I'm the only girl I know who lifts weights

Rachael,

I'm VERY lazy but still loving the weights. Loved handing my weights over to a big hairy tattooed dude the other day . Off all last week as travelling and general work stuff but back to it tomorrow and really looking forward to it!

I used to love doing weights. I tended not to do things that bulked me up too much though, I didn't want to end up looking like Popeye. My biceps are still quite meaty though I think it's really important to have guidance. I was very careful but would still do things wrong sometimes. I did a lot of classes with weights, such as body pump. That way I could still lift heavier weights but I would benefit from having an instructor. They were also good to go to because they were fun.

I don't do weights now because my back can't take it. I think I should have done more stomach exercises to strengthen my whole core but they weren't my favourite so I used to gloss over them.

I'm still very strong though, I think doing weights has given me a residual
strength which is great for other sports like racket sports (I can whack that ball )and biking .

Just wanted to post.
Bought the books, read the 'science', did body weight training for six weeks (lost 9lb).
Was brave today and had my first session with a PT doing free weights.
Didn't lift heavy (20kg on everything) as I wanted to get my form right.
Buzzing. For the first time in ten years, I want to go back to do more!
Swim day tomorrow, then back to the gym!
Thank you for this thread - it helped me break my fear of the weights section in the gym!

I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to say thank you for the suggestion of New Rules of Lifting for Women. Been lurking on here, bought my book and my whey powder and started the programme today. I am wobbly of limb but absolutely buzzing. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Thanks again.

Thanks everyone, I'm going to have a look at the websites that have been recommended and gather some info from them, will check out the books on amazon too. Will be back with questions once I've formulated a plan. Thanks!

Kaizen - I agree - it wouldn't be a good idea for anyone to try and learn the olympic lifts by themselves. Especially if they don't already have a good grounding in training..

Crazy - Stumptous has some routines that can be done with minimal equipment: All dumbbells! All the time!

I agree that buying new rules would be a good idea.

For anyone wanting to strength train with no equipment, I know a couple of people who recommend: You are your own gym

Crazy personally I'd start by buying the books listed above (especially new rules) and a bench.

YouTube has loads of videos uploaded by PTs showing the correct form for lifts and common mistakes. If your husband can't check you're doing them right you can film yourself and compare, using lighter weights until you get the hang of it to avoid injury (although you'll still need him or someone else to spot you).

Forums like myfitnesspal.com and bodybuilding.com can be good places to lurk to get an idea of the routines other people use, although I've never been brave enough to post anything!

I don't think the squatting baboon stance helps either

I do some olympic lifting at the gym with a trainer, and it's really technical getting the technique right. I don't think I could do it on my own with all the 'snatch' and 'clean and jerking' stuff. I'm always flopping into bad form by the end. I don't notice anyone else doing it but then again, it's not conventionally attractive to look like a sweaty grunting tomato.

Thanks MrsGSR, you'll not be half as clueless as me!

We think the weights are a 50kg dumbbell/barbell set. No bench, though if necessary I could get one. DH doesn't seem too enthusiastic about spotting me, but I'm sure I could persuade him somehow!

What weights does he have? Dumbells, barbells, a bench? How heavy are they? Could your DH spot you? (I might be able to help although I'm pretty clueless too!)

Is it strictly necessary to use a gym? I'm not a member and have limited time or money at the moment to join, but DH has some weights in the garage that I've been sniffing around.

Could I do something meaningful with these? I can buy additional equipment if necessary but I'd like to keep costs as low as possible. I'd be grateful if anyone could point me in the direction of a home-based workout or book (sorry I'm clueless to heavy lifting!)

Thanks!

Oo do it Albert - you won't regret it!

It took me years between first thinking I might like to try it and actually giving it a go - I regret leaving it so long...

I have been reading up on heavy lifting for women. kind of want to give it a go.

I run two or three times a week. Do a stregthbased workout at least 3 times a week - such as Ripped in 30 or Turbo sculpt etc.

It's just a bit daunting going to a weights gym. There is one in my town - walkable distance.

OP I got the programme I'm following from my boxfit instructor, you could maybe ask around the gym and see if there is anyone that can put something together for you.
I have a plan for back and bicep, legs and shoulders, chest and tri's and do whatever I fancy ab wise. I don't always do things in order as I just wait and see what's available for use in the gym and go from there.
Yesterday was back (deadlifts, bent over rows, wide and close grip lat pull downs and dorsal raises), biceps (incline bicep curls, hammer curls and a superset of the two), tri's (dumbbell skull crushers and pull downs into push downs) then a bit of kettlbell abs.
I am at my happiest when I am working out, whether it be classes or in the gym and I give it full credit for me being anti-depressant free since July.

the Sally Moss table is good as a rough guide but it neglects the fact that (all other things being equal) the smaller you are the better your power to weight ratio.
So comparing strength to bodyweight ratio's doesn't exactly level the playing field.
(yes that makes my earlier post disingenuous since I am decidedly petite)

Also a persons one rep max can be difficult to determine unless your training is geared to one rep max lifts.
I appreciate that Sally Moss is coming from an Olympic lifting/cross fit sort of direction so it makes sense that she would use those criteria, but I've been lifting for donkeys years and rarely go heavier than a five rep weight, to avoid injury and because very low reps (according to conventional wisdom) are not the best way to create muscle hypertrophy.

Blimey - some way to go then!!!

Mind you, I only have two sessions a week, so progress isn't going to be that swift, I suppose.

But I can also do proper press-ups, which I'm dead chuffed about/proud of

Sally Moss has a good article on strength standards for women on her website. Scroll down for the table.

Marking my place for when I can get back to the gym - buggered up my knee about 10 days ago and have to be in crutches for another week. This thread is very inspiring though!

That is pretty much my routine BIWI, I rotate through back and shoulders, legs, chest and triceps. Six sessions per week.

I hope your shoulder problems improve soon, the good thing about weights is the wide variety of exercises/movements means that it's often possible to work around injuries or problem area's.

I should know I'm riddled with 'glitches' from overdoing it when I was younger.
But nothing has ever stopped me training completely

He-he, sorry I guess it is a bit over the top for a Sunday :o

... oh goodness, that's going to involve doing sums!

There are some good lifts here BUT the numbers don't mean much unless you also add how many reps you do with the weight and what percentage of your body weight it represents.

A person who weighs 50 kg and benches 60 kg for 10 reps is very strong.
If that person is 70kg and benches 50kg for one rep it's not such a big deal

Just for the record I can squat my body weight for 10 reps, deadlift it for 6 and do 8 chins.

I'm training with a PT, and have just moved up to 55kg dead lifts. I'm 54.

I have no idea if this is good/average/poor!

I'm doing general fitness training with him. I started off doing core training, and built up to a 5 minute plank, which I know is good.

I alternate back/chest/legs with him - I can't do much more at the moment as I'm suffering from rotator cuff tendonitis, so many of the arm/shoulder exercises are ruled out.

I love weights!

Ill come back sober but look up Jamie Eason she's awesome.