Weight-lifting Advice

laurens47

Just saw an open discussion on a different forum/different site about how to go about weight-lifting after taking an 8 month break of no weight-lifting. The person states: "I lifted 4 days a week. Heavy to light, cycling out over a course of time. I have lifted weights for 3 years. I have never taken this long of a break. What are your thoughts on how to start back? Should I start back with light/moderate weight or can I go straight into heavy lifting again and/or use StrongLifts 5x5? I know I can't start back where I left off, but I just want to know what would benefit me the best?"

I am just curious as to what others would suggest. I am seeing mixed thoughts on this forum. I asked if they took a break due to injury. The answer was "no". OP is a female. Weight: 150. Height:5'5. Desires to lose weight.

jemhh

I would pick a program and follow it.

I think that light/moderate vs heavy ends up being a matter of not seeing the forest for the trees issue. Pick a program and follow it. Any good program is going to help you figure out your starting weight, whether it is a standard across the board (e.g., SL) or based on a 10RM (AllPro's) or 90% of a definitely doable 1RM (5/3/1) or something else.

Just get to the weight room and lift, in other words.

laurens47

jemhh wrote: »

I would pick a program and follow it.

I think that light/moderate vs heavy ends up being a matter of not seeing the forest for the trees issue. Pick a program and follow it. Any good program is going to help you figure out your starting weight, whether it is a standard across the board (e.g., SL) or based on a 10RM (AllPro's) or 90% of a definitely doable 1RM (5/3/1) or something else.

Just get to the weight room and lift, in other words.

Similar to what I suggested. And, I literally just told her to go in the weight room and pick *kitten* up and then put it down, repetitively.

lorrpb

It's usually not a good idea to give advice for another poster on another forum! Most forums have a rule about not discussing what happens on other boards.

laurens47

lorrpb wrote: »

It's usually not a good idea to give advice for another poster on another forum! Most forums have a rule about not discussing what happens on other boards.

Cool.

Completely different site and forum. I am not giving advice from MFP. I was asking a question out of curiosity from fellow lifters here. However, I appreciate your feedback unrelated to the question.

cqbkaju

Most of the responses are spot on.

Pick a program and do it.
When in doubt, start light at the beginning and work on form.
A person will quickly get back to old working weights anyway, even starting with an empty bar.
SL5x5 has ways of starting heavier but it is based on recent 5RM lifts, for example.

If they are in that big of a hurry then I wonder if they have the dedication it takes for the long-term.

We cannot determine what is the best routines for ourselves, not to mention anyone else.

I wouldn't put myself in the position of forwarding advice to someone in other forums though.
Send them to stronglifts.com and make them do the work and research.
Make them learn to think for themselves.
I am happy to help and coach people but not if they are too lazy to understand the program they are in.
Research papers and the like are even required in the self defense courses I teach.

"Build a man a fire and you keep him warm for the night.
Light a man on fire and you keep him warm for the rest of his life." - Me

laurens47

cqbkaju wrote: »

Most of the responses are spot on.

Pick a program and do it.
When in doubt, start light at the beginning and work on form.
A person will quickly get back to old working weights anyway, even starting with an empty bar.
SL5x5 has ways of starting heavier but it is based on recent 5RM lifts, for example.

If they are in that big of a hurry then I wonder if they have the dedication it takes for the long-term.

I wouldn't put myself in the position of forwarding advice to someone though.
Send them to stronglifts.com and make them do the work and research.
Make them learn to think for themselves.
I am happy to help and coach people but not if they are too lazy to understand the program they are in.
Research papers and the like are even required in the self defense courses I teach.

"Build a man a fire and you keep him warm for the night.
Light a man on fire and you keep him warm for the rest of his life." - Me

I agree! I just posted to her page a bunch of links. One can only help so much!

And thanks for your feedback...and your quote. Made me

lorrpb

laurens47 wrote: »

lorrpb wrote: »

It's usually not a good idea to give advice for another poster on another forum! Most forums have a rule about not discussing what happens on other boards.

Cool.

Completely different site and forum. I am not giving advice from MFP. I was asking a question out of curiosity from fellow lifters here. However, I appreciate your feedback unrelated to the question.

It sounded to me that you were asking for advice for another poster on another board, so my feedback was totally related.

laurens47

lorrpb wrote: »

laurens47 wrote: »

lorrpb wrote: »

It's usually not a good idea to give advice for another poster on another forum! Most forums have a rule about not discussing what happens on other boards.

Cool.

Completely different site and forum. I am not giving advice from MFP. I was asking a question out of curiosity from fellow lifters here. However, I appreciate your feedback unrelated to the question.

It sounded to me that you were asking for advice for another poster on another board, so my feedback was totally related.

No. Not really.