Is it necessary to lift weights for getting fit and ripped?

[ogruskie]

I haven't posted on these forums in a looong time, and I haven't played tennis in a while either. Over the past year I got quite out of shape. I was lifting at the gym for a few months trying to bulk up. I gained an immense amount of strength, a little bit of muscle, and quite a lot of fat. Bad bulk. On top of that I ate crap food due to school related stress. So over the past year I gained about 30 pounds of extra weight and I want to lose it all, and then some. I already had a few extra pounds before the whole bulk/getting fat period.

So, evidently I'm out of the whole fitness cycle. I started running, doing sprints (HIIT), and lifting weights at the gym. Of course I cleaned up my diet, high protein low carb and all that stuff. The thing is, I hate lifting weights now. It's boring as hell. Squats, deadlifts, bench, etc.

I enjoy being outside and breathing fresh air. I love the solitude of running through desolate hills and trails. Lifting weights just doesn't give me as much of a thrill as a solid cardio exercise.

I was thinking about doing conditioning exercises like burpees, alternating with jumping rope. I also have a station for doing pull-ups and parallel dips, along with a weighted belt. I'm still willing to increase my strength but without the weights. My goal is to get fit for tennis, so I'm willing to do whatever it takes.

A side goal is to get an athletic/ripped body type. Is it possible just by doing conditioning/running exercises, or will that absolutely require weight training?

 

[TennisLovaLova]

A french fitness coach has a superb book for training without weights.
It's called method Lafay.
Try it, it really works ans it's fun

 

[Kobble]

Bodwyweight will get you as strong as weight s for the most part. You just need to apply the right exercises.

 

[LeeD]

RIPPED ='s weight lifting.
Being in great shape, like LanceArmstrong at his prime, depends a little on weights, but TON's on training.

 

[TennisLovaLova]

You can get ripped without weights.
Ever Heard of TRX TRAINING?

 

[charliefedererer]

First of congratulations on deciding to get back in better shape.

It sounds like you are definitely on the right path.

There is absolutely no downside to your current regimen - and I am sure others will have more great suggestions on getting increasingly stronger with body weight exercises.


And what's the worst that could happen? - that you could decide to add some weight training in down the road? Not sure you will ever need it.

 

[Itagaki]

RIPPED ='s weight lifting.
Being in great shape, like LanceArmstrong at his prime, depends a little on weights, but TON's on training.

Lance Armstrong lifted weights i believe.


Getting conditioned, fit, and ripped can be accomplished without weights, diet will be most important for the ripped aspect

 

[OTMPut]

the without weight actually means some kind of body weight ex. so no escaping "lifting". bottomline is "resistance".

if you have a pull up stn try this routine:
1 pull up, jump down to burpee kneeling position kick your legs out 2 push ups, back to kneeling position, up and 3 squats. repeat.

8-10 reps makes one set. 60 seconds between sets. be honest with yourself in terms of speed (should look like one flow).

3x10 takes about 8 minutes and you would have done 30 pull ups, 60 push ups and 90 squats.

this is a great conditioning work out as well. if you do it at burpee speed you would be face down on the floor wiping it with your sweat.

3 times a week. 8 minutes each time. short and sweet baby.

 

[TennisLovaLova]

the without weight actually means some kind of body weight ex. so no escaping "lifting". bottomline is "resistance".

if you have a pull up stn try this routine:
1 pull up, jump down to burpee kneeling position kick your legs out 2 push ups, back to kneeling position, up and 3 squats. repeat.

8-10 reps makes one set. 60 seconds between sets. be honest with yourself in terms of speed (should look like one flow).

3x10 takes about 8 minutes and you would have done 30 pull ups, 60 push ups and 90 squats.

this is a great conditioning work out as well. if you do it at burpee speed you would be face down on the floor wiping it with your sweat.

3 times a week. 8 minutes each time. short and sweet baby.

Perfect
10chars

 

[Talker]

You can attain high loads without weights, F=ma.
In the process you'll train fast twitch fibers and endurance.

 

[NJ1]

the without weight actually means some kind of body weight ex. so no escaping "lifting". bottomline is "resistance".

yup, no need for gym weights but using bw is key. lots of cardio too to strip away fat.

 

[TennisLovaLova]

But to get ripped with bw you need to eat protein a lot after training, otherWise you start to burn muscle too

 

[charliefedererer]

But to get ripped with bw you need to eat protein a lot after training, otherWise you start to burn muscle too

How much muscle mass per week do you think he will initially be gaining?

You don't have to have a huge protein intake to put on a couple ounces of muscle in a week.

 

[jonnythan]

It's necessary to do resistance training to build muscles and get "ripped." Weights aren't necessary but you need to tax your muscles via bodyweight exercises or otherwise.

 

[GuyClinch]

It's not necessary but I think its probably easier. Weights can allow you to hit the perfect resistance for maximum hypertrophy - and thus you will grow your muscles and look fit sooner.. You can then diet down some and look ripped.

Whereas relying on bodyweight will eventually give you a ripped and thin look that's great. But its quite difficult to achieve this..

The guys on Jersey Shore can look ripped - but come we all know its harder to be an olympic gymnast..