WEIGHT TRAINING

tobybears8

I am 60 years old and need to lose 50 pounds. I am just starting out but I know I need to do weight training too. Does anyone know where I can find a weight lifting program for older women that shows the exercises? I really could use some help with this. Need to get myself into shape again. Thanks for your help.

grandmothercharlie

I use resistance bands for my upper body and machines at the gym for the lower. There are some really good, not too strenuous workouts of all kinds on Sparkpeople. I don't love strength training, but it is good for our bones, our metabolism, and our muscles. I have people here, especially Marian, who send me a gentle message to remember to do them. I keep my resistance bands at work.

Google "sparkpeople workout videos." Or go to the Sparkpeople website. You will find videos under the fitness tab.

53welshlady

If you are planning to do it at a gym, then the instructors there should be able to help you to start off, otherwise there is plenty of info on the internet. Don't look specifically for exercises for "old" people as we are capable of the same as younger people, but generally more recovery time between exercises is needed and you will have to take things a bit slower. The main things to take into consideration are any injuries or ailments that you may have to take into account, like a dodgy back or knees etc. but there are always exercises to work around these things. If you go to a gym, make sure that you point out any weaknesses you may have, as the last thing you want to do is make things worse.

Personally I lift very heavyweights, and love the way my body is responding to the increased demands I make on it. Sometimes I do too much then am knackered for a day or two, but in general it is a great feeling being strong. I am lucky in that I have no health problems to take into consideration, and I accept that it might not be to every one's taste, but I totally recommend giving it a go.

tobybears8

No I will not be going to the gym, I will be doing at home with dumbbells or whatever else I can use. I don't want to waste hours at the gym waiting to get on equipment or using equipment.

chris_in_cal

After a year of being a member of my neighborhood gym, I finally walked in and starting using it.

I want to slowly learn what a regular routing feels like, and also slowly learn what the various piece of equipment do in the gym. So far, I found out that there is real genuine weightlifting with something called the "Smith Machine" it's big and intimidating, but it is really great for beginners. It allows me to lift weights, but I don't have the awkward moving them around and getting them off a rack. It just glides and has safety hooks. It's safe and pretty simple. So far, so good.