getting muscle growth & tone from mainly cardio?

O

ostego

0
hello there.

SO, last year or so i did a weight schedule, evenly balanced and suggested by numerous forums for someone my age, etc. It was evenly spread out across mondays, wednesdays and fridays. However, after 2 months of it or so, and taking the creatine, protein shakes, etc. i just decided that it wasn't for me. My arms weren't seeming to increase much, and i wasn't a big fan of it because i wasn't able to lift the big weights i was looking to do!

Since January or so, i've done very little exercise, yet thanks to my strange metabolism, and the way my body works, i've binged on chocolate, no sex, drugs and rock and roll yet have put on no weight, etc.

However, i just feel my general state isn't where im happy being, especially now we're nearing summer.

I'd like bigger arms, etc. and have lost an inch off my right since i stopped the onld weights. However, i'm just not too keen on going back to weights. They really didn't stimulate me and i felt i wasn't getting the best out of them.

However, what i do love is running. Ran a few miles on Monday, and had a hardish time given i havent done running in ages (a year ago or so i was in great shape for long distance running, yet that subsided as i started weights, and everythings stopped for the past 5 months!). However, i love the feeling after, and actually enjoy that sort of exercise, so would like the build on that.

However, does running actually do any exercise that could produce noticable results to the upper body?

It's that that i mainly focuss on! I'm far more obsessed with abs and arms than i'll ever be with legs, as my legs are already quite muscular from all the other sports ive done in my life.

Have always been "skinny" due to my inability to put on weight!! I certainly eat enough.

But pretty much, i'm asking you lot if there's any way i could work on bigger arms, abs and definition/tone through any other medium other than weights. Preferably more so through running, etc.

I'm happy with press-ups, sit-ups and dumbells in the evenings as well, but was put under the impression when cruising the weight lifting forums in 2007 that dumbells did very little for muscle growth, etc.

Please could i get some help here?

Also, please don't get the wrong impression and perceive my tone or even myself to be "arrogant" or ignorant, or something of the sort! I'm completely open to suggestions and will be open to everyone's advice :)

thanks.
 
Last edited:
You need to lift weights and eat above your maintenance. Doing tons of cardio will not get you muscular. Start with small weights, don't worry if there are hyooge guys lifting massive weights.
 
If you wern't seeing any results after 2 months then you probaly wern't pushing hard enough.Try getting a buddy to work out with you. It will give you some extra motivation and it's always good to have someone pushing you to do one more rep. And if you wern't gaining any weight you probaly wern't eating enough. Alot of people, think they eat alot, but really arn't eating enough and or the right food. I was one of those people so i understand where your coming from. Your definatley not gonna get bigger arms by just running. Id do some research about both lifting and nutrition and try to put a plan together. If your having trouble finding or understanding stuff we'll be glad to help too. :)
 
Sorry to burst your bubble at all, but muscle growth comes from resistance training. Meaning that running doesn't count... Sorry!

I was exactly in your spot a year ago. Weightlifting just didn't seem to be getting me anywhere, so I just stuck to what I was good at, which at the time was running. Lost a lot of fat (and probably some muscle too) but ended up looking just plain scrawny.

Well, I was pretty disheartened, so I read up and figured out that really the only thing to do was get back to lifting. I think what killed me before was diet. So let that be a lesson to you! Don't let diet kill you! I can't imagine anything more frustrating than seeing all your hard work go to waste because of your diet.

These forums have everything you need to get started (again). Take a look around, and don't be afraid to ask questions :)

The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
 
I use bodywieght stuff (pull-ups, push-ups, chin-ups).

weights are not for me, too much money, and gyms suck your money.

If you cant find a bar for chin-ups and pull-ups try looking in a park:)
 
Last edited:
Legal 85 said:
If you wern't seeing any results after 2 months then you probaly wern't pushing hard enough.Try getting a buddy to work out with you. It will give you some extra motivation and it's always good to have someone pushing you to do one more rep. And if you wern't gaining any weight you probaly wern't eating enough. Alot of people, think they eat alot, but really arn't eating enough and or the right food. I was one of those people so i understand where your coming from. Your definatley not gonna get bigger arms by just running. Id do some research about both lifting and nutrition and try to put a plan together. If your having trouble finding or understanding stuff we'll be glad to help too. :)
Click to expand...

Total disagree with this as well. A buddy is good for spotting on bench but everything els it just slows down because you talk about ****.
 
I agree with SmithMachine, but in a somewhat different way.

Gyms suck your money? Maybe - but for what reason? To increase your overall quality of life by an amount that is equal twice the amount of effort you put in. IMO gyms do not suck your money - they take a little bit compared to what you get back.

By going to the gym, I am more motivated - I am surrounded by others who are there to get work done, they are serious and the ambiance that is created from that is transfered into me.

Anyhow a few things to point out:


"Have always been "skinny" due to my inability to put on weight!! I certainly eat enough."

No, you do not eat enough if you do not put on weight. This happens often in fitness, people think they eat like monsters when they are actually eating way less than what they should be.

Look into calorie tracking, BMR, calorie surpluses and weight training exercises, once you have a proper grasp of this stuff, you will know what you are doing wrong...but most of us can come out and say it to you: Lift more and eat more!

Want to lose weight or get your heart in shape? Do cardio!
Want to get big arms and be strong? Eat beef and lift heavy weights!

:D

Hope I helped, PM me if you need some directions on this forum.

Eric
 
SmithMachine said:
Total disagree with this as well. A buddy is good for spotting on bench but everything els it just slows down because you talk about ****.
Click to expand...

Legal85's advice is not bad, he says :-

- Lift more
- Eat more
- Get a buddy to train with (not a chatbox)
- You can't get big from cardio

Which I agree with.
 
what exactly was your full body routine (which is what I assume you must have been doing if you went to multiple forums and u lifted 3 times a week mon wed and fri)?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top