Anyone else lift weights?

You don't need weight lifting gloves Telly.

Admittedly I use them but that's because I was concentrating more on my hands than anything else during dead lifts and shoulder/bench press.

Drop, are you sure you're eating enough? Especially if you're lifting weights, 1200kcal seems extremely low. I use the calculator on James Smith Academy (it's free to use) to work out my kcals and protein target. I'm 5ft 2in, weigh 58kg and eat 1450kcals to lose weight, 1600 to maintain. My protein target is about 90g.

I’m starting to attend a small weights ‘group’ at my gym this evening! I love the gym but want to build my bone strength as I’m heading for 50. The teacher just text and asked if I had any weight lifting gloves

I don't eat back my exercise calories, I don't think I burn enough llifting to make any difference! I do enjoy it though, I find it good for mental health, body shape and tone and overall wellbeing.

@Lottapianos you're right. I do need to go. I was treated for anaemia 18 months ago and I tried to give blood in August and was told my iron count was too low so maybe it's that again.

@waterlego I'm 34 so hopefully not perimenopausal just yet. I don't have any other symptoms of perimenopause.

Maybe I'm just lazy

I lift weights as part of a wider gym routine. When I started at the gym about a year ago, I set myself a target of deadlifting double my body weight which I managed last month but have struggled to get within 5kg of it since.

I'm just 4 weeks into a return to lifting and still trying to find my current limits (I've been taking it very slow!!) Loving being back in the gym and the feeling I get from a good session but I definitely need to change up my Friday routine as I hate it. What are your favourites for posterior legs? I love deadlifts and have just started doing some good mornings but hate the balance ball leg curls and don't know whether to ditch them or just shut up and get on with them 😆

DropOfffArtiste, I'm in the same boat, 10kg to drop and I can't do it. That's why I've started lifting heavy again...my slimmest ever as an adult was when I was eating 1200kcal and lifting 3x per week and running 3x per week. Are you eating back your exercise calories? I think I did some days but not all.

Thanks. I don't really want to go lower than 1200, that's just too tough to be sustainable and I will be miserable.

Just keep up a calorie deficit. You might need fewer if you’ve lost weight? Though that sounds quite low. keep challenging yourself with bigger weights?

I'm following a 1200 kcal diet and would like to lose 10kg. I've lost 16kg so far but lately seem to have plateaued. I am working out with some HIIT and some weights, do you think I need to increase my protein?

My current 'regime' is barbell club and Pilates once a week (on the same day!)
Run x 3 but only C25K as part of rehabbing my foot.
And if I can summon the energy I do a resistance work out at home, with smaller dumbbells or resistance bands.

I have a whole heap of physio exercises for my running that basically count as a work out (when I do them at least )

I would ideally choose to do another heavy session but the barbell club is only one a week and I can’t afford a gym membership currently.

Last week I focussed on my deadlifts and did what was my PB (70kg) for a double , twice. So this week I’m going to see what my new PB is

chillychicken, I would see the GP for some blood tests probably. How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? Could it be perimenopause? I’m 43 and get all sorts of random aches and pains, am often lethargic and feel ‘under the weather’ for no good reason. I’ve got to the stage where I’m just blaming everything on my age 😬

Hello! I just started weights with a pt at the end of last year. I was struggling to see a difference with my regular regime as I approached fifty and had heard of all the benefits.

I love feeling strong! My aches and pains have disappeared even after a run or class. I never thought I could lift big weights, but am getting there. Love it. My next goal is to brave it myself at the gym.

Chilly, I think seeing the GP would be a good plan. Please dont feel guilty- you need to listen to your body. You may need some blood tests to find out if you're deficient in something. Remember that going to the gym should be to benefit you, not anyone else, and if you're feeling so exhausted its probably not a good idea. Good luck!

