Lifting weights?

laurenebargar
laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I would really like to get started strength training, but here is my issue. The gym I will be using is at my apartment complex, where no one ever is, so there is no one to show me. I dont have the extra money for a trainer right now and I have no idea what I am doing.

How do I get started? Is there any recommended youtube videos that will show me proper form and what to do?

Thank you in advance im completely new to this and its a little over whelming!

Replies

  • Barfly57
    Barfly57 Posts: 333 Member
    Try googling a beginners weight program like Stronglifts or Starting Strength first, to decide what you might want to do, then looking for those specific exercises on YouTube.
    What you can do will depend on how your gym is equipped, also. Are there machines or free weights?
  • Lean59man
    Lean59man Posts: 714 Member
    Check out this website:

    exrx.net/index.html
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    edited November 2017
    YouTube for demo of form. You can find an instructional video for virtually any lift you want to do.

    I'd also suggest Mark Rippetoe's book "Starting Strength", which gives a very good explanation of how/why to perform the lifts reqd in his program but, if there are no barbells and racks in your apt gym, his program wouldn't be something that you could do there. Same thing applies to Stronglifts.

  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    Barfly57 wrote: »
    Try googling a beginners weight program like Stronglifts or Starting Strength first, to decide what you might want to do, then looking for those specific exercises on YouTube.
    What you can do will depend on how your gym is equipped, also. Are there machines or free weights?

    Machines and free weights, its a small gym but semi well equipped
  • cs2thecox
    cs2thecox Posts: 533 Member
    This...
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

    Scroll to the bottom of the first post for form guides etc, labelled as "Spoiler"
  • pogiguy05
    pogiguy05 Posts: 1,583 Member
    If the machines have labels try youtubing or search engines and possibly find the manuals. Also you might post some pics of your gym machines and post them here.
  • Barfly57
    Barfly57 Posts: 333 Member
    Oh, great! Then I'd try one of the programs I suggested, or any similar. They're very highly structured so you'll know how to progress. Stronglifts has a good app, too (Well, they probs all do.)
  • brendanwhite84
    brendanwhite84 Posts: 219 Member
    Stronglifts has some pretty good form pointers available on its website. YouTube is also good.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    laurenebargar wrote: »
    Thank you in advance im completely new to this and its a little over whelming!

    youtube does have a ton of content, but bear in mind it's the internet. some of the sources i came to trust are: mark rippetoe, alan thrall, [early] elliot hulse - i hate the more current stuff where he goes all chopra on everyone's *kitten*, but really liked the early tutorial vids where he gets all caught on fire about teaching someone the right way to do something or other and all about why.

    recently i've been really liking the juggernaut training vids with quinn henoch and someone-someone-someone - that guy who looks like a giant gerbil, whose name i forget. i think i'd trust max aita's input on just about anything, though you never know.

    and just because i'm a worrywart, on the chance your gym has full barbells - don't do challenging benching alone unless you have the safety bars up.
  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    Thank you for all of the suggestions guys, I will be checking all of them out and see which one works best for me

    I will also take the advice above and snap a few photos of the gym when i get down there and upload them here
  • jessicapk
    jessicapk Posts: 574 Member
    Another vote for Stronglifts! There are only 5 basic lifts so it's easy to learn and keep up with. Also, he has great videos on his website showing proper form. There is also an app. He also recommends starting out with an empty bar to get the proper form down, which is essential and will really help out later.
  • pogiguy05
    pogiguy05 Posts: 1,583 Member
    jessica makes a great point of when you first use the machine dont put any weight on it until you adjust it to fit you and can see the range of motion needed. A few times I had gotten onto a machine at the gym expecting something else then I got and I had to lower the weight down.

  • ijsantos2005
    ijsantos2005 Posts: 306 Member
    edited November 2017
    Doubtful that an apartment gym will have the proper equipment to run a barbell program.

    You could convert them to dumbbell use with little effort or find a dumbbell routine.
  • Jocko808
    Jocko808 Posts: 58 Member
    Athlean-X. Go to Jeff Cavaliere’s YouTube channel, it’s called ATHLEAN-X. He breaks down everything. Puts the science into working out.

Categories