Anyone else lift weights?

Hi Gabriel, I follow Laura Hoggins on Instagram. Shes just started posting some short 5 min videos with good ideas for exercises with kettlebells and dumbbells

Almost 2 years here. So happy I found a way to lose and maintain weight without having to do cardio so I'm in love!

This is genuinely the first time I've ever successfully lost weight.

Anyone looking for inspiration for workouts, I follow a lot of (mostly women) lifters on Instagram. They usually post workouts focussed on a certain area. I prefer the accounts who don't have a book/app to sell!

Not sure if we can mention names but would love to compare if anyone else has favourites!

@Arseaboutdarkly I do swings, squats, lunges, presses, high pulls, deadlifts, bicep curls with the kb strung on a towel. Quickly found 8kg was too light for much of what I wanted to do. There are loads of videos on YouTube! You won’t get bulky, women seldom do, even with higher weights. I recommend using the largest weight you can handle. You want to reach fatigue on each round to get the most benefit.

Me! Started with a PT last summer when I started feeling creaky and realised my mums knee problems started at my age and I want to be strong to last a long healthy life. Slowly ditching PT because £££ and because even though I’m seeing results I don’t feel I have an understanding of what I’m meant to be doing and what weights I’m capable of, just very reliant on her saying “ok let’s do this” but therefore I need to do my own routine at least twice a week. Any thoughts on how to start? I have a set of 10-30lb dumbbells but that’s it - LOVE swinging a kettle bell but don’t know what else to use them for?

I'm a huge fan of the incline leg press, I seen to be able to press heavier then on the horizontal (?) press, currently pressing 8x200kg working back to my pb of 250kg.

I love the leg press too! I’ve got up to 10 reps at 175kg. Theoretically this means my 1 Rep Max should be about 230kg, but I’m too scared to try it 😆 I just don’t think I can get that initial push on that weight. One of these days I’ll brave it!

I tend to do more free weights but I absolutely love the leg press. It’s a dream

Anyone else just do the machines?

I think it's a personality thing (I do much better on the treadmill than running down the beautiful footpath twenty yards from my door).

My new goal is to get to zero weight assistance on the pull-ups (currently on 21kg, have moved a 7kg step about each 6 months).

I do the leg press in reverse: pushing up is quite straightforward, but keeping my knees bent is Hard Work. (This is an attempt to get better at horse stance in karate, something I can't really do...)

Me! 2yrs now. Have been dogged by injury over the last 12 months so my progress dropped dramatically but I’m back in the game now and enjoying it (even if I’m still battling a shoulder injury. Going to bite the bullet and finally get it looked at next week)

I’ve started lifting recently and I LOVE it! Leg day is the best!

I do a version of 5x5, I posted my programme in another thread the other day.
It's a 5 day routine (muscle groups/body parts) - 4 exercises, 6 reps. So good!!

but I don’t think all that deadlifting and squatting is for me
have you considered Sumo squats and deadlifts, it's a wider gait so allows for more movement in a bigger stance iyswim? Or putting a small disk under your heels (my centre of gravity is about 17feet behind me) but having that inch lift helps me to get down easier.

Oh hello!

I took up powerlifting while on a running hiatus (plantar fucking fasciitis) . I go to a barbell club in the private gym of a personal trainer, one of best friends coaches me and although I’m only able to go once a week I’m deffo getting stronger.

I love it!

Can I join in?! I've recently started strength training after realising I'm so weak in this area. I've been doing small group personal training sessions but it's so expensive- I'm thinking of just joining a regular gym but am very nervous at the thought!

A 6kg kettle bell isn't going to make you look 'bulky', @arseaboutdarkly
You'll lose more fat lifting weights than you will doing cardio.

In fact, unless you're eating for a bodybuilding comp and training like a beast daily with super heavy weighs, 'bulky' isn't ever going to happen.

What exercises do you do kalinka?

I do kettlebell swing (tho still never sure if i'm doing it right even after watching a load of videos about it) also rows, 'windmill', sit-ups with the bells and arm excercises. I'm trying to build up a workout. Do you think 6kg is too light or is it totally personal?

I really like the feel of the kettlebell, it feels controlled.

I love my kettlebells! Started with 8kg, now work out with a mix of 12kg, 16kg and 20kg weights. I wanted to build some muscle and get as strong as possible as I approach the end of my 40s.

I am just starting out with 6kg kettlebell, never used weights before as I always worried they would make me look bulkier and as I'm quite stocky anyway I wanted to avoid it.

Now i'm not bothered, i just want to feel stronger and fitter and if I combine with yoga hope i will get lengthening as well as strength

I am a competitive powerlifter (waves to @cocomelon23) , 40 years old and started about 3 years ago after a lifetime of doing sweet fa !

I had never enjoyed myself in a gym until I started lifting, and now it has become a huge part of me and my social life

I love weights! Started with a PT in 2016 with a view to staving off osteoporosis, as I was hurtling towards 50 back then. Expected to hate it. He introduced me to kettlebells, which I adore, and then boxing which I just love off the scale. I now love all things weights - hex bar deadlifts are a great favourite of mine as are power cleans. I can't go all that heavy yet, but I keep making progress.

@MrsJamin - form is everything! And yeah, the good feeling when a delivery man hands over a heavy box, visibly struggling, while saying "are you sure you can manage, love?". And I then handle the box with the greatest of ease.

I used to run but have two very unhappy knees so had to stop. I started lifting instead and I really enjoy it. I mostly use 4kg hand weights or a 5kg plate, as well as some equipment free stuff like planks and lunges. I love how all my limbs are feeling a bit harder and tighter. My left arm is so much weaker than my right arm but I'm working on it. It's fun, a great stress reliever and makes me feel brilliant

Ooh thanks @7Worfs!

I just downloaded that 5x5 app, but I don’t think all that deadlifting and squatting is for me - for one I don’t have the mobility in my hips to get down like that. I think I’d prefer working with free weights.

I want to lose about 10kg and also get fitter and stronger, and because I’m 42 fight the inevitable loss of bone density and muscle

I'm a powerlifter that competes!

Hello. I am getting back into lifting, I just started back last week. I used to do a lot a couple of years ago but for I stopped. I downloaded the 5x5 programme app last week and finished my first week yesterday.