Is weight lifting/working out really worth the time and effort?

Answer:

http://s120.photobucket.com/albums/o166/jlbyl er/th___000ohhellsyeah0in.gif

From time to time, I see people asking if working out is worth the time/effort. Bottom line, it is! I was the antithesis of fitness, but through unwavering dedication, I'm starting to shape my body in ways I never thought possible.


It's only been a few months of dedicated weight lifting, but I'm already starting to see some results.

I took this pic about a week ago:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/mishimak azama/IMG_4040.jpg

Now I know it's not much at all to look at, but you gotta keep in mind that I never had anything even remotely close to strong muscles or muscle definition anywhere on my body. So I know, first hand, that the hard work is indeed staring to pay off. 

Maybe this pic will give you an idea of how far I've come:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/mishimak azama/265.jpg

Mind you, I'm still pretty green when it comes to this fitness stuff. If this is the kind of results, I, as a novice, have achieved though, I can't wait to see what I'll accomplish with a greater knowledge base.

I'm defintely going to start reading up on strenght training, cardiovascular training, nutrion, supplementaion, and anything else I need to know about.

I'd be remiss not to mention how valuable a resource this site is, as well as how important the cc community is to me. This site has helped me lose a ton of weight and community interaction has helped greatly with my fitness goals. I learn a little each day just by reading people's ideas, success stories, and even by imparting some support of my own on to others.

Stay committed, work hard, and in time you'll get rewarded greatly; I'm sure of it!

 

Is.. is that really you in both pictures? I'd estimate the guy flexing his arm is a foot taller and 20 years younger. Sure you looked alright before as well, but.. damn! If this is where a couple of months can get you, man you're going to be ripped to shreds a year from here. I am in awe.

Thanks! I hope I get cut too! I'll try my hardest at least.

It sounds so cliche, but it's true: If I can do it, anyone can!

I hate men and their ability to build muscle like it's nothing. (I'm half-joking here, but I am seriously jealous of that damned testosterone. ;) )

Seriously though - you look great! Your lats are getting there, I see.

Original Post by goddess9:

I hate men and their ability to build muscle like it's nothing. (I'm half-joking here, but I am seriously jealous of that damned testosterone. ;) )

Seriously though - you look great! Your lats are getting there, I see.

I still can't do a single pull-up. I'm almost there though.  Earlier this week i almost made it all the way up to complete a full pull-up; a couple months ago I couldn't even do that.

I'm gonna focus great attention on lats for sure.

Thanks and good luck to ya!

Seriously, dude, you're hot now! What a huge change! You should be very proud of yourself ... sticking with it and putting in all that effort is hard sometimes. Congrats, man! :-)

"Not much to look at" ???!!!  Holy cow, you look like something out of a DC comic.  O_O

You are one committed guy.

As a woman, I don't think I want my arms to look like that (haha).  But I sure wouldn't mind getting some definition.  And just being able to do things I used to do as a kid, ya know?  Like monkey bars.

Way to go, man!

Original Post by mortalmonkey:

Original Post by goddess9:

I hate men and their ability to build muscle like it's nothing. (I'm half-joking here, but I am seriously jealous of that damned testosterone. ;) )

Seriously though - you look great! Your lats are getting there, I see.

I still can't do a single pull-up. I'm almost there though.  Earlier this week i almost made it all the way up to complete a full pull-up; a couple months ago I couldn't even do that.

I'm gonna focus great attention on lats for sure.

Thanks and good luck to ya!

Pull-ups are the worst, for males or females. All that body weight to pull up... How about focusing on pushups more as a build-up to pull-ups?

Your lats are fine now, so don't shred em up too much. :P

Keep going! (And lmao, Melkor, for making this a sticky! Now people will come to the dark side!)

Well hey, he earned his time at the top ;)

Weight lifting will totally change how you look and feel and how you're able to do "stuff", like carrying groceries, moving furniture, working the yard, etc.  Cardio doesn't really do that for you.

Being the devotee of Oprah, et al on XM -- I am hearing Dr. Oz and Bob Greene and their recommendations regarding working out with weights. It's what's gonna get to those extra years of quality life down the road. (you guys and girls are probably all too young to care about that now. ) I've gotten back into the gym after a whole school year of goofing off and using stress and tiredness from teaching as an excuse. and I feel much better.

 

When you see older folk with walkers and other assists, they may have been able to avoid that with more weight-bearing exercise earlier in their lives. My dad's 80, and still on his own two feet! No gym for him; he farms and ranches, but it's the same kind of activity.

good job bro. I had a friend who was of similar height and weight and went through the same exact things; ive seen it first hand. I know what kind of dedication it takes to get off of the couch and do better for yourself. Dieting especially. Keep up the good work man.

VERY impressive results. I am just looking through the forum, trying to convince myself to switch my workout around, do more weights than cardio. I may just do that tonight.

And, irrelevantly, I love Rorschach :)

Cool, thanks!

I used to do cardio 6 days a week. Now I do it 3 or 4 times a week tops; with at least one of those days consisting of HIIT. I would like to do more days of HIIT, but I don't think it's a good idea...that stuff's pretty darn intense and I don't wanna keel over! I lift weights 6 days a week.

I'm gonna try to drop just a little more body fat through cardio/weight lifting. As soon as I do lose a little more fat, I'm gonna cut back on cardio even more.

I'll probably end up doing one day of HIIT and one day of outdoor running per week with the rest of my activity devoted to weight lifting.

We'll see. I'm still pretty darn green!

Awesome job dude...awesome Rorschach avatar I might add.........I'm a firm believer in dieting and weight lifting....I've went through the same transformations.....who watches the watchmen?

Original Post by jarredwayne:

Awesome job dude...awesome Rorschach avatar I might add.........I'm a firm believer in dieting and weight lifting....I've went through the same transformations.....who watches the watchmen?

Holy $#%$balls! I was just looking over your profile and it seems like you and I have like the same freakin' story! That's awesome!

Same age, similar weight loss, similar fitness progression, similar goals. Wow!

Diet wonder twins powers, activate!

OMG i was looking at your pickys what an amazing transformation in such a short time !!!!! wooooohoooooo

Well done you enjoy your new bod you deserve it.

 

Good job. That's some GREAT progress you've made. ^_^

OMG! That's amazing - well done...as for being green...what will happen once you go red??? I've been on here for a couple of months, with an entire month of vacation, and I must say that seeing you pics surely just motivated me even more to get back on the real track...