These things are NOT part of your weight lifting routine (also known as strength training)

Just saw another thread about balanced routines and I started thinking about this. As you probably don't know, I'm too lazy to Google for you. I'm a big fan of weight lifting forums, books and actually lifting weights. There is A LOT of misinformation out there so don't take my word for it, although it would be cool if you did.

As they say, the best exercise is the one you're doing. Many things are better than doing nothing. Using an iron lung is better than not breathing. Then there's the next step: there are things that awesome uses of your gym time.

This thread is assuming you know how important a weight routine is to your overall health, especially if you're a woman. If you're a woman over 30 and not doing weights three times a week, GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND GO START THAT RIGHT NOW.

Note: If you are getting your info from any of the following, please start the research process over: Cosmo, Shape, Self

1. Pilates and yoga: not weight lifting.

2. Weight lifting classes: this is tricky because they lift weights in there. They lift light weights for countless reps. This is NOT an effective weight routine. Is it an easy class? No. Is it the best use of your time and energy? Hell no. Put that sort of effort into a weight routine not set to music and you'll shock yourself at the progress

3. Running. I can't believe I have to say this. Do you build muscle when you run? I dunno perhaps. Is it a substitute for a weight routine because you feel your legs are getting more muscular? NOPE.

4. Machines: this falls in the category of better than nothing. There are rants about free weights vs machines all over the place. If you're going to be at the gym anyway, do what works best and that's free weights.

spirochete, I hate you. With that said, I don't have access to a gym. I can't follow your sucky advice!

There are many posters here that have great advice about home gym alternatives. There are many heavy, weighted things you have, you can make or you can buy. I saw one poster talk about doing curls with soup cans. Do NOT do that. I think that had to be a joke post but you never know

If you post about toning and not bulking up, I'll probably show up at your door and you're not gonna like that.

I'm still waiting for the source that says cardio is better than weights for fat loss, since EVERY REPUTABLE FITNESS SOURCE agrees it should be pretty easy to find...

I'm in the same boat as curtinks at this time.  There is no way that I'd keep all that stuff in my room- it's just not my style.  Especially when I have a trainer.  To have a trainer come to my house when I do not have a room for all the equipment to go is pointless.  And in case you feel like attacking me for having a trainer- I am totally content with it.  They help me out, come up with different plans every day and I don't hurt myself.  That's enough for me to be paying them for their time.  And in that respect for me at least the money doesn't matter.  If I'm spending it in a way that makes me healthier and happier than the trainer is worth it to me.  And on top of that I've formed a bond with my trainer, and I know that she does care about my health and fitness.

To me, the home gym isn't a bad idea- if you can have it in separate room detached from most of the rest of your house.  So it "feels" more like a gym.  And so that it doesn't interfere with the rest of the house (I mean aesthetically).

Original Post by agana:

xzcandizx

What kind of certification do the trainers have.   Just like pilates instructors you can get a certification online or you can go through intensive schooling that includes things like biomechanics.   There are a million certifications out there so saying that a "board" certified trainer said something does not make it so.   

I have lost weight only weight lifting.   I hate cardio and maybe get in 20 min a week, if I am really trying. I am most certainly not bulking up even though I lift close to what Spiro does.   Its all about diet,  if you eat too much or not enough you are not going to lose weight.

 

I know specifically my trainer has a Masters in nutrition (and all the background courses (with courses on exercise and nutrition and physiology).  She also has over 100 hours of courses through equinox (the gym) and a national certification (I do not know which one at this time, and specifically speaking about her- I don't care).

Then maybe your trainer can find you a credible reference that says cardio is better then weight lifting for fat burning...

Original Post by floggingsully:

Then maybe your trainer can find you a credible reference that says cardio is better then weight lifting for fat burning...

Are you 5?  It's never that one is better than the other.  Both are good.  That is the point.

Haa, this is a great thread.

It really scares me how immature most of you are.  And unpleasant.  Obviously you have other issues and are taking out your unhappiness at someone on a message board that you don't even know.  Just because I disagree with you.  Even if I did waste my time to search to find sources for you that back up my claims, you would only brush them off with some other excuse.  With that said, you can go gang up on someone else.  Hopefully they'll read this before though, and realize how pointless it is.  Get a life and some age appropriateness.

Original Post by xzcandizx:

Original Post by floggingsully:

Then maybe your trainer can find you a credible reference that says cardio is better then weight lifting for fat burning...

Are you 5?  It's never that one is better than the other.  Both are good.  That is the point.

Earlier you said that one was better than the other:

"But lets face it, if you are looking to loose weight, cardio is always first and weights come second.  I know that you might disagree with this, but pretty much every reliable fitness source would agree." 

And you said that every reliable fitness source would agree, but have not provided any of these fitness sources.  When you get to law school you'll (hopefully) learn that making claims you can't back up is not a good way to state a case.

And no one said both weren't good (except you), what was said is that one is clearly better than the other, and evidence was provided to back up that claim.

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by xzcandizx:

Original Post by floggingsully:

Then maybe your trainer can find you a credible reference that says cardio is better then weight lifting for fat burning...

Are you 5?  It's never that one is better than the other.  Both are good.  That is the point.

