"No one who does only cardio looks good"

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Replies

  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    I wrote it.
    And I stand by my opinion.


    I've never seen a person look good who only runs. Women can probably get by with it and look decent, but men need to lift weights.

    You are referring only to running? Or all cardio? Not sure that I've ever seen a male swimmer and thought "gee- he needs to lift weights"...

    Thats because they probably lift weights.

    No, they don't. It would mean their muscles would not develop properly for swimming speed. Remember, the goal of a competitive swimmer is to swim fast, not look good. The looking good they end up doing wasn't the goal, it's a by-product.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member


    No, they don't. It would mean their muscles would not develop properly for swimming speed. Remember, the goal of a competitive swimmer is to swim fast, not look good. The looking good they end up doing wasn't the goal, it's a by-product.

    Yes they probably do.
    The goal of lifting isn't always to "look good".
    Some of us lift for performance.
    Swimmers need to be strong as well, and I'm willing to be the elite level ones do a bit of weight training.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/540018-women-who-only-lift-weights?page=1#posts-7566629


    women who only lift.
    go look in there.




    feel free to start a "people who only run" and see if any good physiques pop up.


    /arguement
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    It's whatever a person WANTS to look like. I just had this convo this morning with a coworker. She started an intensive (100+lb) weight loss journey in March and is doing well with it by using the treadmill and taking zumba classes. It's not the first time I've suggested she try to incorporate weight training, and she's certainly seen the changes it's made in me lately. Her response was: "you can keep the definition and tone, if that's what you think looks good. I'm a soft, southern girlie girl and I think it's gross"

    Gonna go out on another limb here and say anyone that needs to lose more than 100 pounds probably has morphed ideas of what "definition and tone" are, and what looks "good".

    :D

    Morphed? Morph means to "change smoothly from one image to another." Did you mean to say warped?

    And you know what? What makes you assume that overweight peoples' ideas of what is attractive aren't as valid as yours? I don't find muscular women attractive either. Give me the "cardio-only" woman any day.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    "Looks good" is subjective. For example, my calves always look great, no matter what I am doing. My legs are pretty muscular on their own, so provided I am the right size, they'll look pretty good...no strength training. My arms on the other hand, need some help. And my waist.

    Even people with softer bodies (Kim Kardashian comes to mind) still lift weights and do strength training. And she certainly doesn't look muscular.

    So my belief if strength training, even with body weight only, will make your body look better than cardio alone. If I do pushups for a few weeks, my arms and shoulders look better. And the strength training helps you get firmer (and shapelier).
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member


    No, they don't. It would mean their muscles would not develop properly for swimming speed. Remember, the goal of a competitive swimmer is to swim fast, not look good. The looking good they end up doing wasn't the goal, it's a by-product.

    Yes they probably do.
    The goal of lifting isn't always to "look good".
    Some of us lift for performance.
    Swimmers need to be strong as well, and I'm willing to be the elite level ones do a bit of weight training.

    But the goal of a competitive swimmer is always to swim fast, and competitive swimmers DO NOT lift because it doesn't make them faster it slows them down. Swimming performance isn't enhanced by lifting.
  • Chipmaniac
    Chipmaniac Posts: 642 Member
    I think it's pretty accurate. For example, I can walk miles a day and my calves will still be soft. A month of calf raises with a dumbbell and they're firm again.
    That's not true for the majority. Since doing running/elliptical/stair etc. my calves have become rock hard and defined. I don't think your observation bears out.

