Why so many women going to the gym only do cardio?

[man_in_the_box]

Explanations aside, this is the second or third thread in the past few weeks that serves to bash women who don't lift weights.

 

Uh, no. This thread has not bashed anyone. There was an honest question posed by the OP and it got appropriately answered by the responders.

[pink_sugar]

They may be looking just for weight loss rather than toning up. Some people like myself have natural thickness and muscle tone and some women aren't looking to build on that, but rather get "thinner" and not bulk up.

[greenfairie]

Weird. I'm a woman. Doing cardio makes me lose too much weight. I prefer lifting.

[Emilia]

Weird. I'm a woman. Doing cardio makes me lose too much weight. I prefer lifting.

Exactly. I have a much better body shape with strength training than without.

[StandingO]

Uh, no. This thread has not bashed anyone. There was an honest question posed by the OP and it got appropriately answered by the responders.

 

Correct. There is zero intent here to bash women or men.

My GF is a ex body builder, fitness model. She lifts still 5 days a week. I support her on this 100%. I just was looking for individual opinions and I got them.

[Eggplant]

The biggest reason I exercise is to settle my mood and my digestive system, and secondary to those reasons I want to burn calories. Running, particularly fast running, makes me emotionally high, and I ride that dopamine wave for up to 2 days until my next work out. The weight lifting doesn't give me that effect. I know I should be building muscle, but with a limited amount of time only to work out, I go for what gives me the biggest return. Also, the weight lifting doesn't burn as many calories.

 

Thanks for reminding me I need to also start building muscle... I want to do that.

[EasyHeart]

I think there is a tendency to do what comes easily for your body type. For my husband, lifting weights is relatively easy compared to cardio. He has more appreciable rewards sooner lifting than he does running. He quickly gets stronger, gets bigger muscles, and likes the results. So he lifts weights.

 

For me, lifting weights is an exercise in frustration. It's difficult, and the results are not quickly forthcoming. Running, on the other hand, gives me visible results quickly, both in terms of body shape and performance gains. And it feels good. So I run.

My rule is that if you're training for performance (ie, you're a 20 year old athlete), you train with your body; if you're training for health, you train against your body.

[Emilia]

The biggest reason I exercise is to settle my mood and my digestive system, and secondary to those reasons I want to burn calories. Running, particularly fast running, makes me emotionally high, and I ride that dopamine wave for up to 2 days until my next work out. The weight lifting doesn't give me that effect. I know I should be building muscle, but with a limited amount of time only to work out, I go for what gives me the biggest return. Also, the weight lifting doesn't burn as many calories.

 

Thanks for reminding me I need to also start building muscle... I want to do that.

You need heavier weights, that will give you the dopamine and weight loss.

[xxoo]

My rule is that if you're training for performance (ie, you're a 20 year old athlete), you train with your body; if you're training for health, you train against your body.

 

Why?

 

(10 charac)

[EasyHeart]

Why?

 

(10 charac)

Because the main reason we exercise is to combat the natural decay that comes with aging. Naturally thin people (who are likely to excel at things like distance running) aren't likely to get obese, which is what causes things like hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, etc. They are more likely to suffer from age-related muscle loss and resulting age-related back problems and joint problems. Naturally chubby people (who are more likely to excel at muscle buliding) have to worry more about fat gain and less about muscle loss.

 

Of course, you should be doing both. It's mostly an issue of emphasis.

[LLQ1986]

I hate doing cardio too, I only do it when there's a screen in front of me so that the session doesn't seem as boring. I do yoga every monday and sometimes on wednesdays, saturdays' my cardio day.

[xxoo]

Because the main reason we exercise is to combat the natural decay that comes with aging. Naturally thin people (who are likely to excel at things like distance running) aren't likely to get obese, which is what causes things like hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, etc. They are more likely to suffer from age-related muscle loss and resulting age-related back problems and joint problems. Naturally chubby people (who are more likely to excel at muscle buliding) have to worry more about fat gain and less about muscle loss.

 

Of course, you should be doing both. It's mostly an issue of emphasis.

 

Thanks for explaining. I'd be curious to know if it results in overall health benefits.

 

My rule is do what you enjoy, because exercise you enjoy is exercise you're more likely to stick with. And exercise you do will have more health benefits than exercise you don't do.

[Jaysk]

You really need to be doing both.

 

Strength (weight) training is very important for bone strength, muscle mass and overall health.

 

Women avoid it in the mistaken belief that they will get bulky. That won't happen unless they take extreme measures to do so. They just don't have the testosterone required to make that happen.

 

You won't get bulky - you'll just get sexy. Go for it

[Eggplant]

You need heavier weights, that will give you the dopamine and weight loss.

I will try heavy weights! Of course, then I have to go to the gym where there are free weights and machines, but I'm interested. Perhaps speed lifting or whatever they call it will help.

[Emilia]

I will try heavy weights! Of course, then I have to go to the gym where there are free weights and machines, but I'm interested. Perhaps speed lifting or whatever they call it will help.

Not sure what speed lifting is?

[regine_phalange]

I never liked cardio, even though I should. Not for fat burning really, but for the heart, stamina, etc.

 

I am a stretching fanatic, I mean it has improved my quality of life for sure, but I also really enjoy it. I like slow movement, listening to what my body says. I like being flexible. I also like yoga very much.

 

edit: I also want to start doing pull ups! My brother brought me this thing that you do pull ups on and we put it in a doorway. It is so hard though, I slide very easily But will not give up so easily.

Edited November 24, 2013 by regine_phalange
i forgot