Does anyone else enjoy doing weights/kettle bells/trx training?

[rhondajean]

I'm just looking for a few people who love doing this type of training rather than just running/cycling/swimming.

I do A bit of martial arts too and I've got some friends who do that but I don't know a lot of women who like the weights and resistance bit and it would be nice to know some more.

It's circuits I do rather than powerlifting btw.

[Sandlewardle]

This is such an inspiring thread! I've just started a strength training routine at the gym, using mostly cable machines, some bodyweight stuff, and one or two dumbbell and barbell exercises. I'm really enjoying it so far. I do find the barbell area a bit intimidating though - many beefy blokes - hopefully that'll lessen with time?

Is anyone here on Fitocracy ?

[LingDiLong]

I hope no-one minds me resurrecting this thread...I'm interested in starting Weight Lifting but not sure where to start. I've been reading the New Rules of Lifting For Women but the routines in there use a Barbell and I don't have money to spend on expensive equipment or gym membership. Can I realistically get started just with a set of decent dumbells? Someone on this thread linked to a Dumbell only workout so I was thinking of mixing that in with the routines on Lifting for Women. Does that sound ok?

I've managed to lose 18 pounds with a low calorie diet and jogging/exercise DVDs but I've been stalled for a couple of months now and despite a decent weight loss I'm frustrated that I've barely dropped a dress size. Everything I've read suggests that weight lifting will help with all this...

[brighthair]

No weights for me today but a bootcamp session - omg the heat!!
We did squat jumps, burpees, press ups, squat thrusts, lunges, crumps

[Sleepwhenidie]

Hi everyone, good to see this thread resurrected! How are you all doing?

Welcome lingdilong, great that you are keen to start weightlifting and yes you can definitely get started with some dumbells and body weight exercises . Be aware that for a short period initially when you start lifting that you may feel you are bigger than before, this is just your body's initial reaction - it will settle down and get used to the idea . It may also be a good idea to take lots of body measurements before you start, then repeat every few weeks/once a month to track progress, rather than just relying on the scales. As you build more muscle though, you will burn more calories and so, in the longer term, can eat more without gaining weight - yay!

[LingDiLong]

Thanks sleepwhenidie. I'm off on holiday for a while now so I'll definitely be noticing my body get bigger before I even start!! Will take measurements though as I'm really more interested in that than the scales anyway.

[brighthair]

Everything hurts today mainly my arms and abs. I have skinned my knees and they hurt. Oh an I decided to do a gentle intro to spinning by doing a 1hr extreme spin class. Clever
Bootcamp tomorrow, riding lesson Friday and some spin in between

[CrazySexyCool123]

I have only read the first page and this page of this thread so this may have already been suggested but it sounds like a lot of you would really like crossfit. If you don't know what it is take a look on youtube. It's addictive!

[Needabitofsunshine]

Woo hoo - another crossfitter! Not many around these parts...

Glad someone resurrected this thread, was a bit disappointed when it died.

Lingdilong - check out gumtree/ebay etc for 2nd hand weights. Often people buy them then don´t use them... A set of adjustable bumbells would be a great start, as would a medicine ball and a kettlebell.

I started my boot camp about a month ago, so that´s been keeping me busy doing all the programming and have got a handful of PT clients now too. In fact, so busy that my weight training has suffered as I´m knackered doing everything else. Have started it up again a couple of weeks ago and was pleased to see that I hadn´t lost any strength in deadlifts and just a little in back squats (probably mostly rusty technique).

Go on everyone else, check in :)

[GeneCowan]

Wahey, the threads been resurrected! Just in time for me, I started back with weights yesterday and am following the programme RhondaJean recommended. ~It's the first time I've done a body split before, I've always stuck to funcitonal full body workouts until now so am interested to see how it goes. Chest and tris yesterday, back and bis today and now feel like the top of my body is worked out and sore, whilst my bottom half is all relaxed, really weird! Legs tomorrow which is the part of the programme I'm a bit disappointed in as it mostly depends on machines so may switch things around a bit, although I suppose that defeats the object of following a programme! Would much rather lunge and deadlift than do seated hamstring curls and leg raises though.

[GeneCowan]

Congrats on the bootcamp and PT clients Need, sounds like it's all going well.

Lingdilong, I started out following NROL for Women and brought adjustable dumbbells and a barbell. I justified that it was the equivalent of less than 4 months gym membership and I would always be able to sell them at the end. I still had to adjust some of the exercises etc but it was still a great programme to start and I saw a real difference from it. Whereabouts are you, I still have the equipment kicking around unused as have a gym membership at the moment.

[LingDiLong]

I'm in South Wales so I find not a lot comes up on Ebay that I could feasibly collect you know? Will keep watching just in case. And it's good to know I can at least give it a try without spending too much, if I like it I'd be happy to pay for more equipment.

[brighthair]

Massive amount of DOMS from extreme spinning, I am walking like a cowgirl that lost her horse

[crikeyitshot]

Hello all, I've been lurking on this thread but thought I'd just surface to share my new inspiration. I was looking around for an introduction to kettlebell exercises and discovered .

