Weightlifting at home for a beginner.

[LycraLovingLass]

I am interested in taking up weightlifting but assumed I could only get started in a gym with a PT. Having priced up equipment its not as expensive as I had first assumed (although currently out of stock).

Is it dangerous to start weight lifting without knowing what you are doing without PR guidance. I literally don't have a clue what I am doing but surely with Google and YouTube I could figure it out?

Is anyone lifting at home and can recommend and good websites to read through?

I dont think you should do this.
Resistance training is one thing, but actusl weight training, you need impeccable form or you could easily damage your back. Not to mention the pressure and damage to womens pelvic floor

I actually don't think it would be a problem at first. However, as the weight increases, you do run the risk of injuring yourself through bad form.

I would start at home with lightweight dumbbells or kettlebells.

I did barbell work at a coached gym before lockdown, and finding I am getting on okay at home with dumbbells and kettlebells, and less likely to hurt myself. (This morning I was wondering if I'll go back to the gym. Working out home saves a lot of time)

It has taken me years of coaching to lift heavy barbells safely, and even then I am not sure it is worth the risk to my back and hamstrings. (I am hypermobile so my knees and lower back often let me down).

This was my initial thoughts. I will stick with my kettle bells and resistance bands until I can get started with a PT.

Thanks for being honest!

I think you can and should try weights. Gyms might not be opening for months. My tips would be:
Join James Smith academy, there's an app with videos, workouts and lots of spot-on advice.
Get Chloe Madeley's book, good for first time lifting.
Focus on bodyweight and resistance bands, or low weights (nothing more than 6kg I'd say) and watch lots of videos of people doing them. Watch how they do it very closely. Get a family member to watch it too and give you feed back on how you do it compared to them - good form will make sure you don't injure yourself. As long as you don't have heavy weights or do too much too soon, you are not likely to injure yourself. Learn which muscles an exercise is meant to be using and tune into whether your body is using that muscle. If not, you might be compensating with another bit of your body and do some damage. Listen to your body and if anything hurts, stop immediately. It's meant to feel like hard work, but not painful. And keep asking on this forum, there are loads of people who lift here.

Have you thought of a TRX/suspension trainer? They are very versatile and it's easy to vary the resistance (a lot just depends on the angle of your body).

Resistance bands are also very good. A colleague who's really into lifting weights has bought himself a set for lockdown and says he's still able to get a really good session.

Bands, low weights, and the easier bodyweight exercises, all fine but do focus on form. I wouldn't go near heavy weights or the more advanced calisthenics exercises without some instruction. You can't see what you are doing.

Websites like this can help www.nerdfitness.com/blog/strength-training-101/

If you've never done strength training I would start with some online classes using bands or light plates or bodyweight and practise that way - you get a balanced whole body workout

I've just bought a light ish bar to get started, so following with interest. There must be some good apps/classes online somewhere?