Earlier you said that one was better than the other:

"But lets face it, if you are looking to loose weight, cardio is always first and weights come second.  I know that you might disagree with this, but pretty much every reliable fitness source would agree." 

And you said that every reliable fitness source would agree, but have not provided any of these fitness sources.  When you get to law school you'll (hopefully) learn that making claims you can't back up is not a good way to state a case.

And no one said both weren't good (except you), what was said is that one is clearly better than the other, and evidence was provided to back up that claim.

I still hold that.  It's better for loosing weight.  But it's not better period.  If you want to be in the best shape possible you need to do both.

Original Post by xzcandizx:

It really scares me how immature most of you are. And unpleasant. Obviously you have other issues and are taking out your unhappiness at someone on a message board that you don't even know. Just because I disagree with you. Even if I did waste my time to search to find sources for you that back up my claims, you would only brush them off with some other excuse. With that said, you can go gang up on someone else. Hopefully they'll read this before though, and realize how pointless it is. Get a life and some age appropriateness.

You're gonna make a great lawyer!

You won't listen to me? FINE! I'm not going to bother with evidence. I'm gonna take my brief case and legal pad and storm right out of this courtroom

I still hold that you should provide evidence to back up your claims, which you still haven't done. 

Here's evidence that you're claim is wrong:

http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=152 6539

Original Post by floggingsully:

I still hold that you should provide evidence to back up your claims, which you still haven't done.

Here's evidence that you're claim is wrong:

http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=152 6539

She's only been asked this 10 times. She's not going to answer, but hopefully she'll have a few more tirades because those are pretty awesome.

I just read through this entire thread...hysterical!

Spiro and Melkor: just wanted to let you know that you are getting through to people with your well-documented and science-supported posts on the benefits of weight training over cardio for fat loss.  

I just started strength training after all your helpful information.  I still love step class twice a week but I do that mainly for fun now.  I'm really looking forward to getting stronger!

Thanks for the inspiration and tips! 

Jennifer, that's awesome! You have to thank melkor and floggingsully for the links and documentation, though. I stopped posted those ages ago because no one was listening. I guess they are now!

I get a lot of PMs from women who started a weight program, telling me how awesome it's going for them. I love it

though i find this thread awesome, i am surprised it has gone on this long considering these facts are things that have been reiterated time and time again and linked extensively, and referred to by thousands of other fitness sites.

The best way to achieve well-rounded fitness is through diet, cardio, and strength training. I don't get why it's so hard for people to understand this.

Then again, my exercise buddy wouldn't listen to me when I told her we shouldn't be lifting every day, and that our bodies needed time to rebuild. She wouldn't listen to me when I said that we ideally wouldn't do cardio/strenght training in the same day. She wouldn't listen to me when I told her that she should do higher weights, lower reps, as opposed to the low weight high rep nonsense she had been doing. She wouldn't listen to me when I told her she wouldn't bulk up because she's a woman.

She had to go pay for a special consultation at the health club we belong to (Space is the big issue here -- Chicago apartments and condos are tiny), before she would accept anything I've been telling her.

*sigh*

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

 

She had to go pay for a special consultation at the health club we belong to (Space is the big issue here -- Chicago apartments and condos are tiny), before she would accept anything I've been telling her.

*sigh*

 OUCH that's an expensive lession! What's very hard for me to understand is people just don't take my word as gospel. Incredible, I know! After all these years of being me, sometimes I still have to remind myself that people will find their way when they are ready to find their way. In the meantime it's so frustrating for me because I have ZERO patience!

Also, someone told me something interesting one day. There's an actual phrase for it, but basically people tend to believe those close to them the least on a lot of things. The guy telling the story was some sort of a trainer. He's been nagging his sister for years about how to get healthy. Finally she went and paid someone to tell her exactly what he'd been telling her for free. Weird.

(PS: my sister says that about her husband all the time "you have to tell him, he's not going to believe it if I tell him")

I'm so loving this thread, hahaha...

And about "Also, someone told me something interesting one day. There's an actual phrase for it, but basically people tend to believe those close to them the least on a lot of things. The guy telling the story was some sort of a trainer. He's been nagging his sister for years about how to get healthy. Finally she went and paid someone to tell her exactly what he'd been telling her for free. Weird." I know the feeling. My DH has been paying obscene amounts of money, going from one therapist to another telling him what I've been telling him all along but, he does not want to believe...

We will always find people who would rather put their foot in their mouths than admit they are wrong or look up the information to back up their stubbornness. And the next sentence is for Melkor, Spiro, Floggingsully, Bodyscience and every body else who contributes with their science based info to this discussion, I am grateful. Your information and my own research have changed the way I approach fitness in general and weight loss in particular. Thanks to your posts I have my new "best friends" Krista and Tom, I bought Tom Venuto's ebook and I read Sumptous at least once a month. I have bookmarked Muscle with attitude and so many articles that you have shared with the rest of us. The next item on my wish list is New Rules for Women... and a new set of dumbbells to replace my 8 lbs that I have outgrown this week. :-)

Also try the forums on oxygenmag.com It's a women's fitness site. I love it because there is no hand holding circle of love over there. If xzcandizx were to post her nonsense on that site, she'd be hog tied and thrown out into traffic.