One thing that gauruntees results....

[Emotion_sponge]

RUNNING. You guys cannot get real toned if you do not burn the fat. Sure you sweat in weight lifting, but running burns fat fast. Why would you just weight lift and gain muscle, and wait for the muscle to get big enough to show beneath the fat. When you can weight lift, and run. That way you can gain muscle, and burn fat, therefore getting toned. Being able to run is the true meaning of being fit. Anybody can weight lift. Takes a true man to run a mile in 6 minutes. Better yet, run some sprints. Perhaps at least 8 400's around the track.

Another thing...

MAKE YOURSELF SORE!

think of it like this:
You workout, and you feel sore. You barely can go up your stairs, and when people squeeze that muscle, it makes you cry (I currently feel like this, because football off season has started for me). Your muscle is broken. The muscle then repairs itself, and makes itself even bigger, so that it does not feel the pain again.

You can plan your workouts by the day using this. Workout, break yourself. When your muscle feels well again after a few days, break yourself again. (By break i mean pushing it so hard you're absolutely sore).
Then during the days you're sore from weight lifting, do the running. While your upper body is fixing itself and getting stronger, and bigger, you can burn the fat by sprints. So while your muscle is growing, you're also burning fat. therefore getting toned.

If you're too scared to do the running, your just going to be a chump.

 

[sam3083]

...

 

[SAFC]

It all depends on goals, mate. Cardio (or running, as you call it) shouldn't be ignored. However, the amount of cardio, and the style in which you do it, depend on the individual. As for "breaking yourself", well, I'm not sure about that. Put it this way, I'm lifting heavier now than I ever did before, yet I don't tend to be as sore now as I used to be. I'm in the best, shape I've ever been in, both in terms of muscle, and endurance. One thing that should be noted, is that my diet and supplementation is now congruent with my goals. This is, in my opinion, the main reason that I'm progressing.

 

[Rhoto]

I jump rope instead of running, cause you gotta run back.

 

[HandyAndy]

my best mile was 9:55, and im 270 lbs...i feel awesome

 

[Emotion_sponge]

my best mile was 9:55, and im 270 lbs...i feel awesome

That's better than most people believe it or not. I know a lot of guys who can't even finish a mile.

 

[wolf116]

If you want to look like a marathon runner, go for it. Real men sprint.

Cardio is great but most people just injure them selfs running. Especially fat ppl and women (wide hips).

Plus most peoples feet are screwed from wearing shoes all their life. They have weak feet muscles that lead to many problems.

 

[fitvin]

wolf:
what you're saying is a pretty big misunderstanding in my opinion.
first of all, people won't just 'turn into a marathon runner' from running a few times a week. just like many bodybuilders get mad when people don't want to lift because they 'fear putting on muscle,' many runners find it humorous when bodybuilders suggest they will suddenly lose all their muscle from running.
i'd agree running isn't the best thing one can do if their goals are purely mass-gaining. however, running has tremendous benefits for your overall body (heart, most notably, as well as mind) and as long as you're replacing the calories burned I don't think you'd look like a holocaust victim anytime soon.

additionally, your comments about shoes messing up people's feet are true. however, this isn't something you can't fight. personally, i run barefoot several times per week and often train in nike frees when doing speed training. these two things alone have helped my foot strength tremendously. but i'd agree with you on the fact that most fat people would be better off walking fast than trying to run.

 

[Mad Manic]

You can't get built and ripped in one go unless you're willing to spend years slowly adding tiny bits of muscle with no fat gain if it's all under strict control. That's why people bulk up and then cut. If you start from a very lean base, you have a decent margin of error to bulk up on (12-15 months easy) before you cut.

MM

 

[Emotion_sponge]

If you want to look like a marathon runner, go for it. Real men sprint.

Cardio is great but most people just injure them selfs running. Especially fat ppl and women (wide hips).

Plus most peoples feet are screwed from wearing shoes all their life. They have weak feet muscles that lead to many problems.

Yes, I was not stating to look like a marathon runner ( the longest run i said was about a mile, and marathon runners run "a lot more than that"), and they do anything BUT sprint. It's about endurance.

Sprinters are probably the most muscular of all runners. It's more about strength.

I agree with you about fat people running. Don't break yourself to the point where the next thing you know you're in a hospital bed.

 

[joekerr31]

keys to a smoking body...
cardio 20%
weights 40%
diet 40%

need them all to get in shape.

but i agree. ive tried lots of cardio and i gotta say, running is the best. its strengths so many core muscles (abs, back, legs) that it not only burns cals but it builds muscle as well.

