I want to start lifting..I think. I don't even know where to start

girl_inflames

So...title says it all. I have no idea where to even start. I've never even exercised with barbells. I've never been on an exercise machine in my life other than messing around with my dad's boflex as a small child. I mostly focus on cardio.

I need...lots of advice. I want to work on my arms, legs, core, and butt. I don't want to get bulky but I definitely want to tighten up and hopefully fill in with muscle where I have some of my loose skin.

any advice is appreciated!! Thank you

cathipa

You won't get bulky. Check out fitnessblender or bodybuilding.com. Jamie Eason live fit trainer is a great beginner program. The trick to getting the body you want is work. You have to work at it and not give up after a few weeks because you haven't magically transformed. It can and will happen but you need patience.

socalrunner59

Bret Contreras & Kelli Davis Strong Curves. It's specific to women and targets the areas you specify.

A lot of new lifters like stronglifts 5x5. But it's only 5 exercises, all compound so no isolation of muscles. While it's good to start for strength, you won't create defined muscle for aesthetics. So if you want to create definition in your body, look for a program with a combination of compound & isolation exercises.

The other thing to keep in mind with an all compound program is if you get injured, you'll have to stop lifting until the injury heals since compound exercises work more than one muscle. Example is if you have a combination program, you can still perform upper body isolation exercises if you have a hamstring injury.

Powerlifters use a lot more compound exercises because their goal is strength. As a general rule, powerlifters are heavy and very blocky. You won't see many female powerlifters with feminine figures.

Bodybuilders use more isolation exercised because their goal is a more defined body. The bikini and fitness categories are very feminine in figure. Of course there is a category of female bodybuilders that have huge muscle mass.

sunnybeaches105

socalrunner59 wrote: »

Bret Contreras & Kelli Davis Strong Curves. It's specific to women and targets the areas you specify.

A lot of new lifters like stronglifts 5x5. But it's only 5 exercises, all compound so no isolation of muscles. While it's good to start for strength, you won't create defined muscle for aesthetics. So if you want to create definition in your body, look for a program with a combination of compound & isolation exercises.

The other thing to keep in mind with an all compound program is if you get injured, you'll have to stop lifting until the injury heals since compound exercises work more than one muscle. Example is if you have a combination program, you can still perform upper body isolation exercises if you have a hamstring injury.

Powerlifters use a lot more compound exercises because their goal is strength. As a general rule, powerlifters are heavy and very blocky. You won't see many female powerlifters with feminine figures.

Bodybuilders use more isolation exercised because their goal is a more defined body. The bikini and fitness categories are very feminine in figure. Of course there is a category of female bodybuilders that have huge muscle mass.

If one ignores weight classes and drug usage, perhaps, depending on aesthetic preference. In any event, this is going to be an interesting read in a while.

OP - get on a basic 5x5 beginners program. It wil take quite a long time before you get the point of needing to decide to cut back before you look like a powerlifter and/or bodybuilder. Once you like the mass you have all you have to do is maintain and stop progressive overload. As for isolation movements, other than glutes (and Strong Curves is a good one to check out for this), you likely won't need much unless you want large biceps or to work other specific muscles. For now, just follow a program.

arditarose

socalrunner59 wrote: »

Powerlifters use a lot more compound exercises because their goal is strength. As a general rule, powerlifters are heavy and very blocky. You won't see many female powerlifters with feminine figures.

I might not be "power lifter" but I power lift, and I'm going to compete. Are you saying I look blocky? Please.

arditarose

OP. If you want to learn how to lift using the barbell you need to learn the form on the squat, deadlift, overhead press, bench press, and row. I suggest hiring a trainer, meeting with him or her for a month or two to get it down, then running a structured program.

Derek_McC

cathipa wrote: »

You won't get bulky. Check out fitnessblender or bodybuilding.com. Jamie Eason live fit trainer is a great beginner program. The trick to getting the body you want is work. You have to work at it and not give up after a few weeks because you haven't magically transformed. It can and will happen but you need patience.

This is good advice. There is a lot of information there and there are many plans for various goals. I am just starting with an app from bodybuilding.com.

shor0814

arditarose wrote: »

socalrunner59 wrote: »

Powerlifters use a lot more compound exercises because their goal is strength. As a general rule, powerlifters are heavy and very blocky. You won't see many female powerlifters with feminine figures.

I might not be "power lifter" but I power lift, and I'm going to compete. Are you saying I look blocky? Please.

<sarcasm>You look just like spongebob </sarcasm> Have to love stereotypes like this.