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

Jelli, I'd be inclined to stick with it, your grip strength should improve, but you could add in some things that dont require grip so much
Much of the early gain in strength is down to increases in neuromuscular efficiency (ie your body gets better at the movement)
there are also changes to muscles and tendons which occur in the long term, and resistance training improves insulin sensitivity and makes your body much less inclined to store fat.

you dont necessarily have to change the routine after a set period (unless you want to to keep you motivated)

Following the tips on here I have upped the weights I have been using for my routines this week . Now I find my hands and forearms tire before the 'exercised' muscles. Is it just a matter of sticking with it and waiting for my hands to strengthen or can I be more proactive?

I have been following my (first) workout routine for almost five weeks. How long should I use it for before moving on to a different routine?

Thanks again. I am inspired by this thread to achieve more. For those of you already in the shape you want to achieve (or getting towards it) don't you want to shout from the rooftops what you've discovered/achieved?

frequency of training?
I usually get 4 resistance training sessions in per week, with a 3 way split routine..legs/back & biceps/ chest and tricep.
3-4 cardio sessions 20 - 40 mins each, and do about 30-50 minutes yoga most days.
I'd do more cardio but I tend to feel a bit under the weather if I do too much on top of resistance training.
I should add that I'm single and my kids have left home so it's not hard finding time these days :)

Wow, marking my place here with you strong and impressive ladies!
I'm really curious about kettle bells but don't belong to a gym and can't afford a PT - is there any way of introducing oneself to then or do you need specialist guidance really?

Will look up some of the exercises/regimes people have mentioned - I'm really enjoying training myself for strength at the mo.

I train 5 days a week. All at home (or in the local area when I run.) I have a fairly decent selection of free weights, a really good selection of (properly challenging) circuit training DVDs and a crosstrainer. Basically I just cannot get to a gym regularly. I work 4 days a week, with a 2 1/2 commute on those days, and DH is in the military and away a lot. With no family nearby, just holding down a job and looking after dd becomes hard work. DH bought me the crosstrainer because he worked away 6 days a week for 2 years and it meant I could get some cardio in. At the moment I try to circuit train/weight train 3 times a week, and run between 5 and 10 miles twice a week. If I can fit a 6th session in then I go low impact - pilates or yoga session. I certainly feel fiter at 40 than I have ever have. I can heft some pretty good weight around, do a 1 hr 45 1/2 marathon and stay a size 10 whilst eating cake. It's probably all downhill from here, but hey ho

How are you finding the PT course sunshine? How far into it are you? I am a SAHM at the moment but frequently think about whether qualifying as a PT might be an idea for when all DC's in school....

What about everyone else, how and how often do you fit training in between DC's/work etc?

Oh yes....tricep push-ups. I don't know how many I can do, but its not that many frankly...and they HURT.

Where have you lot been before? Had almost given up looking in this section as no-one seemed to be into this sort of stuff! Glad I´ve finally found you all :)

I LOVE weight training and do a strength programme alongside Crossfit sessions and interval running.

I do all the major lifts and it´s free weights all the way for me - heavy and low reps, usually 5 x 3.

Very impressed with the 7st weight loss and 18 pull ups! Way to go Ladies!

I got into it all about 2 years ago and now love it so much I´m training to become a PT. Know what it´s like in a normal gym with all the guys hogging the free weights. Must say that Crossfit gyms are so not like that at all, as if you´re there, you´re obviously into weight training of some kind.

I find strength training super empowering and don´t know why most women are scared of it. You just don´t get super bulky by accident...

Wow 20 chin ups, I can do one and then get stuck at the top as I still can't lift up for the 2nd one. I can do 25 push ups, it's tricep push ups I hate, I have to go on my knees to finish them off.

I really really recommend New Rules of Lifting for women, that's what got me started. It is a great progressive program with really sound advice which addresses the whole ,'women mustn't lift heavy as they'll bulk up' myth. I have just started the program in one of their other books: New rules of lifting for abs.

Men's and Women's Health both do a 'Big Book of Exercises' which is a really good reference book with loads of exercises for each different muscle group. It has programs for you to follow but also shows you how to put your own together. Do not buy both the Men's and Women's version though as they are exactly the same book just with different models in the pictures.

sleepwhenidie OW at headbutting the patio! Thanks for the warning, it sounds just the sort of thing I would do.

