Strength Training - Advice please

FrnkLft

Hmm... need some opinions please.
I've just had a review session with the gym manager at my work gym, and very surprisingly, she is of the opinion that heavy weights make women bulky (even on a calorie deficit!)!

I'd love to do the Stronglifts programme but we just don't have the equipment in the gym downstairs for it and instead, she's recommended cutting out my old 'beginner' weights routine (leg press (which I'd swapped to squats anyway), lateral pulldown and bench press) for more of a circuit (lunges, kettlebell single arm rows, side planks, press ups and squat/shoulder press using 5kg bar).

Does her routine sound worth it and should I stick with it?

I think I lost some confidence in her advice after she was 'uhming and aahing' about how I don't want to get 'big' because I'm only a shorty (5'2").

There is another gym around the corner which would cost me a bit more per month and not quite so convenient as using the one at work, but it definitely has all the equipment.

For background, I go to the gym ever weekday morning for an hour and have until now, been alternating the strength days (plus a bit of cardio) with pure cardio days.

If your goals are to get stronger, you're better off at the other gym with the proper equipment. Otherwise if you're looking for more of a calorie burning, conditioning type workout, hers sounds on point.

And about getting bulky on SL 5x5... not likely. I would have trouble getting bulky on SL5x5 lol It's a program geared more towards getting your strength up to speed, with some, albeit slow, mass gains.

Whatever you do make sure you start light.

NovaStar82

As soon as I heard the "women get bulky from lifting" I would in all honesty, have doubted everything that she said afterwards and I certainly wouldn't have followed her program.

Unless the other gym's additional cost is going to give you financial problems, I would give that a try. It has all the equipment you need and I'm sure the people that run that gym (well, I hope) are more knowledgeable. If not, there are plenty of people here that know their stuff and can recommend some brilliant programs for you to follow.

It was at that moment that I pretty much stopped listening to her to be honest.
She obviously hadn't listened to a word that I'd said to her about what I wanted to achieve. I suspect she probably just gets a lot of women there who 'just want to lose weight' -backed up by the fact that she told me if I want to lose weight, it's all about cardio...

I wasn't going to explain the science to her

To clarify, she is the gym manager, trainer and the ONLY member of staff who oversees the gym.

If your goals are to get stronger, you're better off at the other gym with the proper equipment. Otherwise if you're looking for more of a calorie burning, conditioning type workout, hers sounds on point.

And about getting bulky on SL 5x5... not likely. I would have trouble getting bulky on SL5x5 lol It's a program geared more towards getting your strength up to speed, with some, albeit slow, mass gains.

Whatever you do make sure you start light.

I think I'm going to look at joining the other gym and get a couple of PT sessions to make sure my form is right.
Whilst I do want to improve my endurance, I also want to get stronger and I don't think there's the support or equipment there to do so at the moment.

Thanks all

dougt333

Just Show Him. He'll shut up.

FrnkLft

Great, let us know how it goes.

By all means use a PT if you prefer, but I know that can be expensive, and don't make the mistake of assuming everyone that works at the gym knows how to coach these lifts if all you do is ask them for advice.

For instance, my YMCA is great, but there's really only one or two guys (out of maybe 10 who are staff/coaches) who are qualified to coach these lifts. They know what they are doing, but they are specialized in other areas or just floor staff.

Something you can do is record yourself doing the movements on your phone, and review it between sets. At the end of the day, that's how I learned.

If I do ask someone for help, it hasn't been for advice, but to look out for something specific (like back rounding).

Tried to show him pics of Christmas Abbott and some others that lift heavy but that didn't matter. He "knows" I will look like the body builder women if I continue.

Right on.

Christmas Abbott isn't bulky of course, but she is cut and has developed muscle. And if she didn't want to look so cut, all she would have to do is eat some cake and she'd start looking softer. Cut is a personal preference, and controlled by bodyfat %.

SemperAnticus1643

Great, let us know how it goes.

By all means use a PT if you prefer, but I know that can be expensive, and don't make the mistake of assuming everyone that works at the gym knows how to coach these lifts if all you do is ask them for advice.

For instance, my YMCA is great, but there's really only one or two guys (out of maybe 10 who are staff/coaches) who are qualified to coach these lifts. They know what they are doing, but they are specialized in other areas or just floor staff.

Something you can do is record yourself doing the movements on your phone, and review it between sets. At the end of the day, that's how I learned.

If I do ask someone for help, it hasn't been for advice, but to look out for something specific (like back rounding).

Tried to show him pics of Christmas Abbott and some others that lift heavy but that didn't matter. He "knows" I will look like the body builder women if I continue.

Right on.

Christmas Abbott isn't bulky of course, but she is cut and has developed muscle. And if she didn't want to look so cut, all she would have to do is eat some cake and she'd start looking softer. Cut is a personal preference, and controlled by bodyfat %.

I like cut look. I would totally feel like a badass. Even if no one else knew that I was cut.

Cherimoose

I am just trying to figure out whether to go with her routine, or fork out to join the other gym nearby

Like someone else said, exercise selection depends on the goal. Since you didn't state what your goal is, it's hard to give specific advice.

That said, lunge-type exercises should be included in most lifting routines, in my opinion.

Smashley1947

I would also ask at the other gym if they have a corporate rate.

The company I work for has some gyms in some locations and then actual fitness centres in others, but at all the fitness/gyms in the city you can also get a discounted rate.