New new new new newwwwww... Where to start?

sandralina

What did you do when you started out lifting?

I've never lifted in my life. Except with those little blue thingies from Walmart that you hold in each hand, which I've conveniently lost over the past 2 years. However... I am interested/curious in starting.

Unfortunately, a gym membership is out of the question for now, and we have NOTHING at home. What would your suggestions be in this situation?

Oishii

I'm in a similar position. The solutions I'm mulling over are:

1) do a bodyweight program while I sort my head out (Convict Conditioning appeals because it seems logical and progressive, as well as simple)

2) Convert the shed (which needs replacing anyway) into a home gym so I can do Stronglifts - downside: if I don't like it I'll have spent shed loads (:laugh:) for nothing.

3) If DS2 has an appropriate temperament, try the nearest gym with a crèche, a short bus ride away, while still on maternity leave and start Stronglifts. If I really like it, then I can try 2) when I go back to work a year later.

For me the main restriction is time. The gym crèche is mornings only, so wasn't an option when I was working, and I work part time to be with my son(s), not to go to the gym.

Sorry I can't be of more generic help, but I thought it might help to see someone else's thought processes.

sandralina

Yeah, I'm struggling to figure out what to do. At some point I'm sure we will be able to afford a gym membership -- just not right now. But right NOWWWWWW is when I want to do it! *whine!* *temper tantrum!* haha.

I'm looking into Chalean Extreme right now; I've had friends who liked it and I could just get by with a few dumbbells it seems... which is doable. I REALLY want to work on strength training, though. I'm converted after reading about it here on MFP and seeing that it's what gets me the results I want...

bumblebums

Well, if you really want to start lifting, you are going to need access to the equipment. So you either buy your own or get a gym membership. Why did you say it was out of the question--is it a matter of money or access (no gyms nearby, no car, etc.)? You can buy some stuff online, and there are very likely some guys on Craigslist trying to get rid of their weight sets near where you live.

The reason there is no substitute for free weights (and specifically, barbells) is that barbell training is infinitely scalable--I am stealing Mark Rippetoe's phrase here. An unconditioned person will struggle with a push-up and other body weight exercises. But anyone can bench press *something*, even if you cannot push up your bodyweight off the floor. As regards the squat and the deadlift, the reason you eventually need barbells is that your leg and core strength will outstrip your grip strength. If all you have is dumbbells, your limit will be whatever each hand can hold. With a barbell, you can increase the weight progressively in various increments, and there is no limit to how much you can put on the bar.

If all you are after is some strength training, though, you could certainly get by with some bodyweight exercises like push-ups and pull-ups. Push-ups are easier to scale if you cannot do a single one; you can do them at an incline, for example. But eventually, you will be able to do 30 of them, and then where do you go next? All you can add there is endurance, which is not the same as training your fast twitch muscle. As for pull-ups, women usually struggle with those quite a bit; I am further ahead than a lot of women with my current max of 5 per set, but it took me a loong time and a lot of work to get there. And pull-ups also require some equipment.

sandralina

It is currently out of the question due to money and access both -- hopefully in the next few months things will change... but for these next few months I just can't do much of anything that requires equipment. But, I want to keep motivated and start with *something* so that once I do have the opportunity, I don't squander it or push it off or -- you know -- completely have no motivation at all by then. Lol. It's so easy to be like "Oh.. well, maybe next month", you know?

zanyzana

Try this. It's using body weight to build strength. You don't have to pay anything for this equipment!

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

There are other body weight programs around. just google for them, choose one and stick at it for a couple of months until your finances are in a healthier position... Good luck!

DaniH826

I basically sacrificed another purchase I had set aside money for and bought some used barbell equipment instead and converted my garage into a gym. It's all about what's important to you and how serious you are. But I understand the money crunch, and if there's no room in the budget, then there's no room in the budget.

Having said that, you can make incredible strength gains with a body weight program. Not only is it free, but it's also portable and you can do it anyplace, any time. Just remember to pick a program that starts off easy and is progressively challenging, and you will be good to go.