She has an amazing, strong physique, plus she's a cardiac staff nurse and a qualified Fitness and Extreme Kettlebell Instructor. The fact she manages her workouts and does night shifts at times doubles my respect for her. Plus her accent is so calming, her website is over here if anyone else is interested.

[Needabitofsunshine]

Yes, she´s great! Super workouts and from Norn Iron too :)

Tired legs this week...loads on trainingwise, so haven´t had the energy to do my own strength work. I really miss it, but have learned to listen to my body and lay off it if I´m feeling low. Maxing out really fries the central nervous system....

[Needabitofsunshine]

Woo hoo!!!! PR´d my deadlift today with 95kgs! Happy days :)

Anyone else still around?

[Claggis]

Hi, have only just discovered this thread - was beginning to think there was no exercise section on mn, thank you for starting!

Wow 95kg? Sounds great :D I do kickboxing but took up kettlebells a couple of months ago, just to do at home which I'm enjoying. I used to run but had to stop for now due to ligament pain. Not pushing the kettlebells too hard though (and no contact in kickboxing, just hitting pads) as am 28 weeks pg. So far so good but really hard to get decent advice about what to do - they say if you exercised a lot before pregnancy that the worst thing you can do is stop, but equally I don't want to overdo things or risk straining anything. Any advice? Am just listening to my body and doing what feels ok, plus read an American book on research on pregnancy and exercise (which put my mind at rest about myths like keeping your heartrate under 140bpm).
Anyway sorry for long post - and great to see you many of you into weights! :-D

[Sleepwhenidie]

Hi Claggis, welcome - and congratulations on your pregnancy!

this is a really interesting article on weight training during pregnancy, as the writer says, there's not a huge amount of encouraging advice out there. You sound like you are doing fine, not pushing yourself to the max, not risking injury (in the sense of getting hit at least) kickboxing and most importantly, listening to your body. The only thing I would be cautious about is any kettlebell exercises with a large range of movement IYKWIM, that you may overdo and risk injury,especially to your back, due to being more flexible than usual? Other than that, training to try and maintain your level of fitness, rather than improve it, Doing what you are already used to, or a modified version, for as long as you feel comfortable, is the way I went and think works

[Sleepwhenidie]

brighthair how's the sciatica? better I hope.

sunshine - 95kg - wow. Very impressive. How long do you reckon it's taken you to get there?

[Sandlewardle]

95kg is great!

[Needabitofsunshine]

Oooh, thread's alive again!

Congrats on the pregnancy, super great to keep moving. Keep focus on form and enjoy!

I was messing around and thought I'd test my 1rm on my DL. Was secretly hoping to hit the big 100kg but couldn't manage it... Soon... I've been doing weight training for about 2 years. I haven't been doing too much recently but am going to follow a proper program when I get back to reality next week. Goals for the remainder of this year: drop about 5% body fat, master the ever elusive pull up, plus a few more.

Have been on holiday all month, so totally out of normal schedule, lots of body weight stuff and tons of running. I'm much more suited to sprinting, so running lots has been a REALLY tough slog, especially given the relentless hills here in Cornwall. Still, good for the soul.

Anyone else got any chat?

[brighthair]

Sciatica still ongoing and waiting for hospital referral. Modified bootcamp still, and if it hurts I stop. Really missing spinning but apparently it's one of the worst things I can do?
Had a horse riding lesson today and clever horse was excellent and I was very sweaty
Have lost 3.5kg this week. Total off waist is from 115cm at biggest to 99.5cm last week

[dontpetthesweatythings]

Brilliant thread! I've only got in to exercise the past 3 years and have just started out weight/strength training.

I'm nothing like you gals yet I'm very weak on upper body but I'm getting there, doing weights most days and working on core.

The difference to my body in just 2 weeks is unbelievable, not just that but the strength in my arms and legs has improved noticeably. Wish everyone would do weights to see how good it can be!

[crikeyitshot]

May I ask for some help from you experienced peeps? I use dumbbells/kettlebells at home a lot and have definitely increased my strength and seen massive changes in my body over the last year.

As I'm thinking of re-joining a gym to access a wider range of weights I'd also like to start learning how to deadlift and use the Olympic bar in my workouts. How did you learn? Did you employ a personal trainer or similar to learn the best technique?

[Meglet]

I've finally started on the TRX. It is so good. 10 painful minutes on that and I can feel it in all my muscles.

Suprisingly good for stretching too. My hips have been feeling tight for a couple of years but I think it's pulled them out a bit and they feel looser now.

[Needabitofsunshine]

Crikey, go for it! Always best to start with a trainer if you can. They can show you the ropes and ensure your form is tip top before you carry on yourself.

I started with a trainer, who was a friend and then we morphed into training partners. Nothing I loved more than those strength sessions with her in an otherwise empty CF gym. Good times, lifting heavy and chatting about everything under the sun. She has moved away now and I am still floundering without her :(

Going to start with another trainer soon (even though I am one myself). Would recommend the odd session every now and again to correct the bad habits that we all slip into...