Weight Lifting

misscatanzaro

Okay, ladies (and gentlemen) I would like to let you in on a little secret of mine: Weight lifting has changed my life!!! I was stuck in a rut in my weight loss routine and although I was losing weight (slowly) on the scale, my body was not toning the way I wanted it to. I had the preconceived notion, like a lot of us out there, that if I worked out with weights I would get big and bulky and lose my feminine curves. I posted a question on one of the message boards and got some fantastic advice (Thank you Miguel, you rock!). I have been lifting for over a week now and am already seeing some minor improvement. I've lost a pant size and my husband has commented that he can see definition in my legs and stomach! I was still a little unsure of what to do even after being at the gym for the first couple of days because I wasn't completely familiar with the equipment. I was embarrassed to do all the workouts I had learned about online because I didn't want to look like an idiot wandering around the gym looking for the specific machines. One night when I was running on the treadmill there was no one else in the gym and so I asked the person at the desk if they would show me all the equipment in the gym and what each machine was used for. I am soooo glad I did!!! Now I know where I'm going and have perfected my routine!

The point of my post is that lifting weights is something that should be incorporated into all of our workouts and just because you may not have any experience shouldn't mean you never try it. Don't be afraid to ask for help at the gym, there are no charges for being shown around and especially when the gym is slow or empty there are people to give you tips on what works the best. I got a great lesson and even got a free personal trainer for my whole workout! If you can go to your gym during their slow hours you can score a deal like this too and I guarantee you won't be sorry you did!!

jg627

I made my wife start weightlifting with me. We just switched to all barbell today. We were using the machines, but they restrict your motion and have limited weight. In fact we just got back home from the gym now. I think she's going to be sore tomorrow from the squats. Weight lifting is fun and, in my opinion, more beneficial than doing cardio, which is really boring anyway.

misscatanzaro

I LOVE squats!!! I could barely walk for three days after doing my routine the first time!

songbyrdsweet

Amen to that!! :drinker:

jg627

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

songbyrdsweet

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

Woah woah woah...I LOVE squats, but I have to side with oly deadlifts on this one!

jg627

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

Woah woah woah...I LOVE squats, but I have to side with oly deadlifts on this one!

I can see that you are a 'real' weight lifter. Squats and deadlifts are definitely the meat and drink of weight lifting.

BuffTexan

That is an awesome post, Miss C! It is my (humble) opinion that fitness is like a symphony: there's cardio, diet, and weights. Most people that end up losing a lot of weight are left scratching their heads at their skinny bodies. Why? because there's no muscle tone. Unfortunately, most men focus on weight training and ignore cardio while most women focus on cardio and ignore weights.

You're also right about the intimidating weight/machine room. I've been in and out of different gyms since the early 90's. I just joined my current gym at the beginning of July and I too found myself wandering around like a lost puppy. LOL! After a few times it's just like walking around your home though. :-) I found there's 2 kind of people at the gym: the "perfect" people that think they own the place and make you wait for the machines and then the supportive "we're all in this together" kinda people. I'm the latter.

This post was very motivational, Miss C! I hope women listen and take heart to what you're saying. They will NOT get bulky lifting weights, nearly impossible. As you're experiencing, they WILL get nice attractive definition in arms, legs, shoulders, back, etc.

lauristewart

I agree completely!! I workout with weights 3 days a week and it is huge!! I have been doing it for about 3 yrs now....I make sure I get my cardio in too, and still probably do more cardio than weights...but I get a full body, weight workout via my many dvd's I have.....3 days a week!! It will keep you tones and keep your metabolism up!! Keep it up!!

songbyrdsweet

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

Woah woah woah...I LOVE squats, but I have to side with oly deadlifts on this one!

I can see that you are a 'real' weight lifter. Squats and deadlifts are definitely the meat and drink of weight lifting.

Absolutely. I was just poking some fun lol...I can't live without either one! I like DLs a bit more because they work the lower body like a squat but require more stabilization in the upper body.

When I first started lifting, I had no idea what I was doing. Looking back, I definitely did my share of wandering and wayyyyy too much cardio. But as you get the basics down, you can create programs that are more specific to your goals. Super fun!

BuffTexan

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

Woah woah woah...I LOVE squats, but I have to side with oly deadlifts on this one!

I can see that you are a 'real' weight lifter. Squats and deadlifts are definitely the meat and drink of weight lifting.

Ya'll are right... BUT squats and dead-lifts cause a lot of injuries. IMHO, those movements should be taken lightly and controlled. Same is true with free weights vs. machines. There's a greater advantage to free weights but maybe getting the muscle strong with machines 1st is the way to go.

songbyrdsweet

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

Woah woah woah...I LOVE squats, but I have to side with oly deadlifts on this one!

I can see that you are a 'real' weight lifter. Squats and deadlifts are definitely the meat and drink of weight lifting.

Ya'll are right... BUT squats and dead-lifts cause a lot of injuries. IMHO, those movements should be taken lightly and controlled. Same is true with free weights vs. machines. There's a greater advantage to free weights but maybe getting the muscle strong with machines 1st is the way to go.

The gym in general causes a lot of injuries...that doesn't mean you don't go. You just do it right.

BuffTexan

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

Woah woah woah...I LOVE squats, but I have to side with oly deadlifts on this one!

I can see that you are a 'real' weight lifter. Squats and deadlifts are definitely the meat and drink of weight lifting.

