Fun strength training?

kmm7309
kmm7309 Posts: 802 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I think I have the cardio down by now, and I'm still (usually) losing the weight at a good rate of 1.5 pounds a week (despite my hypothyroid and PCOS). I still have a long way to go before my huge layer of fat is gone, but I feel like I need to add some strength training to my regimen, maybe to try helping my metabolism. Anyways, I pretty much hate strength training, so I am asking you, my friends, for some help. I have a few questions:

1) Have you found anything fun to do for strength training?
2) Do they sell it in a video?
3) Is it cheap/free (I can pull youtube up on my TV if it's on there)?

Replies

  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    lift heavy.

    if you're lifting heavy enough then it wont matter if you're having fun or not because you'll be concentrating in getting the lift done with proper form .

    i use the same formula for cardio because i HATE cardio. i do intervals mainly so i'm too bust worrying about preparing for the next increase in speed to even think about having fun.
  • Jynus
    Jynus Posts: 519 Member
    strength training is maximal effort with very heavy weights. so unless that directly is fun for you, there is no real way to make it fun. A heavy compound lift is a heavy compound lift...
  • Twiztedbeing
    Twiztedbeing Posts: 389
    Maybe this guy can give you some insight.


    http://highlifeworkout.com/2012/02/19/how-many-reps-should-you-do-2/

    He is straight about everything and has plenty of youtube videos about food and exercise. I follow his way of training and I love it.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/BrandonCarterTV
  • torygirl79
    torygirl79 Posts: 307 Member
    Body pump is a fun introduction, more a mix of strength and cardio than full strength though. There is a video version available.
  • Jynus
    Jynus Posts: 519 Member
    Maybe this guy can give you some insight.


    http://highlifeworkout.com/2012/02/19/how-many-reps-should-you-do-2/

    He is straight about everything and has plenty of youtube videos about food and exercise. I follow his way of training and I love it.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/BrandonCarterTV
    This is not strength training. this is cardio....
  • uglyhobo
    uglyhobo Posts: 108 Member
    Training for strength is probably the most fun. I look forward to going to the gym because I love the feeling of hitting a new pr....it's amazing. It's VERY fun setting PR's and exceeding your goals.

    Training for hypertrophy(size) is fun because of the pump and feeling during the workout.

    Just lift heavy and focus on getting stronger, because that's very fun.
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    It sure is fun to look in the mirror and see my *kitten* looking better than it ever has in my life. And it's fun doing a chin-up on my pull-up bar in the bathroom, and watch as I develop shoulders, biceps & triceps for the first time ever.

    Is it fun feeling like my heart is about to jump out of my chest, breaking out into a sweat all over and feeling dizzy and nearly passing out from taking in all the oxygen required for those heavy deadlifts? Hmm... I revert back to the above and remember what my *kitten* now looks like when it's hard to lift 160 lbs :)
  • Rosa1213
    Rosa1213 Posts: 456 Member
    I have to say, I don't know that it'll be "fun", but lifting gives you a great feeling.

    It feels like I'm the She-Hulk, going out to smash the city and look hot while I do so.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    See avatar
  • Twiztedbeing
    Twiztedbeing Posts: 389
    Maybe this guy can give you some insight.


    http://highlifeworkout.com/2012/02/19/how-many-reps-should-you-do-2/

    He is straight about everything and has plenty of youtube videos about food and exercise. I follow his way of training and I love it.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/BrandonCarterTV
    This is not strength training. this is cardio....

    I was talking about the push to failure. The OP said they were looking for increasing metabolism. He has plenty of insight.
  • LesterBlackstone
    LesterBlackstone Posts: 291 Member
    Maybe this guy can give you some insight.


    http://highlifeworkout.com/2012/02/19/how-many-reps-should-you-do-2/

    He is straight about everything and has plenty of youtube videos about food and exercise. I follow his way of training and I love it.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/BrandonCarterTV

    LOL.

    Nothing but broscience from this clown.
  • mariagabriella
    mariagabriella Posts: 267 Member
    kettlebell swings are fun!
  • Twiztedbeing
    Twiztedbeing Posts: 389
    Maybe this guy can give you some insight.


    http://highlifeworkout.com/2012/02/19/how-many-reps-should-you-do-2/

    He is straight about everything and has plenty of youtube videos about food and exercise. I follow his way of training and I love it.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/BrandonCarterTV

    LOL.

    Nothing but broscience from this clown.

    Clown that is more ripped than 99% of people on here. I guess your right though, training to failure hasnt been proven or anything. sure....
  • Twiztedbeing
    Twiztedbeing Posts: 389
    I think I am going to follow someone who actually has results. Not words in a book or on an internet. It makes sense, maybe not to you, but that's ok. Then this is not intended for you. But for those who want to try something different, there it is.
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    Biased again, but if you can find a pole class give it a go :)

    Its not free, and depending on where you go, may not be REALLY cheap, but is a fun way of building strength.

    Heavy lifting is also really fun (IMO). Im doing 5x5 at the moment, you could do it at home if you had the equipment, but a gym is probably better for having people around to spot if needed and such.