    The main problem with cardio is the muscle groups that aren't getting worked. In most cases, the legs get plenty of work and develop excellent muscle definition. It's the upper body that most often suffers.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    I want to run because I want to run. Not because I think it will make me look better. In fact, I know it probably wont do much if anything at all for me appearance wise. Maybe a little to my legs, I don't know. I do strength training because I think it will make me look better. But I really don't like it.
  • becka63
    becka63 Posts: 712 Member
    Last year I only did cardio- Zumba, jillian michaels DVDs and the like. My lowest MFP weight was 1lb lower than it is today, but IMO I look much better now I've incorporated some regular resistance through ChaLean extreme. However, nothing gives me a flat stomach like running does!
  • AreneeG31
    AreneeG31 Posts: 256 Member
    I have lost the weight I wanted to lose with mostly cardio, now It is time for me to incorporate more weight training to actually tone and change the way my body looks. In my opinion, you must have both. :)
  • prism6
    prism6 Posts: 484 Member
    I saw that today too and thought about it during my hour on the treadmill today....I know I look a heck of alot better doing Cardio only than I did lifting...junk food to my mouth. I think it is personal preference and opinion..and like butts...everyone has one
  • 51powerski
    51powerski Posts: 66 Member
    Gonna just agree with this so the thread dies.


    Show me 1 runner that doesn't lift weights and looks good, and I'll show you 5 guys who lift weights and don't do cardio that look better.


    Sounds like you spend a lot of time looking at men bro. Good for you, everyone needs a hobby!
  • CindyCountingCalories
    CindyCountingCalories Posts: 321 Member
    It's whatever a person WANTS to look like. I just had this convo this morning with a coworker. She started an intensive (100+lb) weight loss journey in March and is doing well with it by using the treadmill and taking zumba classes. It's not the first time I've suggested she try to incorporate weight training, and she's certainly seen the changes it's made in me lately. Her response was: "you can keep the definition and tone, if that's what you think looks good. I'm a soft, southern girlie girl and I think it's gross"

    This^^^

    And I'm 5"3 I WANT to look toned but I DON'T WANT to be 159 lbs forever, so I will first try to reach my goal than stick with lifting. I did 30ds looked great but was stuck at 159 lbs. So I stopped and did Zumba etc. Now I'm at 149 lbs. Last week I did Spinning this week I'm doing Circuit training next week Zumba. When I'm at my goal I will do weight training 4 to 6 times a week or whatever.
  • Chipmaniac
    Chipmaniac Posts: 642 Member
    4 months of only-cardio got me here:
    2/23/11 - 150 lbs
    12102525_7995.jpg


    1 month of heavy lifting + 1 week high protein diet/no cardio got me here:
    3/23/11 - 144.6 lbs
    12102525_7010.jpg:
    There's a little bit of difference there but not much. Plus, you are obviously flexing your abs in the "after" and not in the "before".
  • Chipmaniac
    Chipmaniac Posts: 642 Member
    Fu** it.
    I give up.
    No one gets that it was a generalization that is correct in 98% of cases.


    The person was asking which of the two if they had to choose, so I used a simple statement.
    No one has even proven that statement wrong in the 4 pages of this thread. Other than "michael phelps" who does lift weights btw.
    We can't disprove your opinion. You are entitled to it.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Saw someone on MFP write this as a reply to a different topic today. This can't be true..... right?

    Of course it's true. You've seen aerobic instructors, right? They are all saggy fat horrible looking hags.
  • ThePunkHippie
    ThePunkHippie Posts: 213
    I'd throw my 2 cents into the pile, but because I have close to 100lbs to lose, that means my opinions on what's attractive are 'morphed' & not valid




    I'd rather be fat than arrogant anyday.
  • kirstyg1980
    kirstyg1980 Posts: 302
    my favourite quote:

    Cardio will make you look good with your clothes on, wieght training makes you look good naked

    can't remember the actual wording but thats the jist of it

    xx
  • harlanJEN
    harlanJEN Posts: 1,089 Member
    I wrote it.
    And I stand by my opinion.


    I've never seen a person look good who only runs. Women can probably get by with it and look decent, but men need to lift weights.

