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.

[Meglet]

yes, I think I will treat myself to the odd personal trainer session to make sure I get the most out of it. My gym used to have free sessions but they've changed it now so I'll have to save my pennies up for them.

One of the trainers at the gym said they were going to do TRX / Kettle bell / viper (?) masterclasses in the Autumn so I will try and get along to some of them.

[longdays]

Hi all, I haven't been on here for ages. Anyway I have been carrying on with my lifting and have seen some big improvements for me. I managed to deadlift 90kg today for 3 reps. My back squat is up to 65kg, front squat 55kg, OH press 30kg but my bench is still down at 30kg all for 5 reps. I really am loving it now but it is leaving my legs trashed for my running, I guess I need to decide which I need to focus on more. Hope everyone else is well.

[Needabitofsunshine]

Hi Longdays! Nice numbers, sound pretty similar to mine last time I checked. I know what you mean about trashed legs, rest & recover is soooo much more important when lifting heavy. I´ve been doing lighter and longer circuit training recently for my boot camp, so haven´t really been hitting the strength training - I miss it. Also been running more (on holidays) and I´ve been enjoying (!) that too (mostly...). Anyone else?

[AlanMoore]

I found this linked from another thread, hope nobody minds me resuscitating it!

I'm planning to wean my baby off the breast in a few weeks and then make a serious effort to get fit. I need to lose 30lb just to get into healthy bmi range and my cheapo asda scales reckon my body fat to be 42% :(

What would you recommend as a start? Going to aim for 5k run 3x week, with hopefully a session of kickboxing and gym twice to do wt, how does eggs & an orange, oatcakes & banana, tuna salad and chicken & veg sound for a days food? TIA

[longdays]

Hi Alanmoore, good to see this thread resurrected. Tbh that amount of food is a LOT less than I eat in a day. I am still BFing my daughter but I weight train x4 a week and only minimal cardio. I used to be an endurance runner and I look a lot better now. I am going for a new PB in my deadlift this week (100kg 1rm) and if I get it I will probably explode with excitement. How old is your baby?

[BsshBossh]

Hello. I'm new to strength training and I have a question. I still have weight to lose and would like some inspiration please: can you lose weight by doing majority weight training and have you? On paper it makes perfect sense (muscle burns more calories so you continue burning more even at rest compared to cardio) but would like to hear from anyone if they lost primarily through weights.

Also, I'm already losing weight (30lbs so far) on high-ish calories (1800 at 15% of my TDEE). Have you increased your food intake as you've progressed through your strength training programmes?

[Sleepwhenidie]

Hi Bssh, IMO it would be very difficult to lose weight doing strength training alone. In general, the usual advice is that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to lose weight and build muscle at the same time. This is because muscles need calories (protein) to grow whereas to lose weight you obviously need a calorie defecit. As I understand, the exception to this, where both can happen, is when you are just beginning a programme and have excess weight to lose, perhaps the first 6 months?

FWIW I think the best approach is to take the focus off weight loss and instead take lots of measurements of your body, even photos of yourself in underwear/gym kit. Find out your body fat % (a PT with callipers if poss). Monitor your measurements every 2-4 weeks.

Adjust your diet so it has a high ratio of lean protein (to aid muscle growth) and lower carb and fat. Try keeping same calories, you certainly shouldn't need more.

To build muscle do the regular weight training but make sure you keep up the cardio to burn fat - interval training is the best for this. You may lose weight, but as you build muscle you may not....what should reduce is your measurements and your body fat % and you will look smaller, burn more calories at rest - and feel amazing!

[brighthair]

Ow ow ow! Do not have 5 weeks off and then do a circuit

I'm trying to remember what we did now. Sprints, burpees, press up with feet in trx thing, kettle bell swings, shoulder press, medicine ball slam, lunges with weights, and pull ups
My abs are screaming and my thighs aren't much better!

Shoulder press was a 10kg bar I think, kettle bell 12kg, and lunges 6kg in each hand. 3 circuits, 50 sec on, 10 sec off

[BsshBossh]

Thanks for the advice, Sleep.

Since I haven't picked up weights in years, I started yesterday with 3kg dumbbells and did 2x10 reps of:

Bicep curls
Shoulder press
Overhead triceps extension
Dumbbell chest press
Calf raise with dumbbells
Lunge with punching
Bent-over fly
Dumbbell side bend

I plan on doing this routine twice a week to begin with as I do (and enjoy) cardio three times a week (for fat loss).

I'll increase weight and reduce reps in a week or too and build up strength that way.

[Needabitofsunshine]

Longdays, not sure if you´re still around...did you get your 100kg 1RM on your deadlift? Awesome if you did :)

Poor you Brighthair, DOMS suck.

Bssh, if you´re new to weight training, you should be able to add a ton of strength whilst still losing weight, but this will taper off. More importantly, you´ll notice lovely changes in your body shape and composition. Plus increased strength will help you do more running/cardio/circuits etc. Long term, I don´t believe you can lose weight consistently when only weight training. I´m a great fan of circuit & interval training and running too :) Have fun and enjoy experimenting!

[Sleepwhenidie]

hi Bssh how are you getting on?

I am aching too today, one my new year's fitness resolutions was to do at least one unassisted pull up so I practised yesterday on the assisted pull up machine at the gym, then at kickboxing this morning the sensei really went to town on the push ups.. my poor chest, shoulders and lats don't know what's hit them. Maybe a rest tomorrow.

[BsshBossh]

Had a good week:
Monday 45 mins cardio
Tuesday 20 mins weights
Wednesday 45 mins cardio
Thursday 20 mins weights
Tomorrow 45 mins cardio
Weekend Rest
Plan to follow this every week and keep calories at 1800.

The weights felt slightly more manageable today so will start increasing weight (kgs) next week.

[BsshBossh]

Forgot to say, Wednesday's cardio session (the day after my first strength session) was terrific - I felt stronger and ploughed through the session. I can see how strength training will benefit my cardio.

[bacon]

Kettlebells class' are fantastic great for strength and core. My teacher is great he goes around the class checking positioning and depth of swings etc (sadly lacking in many classes).