i just prefer lighter weights....

Train easy. I have loads of muscle, rarely/never ever train to failure. So long as it's some sort of progresssive overload, it's fine.

My understanding is that the heavier lifting is needed to maintain (not just build), with age, due to physiological changes ie greater stimulus required for same muscle responses. Maybe try to progress very slowly. Have you listed to dr Stacey simms?

I agree
It is much easier and feels safer to go to failure on a machine for some exercises than it is with free weights.

I have restarted Body Pump and am really enjoying it, my arms and legs feel heavy the next day so I assume it’s doing something. I desperately want to avoid getting osteoporosis- DM has it and it’s a horrible disease. I assume even though it’s lighter weights it’s still good for prevention of osteoporosis.
I have to be careful with heavier weights as I have a bit of a neck and shoulder issue that can be aggravated if I up the ante too much.

Absolutely good point @Fibrous and also relevsnt for those who may have had assisted deliveries when younger. Mine is coming back to haunt me now, and feel I it most with heavier weights, despite taking good care.

I've switched to lifting lighter and more reps as I was getting recurrent haemorrhoids and anal fissures from lifting heavy, even under the careful eye of a PT. I was lifting way under what my body could handle and I was still having issues so for the last couple of months I've stuck to home lifting with lighter weights (10/20kg vs the 50kg I was lifting in the gym) and I'm still feeling the aching in the muscles but haven't injured myself. You just have to do what suits you and listen to your own body.

I agree OP and still push myself/build up over time with BP etc but lifting heavy doesn’t appeal

I think you should do whatever you enjoy.
However if you do want to keep trying to lift heavier maybe go in more incremental steps. If you feel better doing front squats maybe use the barbell and then get used to that technique so you can later load further.

It may be that your core is strong enough but perhaps you need to learn how to brace for heavy lifts? Personally I find it different to Pilates where your core has to engage. Obviously it will engage when you lift but it's easy to let your spine take some of the load. I found that until my body got used to doing it I needed to reset myself and consciously brace before each rep. That being said I do agree with others that sometimes great technique doesn't always mean that's a good choice of exercise for you. Age + anatomy means that I don't deadlift super heavy as the risk for the reward is not worth it for me.

Perhaps try loading up the leg press if there's one available to you and take core out of the equation and see how you feel with that before deciding whether to move on to technical lifts?

A bit rambling sorry!

Lifting heavier will challenge your core, it is why weight lifters wear belts.

I do mostly body weight exercises and I don’t see why I need to do heavyweight - I want to have enough muscle to protect my bones and keep me climbing mountains not parade in a show. You don’t need to be ever building strength and progressing

the science is - you need to work to exhaustion to build and maintain muscle - so you can do heavy with low reps or lighter and more reps and the best version is the one you prefer because then you will do it. So as long as you feel challenged

the only caveat is that form really matters - avoiding injury and building things correctly - so keeping things light and having good form and working till exhaustion is better than lifting heavy but sloppily

I'm the same with squats and deadlifts, I think I probably have an undiagnosed disc issue (been to docs several times and just palmed off with painkillers) I do prefer lifting heavy for less reps and do so with everything except these 2 exercises where I do lighter over more reps/sets to protect my back and really focus on technique. I've been to PTs and know technique like the back of my hand but the fact I can strain my back sitting on the toilet and changing bed sheets shows its not just bad technique 🤣 I still get results and DOMs are just as bad so it's doing something. Do what feels comfortable/enjoyable. Swimmers and runners gain visible muscle so I can't see why lifting the same volume over more time wouldn't too.

Is it just those exercises you don’t like rather than lifting heavy itself? I hate squats and exercises with a bar so I don’t do them and pick other exercises like leg press instead

I do lighter weights (shoulder injury) but I increase/ change the number of reps / sets. I really feel that, I feel I am more in control and can isolate the muscles better - this is less so with heavier weights.

I used to do powerlifting.

What you do at the gym depends on your own goals.

