Calling all Women Lifters

edorice

It seems a shame to cover all of this hard work under sweaters right now.

aprilshowers13

Mean? I don't think I've gotten mean looks.

I get mean looks. It's like they're pissed off that I am taking up space in the free weight area instead of using the machines like a good little girl. It could be that I workout on a military base and most of the guys there are huge meat heads.

I don't get mean looks, but I definitely get the vibe that I am honing in on their space. I kinda feel like they are thinking that a little girl is trying to play with the big boys. I can just imagine the snide comments in their heads......

So far, I haven't gotten any mean looks from the men at my gym. I usually go around the same time at night, and I see the same small group of people in the free weight area. We mostly speak by nodding our head or with a quick smile. I even got someone to check my deadlift form.

guardup

Has anyone here had any experience with Dymatize All Natural Elite Whey Protein Isolate?

I currently use Jarrow for my Whey Protein... but it's not an isolate. I was thinking of going with Dymatize because it is an isolate, higher in protein and calcium per serving and claims to have an award winning taste.

Anyone?

guardup

I got a cool present from Santa today... a body fat monitor. The same kind I have been using to monitor my fat percentage in the past... so it should stay consistent.

Took a measurement today... I was curious since I put on 2 pounds over the past month. It displayed a loss of .3% body fat.

This makes sense because I have been hitting the weights pretty frequently lately.

So now I have changes my ticker to weight GAIN... to allow for putting on muscle combined with fat loss... which will move more slowly now that I am in the 18s.

Still shooting for a 15% body fat. VERY happy with my energy levels from this plan. I feel like my metabolism is cranking.

edorice

Has anyone here had any experience with Dymatize All Natural Elite Whey Protein Isolate?

I currently use Jarrow for my Whey Protein... but it's not an isolate. I was thinking of going with Dymatize because it is an isolate, higher in protein and calcium per serving and claims to have an award winning taste.

Anyone?

Haven't used Dymatize

JoyousRen

I got a cool present from Santa today... a body fat monitor. The same kind I have been using to monitor my fat percentage in the past... so it should stay consistent.

Took a measurement today... I was curious since I put on 2 pounds over the past month. It displayed a loss of .3% body fat.

This makes sense because I have been hitting the weights pretty frequently lately.

So now I have changes my ticker to weight GAIN... to allow for putting on muscle combined with fat loss... which will move more slowly now that I am in the 18s.

Still shooting for a 15% body fat. VERY happy with my energy levels from this plan. I feel like my metabolism is cranking.

How does the body fat monitor work?

guardup

How does the body fat monitor work?

The monitor uses electrical impulses (bioelectrical impedance) to measure body fat. You have to use it the same way you do a scale... first thing in the morning before eating/drinking and exercise.

JoyousRen

How does the body fat monitor work?

The monitor uses electrical impulses (bioelectrical impedance) to measure body fat. You have to use it the same way you do a scale... first thing in the morning before eating/drinking and exercise.

Ok. I've heard of those. I wasn't sure if it was a new kind.

edorice

Hey ladies,
Santa brought me something too. I got a new Ipod Nano and a weighted vest for my push-ups and walking. We did chest, shoulders, and triceps this morning but I didn't use the weighted vest yet.

Can you tell me the benefits of the isolates that you have mentioned Meghan?

guardup

I have only tried the Jarrow Whey Protein (filtered) formula so far. It seems to work fine even with my lactose intolerance.

I bulk order it through Vitacost... so I still have 6lbs of it to go through. I may try a pound of the Dynamix when I get a chance to visit the store... we're snowed in right now in New England. Actually, I have a 4x4 truck but all the stores are closed still.

Good news on your weighted vest. One thing... be careful about jogging or doing any jumping exercises with it. Work up slowly to that level.

Is your vest customizable? Can you take out or add in weights?

edorice

Yeah, I can take the weights out. I don't plan to do any of my plyometrics in the vest. I plan to only do the walking and push-ups in it.
i order from Vitacost as well. I've found that bodybuilding.com has faster shipment. Let me know what you think of the Dymatize. I know you don't mind taste too much, but I'm a major brat about taste.

JoyousRen

As the weight I'm using is going up, the pad of my palms right by the base of my fingers has been starting to get raw, almost like it's getting pinched when I'm holding the weights. Do any of you have any suggestions?

edorice

As the weight I'm using is going up, the pad of my palms right by the base of my fingers has been starting to get raw, almost like it's getting pinched when I'm holding the weights. Do any of you have any suggestions?

Are you using any weight lifting gloves or straps?