There's really nothing stopping you from starting right now if you're willing to start with body weight and do that for a bit while you check into other options. I'm not sure how conditioned or deconditioned you are, but the point is that you start someplace that's feasible and doable for you and progress from there. Oftentimes starting is the hardest thing to figure out, and the rest usually resolves itself and progresses from there.

kirabob

I vote for bodyweight stuff, too - and the nerdfitness link is great. You can use bodyweight stuff to maintain your muscle mass - and when you find cash/time for a gym or home setup, you will have a great foundation to start from.

sandralina

Thank you!!!! I will definitely look into the link. We are struggling for basic necessities like... oh... rent. car. gas. Haha so a gym membership is not even close to a priority in the budget, sadly. Like I said, hoping to only struggle through the next couple months and then move on, and meanwhile I want to do *something*! I'm like a marshmallow, so I'm sure I'll see a lot with just bodyweight exercises. I knew you guys would have an answer for me. Haha

jstout365

I also agree with body weight work. Yes, you will get to a point where all you gain is endurance, but there are ways to increase the difficulty. A gallon of water is 8 lbs. If you have an empty milk gallon, fill it up with water, tape off the top (so it doesn't open up) and that can be used for added resistance. Also think about things you have around the house that are heavy and can be lifted. Pile books in a laundry basket, move the couch around, lug a vacuum around. There are a lot of things we do not even realizing that it can be a workout.

emirror

Hello there! You have a really cute little one, there! *squishy cheeks*

When I started out doing pushups, I couldn't even do one... on my knees. It was deflating for about 5 seconds, but then I just did what I could. So what, it was one, who cares that it was one... er, almost one?

Later on that day, I did another almost-one. That night, I did another almost-one.

Repeat for day 2.

Repeat for day 3.

Day 4, I did a whole one! Sure, it was on my knees, but so what? I kept on going, increasing reps, increasing press distance (how close I got to the floor).

So when you start out bodyweight training, take the advice already given to start wherever you are, and just keep progressing.

I've only been lifting heavy for 2 weeks, and I love it. I'm gaining strength and muscle much faster, and loosing fat noticeably.

Oh! Check out craigslist for a free set of weights, too. People give away perfectly good free stuff on there all the time.

sandralina

Yeah... He's big now I miss him being that tiny. I have very few pictures of me + baby though (I'm usually the one BEHIND the camera!) ... Sad. Maybe I'll do one today. Anyway. Ahem. Haha. I could talk about my baby all day even though he's 18 months now!

Am I supposed to be doing this every *other* day, or every day? I am so confused. I swear, I'm not stupid. I'm just packing everyone's great advice and information into my incredibly thick skull at a rate too fast for my poor brain to keep up. 90% of it has been eaten by trying to teach my kid to say "Mama" instead of calling me and everything else that moves/breathes/stands around as an inanimate object "Dada" haha!

emirror

Most weight training is every other day, or 3 times a week. When I started at the gym, I avoided working my arms because they've never been very strong. That reason sounds weird, but it was embarrassing to feel so weak... which is also illogical, but whatever.

So, I worked everything from ribs down, and rotated my workouts (legs one day, abs the next) on a Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri schedule. At that time, I also started learning how to jog. I've never been able to jog or run, so I wanted to accomplish that. To make a long story short, I wasn't progressing on my own, then my friend helped me, and then I started making progress in running. That confidence boost made me want to accomplish other things I've never been able to do, like a pushup.

So when I started pushups, I did them at home. Because I was going to failure at such a low rep (as in, one), I figured that wasn't a lot of stress on the muscle. So, I kept doing them throughout the day. I did the same thing to get a handle on keeping my balance with squats and lunges. I practiced them randomly throughout the day. Now that I'm lifting heavy (well, heavy for me), I go 3 times a week, rotating 2 exercise lists. I'm doing too much weight now, so I need the recovery days.

That may not be the "right" answer, but that worked for me.

My youngest is 19 months! I was just going through some videos of when she was little-bitty. They are so cute! We're working on saying words, too. She made up her whole language, and has been insistent that we learn what she is saying other her learning our words. Haha! ...... She may have succeeded in teaching me a few words. O.o