@lottapianos yes that's what it feels like but I seem to have it every day and have done for a while. I feel so guilty resting as I love going to the gym! The only time I have energy is in the gym but I can't do cardio because my bones feel tired really quickly. It impacts how much I play with DC because I'm just so tired and feel like I have no flexibility. My skin is appalling too. It's like everything has changed in the last six months. I've gone from being energetic and feeling great to being crazy tired. I know I suffer from low iron so ensure I eat plenty of meat and iron rich veg. I take a multi-vitamin with cod liver oil to try to help my joints feel stronger.
I feel like I need to see someone, but I don't know who! I don't want to waste a GP appointment over it.

I definitely do feel better when I stay off the booze and my diet went a bit wonky over Dec/Jan but I'm back on it with meal plans, increased protein, etc.
Do you all keep an eye on your macros?
Today I've had overnight oats with added protein powder and banana for breakfast (not a massive fan to be honest, but then I've never liked porridge!, I've got a tuna salad for lunch, babybel light for a snack, chicken marinaded in chinese spices with rice, veg and a few prawn crackers for dinner.
I normally calculate the protein in the morning but was in a rush today so I'll do it when I'm home. If I'm under then I'll have a protein shake. The clear whey protein from Myprotein is fab - 10g protein for 90kcal. I love it!

can I ask, did anyone else have the problem of weights making them hungry?

I have stopped at a certain level because I just want to eat everything - and it becomes inconvenient as well as boring.

I love the idea of powerlifting but just imagine being really hungry and having to pack in lots more protein.

Do you all do only weights/ strength, or do you do cardio as well?

I just do weights twice a week and yoga every day.

Used to do cardio loads but can't fit it in now.

I find that a few days before other symptoms of a cold I can only lift about half my usual weights. Listen to your body.

I don't do machines, lifting or kettlebells, but I work out with dumb bells, 2.5kg and 5kg.

There are several YouTube workouts with weights that I do, and I normally do 2 a day, plus additional cardio, abs and legwork.

Dumb bell workouts that I like include Fitness Blender, Popsugar's Sadie Lincoln (legs and arms) and Andrea Orbeck (sculpted arm workout), as well as Rebecca Louise.

Hi chilly, I know that heavy bones feeling. It usually means that I'm coming down with a cold or something. Definitely a good idea to rest, hydrate, eat well etc

I love it! I've been going to lots of small group PT sessions and I honestly never thought I would love the gym so much as women were "supposed" to do small dumbbells and running which I found so boring.

I love deadlifting, bench pressing and squatting. I love the feeling of strength and go to the gym every day if I can.

We only have a horizontal leg press at my gym. I'm stuck at 110kg. I just can't seem to find the extra strength to push 120kg.

I'm still doing hip thrusts on the smith machine as it's easier to load the weights. I've got my back squat back up to 40kg (knee went on me last year so couldn't squat for ages), single leg extension to 20kg, deadlift at 60kg (but rarely deadlift as I hate it!). I much prefer an upper body workout to be honest

I didn't go this morning (so haven't been since Saturday and now can't go until Saturday), I'm gutted but I know I need to rest my shoulder. On top of that, my entire body feels tired and my bones feel heavy. I'm convinced this isn't normal but it's not a question I've ever felt I can ask anyone! I've felt like this for a while now but don't know what to do about it. Maybe I should take up yoga or pilates?

Do you all do only weights/ strength, or do you do cardio as well? I find myself doing less and less cardio at the gym. Sadly I have to drive for work but I walk a lot at weekends, and do an occasional cross trainer session at the gym

Ooh me!

I have a pt twice a week and should really go in by myself once a week too but I just find it so bloody hard to motivate myself to go to the gym by myself.

I started when it was too icy to run and just kept it up.
My body shape has changed so much, I'm the same weight but much curvier than when I was running.

I started not even being able to lift anything and now can deadlift 1 and a half times my body weight and can do a pull up!
It's an amazing feeling.

I agree about women and lifting. Lots say I'm not strong, I couldn't do it and I think well if you trained, you'd get stronger. I've found it amazing for stress-busting, feel marvellous afterwards. And I love the camaraderie between women who lift.

@merryhouse, I had a period rehabbing a shoulder injury when I just did machines. I enjoyed that too. I'm mainly doing whole-body calisthenics workouts now, but using the lat pull-down machine a lot to build strength for pull-ups.