Potentially dumb question by a weights newbie...

lydiaannepage

I have been doing a 30 min cardio/strength workout dvd 5 days a week for the past three weeks. After not working out in a looooong time the first couple of weeks even no weights/resistance was making me want to die. (Yeah, sad... I know!) However I have now mastered it and started to encorporate light weights this week.

My question is - what weights should I start with? I tried 5lbs in each hand and could barely lift my arms all day yesterday. I did 3 in each hand this morning but I don't know if that is enough to make a difference? Also when using weights does it burn more calories or about the same?

It is a 10 week program to start with, and then I will start adding in other exercises (other than walking/hiking) - but I really want to do this right so it can be a progressive healthy lifestyle change and not just a "fad". Any advice much appreciated!

Thanks :happy:

89nunu

What's the workout?
Is it a DVD?

I usually say go as much as you can but still do the workout to the end. There is no one weight fits all.

Also you might want to think about heavy lifting

BusyRaeNOTBusty

You are doing cardio with weights in your hands. An effective way to burn calories and increase cardio fitness.... but isn't really "strength training".

GeminiFitness1

Their is never a dumb question about exercise. Great that you are exercising. Using 3lbs weight might be fine to start with. Once they become easier increase the weight to 5lbs. Keep up the great work!

LokiOfAsgard

A general rule with weight lifting is to go with weights that you can lift about 8-12 times, the last two or three being a little hard to lift, because you're arm is feeling the burn.
With cardio/weights mix, I would go with something lighter, that you can easily move. If the 5s are too much, it's perfectly okay to go with 3s.

And weights will help you burn more calories,because using your muscles helps to keep that muscle mass. More muscle mass=more calories needed to sustain them=more fat loss, because you're on a deficit!

MisterDerpington

You are doing cardio with weights in your hands. An effective way to burn calories and increase cardio fitness.... but isn't really "strength training".

F'real. Those DVDs need to stop calling it what it's not.

MinnieInMaine

You are doing cardio with weights in your hands. An effective way to burn calories and increase cardio fitness.... but isn't really "strength training".

Sorry but unless you know exactly what DVD she's doing, you really can't judge. I've done some crazy strength training DVDs (Bob Harper Super Srength for example) that leave me sore all over and drenched in sweat. It might not be traditional strength training, and you definitely won't increase mass, but you can increase relative strength and endurance.

OP, you could have both sets of weights handy. Start with the 5s and when your arms get to tired to keep good form, go to the 3s. Just keep pushing yourself to do more with the 5s until you're able to use them through the whole workout.

FrnkLft

New Rules of Lifting for Women... I'm a broken record lol

MisterDerpington

Sorry but unless you know exactly what DVD she's doing, you really can't judge. I've done some crazy strength training DVDs (Bob Harper Super Srength for example) that leave me sore all over and drenched in sweat. It might not be traditional strength training,

Being sore does not mean it's strength training. I got sore when I did distance running, did that make it strength training? You're doing a muscle endurance program. Which isn't bad, but it isn't not the same as strength training.

lydiaannepage

Thanks for the feedback everyone - every bit of advice helps!! I know it may not be hardcore "strength training", however for me (a girl who has had two spine surgeries in two years) it IS helping improve my core strength until I am ready to progress to something more substantial

The cardio is really helping with my overall fitness, and I hope with the more I do the more I will feel prepared to do some "real" weight training in the future! Right now I am passed the point of dreading every morning and instead looking forward to the workout as a way to push myself to do better every day.

First 18 lbs down and a bunch more to go, and hopefully this girl will never need another spine surgery again! haha. (For those that asked - it's the Hollywood workout by Harley Pasternak!)

LokiOfAsgard

Strength training is a type of physical exercise specializing in the use of resistance to induce muscular contraction which builds the strength, anaerobic endurance, and size of skeletal muscles.

So, yeah, cardio/strength mix is a type of strength training, it's just not 'weight lifting'

Also, does it matter much? It has nothing to do with the question asked.

And OP, I'm glad we could help and good luck!!

Leadfoot_Lewis

After not working out in a looooong time the first couple of weeks even no weights/resistance was making me want to die. (Yeah, sad... I know!)

I don't think that's sad...I think it's cool as I'm the same way.

My question is - what weights should I start with? I tried 5lbs in each hand and could barely lift my arms all day yesterday. I did 3 in each hand this morning but I don't know if that is enough to make a difference? Also when using weights does it burn more calories or about the same?

It is a 10 week program to start with, and then I will start adding in other exercises (other than walking/hiking) - but I really want to do this right so it can be a progressive healthy lifestyle change and not just a "fad". Any advice much appreciated!

Thanks :happy:

As mentioned, you always want to go with a weight that you can lift with good from for 8-12 reps (in your case). I'm not familiar with the "Hollywood workout by Harley Pasternak" but if you like it, you're getting results, and your it "agrees" with your spine then stick with it and try to go heavier if you can. Don't use DOMS as an excuse to shy away from going heavier. You haven't worked out in while and this is why you're sore, not the lbs of weight you're using.