How do you do 'weights'?

And stop looking so amazing and pretty 🤣

I mean, Caroline does look amazing and pretty, but she is very awesome.

Yes, I'd did and still do use a large mirror - though these days is largely vanity!

This is how I did it - and I've been doing weights for over 4 years altogether - about 3 with Caroline:

• had a couple of sessions with a PT at the local gym - though I didn't feel i learned all that much.
• tried a few online trainers, including Rebecca Louise and Andrea Orbeck.
• discovered Caroline and never looked back; specifically:
• did her EPIC beginners several times, using 3kg dumbells, and always checked the mirror.
• once I felt confident, I did EPIC 1, 2, 3 and Heat and then most of the others.
• ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS watched her introductory explanations the night before, and always skipped through the actual workout to familiarize myself with what I'd be doing in the morning.
• graduated to 5kg and now using mostly 8 and 10kg, plus my son's heavier adjustables at times.

I don’t have a mirror but I wish I did. I’m doing it from the App now. Have my iPad propped up in front of the TV and can now see myself reflected in the TV. It really helps!

How do you make sure you've got the correct form when doing youtube workouts with Caroline Girvan etc? Do you watch yourself in a mirror to begin with?

I've been doing a weights course for women at a local gym, we're all plump and mainly 40+

10min cardio warm up (cd be marching on the spot, star jumps etc at home)
3 sets of 3-4 exercises so eg:
Squats with kettlebell x 15
Some kind of crunch exercise in floor x 30
Weight machine x 30
Do all that three times

Then another couple of sets mixing cardio and weights

Stretches at the end

Sometimes it's more like 45 seconds of one exercise like plank or step ups, again three sets

You can do resistance exercise just using your own body weight eg squats, step ups, crunch

And Heather Robertson worth a try too OP and all free on YouTube.

Another Caroline Girvan fan here too. Although there are are loads of her programmes on YouTube (and like PP, I'd also recommend the Iron one) there is a proper beginner's programme on her App (the App is called CGX). It's 6 weeks long and the App is not free but you can get a 2 week free trial so might be worth doing that. I think she talks more during that programme but I'd be surprised if it was irritating. It would let you learn all her basic moves anyway and make sure your form is correct.

I use the peloton app (have the bike so it made sense to do the weights classes too)

Another one for Caroline Girvan! I'm currently doing her Iron Series, alongside my usual running and pilates.
She also does some 15min Dumbbell workouts. I don't lift anything near as heavy as her though!
Should also say I think she does 5 workouts a week, I usually only do 3 or maybe two depending on what other exercise I've done!

a lot of them do talk exercise philosophy, how it makes you look good or feel good.

You get none of that with Caroline Girvan! Which is another reason why I love her.

Her workouts are SO professional and she really knows her stuff. Thorough explanations and demonstrations during the introduction, but after that there is no talk at all. Just previews of the next exercise during the 20-30 seconds rest in between.

The music isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I turn down the volume and listen to Radio 3 or Woman's Hour... 😎

@desikated I'm nearing 50s. Other than bodypump, I also do body balance, which is a hybrid yoga, tai chi and pilates workout. So definitely look at that type of exercise for core strength and flexibility.

It's hard to tell what you find annoying. I think a lot of them do talk exercise philosophy, how it makes you look good or feel good.

I rarely see people who have done 'just' a weights routine walk out of the gym sweaty! Except me and thats only because a) I sweat a lot and b) also intersperse sets with something to get my heart rate up. Some of the guys joke with me as I'm doing plank jacks or mountain climbers between my bench press sets instead of just sitting on my phone or staring into space

If you want your heart rate to increase try doing a tabata workout - start using body weight for squats/lunges/press ups etc then introduce your dumb bells and kettle bells. There are also lots of exercises which work more than one set of muscles at a time eg clean and jerk which can be done with barbell or dumbbell or kettlebell!

Just checked my fitbit, my heart rate went up from a resting of 55 to 105 during my weights session this morning. However it was around the same level the hour before when I was rushing around the house getting children ready for school.

I am not sure raising heart rate is the best measure of success for weights. I like many others on here do Caroline Girvan iron programme at home - 5 days a week 30 minutes a day. My heart rate barely increases but I am getting lots of muscle growth!

I think some of her other programmes though have more cardio alongside weights (which is why I avoid them!)

Yep Caroline Girvan is fantastic. Her technique is good too, I've seen a lot online actually doing quite dangerous things at least to be recommending to beginners at home. Her weights are pretty heavy, half is generally respectable to work at. She has 15 min sessions that are a great place to start for kettlebells and dumbbells. I use yoga for Adrienne to stretch thoroughly after. Take longer breaks if needed.

Sydney Cummings is good. And there is Lift with Cee too.

A couple of dumbbells and a kettle bell changed my entire body shape! I do 6 X 30 min workouts a week, plus some yoga/stretching for flexibility.
Highly recommended Bodyfit by Amy on youtube, she has a huge selection of workouts for all levels and she is the least annoying online instructor I've came across!
I do hitt with weights and pilates with weights. Even just bodyweight exercises can make a huge difference. You don't need to lift heavy or join a gym to see changes. My workout is done quicker than I could get to a gym and back.

What are your goals? Maintaining bone density or something more specific?

There are plenty of YouTube videos that will advise you on using lighter weights.

I do body pump at home. However, I think you need someone to show you how to lift safely. Even with body pump, which is low weights and high reps, you can injure yourself.

I had done weights in the gym in my 20s and did body pump classes in gyms until I had DC2.

I know you say you don’t want to join a gym, but a couple of dumb bells and a kettlebell won’t do much.

Reps should be slow and controlled, a PT is essential for showing form and technique.

The gym is great for a variety of weights for progression otherwise you’re very limited at home.

Another vote for Caroline Girvan. My body is transformed.

It can be quick but only if your weights are heavy
And heavy is a personal thing
You should work towards exhaustion- lots of reps with light weights or shorter session with heavier weights

I think it's better to go to a gym and have someone show you initially or book a few PT sessions if you are a complete beginner.