If your goal is ultimately to get stronger, then you need to gradually increase the weight you do, and try to hit the reps.

There are compound exercised and there are isolation exercises. It's important really to do both, so you can really engage the muscles. If you're only ever doing light weight compound exercises, then you're strengthening groups of muscles, but areas like your core will struggle.

If you're just going for physique, then manageable weights and more reps is probably what you need to go for.

It's also important that your diet has enough protein to help you build muscle if strength is your goal. The bigger your muscles, the more energy you need per rep to keep using that muscle, and the more protein you need to build and repair. If you're not eating the right stuff, then you will feel rubbish after doing heavier weights.

If you're going into the gym with no goal, other than to keep your body moving and keep the joints active, and just maintain a basic level of fitness, then just do lighter weights, and keep doing what you're doing. You don't have to have the same gym goals as anybody else. There are no rules that mean you must be aiming for body builder physique or have a uniquely high one rep max.

Just focus on both compound and isolation exercises at a weight that makes you happy.

I am the same & I have used a pt for a few years. I find I can really have a great workout & feel it the next day with lighter weights say 10kg x 2. Although I do lift heavy with the barbell up to 40 kg I don’t enjoy it as much & find my form is not as great even if I build it up. I can get just as good workout with lighter weights. I try & mix it up depending on my mood. Also been training since I was 20 & in my 50’s now. Also do spin/hiit/pilates.

Front squats with 2 X 8kg kettlebells isn't nothing!

How many reps and how many sets did you do?
And how many more do you think you could have done if you'd kept going?

I do lift heavy but I kind of know what you mean, it's less fun if every rep feels like it's a battle to the death!

Do you have a PT. If not I strongly suggest getting one to learn to lift properly. I did several years ago and I am now pushing some serious weight and it feels great.

There are some great online tutorials, but I also see A LOT of posts online from people who don’t have a clue TBH and I think with soemthing like lifting heavy proper instruction to get you going is so very important.

I was always told that as long as you go to failure, it doesn’t matter if the weight is light or heavy. I prefer to go heavy, but on days that I don’t. I lighten the weight and just lift until I fail.

From my perspective permissions granted!!

I think form is more important than the no of kgs - not worth the injury risk IMO.

body pump is fun. Lots of reps and quick so no pressure to go big. But just do what you enjoy.

Technically yes front squats are harder. But that’s in part due to where the weight rests. For me doing a front squat with kettlebells the limiting factor would be shoulder / arm strength. It won’t help my leg muscles.

Either way it comes down to the persons goals. What’s the point in asking here for permission / reassurance.

Squatting and dead lifting are quite technical lifts. Maybe you need to have a good look at your form, and strip back the weight to just the bar (20kg) and start again. Maybe have a trainer look at your form?

If your core isn't strong enough but your legs are, that suggests to me that there's a problem with your technique.

When I started lifting heavy 8 years ago, I found that it was barbell squats that really engaged & strengthened my abs/core. and I started with back squatting just 30 kilos.

Front squats are harder than back squats. 16kg back squats for a regular gym goer is negligible (although we don’t know how much OP weighs). But, even saying that, if you added a 5 second tempo, a three second pause at the bottom or did it German Volume Training style you instantly ramp up the challenge.

i agree with the previous poster who said the most important thing is that OP enjoys her workouts. Nothing worse than dropping out because you hate your gym sessions.

Depends on your goals. Lifting heavy is very hard. If you lift lighter (but also to failure) then you can get the same muscle growth; but you won’t get the strength benefits. The issue is that with 2x8kg for front squats it’s unlikely to build leg strength or leg muscle as you aren’t going to leg failure. It’s up to you what you do, but does it align with your goals?

I do bodypump as well as heavy lifting.

I lift heavy enough in bodypump that it’s to failure by the end of the track, eg a 10kg on each side for bench. I’m sure it helps with muscle growth (but not convinced it helps with strength).

We can x post all night!

Ha x post with @devildeepbluesea we are not wrong