I guess that question always creeps into my mind when reading the numerous exercise threads that run through here.
I’m basically a cardio fiend. I can tell myself that it has a good long term impact on my heart, blood pressure, those things. But I don’t really get that lifting does those things.
What are the health benefits of body-building or even just lifting?
Why do people lift?
-Because it feels good?
-Because it looks good?
-To compete as a powerlifter?
-To compete as a body builder?
-Health reasons?
-Just a hobby?
The little lifting I’ve done in the past was basically an ends to other means. I lifted to work on some muscles for rock climbing. I lifted to help with recovery after knee surgery. I lifted for a time when I used to box a little.
Sometimes, after a cardio workout, I lift just because it feels pretty good to pump up a little.
I lift for health reasons. I read that women really start to lose muscle mass after 30 (I just passed that mark over a year ago). Muscle is more efficient at burning calories than fat, so I want to have the benefit of being able to eat more & not gain as much.
I only lift 5 pound weights, but I can definitely see the difference in my arms.
I lift to get more toned. Cardio is good for weight loss, but it won’t tighten you up as much. I’m a woman, and don’t want to add bulk, but lifting is a great way to create a more defined shape than cardio alone. I’ve lost a clothing size since I started weight training, though I haven’t actually lost that much weight.
Also, I simply FEEL a lot better now that I’ve added it. I feel stronger and healthier. Also, I can lift things more easily now (not that I do a lot of heavy lifting, but it’s good to have that ability).
In my experience, if I’ve put on some fat due to slacking off on the gym, I’ll lose it much faster while doing weight training than cardio.
Echoing what susan_foster said, when I’m lifting regularly, I really don’t have to watch what I eat, as long as it’s within reason. Going the the gym regularly means I can have a generous bowl of ice cream after dinner every night and not put on fat. As soon as I start slacking off, if I continue to eat stuff like ice cream, the fat creeps back. And just as quickly, as soon as I’m back into regular training, I lose the fat. (While gaining muscle, of course.)
My build is slight, but I look better in shirts when I’m more muscular.
And it does feel good. I get a rush. If I go into the weight room with a headache, it disappears almost as soon as I start lifting. Endorphins, I guess.
Feels good, and has a far better “bang for the buck” in improving my appearance than cardio or dieting alone.
Plus, I really, really like the boost in functional strength. Really.
I’ve found that all those problems I used to have with aches and pains before I started lifting again have mostly gone away. Shovelling snow, for example, used to kill my back. It doesn’t now–I can blame that on the heavy deadlifting I’ve been doing.
When I did primarily cardio, I’d also find it annoying how an injury would lay me up for a few weeks while it healed. If I injured myself lifting (fairly rare), I can always just work around it with alternative exercises.
I could probably come up with myriads of other reasons. I think in the end, it’s mostly because I find it cathartic to hit the gym after a bad day and bang heavy weights together.
I still have a bad back – they say probably a herniated disc – so I can’t escape back pain completely. But the extra strength in my “core” keeps me from throwing out my back and being barely able to keep upright for a day or two until it resolves.
When I first started going to the gym a few years back, I had a lot of fat to lose. Not knowing any better, I figured the best route to go was cardio: running on the track, StairMaster®, treadmill. I busted my foot the next day and was pissed off, thinking I’d have to wait until it healed before starting to lose the weight. Wrong! I was able to weight train, and the fat dropped off faster than I could have imagined, with no drastic change in my diet.
I lift because it makes feel and look better. I’ve been lifting off and on for 20 years and though I’m certainly not buff I’m in better shape than my friends who don’t exercise. I also like the “burn” and the feeling I get when I’m working to my max.
I also like the women in tight outfits in my weekly weightlifting classes. Interestingly, the average age of the women is in their late-thirties. I’m the youngest regularly attending guy, at 43. And it’s a TOUGH class - 50 minutes of curls, bench presses, triceps and ab work and a whole lot of squats and pushups. I tend to slack on the squats (only using a 20 pound bar) because I also hike 4-5 miles a couple of times per week. But there are women half my size who are doing squats with 30-40 pounds. And we tend to do about 200 squats per class.
(slight hijack)
Do most clubs offer weightlifing classes? I had seen such classes until the last few years. And my club(s)* offer 15 weightlifting classes per week, including a few “women only” classes.
3 clubs spread out across town. Not bad for a place with only about 40,000 people.
I’m not sure if most clubs do, but my club does. The average age in my weightlifting class is mid forties, 99% woman. It’s called BodyPump. I love it. I do it 3 times a week and am starting to notice results in being more defined and toned.
If you play any sports, even leisurely ones like golf or tennis, it improves your game dramatically.
I never realized how much more control over my golf swing I would get by having a lot of upper body strength. I’m not talking about a more powerful shot but more accurate and controlled.
My wife also prefers me with bigger shoulders, chest, arms.
It makes housework and yardwork projects much easier if you have stonger muscles.
I sleep a lot better and wake up with less body aches if I lift weights.
My (women’s only) gym offers weight lifting classes, though I’ve yet to go to one (they are at very inconvenient times for me). There are a few intense classes, and some lighter ones as well. I beleive most of them also include ab exercises.
I like being as strong as I can be. It’s something that I’m “good at” and makes me less reliant on other people (especially when I used to have to move the occasional computer or printer). I’m not sure why that’s important, though.
It reduces stress and helps me think through things as well.
I’ve been slacking lately, but now that my HRT has kicked in, I’m getting back into it. I work with 12 lb and 15 lb weights (I weigh around 108). I like it for toning and strength training. I will try to get back into it next week. I PROMISE!
I lift weights for all of the good reasons people have said. I can’t manage weight machines, the inanity of it bores me rigid. The freeweights gym is the only way to keep it interesting, for me, the technique and large amount of weight adds some challenges.
Another good reason for me lifting weights is that its something I could get good at. I am passionate about cycling, and XC mountain biking in particular, but I can never, ever be competitive in this sport. I’m just too big and heavy to climb fast, and coming downhill is much less important in terms of overall speed. Its good to do a sport, albeit one that I’m not passionate about at all, that you’re naturally suited for.
Because if you don’t lift them, the weights will eventually crush you.
I alternate between weight training and cardio (two days of each every week). I’ve only been doing this for about seven months, but I’ve lost around 20 pounds and significantly strengthened my back, abs, chest, shoulders and arms. I like the way I look in the mirror, and I like the health benefits. Plus, I tend to feel better overall than I have in the past just doing cardio stuff.
Interestingly, the average age of the women is in their late-thirties. I’m the youngest regularly attending guy, at 43. And it’s a TOUGH class - 50 minutes of curls, bench presses, triceps and ab work and a whole lot of squats and pushups. I tend to slack on the squats (only using a 20 pound bar) because I also hike 4-5 miles a couple of times per week. But there are women half my size who are doing squats with 30-40 pounds. And we tend to do about 200 squats per class.