    You could do some body weight exercises too, free and plenty of youtube videos with different things to do. Personally I love strength training and dont find it boring at all. Maybe as you increase intensity you'll find yourself getting into it more, bicep curling a 5lb dumbell might be boring, deadlifting 110lbs is not :)
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Olympic lifting.
  • docktorfokse
    docktorfokse Posts: 473 Member
    Maybe this guy can give you some insight.


    http://highlifeworkout.com/2012/02/19/how-many-reps-should-you-do-2/

    He is straight about everything and has plenty of youtube videos about food and exercise. I follow his way of training and I love it.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/BrandonCarterTV
    Training to failure doesn't help you lift more weight, it just helps you lift about the same weight for more reps. Furthermore, if you're doing an actual strength routine, "failure" means tearing tissue or breaking a bone. If hypertrophy is more your thing anyway, you still have to deal with an over-taxed central nervous system with reps to failure.
  • Twiztedbeing
    Twiztedbeing Posts: 389
    Maybe this guy can give you some insight.


    http://highlifeworkout.com/2012/02/19/how-many-reps-should-you-do-2/

    He is straight about everything and has plenty of youtube videos about food and exercise. I follow his way of training and I love it.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/BrandonCarterTV
    Training to failure doesn't help you lift more weight, it just helps you lift about the same weight for more reps. Furthermore, if you're doing an actual strength routine, "failure" means tearing tissue or breaking a bone. If hypertrophy is more your thing anyway, you still have to deal with an over-taxed central nervous system with reps to failure.

    As far as your definition to failure goes you are way off. I have been doing training to failure to about 30+ reps each time. The first time I break 40 reps, I go up 15lbs in weight. There are many ways of doing an exercise. You chose to think of it in the wrong way. Going the route I am going I will end up being able to do really heavy weights with lots of repetitions. I have done just strength training and I could not do very many reps. I like being able to know that I can do a ton of a heavy weight. Not many people can.
  • deannajodouglass
    deannajodouglass Posts: 15 Member
    i love Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 dvd. she does a 3-2-1 system, where you do strength for 3 minutes, cardio for 2, and abs for 1. it helps you lose weight and gain muscle :) she has a meal plan for it and everything. i also got the iPhone/iPod touch apps called Arm Workouts Pro, Leg Workouts Pro, Butt Workouts Pro, and Ab Workouts Pro, and they are great. You can watch tv and do them, and modify them to your skill level. They come with pre-made workouts, but you can also make your own workout with the list of exercises they give you. These are great places to start :)
  • jkvoight1
    jkvoight1 Posts: 4
    I totally understand where you are coming from. Did you know you can use your own body weight to strength train without having to buy dumbells, bands, etc? I tried Jillian Michaels and LIKED it but I fell in love with the results of INSANITY! You can do it in your home so it cuts down on gym membership :) I also have a friend who has thyroid issues and she replaced one meal a day with Shakeology which really helped her metabolism. I hope this helped you. Have a wonderful day!
  • LesterBlackstone
    LesterBlackstone Posts: 291 Member
    As far as your definition to failure goes you are way off. I have been doing training to failure to about 30+ reps each time. The first time I break 40 reps, I go up 15lbs in weight. There are many ways of doing an exercise. You chose to think of it in the wrong way. Going the route I am going I will end up being able to do really heavy weights with lots of repetitions. I have done just strength training and I could not do very many reps. I like being able to know that I can do a ton of a heavy weight. Not many people can.

    No it won't. Once the newbie honeymoon phase is over, you'll spend a lot of time spinning your whieels. All you're doing is training muscular endurance (and likely creating imbalances as well).
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    I am not going to say what I think you are by the comment you made about him, but let me tell you, its not right to judge someone like that.

    LOL. Do you even know what a Bro is?

    I think he knows at least one.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    lift heavy.

    if you're lifting heavy enough then it wont matter if you're having fun or not because you'll be concentrating in getting the lift done with proper form .

    i use the same formula for cardio because i HATE cardio. i do intervals mainly so i'm too bust worrying about preparing for the next increase in speed to even think about having fun.

    Gotta go with this. I hate weights, and I hate core work, but cardio doesn't bother me so much. I've upped my weights and core work because I want to maintain more muscle during my weight loss (something I wish I had done a long time ago, but cardio is the quick and relatively easy way to weight loss, and better supported my training for a 180-mile charity bike ride).

    Anyway, when I lift, I lift as heavy as I can manage (failure within 10 reps), and I'm so focused on form and counting the lifts that it's over before I realize I've started. Then I move on to the next lift.

    Same with core work. Squats I do with very little weight because I've always had back issues and I don't want an injury, but planks I keep a stopwatch for and try to beat my previous best while maintaining form.

    I've actually come to like (OK, dislike by a smaller amount) lifting and core, only because there's constant variety in what I'm doing. I'm also starting to recognize the signs of progress, which aren't as obvious as "I maintained three more watts today on average".

    Steady-state cardio, my previous go-to exercise form, now seems a lot duller and monotonous by comparison.
  • dlwyatt82
    dlwyatt82 Posts: 1,077 Member
    In before twizted gets another thread locked for hijacking. :laugh: I love how he says he'll follow this one idiot's routine based on how he looks, rather than taking the advice of well-respected coaches. Yeah, I guess the olympic and professional athletes these guys train (in addition to writing their books, etc) don't count as "results".
  • Papillon22
    Papillon22 Posts: 1,160 Member
    I was hesitant to do strength training, but loved doing Chalean Extreme. I love Chalene's energy.
    It's not cheap, but maybe you can find it on ebay.
  • TheGreenfaerie
    TheGreenfaerie Posts: 24
    I prefer strength training over cardio any day, but then again I've always hated running.

    While I don't think I'd call it "fun" per se, it does feel good (like that same warm and loose feeling you get after a good morning stretch) and I like that I can set my ipod to slower or medium tempo tunes. (Conversely, when running/walking I find myself having to listen to tunes that I normally hate because they are the only thing with a strong, faster beat, aka "club"-ish music.)

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