Does anyone else enjoy doing weights/kettle bells/trx training?

Hi sorry haven't been on here for a couple of days. These links may be of some use.

www.crossfitendurance.com/
www.crossfitendurance.com/faq

Gene click on the read more link (in green) in the black box and it will open out into the WOD. The FAQ section should help to explain it (scroll down to the section titled "How should I plan my week?"

I did the Run 2x12 minTT on the way home from work today. I don't follow it religiously as it doesn't fit my schedule but doing the weights at the gym a few times a week and the WODs has definitely made running feel easier. I guess I will find out if I am fast when I race in 7 weeks.

I was doing back squats in the gym last night and had one of those horrible moments when I wasn't sure if I could get the barbell back over my head at the end of the set. Fortunately it was ok.

Love Stumptuous, never heard of Simply Shredded, off to have a read.

Stumptuous is good...and funny . Also just come across Simplyshredded.com which is quite full on but had this great article, though I have to admit I didn't wade through all the supplement sections though.

Haven't done it for a while because I had trapped nerves in my shoulder, but Shovelglove is fun. Doesn't require expensive bits of kit - just a sledgehammer and some padding. It's also more engaging than lifting weights.

Have you seen www.stumptuous.com/ which is for women who do strength training?

thanks for the heads up Whendie:) there are some good exercises on her you tube channel, worth a look!

Ok, had a look at a few more pics of her and competition ready she looks a bit different ....but in "normal" mode such as here fantastic (excepting the boobs maybe) IMO.

Wow, have just seen Erin Stern on YouTube....if ever there was an advert for female body building she is definitely it! Not what anyone could ever call bulky! I can't figure out how to link to it but search throws up lots of clips of her (some ads but still...)

rubberduck don't be worried about taking time off to get better. I regularly take a week's break from training to give your body a break and your muscles a chance to really recover from all the training, it can be really beneficial (providing I don't combine it with lots of chocolate and pizza). Hope you feel better soon.

longdays any chance of a link to the WODS you mentioned, I had a look at the website and saw it mentioned briefy in a couple of places but couldn't make much sense of it

Agree with everyone else about doing strength training more than once a week if you want to feel/see the benefits. Minimum of twice, ideally three times if you are doing full body workouts.

I am housebound for a few days so am trying to motivate myself to drag my old weights out of the garage to fit some training in. It is times like this where a TRX would be ideal.

I agree with Sleep, if you want to see the benefits of resistance training you'll need to do it more than once a week!

rubberduck you poor thing, it is horrible isn't it. Try thinking of all the weeks and months you have to regain and further improve your strength and fitness though....whilst hard it is fascinating and gratifying to work hard then notice positive changes. Maybe just a couple of days complete rest, give your body a chance to just fight the virus? You can come back stronger!

domesticgoddess can I suggest that if you want to see some real changes in your physique and strength you replace one or two of your cardio based sessions with kettlebells or weights? Or better still do the kettlebells/weights then just do 12-15 mins of HIIT cardio on those machines three times a week, keep the zumba and aqua aerobics as they are? Then let us know how you feel after say a month? Obviously feel free to ignore me if you are happy though !

I quite fancy a trx I think.

I did my first circuit kettlebell class last Tuesday and really enjoyed it. I'll be back for more next Tuesday. I'll only do one class per week as I also do gym training on the treadmill, elliptical and stationary bike, Zumba and aqua aerobics.

I've looked at some you tube vids today. This looked good I thought. small weights but nice definition.

I started weights when i did Chalean Extreme which encourages you to lift heavy. I now go to circuit training twice a week and we all use heavy weights.

I have fantastic definition in my arms and stomach and my legs are getting there too

the trx does look like a nifty invention...although I cant help thinking you could sort of make your own with rope & handles etc

Sleepwhenidie no, feel worse if anything. :( Has been a week now. I've tried to do something active for at least half an hour a day rather than "proper" exercise (if only to reserve the time slot and make it easier to get back into it when I'm well, rather than to 'keep fit') - been playing on the kids' Kinect Adventures and finding it surprisingly energetic (or that might just be that with this virus I get exhausted easily ) and today I went for a brisk half hour walk.

It's really annoying though, because I keep thinking of how far my progress is slipping back each day I'm not doing any strength training - you lose it so quick :(

Press-ups with hand directly under shoulders or slightly behind will work triceps more than anything else and are definitely harder than a 'classic' press-up. Was trying to do some today as part of a Jillian Micheals workout and couldn't finish them all before dropping up my knees. I think there are some useful vids on YouTube re classic press-ups but am on iPhone so can't link.

Thanks for link to TRX- looks really interesting and potentially up my street as I exercise at home and both DH and I go away a lot so like to be able to maintain a workout routine.

TRX - look here, it's an amazing piece of kit, allows you to do hundreds of different exercises using your bodyweight as resistance, so you can adapt to suit the most unfit beginner or incredibly fit marine for example. It does the most fantastic things for your core in particular. It can be fixed to a tree or post or, using a door strap, indoors to a door. Fits into a small bag so easy to put away or take with you when you travel. I believe it was designed by a navy seal for training anywhere. Lots of clips of people using them on YouTube.

If you keep an eye on Amazin you should be able to pick one up (make sure you include door strap) for about £120, the prices vary quite a lot. It seems a lot but DH has been using ours a lot recently instead of going to the gym to do weights, he is so pleased with the results he's talking about binning the gym membership and just using the trx training with running/cycling on alternate days.

At the risk of sounding dumb what is a TRX? How much are they and how much space do they take up?

To answer the question about why women don't do more weight training I think there are two main factors: it is seen as a largely male pastime and there is the myth that you will bulk up - this doesn't happen unless you are ingesting more calories than you are burning up and women's hormone balance doesn't lend itself to rapid muscle gain.

lady, you might find that having your hands lower, in line with your mid chest rather than in line with shoulders,helps.
Also try tucking your elbows in...have a browse through you tube vids to give you an idea of different techniques

gene The multisport wod are from crossfitendurance.com I am still getting used to it. My gym is not a crossfit gym but they seem ok about it all (not sure they wouldbe too pleased about doing ball slams into their mirrored walls though). Will post later as I have a 2 year old climbing on me.

Rest day for me too, running on Thursday, followed by a rubbish nights sleep, made the gym a real struggle yesterday. Lazy morning so far but will get myself and the DC's dressed soon and head for the park or zoo, it's a beautiful day again here in London.

rubberduck are you feeling better? It's horrible being ill and unable to train , don't rush back before you are better though, I made that mistake at the end of last year and ended training at half strength for weeks and eventually having to admit defeat and rest completely for 10 days, it was miserable.

I'd second getting straight to the free weights Ephiny, no reason to put it off, as Gene said, there's no such thing as "pathetic" weights, whatever is right for you is great and you will probably be surprised at how quickly your strength increases.

Rhonda look what you started! Who knew there were so many of us around