that there are ways to strength train and have it fun? Have you tried strength classes?

    The answer to both questions is no. I don't have time for classes, otherwise I'd mix in some Zumba classes with the DVDs. But if there is fun strength training out there I'm totally unaware of it. I have tried some of the suggestions such as pilates. I'm not sure what a kettle bell is but I'll Google it and see if it looks like fun. Years ago I had a punching bag and I did like that. I'm not sure I have anywhere to put one where I live now, but I'm going to give that some thought.
  • fiberartist219
    fiberartist219 Posts: 1,865 Member
    If it's boring, you might not be lifting heavy enough. :)

    I thought it might be boring when I was reading about it and looking at the pictures, but when I'm actually doing it, I'm anything but bored.

    I listen to music, pay attention to my breathing, watch my form, and notice changes in my body from week to week. I love it.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If it's boring, you might not be lifting heavy enough. :)

    I thought it might be boring when I was reading about it and looking at the pictures, but when I'm actually doing it, I'm anything but bored.

    I listen to music, pay attention to my breathing, watch my form, and notice changes in my body from week to week. I love it.

    Lifting heavy enough for what? I'm not trying get "ripped". I hate that look. I'm just trying to keep my muscle tone and things from sagging. I count the reps, praying for it all to be over. I do love when it's over though. And I like not sagging.
  • kaalin
    kaalin Posts: 9
    I LOVE the body works and boot camp classes they offer at my gym. A room full of women, an instructor, and loud music. The time flies by...
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    I don't really love weight lifting unless I'm with my trainer.. and I think the reason why is because I'm with someone. When you weight train with someone and they are pushing you to your limits and then some, it gets a lot more fun because if your competitive like me, you want to prove that you can do it and not quit.

    When I'm on my own there is no one pushing me, so I feel like I can slack more and not follow the routine all the way through.
  • katherines2230
    katherines2230 Posts: 276 Member
    You know, I was the exact same way until I started working with my trainer and learned how to do it correctly. Now I LOVE it!
  • welloiledmachine
    welloiledmachine Posts: 1,147 Member
    If it's boring, you might not be lifting heavy enough. :)

    I thought it might be boring when I was reading about it and looking at the pictures, but when I'm actually doing it, I'm anything but bored.

    I listen to music, pay attention to my breathing, watch my form, and notice changes in my body from week to week. I love it.

    Lifting heavy enough for what? I'm not trying get "ripped". I hate that look. I'm just trying to keep my muscle tone and things from sagging. I count the reps, praying for it all to be over. I do love when it's over though. And I like not sagging.

    Just because you lift heavy doesn't mean you are going to get ripped. I lift heavy and think I am very well defined/fitness figure. Ripped is a totally different subject.
    Lifting heavy helps burn the fat and gets rid of the flab. And lifting 5 lb weights isn't going to cut it. Lifting weights changes the shape of your body. If you are happy with the way you look, that's awesome, but if you want to change how your body looks, you need to incorporate some heavier weights. Cardio is essential too, but that's only going to make you a smaller version of yourself and leave your skin saggy.
    Best of luck.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If it's boring, you might not be lifting heavy enough. :)

    I thought it might be boring when I was reading about it and looking at the pictures, but when I'm actually doing it, I'm anything but bored.

    I listen to music, pay attention to my breathing, watch my form, and notice changes in my body from week to week. I love it.

    Lifting heavy enough for what? I'm not trying get "ripped". I hate that look. I'm just trying to keep my muscle tone and things from sagging. I count the reps, praying for it all to be over. I do love when it's over though. And I like not sagging.

    Just because you lift heavy doesn't mean you are going to get ripped. I lift heavy and think I am very well defined/fitness figure. Ripped is a totally different subject.
    Lifting heavy helps burn the fat and gets rid of the flab. And lifting 5 lb weights isn't going to cut it. Lifting weights changes the shape of your body. If you are happy with the way you look, that's awesome, but if you want to change how your body looks, you need to incorporate some heavier weights. Cardio is essential too, but that's only going to make you a smaller version of yourself and leave your skin saggy.
    Best of luck.

    If that's your pic, then I would consider that ripped and that's not what I'm going for. I don't mean that as insult, congrats on yoru success, but I'm just going for a softer look. ier I mostly do resistance, which according to medical science (and my own personal history) does "cut it" for fitness and weight loss, though it may not cut it for a certain look. I occasionally use 10 lb dumbells, but don't always have time for it so it's usually only once or twice a week. I'm not looking to have defined muscles that I can flex. I just want to stay firm and that means cardio and strength training, but I still hate the strength part.
  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    If it's boring, do something different! Personally, I prefer bodyweight training. Pushups are awesome and I love them. Planks? Bring 'em on! I think I would hate doing dumbbells because, yeah, that sounds boring.

    Find something you don't find boring. Something that makes you say, "Wow, I LOVE that I'm strong enough to do that!" Look around the web -- there are lots of good ideas. bodyrock.tv and nerdfitness.com are both good places to start, but you can find good stuff on exercisetv.tv, as well as lots of other places. Or, get yourself a Jillian Michaels DVD, or some other DVD that combines strength with cardio. Those can be lots of fun.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If it's boring, do something different! Personally, I prefer bodyweight training. Pushups are awesome and I love them. Planks? Bring 'em on! I think I would hate doing dumbbells because, yeah, that sounds boring.

    Find something you don't find boring. Something that makes you say, "Wow, I LOVE that I'm strong enough to do that!" Look around the web -- there are lots of good ideas. bodyrock.tv and nerdfitness.com are both good places to start, but you can find good stuff on exercisetv.tv, as well as lots of other places. Or, get yourself a Jillian Michaels DVD, or some other DVD that combines strength with cardio. Those can be lots of fun.

    Well, desk pushups and resistance bands are my main strength training right now and they are not fun (for me). I've avoided Jillian Michaels DVDs because I think she looks like a man and that's not what I'm going for. But of course I don't have to do them to that point. I just don't know if I have time for any more DVDs. Already with work and Zumba it's usually after 7:00 p.m. before I get to relax with my husband. I do my stregth training at work right now, which is why I do desk pushups instead of regular. I would like to find something fun, but I'll probably just have to tough it out with the boring stuff that fits my schedule. :ohwell:
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