JoyousRen

Are you using any weight lifting gloves or straps?

No. I only use dumbells so I don't think straps would work. Would lifting gloves help?

edorice

Are you using any weight lifting gloves or straps?

No. I only use dumbells so I don't think straps would work. Would lifting gloves help?

Yeah, get some lifting gloves. You can find them under $10 or $15 at Walmart or Target.

JoyousRen

Yeah, get some lifting gloves. You can find them under $10 or $15 at Walmart or Target.

ok. Thanks!

guardup

I agree... since you are only doing dumbbells at this stage, gloves are fine. Once you get into the barbells - or dumbbells of such a weight that your hands are giving out before your larger muscles - look at lifting straps.

I highly recommend something washable. They get stinky.

edorice

What are your thoughts on Elite protein shots by Dymatize? I read some reviews that it was nasty tasting. I had a few protein shots that I got from Costco and it was hard to get it down.

F4v30n3

Hi girls,!
I've been out of the game a while.. a little disappointed. but I am back on it

I am not on that level yet, but pushing to look muscular .. but I do get that look alot.the " what is wrong with you" look mixed with " mmmmhh that is hot" look... . espeacially when I am the only girl walking into the free weight room wearing my gloves...

guardup

What are your thoughts on Elite protein shots by Dymatize? I read some reviews that it was nasty tasting. I had a few protein shots that I got from Costco and it was hard to get it down.

Haven't tried much else other than the Jarrow Whey Powder and Cliff Builder, Pure Protein or Power Bar as yet.

I'm finding that I really prefer to have a Protein Bar after my workout... and then supplement with the Powder only if I am not getting enough protein at the end of the day.

guardup

Hi girls,!
I've been out of the game a while.. a little disappointed. but I am back on it

I am not on that level yet, but pushing to look muscular .. but I do get that look alot.the " what is wrong with you" look mixed with " mmmmhh that is hot" look... . espeacially when I am the only girl walking into the free weight room wearing my gloves...

Welcome!

Keep checking in here and let us know how you are doing. What's working for you and what isn't. This board and my various magazines are what keeps me motivated. Well, that and the looks I get from my husband. ;-)

LivingFitNC

I love this thread...I have been lifting mostly on for 13 years and actually just committed to focusing on lifting instead of cardio after reading The Female Body Breakthrough and numerous other texts. This is big as my nutritionist kept telling me that I couldn't lose weight while lifting and I had to wait to focus on building LM. This after not losing weight doing triathlons and getting softer everytime I followed her directions and never being lean when I swam competitively.

But I love lifting and now I am doing a lot of exercises that use core stabilization as the base with the exercise- so, for example, one-legged romanian deadlifts. I also train with super sets...I always have and I love them, usually I combine an upper body and lower body exercise for the super set. My goal is to finally be the lean female body I've always wanted and I am really excited to see what happens with less time commitment and focusing on weight training. Plus I just love keeping track of my progress lifting, I tend to be able to go up quickly even after a long break assuming its because I'm a mesomorph and being able to lift more is such a motivating and gratifying feeling! It's always great to see other women who like to lift real weights...not just those pastel ones on the floor of the weight room.

guardup

So I'm FINALLY able to do my back muscles today after taking a week off from all upper body (except abs) due to a small muscle pull in my right shoulder. I will be giving my shoulders and upper chest one more week to make sure everything is healed up.

But I want to tell you this funny story.

Yesterday I was doing legs on the squat machine and resting between sets when this big guy walks past an even bigger guy who is on the Hack Squat machine, looks at the 450lbs of weights on it and says to him "I see you aren't doing the GIRLY weights".

Now I don't really know the guy who said this... we occasionally nod and smile at each other. But I do know the guy who is on the machine. He glances at me and then looks at the guy who spoke and says "Ummm... what do you mean by "Girly weights?".

The other guy walks over to the Hack Squat Machine and starts loading TEN more 45lbs plates onto the rack. He looks at my friend who was about to do another rep, points at the 900lbs on the rack and says "THATS the Girly Weights". My friend looks a little confused and the other guy then points right at me and smiles and says "Because THATS the GIRL who can lift them!".

A bunch of people who had heard this exchange started laughing. So now, when someone loads a ton of weights onto a rack for a lift, it is known as lifting "Girly Weights" among these guys.

Pretty funny, eh?