 

[wolf116]

wolf:
what you're saying is a pretty big misunderstanding in my opinion.
first of all, people won't just 'turn into a marathon runner' from running a few times a week. just like many bodybuilders get mad when people don't want to lift because they 'fear putting on muscle,' many runners find it humorous when bodybuilders suggest they will suddenly lose all their muscle from running.
i'd agree running isn't the best thing one can do if their goals are purely mass-gaining. however, running has tremendous benefits for your overall body (heart, most notably, as well as mind) and as long as you're replacing the calories burned I don't think you'd look like a holocaust victim anytime soon.

additionally, your comments about shoes messing up people's feet are true. however, this isn't something you can't fight. personally, i run barefoot several times per week and often train in nike frees when doing speed training. these two things alone have helped my foot strength tremendously. but i'd agree with you on the fact that most fat people would be better off walking fast than trying to run.

Very true, I have always been an advocate for bare foot running since it cured my knee problems.

People just think I'm insane:crazy:

 

[EFFORT]

It all depends on goals, mate. Cardio (or running, as you call it) shouldn't be ignored. However, the amount of cardio, and the style in which you do it, depend on the individual. As for "breaking yourself", well, I'm not sure about that. Put it this way, I'm lifting heavier now than I ever did before, yet I don't tend to be as sore now as I used to be. I'm in the best, shape I've ever been in, both in terms of muscle, and endurance. One thing that should be noted, is that my diet and supplementation is now congruent with my goals. This is, in my opinion, the main reason that I'm progressing.

I agree. All depends on your goals. If your looking to add muscle basic GPP work will take care of your cardio needs, no need for running.

 

[Fuglydude]

Perhaps not running per say...but being lean in general will GREATLY help you have a very aesthetically pleasing physique. There are lotsa big dudes out there, but not as many lean guys who carry a fair bit of muscle. When I'm in peak shape i'm around 165, most people think I'm 185-190. This goes for a lot of the guys i work with. Most of them are alot lighter than they look simply because they are lean.

 

[mrRuckus]

People get injured running because their posture is all fvcked. They keep going out and running and slowly damaging their body putting stress on it doing a motion it really can't handle over and over and over and eventually it gives out.

The error in posture i notice the most are the feet pointing out-ward (why the hell does this place censor ******d) instead of straight ahead. This endangers the knees.

 

[MikeYikes122]

People get injured running because a lot of people start running religiously and don't wear proper running shoes. Some people pronate in their feet, and others don't. I don't have the time right now to explain in detail the difference between a pronator and a non-pronator, but the difference mainly lies in arch. If you have a really high arch in your feet, you're not a pronator. People with high-arching feet are natural runners. But if you have flat feet, you're a pronator and you need a shoe with a lot of padding.

A good way to test this is to wet your foot and step on a piece of paper. If your whole foot makes an imprint, you have flat feet. But if there is a big hole in the middle, you have a decent arch.

Myself, I have a very high arch in my feet, and I start to get ankle problems if I wear shoes that are built for pronators. There's just too much padding and weight for my feet to support. So, I guess both pronators and non-pronators are just as prone to injury if they use bad shoes.

If you're really interested in running, try to find a shoe store that specifically sells running shoes. Sometimes they're called "running clinics" or something cliche' like that. Usually former college runners staff these kinds of places, and they can perform tests on your feet to decide what shoes fits you best. Avoid places like Finish Line and Foot Locker for advice on running shoes. You don't take want to take advice from someone who hasn't ran a mile in their life.

Also, Brooks and Asics are the best kinds of running shoes.

 

[onyx]

my best mile is 4.46..I was at 156lbs at the time...i'm at 175lbs now though...i havnt tried timing my mile in 2 years...i'll have a go when i go to the gym in a hour

 

[mrRuckus]

People get injured running because a lot of people start running religiously and don't wear proper running shoes..

Which are only required because people's posture is fvcked up once again continuing the western tradition of treating the symptom rather than the problem.

 

[Master Bates]

Do too much cardio and you'll lose your muscle mass.

 

[MikeYikes122]

Which are only required because people's posture is fvcked up once again continuing the western tradition of treating the symptom rather than the problem.

I think you're right to an extent, but it mainly is that some people have flat feet and others don't. My posture isn't very good at all, but I have high arches. The shoes I used to wear had almost no padding in them.

I think it all just boils down to genetics.