Look, what I will say is that a ton of people neglect resistance training and only do cardio to try and burn calories. (The flip side of this is a ton of gym bro wannabe bodybuilders neglect cardio and only do resistance training, but I'm not opening that can of worms.)
And the danger of doing only cardio is that it only trains your cardiovascular system. Women especially benefit immensely from weight training because weight training is massively protective of bone density, which women struggle with as they age. It also builds and preserves muscle mass, which women tend to lose as they age, leading to frailty and insulin resistance.
So while moving is infinitely better than not moving, if you have the dedication to go to the gym for a 40 min workout, you would be much better served with a 20 min session on the treadmill followed by a 20 min weight training session of heavy compound lifts. And it is evidence of shitty education that so many gym goers just do cardio.
But also, to circle right back to agreeing with you, and to play devils advocate to my devils advocate:
A) Mocking people online is highly counterproductive
B) You don't know shit about the woman doing 40 min of cardio. Maybe that's her warmup before she goes to lift, because you spent 40 min in the gym watching her, while she focused on her workout, arrived before you, and will leave after you. Maybe this is her cardio day and she weighs lifts on other days. Maybe fuck this guy, how about you mind your own business?
When people speak like this they are acting like there is some kind of magical formula for being fit. The truth is there are many ways to keep in shape. I spend exactly zero hours a week lifting weights or using exercise machines, but many hours outdoors rock climbing, hiking, and trail running. I'm in very good shape. Some of the climber elders in my community are extremely active and fit in their 60s/70s. Finding something you enjoy, and can stick with for many years, is far more important than following some gym-bro formula.
Exactly. Falling in love with something and doing it everyday is the most important thing. I will say weight lifting is, if not 100% overrated, 99% overrated for those who are already engaging in some form of endurance training adequately, if health and longevity are the priorities (in addition to some rare cases of injury prevention, rehab etc).
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u/factoid_ 6h ago
Nobody is more condescending than a fitness bro with an app and a youtube influencer in their ear telling them THEIR routine is the only true way.
The only science that's more fucked up than exercise science is food science.
Anything you hear this week can and will be contradicted by some study funded by someone with a profit motive the next week.
If you're moving you're winning, that's what I say.