Anybody for a strength training thread?

[florenceandthemac]

I keep checking the exercise board and there's loads of active running/C25K threads at the minute but, although I still run just for cardio, I love chatting about strength training but probably bore people around me in real life who aren't interested
The threads on the Lifting board are too intense for me, I'm trying to lift heavier but can't relate to those threads as due to back problems (which I'm working on) I am holding back on trying to go too heavy right now.

I do a mix of heavy(ish) full body strength training sessions, once or twice a week, and a couple of hypertrophy sessions (mainly Caroline Girvan).
My current aim is to drop some body fat and gain visible muscle, whilst also getting strong for the obvious benefits that come with we get older.

I've mainly ran for a couple of years, I was running 5/6 days a week until the beginning of last year, but now I try to just do a couple of short runs each week to keep my cardio fitness but much prefer the results from strength training.

Keen to hear other people's fitness routines

I do two full body strength training sessions a week at the gym, both planned by my PT. I do one session with my PT and the other by myself. I love it because she introduces me to weird exercises I'd never normally consider (smith machine donkey kicks for example).

I mix between high reps and lower weights and then higher weights with lower reps. Current goal is unassisted tricep dips.

I do 2 sessions a week of strength, it’s a sessions only gym so bit like group PT sessions, the other days are circuits, boxing and HIIT. I’ve learnt how to dead lift & Olympic lifts. This 8 week program is focused on core. We do use the sled a lit and it gets weights added each round.

im not sure I could achieve the same solo

i found very good article you can take look https://www.healthportus.com/2023/05/strength-training-101-how-to-get.html

There is a long running thread for people who follow Caroline Girvan on thus board. Although it has been quiet for a while, there is usually helpful advice offered when new posters join.

Ooh, so pleased there is a thread, thanks OP! Like you I was a runner, nothing exciting but ran with a club up to about half marathon distance.

I got bored of it a few years ago and struggled to get my mojo back with it, I didn't feel like it was particularly good for my body although my CV health was obviously great.

I got back into going to the gym about 2 years ago and last winter started with a PT and it has been amazing! I only planned to do 10 sessions but have just finished my 20th and will book 10 more.

It has completely changed my body - I am apple shaped and have always struggled to lose weight around my middle but I've lost 2 inches from there, my butt is considerably higher and more rounded.

We do a lot of compound movements in PT but all involving weights, progressively heavier a I get stronger. I am amazed at what I can do now compared to the start. Also do some heavy lifting.

I will google Caroline Girvan as that sounds interesting, thanks.

I'll be googling that move now! @lightinthebox

Good luck on the dips! My goal is proper press ups for the whatever the duration Caroline Girvan is doing in whichever workout I'm doing. There's now way I could do full proper ones, fully down, for even 40 seconds. I'll get there.

@Whichnumbers it definitely helps with support like that. I do two strength classes a week at my gym. There's only several people in the class so we get the PTs attention. Some stations (or sled push) won't need the help of a PT though, which means they can focus on those doing deadlifts etc.

Thanks for that @umourista, I'll take a look later 👍🏼

I do read the CG thread @PaminaMozart and find it interesting. I just haven't found much to add to it 😅

Live stories like yours @diggitdiggit
I ran a HM too, hurt my ankle, got back into running within a couple of weeks and did carry on, but realised the pressure puts on your body.
I started doing a bit of weights, nothing too much, but noticed on my holiday pics I actually liked the shape of my body more than when I was just running, so started doing more!
Caroline Girvan is great for at home workouts, or office workouts in my case! We have a full range of dumbbells at work so I do her workouts on the days I'm there
I like the fact she shows good form, I like the format of her videos, the fact she lists all the movements in the comments, and that she doesn't speak during the workout after her initial introduction!

I‘m a big fan of Caroline Girvan too, but now I’ve done the Iron Series I feel I’ve learned a good range of weights exercises, and now create my own dumbbell workouts in front of whatever I’m currently watching on Netflix which has made my workouts more pleasurable!

I still run a bit too, but never the day after a proper weights workout as it fatigues my leg muscles too much. I don’t really get DOMS anymore it’s only when I start to run that I realise my legs are not at full capacity!

The threads on the Lifting board are too intense for me, I'm trying to lift heavier but can't relate to those threads as due to back problems (which I'm working on) I am holding back on trying to go too heavy right now.

Can you ask for this thread to be moved to The Weights Room, because it was set up specifically for threads like this.

Yes, there's a thread where we're talking about lifting heavy. But The Weights Room was set up for a specific purpose (much like the Yoga section), and we'll lose it if it isn't used.

The Weights Room is for all discussions of strength & weights training! As you say in your OP, strength training is a specialised area of Exercise.