How long strength training can I expect to see any visible difference?

[paddleboardingmum]

I just need some motivation as I'm starting weights and intending to do that 3 times a week. How long before I can expect to see any results?

Specific exercises for sure. It was struggling with a 10kg kettlebell for a goblet squat then suddenly realising you’re on 14kg and doing twice the reps with ease.

also, sweating. When I first started I didn’t even need to shower after a session. I suddenly realised I was drenched in sweat after

I’d be really interested to hear what other women noticed first — changes in how they looked, or changes in how strong they felt?

It was definitely my arms. Seeing muscles and noticing definition in my shoulders.

One massive thing I noticed is - with my now 5 year old- i struggled to carry her any distance if I didn’t have the buggy and she was tired when she was smallI

now I have a massive 2 year old (he’s way bigger than she was at that age) and I can carry him long distances no problem at all! So im obviously much stronger then I was

Maybe some body dysmorphia, it’s unlikely a stone and a dress size would mean the difference between an arse shouldners and thighs you are happy with to massive. If gained all over and one dress size it’s likely an inch or so difference.

op. Strength training in women makes you leaner, it is incredibly difficult to bulk out as a female with muscle, and takes a lot of dedication and a high,protein high cal diet.

for me I’d say about 6 months to visibly see it, you need to lift progressively heavier to build muscle. I also take creatine. I’ve dropped body fat and increased muscle, and my body looks toned and defined, rather than muscular. A sort of atheletic fit look. I’m 57 , I have a ring of muscle round my stomach, my shoulders and upper arms are defined, it if I flex you can see bicep and my arse stands up on its own, I nearly maintained my weight from when I started, so my body fat reduced and I built a leaner frame. I’m about 4 or 5 lbs heavier than when I started, a couple of thay will be the creatine, but my frame is smaller ie I’m leaner now.

Can you recommend good PTs to follow for a beginner?

I'm wondering if anyone could advise me as to when I'm likely to see results please?
I try to stick to maximum 2000 calories per day.
Since the beginning of July, I do body pump twice a week, Kettlecise once a week and yoga twice a week. I've lost weight, but have saggy skin. Lost about 10kg.
Am now in healthy weight BMI.
When am I likely to start looking toned? My bingo wings, bum and tummy are just a bit saggy..
I'm 50 years old

I have low body weight and it’s taken around 5 months to see any changes physically but before that my confidence and strength improved which are much more important to me.

Those are brilliant exercises but they’re not lifting heavy which is what will build muscle. Yoga for example of unlikely to change the way you look at all, but is still amazing for flexibility.

Body pump will build muscle, its what its designed to do. And yoga can as well depending on the type of yoga you do.

Ime it is really about long term consistency / that is what is tough!
I started regular strength training in a calisthenics class 18 mo ago. I saw results in terms of how my body looks within maybe 4-6 months. But what was going on underneath, was all the gradual load building, flexibility, adapting to the energy I used, working out when and what I needed to eat, and how to balance it with cardio.
Now, I know I have the foundation and it’s all about consistently building. It does
take time. I feel now (at 46!) more confident with my arms and stomach than I have for years. My arms have never been skinny but now they have tone and I’m stronger - it feels good! I’ve recently started working a bit more on my legs and I can see a tiny bit of definition after about a month, though a long way to what I’d ideally like. I’m a healthy weight and I’ve always done cardio anyway.
I really rate calisthenics / weights as it really is about gaining strength and that will, over time, give you definition and be amazimg
for your strength as a woman. I do classes
with many women who are far stronger than me. They don’t look bulky atall, they look strong, athletic and confident.

I like Sally Gunnell on instagram and bodyweight warrior (you tube videos and app)

That’s exactly the kind of progress I think is easy to overlook. Not necessarily looking different, but suddenly being able to do something that used to feel difficult.
I think those changes must be especially satisfying when you realise them almost by accident.
Was there a particular exercise or movement where you noticed it most?