F4v30n3

*lol* that is a cute story.. girly weights

I have met my PR. Hit 125 bench press. when I started pressing 5 months ago, the bar was all I could take, now I can load 45's yay!! I'm sure my chest will hate me tomorrow but hey! tight squeeze is always love

My motivation is overall health. I like buying clothes and not feeling like, ehh! why doesn't it look right... having a fit form, makes it easier to buy cute dreses or nice jeans. And Of course, my loves curious hands *hehe*

guardup

Congrats on the 125! It's a rush, isn't it, to stack those huge 45s on the bar and press it.

I love it when a guy walks by while you are in between sets and starts to unload the weights and you explain that you have a couple more sets to go... and he looks at the weights and at you and does a double take.

Keep it going. My personal goal was to be able to press my body weight (155). I am finally at 160 as my 3 rep max. But it kills the rest of my chest day... so I don't do it often.

You mention your goals being clothes buying. Ironically, clothes buying is my bane. I need a size large to fit my shoulders and arm length, but my mid section is a size medium or even small. So when I buy jackets, I have to always have them taken in.

ingeborgv

Oh, so incredibly cool to find this inspiring thread! I'm not quite in the same league as a few of you, but I'm getting there.

A year ago, I was convinced that I had no potential for being strong what so ever. Thanks to a great personal trainer, I now know that I am built for this! Started out doing regular push-ups and light dumbbells - now I can squat more than my body weight and bench press 40 kg. And though I still carry too much fat for some of the work to show, my arms and back are looking really nice.

For a period now, I'm just lifting to maintain strength, I need to focus on my cardio for a few weeks and try to get rid of some flab. But I loved finding this thread and will read it often and thoroughly!

I only have good experiences with the guys at my gym, btw. We are three or four girls there who lift somewhat seriously, and I always feel welcome in the free weights department.

F4v30n3

clothes is still hard for me. My upper body is little compared to my lower body. So buying jeans is the same. My hips are HUGE but my waist is small. so I have to find jeans that will fit my thighs and hips, but wont be so lose around the waist that I sit and everything is shown

Since I met my goal to bench 80, my goal now is to bench my BW. My goal for my BW is 150
I have 10lbs to get to my BW goal and 25 to get to my bench goal..

edorice

So I'm FINALLY able to do my back muscles today after taking a week off from all upper body (except abs) due to a small muscle pull in my right shoulder. I will be giving my shoulders and upper chest one more week to make sure everything is healed up.

But I want to tell you this funny story.

Yesterday I was doing legs on the squat machine and resting between sets when this big guy walks past an even bigger guy who is on the Hack Squat machine, looks at the 450lbs of weights on it and says to him "I see you aren't doing the GIRLY weights".

Now I don't really know the guy who said this... we occasionally nod and smile at each other. But I do know the guy who is on the machine. He glances at me and then looks at the guy who spoke and says "Ummm... what do you mean by "Girly weights?".

The other guy walks over to the Hack Squat Machine and starts loading TEN more 45lbs plates onto the rack. He looks at my friend who was about to do another rep, points at the 900lbs on the rack and says "THATS the Girly Weights". My friend looks a little confused and the other guy then points right at me and smiles and says "Because THATS the GIRL who can lift them!".

A bunch of people who had heard this exchange started laughing. So now, when someone loads a ton of weights onto a rack for a lift, it is known as lifting "Girly Weights" among these guys.

Pretty funny, eh?

That is funny. I can't really say that I miss those high weights. I used to lift that heavy and my lower back suffered for it. Maybe I already had the issue though. My spine slants a bit. I must be getting better though, because it hasn't deterred me from the plyometrics and jogging. Sometimes the rain upsets it again.

MeekMeals

Good thread! I am new to lifting, (aug 2010) and luv the way my body has transformed!

I have a question:

I am still trying to tone up, lose inches, basically "get smaller". Should I continue to do 50 minutes of cardio or more lifting i currently do about 20-30 minutes

guardup

Oh, so incredibly cool to find this inspiring thread! I'm not quite in the same league as a few of you, but I'm getting there.

A year ago, I was convinced that I had no potential for being strong what so ever. Thanks to a great personal trainer, I now know that I am built for this! Started out doing regular push-ups and light dumbbells - now I can squat more than my body weight and bench press 40 kg. And though I still carry too much fat for some of the work to show, my arms and back are looking really nice.

For a period now, I'm just lifting to maintain strength, I need to focus on my cardio for a few weeks and try to get rid of some flab. But I loved finding this thread and will read it often and thoroughly!

I only have good experiences with the guys at my gym, btw. We are three or four girls there who lift somewhat seriously, and I always feel welcome in the free weights department.

Glad to have you aboard!

Suggestion: Keep your cardio and your lifting days separate. This will help your fat burn for cardio.