BT Forum

If the sole reason you're doing them is to tone as you lose weight, but you really really really hate them, I wouldn't do them. (I wouldn't do anything I hate unless the reason was compelling enough to push past the hatred).

Your muscles will get very nicely toned from SBR, especially if you do "kick it into gear" (especially on the swim and bike, occasionally but not too often on the run).

Speaking as someone who's lost an enormous amount of weight, and also does strength/resistance training for health and structural reasons, the loose skin that comes from losing lots of weight just has to tighten up by itself as your skin and tissues regenerate and adjust to your new configuration with time. The older you are, the longer it's going to take for that to happen and the less complete that process may be.

x2.  I lift because I love it being a former power lifter.  That said there is more than one way to skin a cat, so find a way you like.

x3.  I strength train cause I love it.  I also swim, bike, run cause I love it (although not doing much of that lately).  I do not go to group cardio classes cause I hate them.  Do what you like and leave the rest alone.  But, there are other ways to strength train that doesn't involve weights.  What part of weights do you hate? 

^^^What they said^^^

Plus, keep in mind that if you want to do strength training, there are a lot of options besides traditional weight training.  Yoga, pilates, group classes such as Les Mills' Body Pump, and TRX Suspension Training are all options off the top of my head.

Okay so I am following your advice and finding something that is fun to help build strength, I am taking a belaying class here int he next week or so. As the spouse of a soldier I get the class and access to the walls on post for a year for 20 bux. I am trying to talk the husband into taking the class with me. 

What do I hate about strength training...I have no idea I just don't lie it, but if I can't build strength pulling myself up the side of a wall or a cliff over the next year, then I'm lost anyway.

I shall try to chime in here...

I ALWAYS was an endurance guy. Always a lifetime runner...NEVER lifted ever.  Got into triathlons...did core work, you know get the abs for the ladies etc.

Got pretty good with it dominating local triathlons, Boston qualify marathon etc.  Completed Ironman in Kona last year, check. 

To me...I felt I have nothing left to work for. What other athletic thing can I do that can top being a featured athlete in the Kona broadcast? Probably nothing, but I felt I should try to do something I have NEVER done in my life.

Attempt to lift weights. 6-2, 170lbs...maybe could bench 100 pounds.  Then I watched Crossfit games on tv. These guys/girls werent super powerlifting...they were racing eachother. A COMPETITION!!!! Basically...completing as many cycles over certain lifts, running, jump ropes, pullups, etc as possible in an amount of time.

I looked it up...and went for a test try at the local Crossfit gym. I got totally hooked.  if you are a person who hates lifting...but likes competition (triathlons are a competition), try out crossfit. I PROMISE you...this stuff is for real.

I kind of stopped running lately...i will get back into it but did run close within a minute of a half marathon PR the other week without running over 7 miles in a training run. This stuff works. Try it.

Try mixing up your routine with small group classes and workshops.  The small groups allow you to actually get to know the others in your class, and allows the instructors to offer more individual attention so you don't get lost in the crowd.  If you try doing it on your own or do the same thing every workout, you'll get bored and probably quit.  You have to find ways to make it fun and interesting.  

Having a time & date to be somewhere (like a class) keeps you honest.  You're less likely to blow off a workout if you were going to meet friends and be held accountable.  

Here are a few classes that you can check out if you live in the NY area:  http://empiretriclub.com/winter-training-programs/  

-Alison

Forza Juve!

Not that I am one, but I think Personal Trainers exist for this very reason.  I love lifting weights- I'd do it a lot more if I could handle the extra weight on my frame.

I'm all for doing what you like vs doing something that you hate, BUT...

The great thing about weight training is the ease with which you can increase load over time.  With other types of training, it's not that you can't do that, but most people in practice don't.  Climbing over a wall, for example...  Once you can do that, are you going to time yourself and constantly try to push for faster times?  Are you going to go back and do the wall again (2x in one session)?  Are you going to put on a weight vest and do it?

The gym may be boring, but if you're keeping track of what you're doing it's certainly the easiest way to consistently try to better your strength levels.  So if you're going to do something else, try to keep that "progressive resistance" idea in mind.

And please...let's not talk about "toning" one's muscles.  The word doesn't mean anything at all. 

the best way to do something you dislike but have to do it anyway is to mix it up with something you like and be creative about it. try doing weights to the second or 3rd beat of your favorite song. have change your routine every 2 days and follow ti up the next week and so on. start with exercises (non weight) and throw in a few weight exercises in.. remember to keep the duration of the work out fixed and not lengthen it as it might seem tedious to do then..

all the best!

I dont think you should be doing a 5x5 routine.  I would suggest getting strength bands or doing a lot of drop sets to work on conditioning the muscles and increasing your VO2 max. 
Also, circuit training is demanding if the exercises are done in proper order and can be very challenging.  That is much more rewarding that doing a set, resting for 2 minutes, then another set. 

I personally love weight training and I see a ton of triathletes who do not lift weights and I think it is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.  I wont get in to the length of it though...