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.

I followed a full-body 3x a week routine for several months. I was running/cardio on the alternate days. I got tired of running and I'm now doing an upper/lower split, 6 days a week. I'm also adding a bit of arms (primarily biceps) to leg days.

I know I should be looking after my cardiovascular health but it's so booooring!

I got back to squats and RDLs this week after bit of a gap (done lots of core, back, bodyweight and some boring running in the interim!) and for the first time got 3 RDLs on 90kg (weight abt 69 and am 51). Very pleased, tho squat form needs some work after the break.

That's impressive!

Thanks! I was very pleased,

Is this a good class? I've been going to a women's weightlifting class for a few months now. The usual format is a longish warm up after which the time is divided 50/50 between the actual weight lifting (I'll come back to that) and exercises that involve weights, so step ups with hand weights, running around with rucksack full of sand, sit ups and flipping a tractor tyre. For the weight lifting itself we do deadlifts, bench presses, and squats ( one with weight across shoulder and one with weight across chest). I can now deadlift 60kg but we only go to 40 on the others.

I joined this class to improve my stamina and upper body strength, and also for confidence. I think it has delivered on that, but I'm finding the classes less interesting now as the formula is always the same and there is not a lot of encouragement to develop as individuals. I don't really mind that the gym itself is very grotty and not very clean but that is not motivating. Is there a better way I could get the benefit of the weights or is this really quite a good form of exercise in itself?

Stays safe when i get bored I move on, I think life's to short to not enjoy exercise classes. It's my free time so want to spend it doing things I enjoy and look forward to.

Maybe try a new training program plenty of free ones on bodybuilding.com, powerlifting, cross fit, different class whatever takes your fancy.

Staysafe - I like the sound of the format in your class (tho not sure how heavy squats etc work in a class) but if it never changes and you don't get pushed/encouraged individually to try new things, go a bit heavier, faster, learn new stuff, then I would say it isn't a great class whatever the format. Think classes are really good for building confidence and meeting like-minded tyre-flipping people .

I got my first pull up this week! That's about six months from first chin-up.

Update post, I had my first PT session on 20/07 and now I can squat 80kg and deadlift 90 (but my grip is letting me down so I'm trying to improve that!)

I can overhead press 27.5kg too,

Caveat, I'm super heavy so it's not at bodyweight yet but not too far off! I also can't yet do a press up (in position 3 above the floor on the Smith machine, started at position 5) but I think that's cos I'm still heavy so it will get easier as I get lighter ha!

I can't believe I didn't do this years ago - I actually love going to the gym now!! And beneath my bingo wings I'm starting to see some improvement :)

That's brilliant! Do you find deadlifts and squats make you really hungry?

@MsMartini yes
I've changed my routine so I'm eating later otherwise I was eating, going to the gym and then eating again oops! Haha

I wake up at five absolutely ravenous after legs day (RDLs and squats). Think about omelettes, black pudding, steak all day.....