    Love a person who will stand up, own it and stand by it. With that said .. it is my OPINION that women need to lift weights too.
  • macpatti
    macpatti Posts: 4,280 Member
    Gonna go out on another limb here and say anyone that needs to lose more than 100 pounds probably has morphed ideas of what "definition and tone" are, and what looks "good".
    So, only fit, toned, people who lift have the "right" ideas of what definition and tone are and what looks good????? And we should start a thread of people who run only so we can see how bad they all look? Who are you, dude?
  • hjfischer
    hjfischer Posts: 250
    I run 25 miles a week - give or take a few miles. BUT I need to lift in order to change my body composition. After having children, getting older and sitting in an office all day, for me, running only gets me so far. The weights is what pushes me further.
  • macpatti
    macpatti Posts: 4,280 Member
    I'd throw my 2 cents into the pile, but because I have close to 100lbs to lose, that means my opinions on what's attractive are 'morphed' & not valid




    I'd rather be fat than arrogant anyday.
    I'd rather be friends with a fat, humble person than an arrogant fit person any day.
  • Grlnxtdr0721
    Grlnxtdr0721 Posts: 597 Member
    I would refer you to this link:

    http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    At least go down to the pictures, see her at 117, 132, and 147. Decide for yourself what "looks best"

    But I will mention that if you google the benefits of strength training, specifically for women, there is a reduction in chances for specific cancers and osteoporosis. Strength training doesn't have to involve weights, you can do body weight exercises.

    Thank you for sharing this. Her story is amazing and I copied and pasted some of her ideas!!!
  • plcarpenter
    plcarpenter Posts: 83 Member
    I wrote it.
    And I stand by my opinion.


    I've never seen a person look good who only runs. Women can probably get by with it and look decent, but men need to lift weights.

    I think "good" is realitive, but I agree a little muscle definition by weight lifting certainly helps make you look better...I'm trying to add that because I do too much cardio.
  • plcarpenter
    plcarpenter Posts: 83 Member
    4 months of only-cardio got me here:
    2/23/11 - 150 lbs
    12102525_7995.jpg


    1 month of heavy lifting + 1 week high protein diet/no cardio got me here:
    3/23/11 - 144.6 lbs
    12102525_7010.jpg:
    There's a little bit of difference there but not much. Plus, you are obviously flexing your abs in the "after" and not in the "before".

    I don't know...looks like a big difference to me...but maybe I better take another look to make sure :smile:
  • krocksa
    krocksa Posts: 32
    I would refer you to this link:

    http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    At least go down to the pictures, see her at 117, 132, and 147. Decide for yourself what "looks best"

    But I will mention that if you google the benefits of strength training, specifically for women, there is a reduction in chances for specific cancers and osteoporosis. Strength training doesn't have to involve weights, you can do body weight exercises.

    ^THIS THIS THIS^ What great pictures!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    my favourite quote:

    Cardio will make you look good with your clothes on, wieght training makes you look good naked

    can't remember the actual wording but thats the jist of it

    xx

    And it's absolutely not true for everyone.

    First of all, "good" is an opinion. Second, not everyone has the same natural body composition. But mostly, it totally depends on what you do outside your "exercise". If you have an active life that requires you to use your muscles there is no need to ever do a specific strength training routine to look good with or without clothes.

    If you don't use your muscles at all except when you are exercising, or you are aging (muscle tone is harder to keep as you age), then you may need some strength training to keep your muscles firm (though it still doesn't have to involve weights).
  • freckledrats
    freckledrats Posts: 251 Member
    I would refer you to this link:

    http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    At least go down to the pictures, see her at 117, 132, and 147. Decide for yourself what "looks best"

    But I will mention that if you google the benefits of strength training, specifically for women, there is a reduction in chances for specific cancers and osteoporosis. Strength training doesn't have to involve weights, you can do body weight exercises.

    ^THIS THIS THIS^ What great pictures!

    I loved reading her story. I'm not too interested personally in getting ripped or being strong, but she made it seem so cool I might change my mind XD
  • BetterCrazyThanLazy
    BetterCrazyThanLazy Posts: 336
    Meh. I don't think I've seen a bad looking marathon runner.

    Marathon runners cross-train and work on their core to support them during long runs. :-)
  • zornig
    zornig Posts: 336 Member

    Females I can see a few arguements. I still think they look better with athletic legs that come from lifting, but to each their own. That's definitely an opinion.

    My athletic legs come almost entirely from cycling, as I blew out my knee Oly lifting almost 2 years ago.

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