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.

Original Post by spirochete:

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.

 LMAO!!!!

Haha here's a thread right on the first page of the fitness forums called

Toning not bulking

The first response:
oh boy.

Hi, I wanted to tell you about my first-hand encounter with soemthing-that-is-not-weightlifting:

In my PE Class at my Community College yesterday, there was a girl who started on the chest press machine with 10lbs (the lowest weight it has) and then went and did a few bicep curls with 5lb dumbells.  I felt sad for her - she wasn't even pretending to work hard -  she must be another of those poor souls who think weights are unladylike.
I wonder what she thought of me:)

1 pound of muscle burns 50 more calories a day than 1 pound of fat.

10 pounds of muscle burns 500 calories more per day.

That's 1 pound of weightloss a week.

Sigh. I'm so about to go do some weight training when I leave work.

to all those who weep about having no space, wipe those tears away~ pick up some dumb bells at a flea market. get 10 and 20 pound ones Even if you Have to get Help to get them Home. then get a set of those adjustable clicky ones for things like flys and tricep work. then try this sort of stuff

http://www.dumbbell-exercises.com/index.html

like melkor and others, i agree that there is no excuse such as cost, space or time to weasel out of strength training. even medical reasons can be circumvented with a subsequent boost in health.

if you Actually Try and Actually Want to be lean, healthy and strong (not bulky and whatever other pretend excuses people have for not picking up weights) you will naturally graduate to heavier weights... but really, a set of 8, 10, 15, 20 pound bells is the way to start if you have no cash/space/whatever.

i curl with a 40lb cambered bar at home and have Lost Inches on my biceps. so... ya... hmm... i didn't really want to beat a dead horse here... but.. ya. here we are.

 

Best thread ever!

And to the pilates guru...

24lbs lost since January 1st.  Weight training and proper eating habits.  Not more than 10 cardio sessions in 3 months.  Now that I am where I want to be weight wise...I am adding cardio in for variety.

Also, there is no possible way outside of a medical condition that you were following proper nutrition and proper weight training principles and you didnt lose weight...

Ummm.... *hugs everyone* 

Original Post by cat-girl:

Hi, I wanted to tell you about my first-hand encounter with soemthing-that-is-not-weightlifting:

In my PE Class at my Community College yesterday, there was a girl who started on the chest press machine with 10lbs (the lowest weight it has) and then went and did a few bicep curls with 5lb dumbells.  I felt sad for her - she wasn't even pretending to work hard -  she must be another of those poor souls who think weights are unladylike.
I wonder what she thought of me:)

I just started weight training and could only do 10 lbs on all the arm machines and it was very hard work for me.   For now, 10lbs is weightlifting for me.

Original Post by jenniferfreeman1:

I just started weight training and could only do 10 lbs on all the arm machines and it was very hard work for me. For now, 10lbs is weightlifting for me.

If you are lifting heavy for you, then you are one bad @ss chick! I get jealous of those just starting out because they get to add huge amounts of weights week over week. It's so satisfying