I'm the only girl I know who lifts weights

[BitsinTatters]

I go to the gym regularly..primarily it was so I could run on the dreadmill in the safe warm gym while watching trash in tv

However weights caught my eye and I have been using them for about 3 months.

I can dead lift over my body weight now (72kg)

Any way... problem is I flit around because I don't really know what routine I should be doing and i'm shamefully to intimidated to ask the meat heads gym guys

So, I row or run when I get there to warm up..then what should I do?

What weights does he have? Dumbells, barbells, a bench? How heavy are they? Could your DH spot you? (I might be able to help although I'm pretty clueless too!)

Thanks MrsGSR, you'll not be half as clueless as me!

We think the weights are a 50kg dumbbell/barbell set. No bench, though if necessary I could get one. DH doesn't seem too enthusiastic about spotting me, but I'm sure I could persuade him somehow!

I do some olympic lifting at the gym with a trainer, and it's really technical getting the technique right. I don't think I could do it on my own with all the 'snatch' and 'clean and jerking' stuff. I'm always flopping into bad form by the end. I don't notice anyone else doing it but then again, it's not conventionally attractive to look like a sweaty grunting tomato.

I don't think the squatting baboon stance helps either

Crazy personally I'd start by buying the books listed above (especially new rules) and a bench.

YouTube has loads of videos uploaded by PTs showing the correct form for lifts and common mistakes. If your husband can't check you're doing them right you can film yourself and compare, using lighter weights until you get the hang of it to avoid injury (although you'll still need him or someone else to spot you).

Forums like myfitnesspal.com and bodybuilding.com can be good places to lurk to get an idea of the routines other people use, although I've never been brave enough to post anything!

Kaizen - I agree - it wouldn't be a good idea for anyone to try and learn the olympic lifts by themselves. Especially if they don't already have a good grounding in training..

Crazy - Stumptous has some routines that can be done with minimal equipment: All dumbbells! All the time!

I agree that buying new rules would be a good idea.

For anyone wanting to strength train with no equipment, I know a couple of people who recommend: You are your own gym

Thanks everyone, I'm going to have a look at the websites that have been recommended and gather some info from them, will check out the books on amazon too. Will be back with questions once I've formulated a plan. Thanks!

I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to say thank you for the suggestion of New Rules of Lifting for Women. Been lurking on here, bought my book and my whey powder and started the programme today. I am wobbly of limb but absolutely buzzing. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Thanks again.

Just wanted to post.
Bought the books, read the 'science', did body weight training for six weeks (lost 9lb).
Was brave today and had my first session with a PT doing free weights.
Didn't lift heavy (20kg on everything) as I wanted to get my form right.
Buzzing. For the first time in ten years, I want to go back to do more!
Swim day tomorrow, then back to the gym!
Thank you for this thread - it helped me break my fear of the weights section in the gym!

I used to love doing weights. I tended not to do things that bulked me up too much though, I didn't want to end up looking like Popeye. My biceps are still quite meaty though I think it's really important to have guidance. I was very careful but would still do things wrong sometimes. I did a lot of classes with weights, such as body pump. That way I could still lift heavier weights but I would benefit from having an instructor. They were also good to go to because they were fun.

I don't do weights now because my back can't take it. I think I should have done more stomach exercises to strengthen my whole core but they weren't my favourite so I used to gloss over them.

I'm still very strong though, I think doing weights has given me a residual
strength which is great for other sports like racket sports (I can whack that ball )and biking .

Rachael,

I'm VERY lazy but still loving the weights. Loved handing my weights over to a big hairy tattooed dude the other day . Off all last week as travelling and general work stuff but back to it tomorrow and really looking forward to it!