Weightlifting people, here! Ongoing chat thread...

[MaidOfStars]

We are a bit cut off in the designated forum so here's a shiny new thread to populate.

Hello to anyone that hasn't ventured over to The Weights Room but is lifting/resistance training.

[MsMartini]

No, it is a different one - Nuts Challenge - permanent course, 100-ish obstacles, many of which are mud-filled ditches! I struggled last year with upper body strength on some things so am hoping my chin up practice helps.

[Johnnycomelately1]

That sounds great- I am planning to do Spartan in HK this year but it's quite short (13k trail run with 28 obstacles as we just don't have space for long courses and definitely not for permanent ones). Also they cant get a permit for electrocution which I'm not too disappointed about

Im in UK for 5 weeks- doing what I can- bit of Pure Gym on a daily pass, couple of Crossfit classes and a bit of running. Just trying not to totally lose all my gains by August

[MsMartini]

No, I would bear that loss bravely too.

My one is only 7k, so mostly obstacles. But I have started running at the gym (find it very hard) anyway. The obstacles I found hardest/impossible were robe bridges and swings and pulling yourself up/through tunnels using ropes.

[Pippylou]

Not sure this is quite the right place but I'm not having much luck finding my people in RL.

Having a row with a fitness dude from down under, who has a 40+ men's fitness group.

He says there's loads of resources for women and training.

I'm arguing that it's a bit sparse for actual training advice, as opposed to aesthetics for 40+ women. (He started wittering about bikini programmes & the woman out of Biggest Loser Oz, defo not me!)

[NT53NJT]

@Pippylou training for men and women is exactly the same. Women produce less hgh so won't put on muscle like men but they can still get strong/lean/endurance .

[Pippylou]

Ta, I'm just pissed because he's being a tad sexist about this. I've followed his stuff for years but he's now really only talking to men and it's annoyed me.

I'm genetically predisposed to muscle up, so no issues there. I defo don't fit his ideas for inspiration. :-)

[itsallgravybaby]

Hey everyone, I'm just about to leave for my first PT session weightlifting - for weight loss/general strength and fitness. Wish me luck! :D

[NT53NJT]

@itsallgravybaby good luck. Let us know how you get on!

[Johnnycomelately1]

pippy eat train progress is quite a good Facebook group for both men and women. Some serious lifters on there but v welcoming and well moderated so doesnt turn into Fight Club

[Pippylou]

Thanks.

Will have a looksee.

[NT53NJT]

Right guys I am back on it from now. Went to the gym for the first time in over a week and I've managed to secure myself a football trial with a local side tomorrow so hopefully things stay on track

[JustGettingStarted]

There isn't much female-specific training advice, other than aesthetic (Strong Curves.)

There actually are a couple of differences. For example, women can handle more volume. We recover faster. A lot of the popular programs assume that you can only do one leg day a week, for example (or two, but emphasis on different muscles). Men can't squat and deadlift on the same day, but many women can. I do squats and Romanian deadlifts 3x a week.

[JustGettingStarted]

Business has taken me to Staffordshire a couple of times recently and I've been able to work out at Strength Asylum in Stoke. OMG that place is amazing! I was a little bit intimidated because Eddie Hall (World's Strongest Man) works out there and I thought maybe it was only for gigantic men, but they were so friendly! It was the best-equipped and tidiest gym I'd ever seen. They have six squat racks/deadlift platforms, a leg room bigger than most entire gyms, an arm room (literally just stuff for arms) the size of the weight section of many gyms, and the upper body room was absolutely massive. There's also a strongman room with atlas stones, etc for those guys.

I'm going again tomorrow morning and I'm really excited about it.

[Pippylou]

Really liking the Eat, Train, Progress group, very nice to see lots of people in there I recognise (virtually) from elsewhere.

I gave up on several PT FB groups as they can be quite nasty about some stuff.

Thanks!

[JustGettingStarted]

Thanks, Pippylou I've just joined.

It does look like a nice group.

I finally achieved 30kg on overhead press on Friday. I was feeling strong/25kg was feeling light so I thought I'd try and go up. 27.5kg had felt really heavy earlier in the week but I must have been feeling the energy drink or something. I did 3 sets of 5 reps and was elated.

A year ago I was struggling with 20kg!

[NT53NJT]

Well done

[NT53NJT]

So how's everyone getting on?

[RiceandBeans]

I said this elsewhere, but achieved an 80kg deadlift (more than my bodyweight) 2 weeks ago in my PT session. In this week's PT session I did the #FitBrit challenge (I belong to a commercial chain gym) in just under 21 mins (which is quite an OK time for my first go) and then 'recovered' with weighted back and then unweighted front squats.

For the first time, my PT gave in to my requests for a 'lying down' exercise & allowed me 2 minutes lying on the floor after doing the FitBrit thing.

FitBrit includes kettlebell swings which were great fun.

[Moominfan]

So been weightlifting for a few years now but never included barbell in my weight count. Spoke to someone about amounts and they said it's the norm to add 20kg on. Really productive day, now all my lifts have gone up :)

[MsMartini]

[NT53NJT]

Yeah you should always add the weight of the bar as well. 20kg is pretty much the norm as you said.

I'm starting to focus on cardiovascular fitness at the minute. Doing 3 all body sessions in the gym. A week and finishing it off with a gentle 7mpg run for 1 mile. I'm an amatuer footballer and the season is nearly upon us

[MsMartini]

I am keeping going with (short and slow) running too - enjoyed it a lot on holiday last week, which I hope will motivate me on the treadmill. I am doing lots of bodyweight stuff at the gym now - lots of variants on push ups, dips, core stuff. Really enjoying it but gosh it certainly is whole body - even my armpits ache!

[NT53NJT]

You might find it motivating to get out and about running rather than a treadmill. I personally do a bit of both, I like the insurance of if I get an injury or generally can't be arsed anymore I can just push stop and I can go home where as if I'm out running I can't do that but the views and fresh air are great

[MsMartini]

I know. I would like to but can't really fit it in, at least on gym days. But the thought of my lovely outdoors holiday running has motivated me on the treadmill.

[NT53NJT]

I'm having to revert to running at weekends now. My job is physical, always on my feet walking about 10 miles then I go to run.at night and my legs feel unbelievably heavy but cardiovascular wise I'm great.