Sick of Cardio? These Transformations Will Make You Want to Start Lifting Weights ASAP

Updated on June 22, 2018 at 1:01 PM

There is so much advice on how to lose fat and sculpt your body that it can be overwhelming when you're a fitness beginner. Should you focus on cardio alone, start squatting double your weight, or just jump head first into a life of CrossFit? The questions and corresponding answers are endless. However, if your goal is to shed some fat, sculpt your muscles, and get fit, the expert advice is pretty clear: you need a routine of both cardio and strength training.

Although an activity such as running supports weight loss, and both your mental and physical health, treadmill workouts can get very boring very fast, not to mention how quickly your muscles adapt to going through the same workout over and over again. Lifting weights, on the other hand, is a great way to sculpt and build the body you want while boosting your metabolism and upping your endurance in the process.

If you're new to the fitness game and feel like you have to pick between one or the other, think again, because you can have both! Don't believe us? Read on to see eight body-sculpting transformations that will convince you to pick up some weights.

Shae

"Lifting weights is amazing and it will not make you manly or bulky, in fact the more muscle you have the faster your metabolism will be, the more calories you will burn throughout the day, and the easier it will be for you to lose fat and keep it off for good aaaaandddd my favorite part, the more you can eat." — @_shaelashae

Nika

"I was eating 800 calories a day and doing HOURS of cardio everyday and I saw little to no changes. Fast forward 8 years, lots of mental and physical hurdles and a TON of learning, I now eat 2200-2800 calories of food a day, I lift 3-4x per week and the only cardio I do is hiking (which is around once a week). It's so important to fuel your body properly and to know which exercises will enhance the areas you want to work on. A combination of lifting and cardio (or circuits if you're feeling spicy) will be your best friend in working towards building a leaner, stronger physique." — @fitnika101

Mahaba

"Ladies please stop doing only cardio and thinking that lifting weight will make you look like a man! weights are your besties for shaping your body and building curves 🍑 and please don't grab those 5lbs dumbell in gym. If you want to see real results don't be afraid to go heaavy!" — @maha_sfit

Aylish

"[T]he first photo is from 2015, this is after 2 years of massively undereating calories and my gym sessions consisting of just cardio 🐰 i was stuck at a 'skinny fat' size and hated the shape of my body despite being 'thin' ☹️ the second photo is from today, after 2 years of WEIGHT TRAINING, not being afraid to pick up the big weights and lifting heavy - also fuelling my body with lots of food[.]" — @aylish_fitness

Emma

"I was never super underweight but I was pretty thin, 'skinny fat', very weak, and had unhealthy habits. Starving yourself, running loads, drinking kale and avoiding carbs really won't get you anywhere, it's such a misconception. I promise if you fuel your body right (aka with loads of good food 🍳), shift some weight in the gym or find a sport you enjoy, your body will change for the better." — @emlouisefitness

Max

"Yes, I weighed less on the left but was also far less toned, because I had 0 lean muscle mass!🤗 It was a magical day when I decreased my cardio (YAssss) and increased my weight training😆🦄 I also feel SO much fitter, stronger and more energised now vs. then 🏃🏼‍♀️" — @sunshineandwaffles

Lucy

"When I got into fitness and decided to make a change to my lifestyle, my body goal was to be 'slim' and to have abs. When this photo was taken I was exercising at home, doing lots of cardio and high intensity workouts and eating less than 1000 cals. Compare that to now where my training is mainly weights based and I eat nearly double!" — @fitlifelucy

Nissa

"It's so important to find a great balance of weights and cardio based on your goals !! I used to live on the treadmill and just do Zumba. No more 🙅🏾 I love using weights and it's given me the best results !!! Don't be scared to switch it up ladies !!" — @nissafit