Heavy Lifting with Ostopenia advice please

Tanya1995

Good morning everyone!

I just returned from my doctors appointment and my doctor is very concerned with the fact that I am 36 and already have osteopenia. He suggests that I start lifting weight and work my way up to heavy lifting. :huh: I eventually wanted to get into this when I am feeling a little more confident with my fitness level. I am 5'2" and My current weight is 172 and I want to lose at least 50lbs but i wanted to be closer to my goal before starting weights. He really wants me to start weights like yesterday :indifferent: . I know absolutely nothing about lifting. I have read it helps burn the fat better and also helps the bones but other then that I am at a loss.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Anyone else start when they were far from their goal weight? How do I start? Any advice is greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!!

bidwell69

I have been in a similar situation and what worked for me
was working on muscle endurance/ stamina first off
I had access to a gym and used each machine 3 times a
week doing low weight high rep sets and cardio also.
I lost around 50 lbs in 6 months and then started strength
training and gained 30 lbs of muscle in 2 years my
skeletal problems became better and that was 20 years
ago. I have in the last ten years put weight on but my
skeletal problems are still ok as the muscle is still
strong.

Tanya1995

Thanks for your reply!!

That is my concern, the stamina and strength

Any other insight as to where I should start?

Thanks!

bidwell69

If you use a gym ask a trainer to set up a program for you.

If you dont there are some good body weight exercises at this site

http://fitbie.msn.com/slideshow/27-no-equipment-exercises-you-can-do-home

Feel free to ask for any help/advice.

here2bme

I was diagnosed with osteopenia a few years ago. I was advised to start walking daily to jar my bones. I have since started jogging some and lifting light weights (3 to 10 lb). I feel stronger, but have not been retested. I really should go get retested I think. My bones pop a lot when doing certain moves.

phatguerilla

Are you already taking high dose vitamin D3? I hope so but not that many doctors suggest it, or not a high enough dose. This and lifting will help build bone density. You don't have to start with a heavy weight just look to make progress throughout the months and years. If you start with 10lbs on an exercise and increase it by 2 pounds every 3-4 weeks this will quickly add up to a heavy weight within a few months.

rick_po

If you're a beginner

1. Do just a few compound lifts. Most programs use some subset of squats, deadlifts, bench press, overhead press, rows, lat pull-downs and maybe a couple others.

2. Start light and get your form down right.

3. Have a progression plan or schedule. Lift heavier and heavier. The eventual goal is to use weights heavy enough to be worn out on the 5th rep of the last set.

Beware of high-rep programs that don't continually progress to heavier weights. Those may be fine programs, but they are more cardio with weights than a focused strength program.

There are many good starting strength programs. Three very popular ones:

1. New Rules of Lifting for Women - a book with good background and a somewhat complex program, which they don't explain very well. But there's a group right here on myfitnesspal with excellent getting started stickies which clear everything up. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/119-new-rules-of-lifting-for-women-nrol4w-

2. Starting Strength - a book with a very simple program. Excellent detailed explanations of how to do the lifts.

3. Stronglifts 5x5 - a free website full of annoying male-centric hype you have to wade through, but the program is good for both sexes. Very similar to Starting Strength.

Since you're a newbie, the minutiae of the programs don't matter that much - you'll make lots of progress very quickly on any decent program. If it were me, I'd read NROL4W for the background and strategy information, then I'd read Starting Strength to learn how to do the lifts, and then I'd follow the Stronglifts program.

But you can't go wrong with any of these three. Look them all over and pick the one that looks like most fun, and dive in!

ninerbuff

Good morning everyone!

I just returned from my doctors appointment and my doctor is very concerned with the fact that I am 36 and already have osteopenia. He suggests that I start lifting weight and work my way up to heavy lifting. :huh: I eventually wanted to get into this when I am feeling a little more confident with my fitness level. I am 5'2" and My current weight is 172 and I want to lose at least 50lbs but i wanted to be closer to my goal before starting weights. He really wants me to start weights like yesterday :indifferent: . I know absolutely nothing about lifting. I have read it helps burn the fat better and also helps the bones but other then that I am at a loss.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Anyone else start when they were far from their goal weight? How do I start? Any advice is greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!!

You're doc is right. I would advise that you go to a professional just for a few sessions or so and learn some of the basic compound movements and how they are correctly performed.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

tigersword

If you want to get into heavy lifting, and have no idea, check out Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe.

Another good program is Stronglifts 5x5.