I think it's important to bear in mind that you dont have to look for exercises specifically for women..the same basic principles apply for men and women :)

Hi myermay congrats on your 1st stone loss...re starting training, if possible, a few sessions with a pt, as mentioned earlier in the thread, is a great way to start to give you a basic routine and make sure you understand correct technique, particularly for exercises such as squats and lunges where it is important to get it right and avoid injury. There are also some great books around (Eg New Rules of lifting for women and The Body sculpting bible for women) and magazines such as Bodyfit or Women's Health always have good exercises to try.

I mistakenly ordered two copies of The Body Sculpting Bible recently, if you would like my spare one I'd be happy to send it to you, take a look at it on amazon and if you want it pm me your address.

I am also seriously impressed by your chin ups rubberduck, I can crank out the push ups but chin ups still elude me, I still use the negatives machine (whatever it's proper name is!) must try harder, maybe try it at start of routine rather than end like I usually do [ponder].....

You tube is very good for exercises...I started training around 20 years ago and back then mostly picked up stuff from other people in the gym and body building mags

i've been following this thread with interest! wow super fit ladies on here

I am trying to loose a stone - i've already lost one. I run 2/3 x 4 mile runs each week plus body pump 2/3 x a week - but would love to get into free weights/kettlebells more, but no idea where to start or what kind of weight to start with. Think i may ask my gym for a kettle bell lesson.

Where do you all get your exercises from? is it magazines, internet?

So impressed by the 18 chin ups, it is my aim to be able to do at least one from a dead hang by the end of this year. I do negatives at the moment like you started out, starting from the up position and then slowly lowering myself. I stopped doing press ups a while ago and have just been doing dumbbell bench press. My new training program calls for press ups and I can barely do any anymore (properly that is, so my chest touches the ground each rep)... shows that one exercise cannot substitute for another. Have had to go back to doing them leaning on the bench to build up the strength again.

Oooo notyummy - 45 pushups in 2 mins that is good! I've never timed myself I don't think, and I'm also really quite slow doing them and need a decent pause between sets!

I've been ill today - got horrid sinus headache thing which is making me feel nauseous every time I move my head. Still feel guilty for skipping my exercise though, even though I know it was the only sensible choice.

I remember being really gutted that I couldn't get it up to 20!

I used this iPhone app to build it up in sets: Twenty Chinups

I probably couldn't manage the full 18 now but I can do about 20 pushups in one set before I collapse, so I've not lost too much upper body strength. As I say, it's my core that's a bit pathetic, though I did manage to do 10 V-sits the other day without ending up curled up in agony with cramp which is a huuuuuge improvement

Oh yes - I am also impressed by 18 pull ups. I can do 2 on a good day. There is no way DH could do 18. I can do quite a lot of press-ups though. About 45 in 2 minutes at last count....but haven't tried measuring in a while.

Many, many years ago (erm.... about 20) I was at University and considering joining the Army as an officer. I went for a 2 day 'taster' session to see what it would involve. It included a circuits session where a female Sgt demonstrated all the exercises....including 10 one armed pull-ups (watching the blokes jaws floor hit the floor must have been a highlight of her day!) A few years later I was watching TV and thought 'I know her!' Turned out that the Army Sgt was....Dame Kelly Holmes.

18 chin ups is damned impressive!!
I agree there's alot you can do without gym equipment, I've sometimes used a weighted backpack to add resistance to leg exercises such as lunges & squats

Yes, I agree. I loathe pushups but can now crank out a fair few, avoiding the "girlie" knees version (mainly because I have weak knees and that version HURTS rather than any particular principle ).

My love for bodyweight exercises though comes from chin-ups. I have a door bar and when I started I could barely get myself an inch off the ground. I used to stand on a chair to get up there, then lower myself down until the muscle group got stronger. Built that up to being able to do a total of 18 chin-ups in a session. The feeling of achievement was immense.

The other plus of bodyweight is that it's cheap to do (no expensive equipment needed) and that it's so many little muscles being used as well, unlike machine weights which are very specific and sometimes an unnatural range (especially if you're short) which doesn't help with practical everyday strength. Though I do miss the very obvious tracking of progress you get when you're increasing the weights :)

It can take some courage to even go in the 'mens' (ie free weights) section of the gym, it's also an intimidating place for alot of guys