Calisthenics or lifting?

Kim_Jong_illuminati · 2015-10-27T17:59:47+00:00

Nah, it's not the same. You get different results and effects.

topdog82 · 2015-10-27T19:20:41+00:00

A lot of the replies seem to imply that bodywieght has no benefits

The book "convict conditioning" outlines a near perfect program with progressions. what a lot of people fail to realize is that bodyweight is much easier on your joints than bench, bent over rows etc.

I would do bodyweight for upper and squats/deadlifts for lower body. I also throw in yoga here and there. Don't obsessed over any in particular method. Each has its pluses and cons

If I were you I would try and invest in a weighted vest. U can do push-ups, pull-ups etc. and manipulate the weight easily

LBEB80 · 2015-10-27T20:10:15+00:00

Life at your school then.

machimus · 2015-10-27T20:14:26+00:00

They can be, depending on how much you weigh. You can also make them harder, say, by doing diamond pushups or declined pushups.

I bought a 40 lb weight vest and it makes body weight exercises worth doing. It's fucking hard mode.

Crimsonman0 · 2015-10-27T20:53:47+00:00

Lifting is more efficient mainly due to the fact that you can manipulate how much you lift, you can't do progressive overload with Calisthenics

Futdashukup · 2015-10-27T20:54:51+00:00

You can get a amazing body doing chin ups, pull ups, dips, press ups, squats on one leg, handstand push ups, one handed press ups.You won't get huge, but you will get an impressive physique that women will find attractive. They don't want a fucking ape gym-guy .

boomshockalocker · 2015-10-27T18:00:12+00:00

Calisthenics doesn't build muscle mass as quickly as lifting does, but it does help. It's just a hell of a lot slower.

Doing just calisthenics isn't bad but it's hard to train legs with them because you can't really do squats. However something that calisthenics (especially gymnastics) does give you IMO is better flexibility and mobility.

Professor_Red · 2015-10-28T21:16:20+00:00

/u/TheBlackPhilosopher

Seems I may be a little late to the party, but I'll come in with some knowledge few here seem to be able to grasp.

Yes, you can build muscle with calisthenics. No, it won't be as quick as with lifting. Progressive overload is progressive overload, your body doesn't recognized that you are using calisthenics and tell itself to not grow, that's just stupid.

Calisthenics is a long term game, and it's important to keep that in mind if you want to go this route. Late game calisthenics require high amounts of flexibility, joint mobility, and tendon strength and conditioning. For these reasons, calisthenics is obviously not a short term game.

If you want to get into calisthenics, the best thing I could recommend is get yourself a pair of gymnastic rings and to torrent the Gymnastic Bodies Foundation, Handstand, and Stretch programs and get to work. These will have all you need to do to build mass, and improve flexibility, joint mobility, and tendon strength, all rolled into a nice little package, while developing some high levels skills(planche, front lever, hollow body press, hands only rope climb, freestanding handstand presses, l-sit/v-sit/manna, side lever(human flag), and the pistol squat while prepping you for more either branching into lifting, or more advanced ring work(muscle ups, back levers, iron crosses, and ect.)

Also, check out the bodyweight fitness subbreddit for more info and a beginner routine if you don't want to do the above.

On a final note, the perfect routine isn't the one everyone recommends, its the one that you will stay consistent with and will practice with good form and intensity. If you want to do calisthenics, then do calisthenics. If you want to lift, then lift.

edit: If you want some books about bodyweight training and programs, send me a PM and I will be happy to help you and hook you up with some.

alreadyredschool · 2015-10-27T17:54:27+00:00

Let's say you want to manage 100 push ups. If you train with push ups it will takes ages until you can do 100, if you train with more weight, machines and whatever you will reach your goal of 100 much faster.

Calisthenics have one advantage, it's free. That's it. Less effective, worse for your health... Absolutely no advantage over lifting except for your cash.

Crimsonman0 · 2015-10-27T18:15:46+00:00

Do both.

I found that with lifting, you need to be eating alot. So, naturally, you may be some baby fat. Then, if you incorporate in a couple days of callisthenics, you burn all that fat off and maintain your cut.

NotMeUsee · 2015-10-27T18:51:37+00:00

[deleted]

What is this?

JGTD · 2015-10-27T22:29:56+00:00

Hey man I'm 18 and I've been doing bodyweight exercises for around a year now. Also I have done gym and there were different results.

Gym - I packed on size, it worked incredibly well for chest/arms/lasts and the top of my shoulders.

Motivation wise it was good because seeing that extra weight is recognisable improvement, seeing it only pushed me further, with calisthenics you only see it in the amount of sets/reps you do/how much it doesn't hurt, the next best thing is probably recognising you have better ability to perform an exercise/new technique personally didn't motivate me as much.

Calisthenics

I toned more, I gained more durable strength I guess you could say? Instead of doing one rep, I found after a few months I gained the ability to hold myself on a bar after an exercise and move onto the next.

It did wonders for my core.

This is because the entire time you hold yourself on a bar, your engaging your core at all times, its required to keep some tension throughout your body.

It had awesome effects on my bi's/shoulders and back from chin-ups and pull-ups.

Dips also had there effect on my chest, I found that instead of that bulkier/round chest I was getting that cut chest with defining lines.

Look up pushups, research and find which ones will work best to target the areas you want.

Personally diamond pushups were the goods for my chest/tri's.

Yes it's harder to pack on size but you will be making gains as long as you put in the effort and regular dedication. Pushing yourself.

It is a valid alternative.

Title	Calisthenics or lifting?
Author	TheBlackPhilosopher
Upvotes	1
Comments	17
Date	October 27, 2015 5:43 PM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/3qg2vq/calisthenics_or_lifting/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/calisthenics-or-lifting.155711 https://theredarchive.com/post/155711

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