Ya'll are right... BUT squats and dead-lifts cause a lot of injuries. IMHO, those movements should be taken lightly and controlled. Same is true with free weights vs. machines. There's a greater advantage to free weights but maybe getting the muscle strong with machines 1st is the way to go.

The gym in general causes a lot of injuries...that doesn't mean you don't go. You just do it right.

Yes... that's why I said, "...those movements should be taken lightly and controlled."

ambermichon

Awesome post! I have been lifting for 2.5 years and love it as well. One of my pet peeves is hearing women say "I wanna lose the weight first by doing cardio and THEN I will try lifting to tone". The 2 go hand in hand and if done together the results are much better and time isnt wasted. Maybe the actual lbs will come off slower since we lift but the inches melt off so you look instantly smaller anyways. I wish all women would understand this.

songbyrdsweet

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

Woah woah woah...I LOVE squats, but I have to side with oly deadlifts on this one!

I can see that you are a 'real' weight lifter. Squats and deadlifts are definitely the meat and drink of weight lifting.

Ya'll are right... BUT squats and dead-lifts cause a lot of injuries. IMHO, those movements should be taken lightly and controlled. Same is true with free weights vs. machines. There's a greater advantage to free weights but maybe getting the muscle strong with machines 1st is the way to go.

The gym in general causes a lot of injuries...that doesn't mean you don't go. You just do it right.

Yes... that's why I said, "...those movements should be taken lightly and controlled."

Well definitely controlled...but I certainly don't squat or DL lightly. Makes sense at first when you're learning the movement, but when your mechanics are right, I see no reason to stay light.

BuffTexan

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

Woah woah woah...I LOVE squats, but I have to side with oly deadlifts on this one!

I can see that you are a 'real' weight lifter. Squats and deadlifts are definitely the meat and drink of weight lifting.

Ya'll are right... BUT squats and dead-lifts cause a lot of injuries. IMHO, those movements should be taken lightly and controlled. Same is true with free weights vs. machines. There's a greater advantage to free weights but maybe getting the muscle strong with machines 1st is the way to go.

The gym in general causes a lot of injuries...that doesn't mean you don't go. You just do it right.

Yes... that's why I said, "...those movements should be taken lightly and controlled."

Well definitely controlled...but I certainly don't squat or DL lightly. Makes sense at first when you're learning the movement, but when your mechanics are right, I see no reason to stay light.

I completely agree. I'm just stating the "walk before you can run" analogy.

BTW: love your quads, lats, back, shoulders! All symmetrical and nicely developed! Good job!!!

songbyrdsweet

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

Woah woah woah...I LOVE squats, but I have to side with oly deadlifts on this one!

I can see that you are a 'real' weight lifter. Squats and deadlifts are definitely the meat and drink of weight lifting.

Ya'll are right... BUT squats and dead-lifts cause a lot of injuries. IMHO, those movements should be taken lightly and controlled. Same is true with free weights vs. machines. There's a greater advantage to free weights but maybe getting the muscle strong with machines 1st is the way to go.

The gym in general causes a lot of injuries...that doesn't mean you don't go. You just do it right.

Yes... that's why I said, "...those movements should be taken lightly and controlled."

Well definitely controlled...but I certainly don't squat or DL lightly. Makes sense at first when you're learning the movement, but when your mechanics are right, I see no reason to stay light.

I completely agree. I'm just stating the "walk before you can run" analogy.

BTW: love your quads, lats, back, shoulders! All symmetrical and nicely developed! Good job!!!

Very true. And thank you thank you thank you!!!

jg627

Squats are the single most important exercise in weight lifting.

Woah woah woah...I LOVE squats, but I have to side with oly deadlifts on this one!

I can see that you are a 'real' weight lifter. Squats and deadlifts are definitely the meat and drink of weight lifting.

Ya'll are right... BUT squats and dead-lifts cause a lot of injuries. IMHO, those movements should be taken lightly and controlled. Same is true with free weights vs. machines. There's a greater advantage to free weights but maybe getting the muscle strong with machines 1st is the way to go.

The gym in general causes a lot of injuries...that doesn't mean you don't go. You just do it right.

Yes... that's why I said, "...those movements should be taken lightly and controlled."

Well definitely controlled...but I certainly don't squat or DL lightly. Makes sense at first when you're learning the movement, but when your mechanics are right, I see no reason to stay light.

I completely agree. I'm just stating the "walk before you can run" analogy.

BTW: love your quads, lats, back, shoulders! All symmetrical and nicely developed! Good job!!!

Very true. And thank you thank you thank you!!!

I spent more than a week studying the form for each exercise I planned to have in my routine and took several pages of notes in a notepad that I take with me to the gym. There's definitely an advantage to starting light when you first start with the barbell and doing progressive loading. Seeing the weight increase a small amount every time you go to the gym will boost your confidence while you work your weight up to the heavy weight and work the kinks out of your form. I'm still nowhere near my max on any of the exercises I'm doing right now. Youtube is good too. If it has Glenn Pendlay or Mark Rippetoe in it then it's probably good.

IronSmasher

An excellent post, I've never seen so much common sense in a thread before!

P.S. No full body exercise with difficult technique should be 'taken lightly' (see what I did there?)

girlinahat

I absolutely love the feeling I get when my muscles are being used, such as stretching when climbing, doing yoga, or lifting weights. It's a very satisfying feeling, and to me more addictive than getting out of breath on the treadmill.

Since joining MFP I have been learning more about lifting heavy, and have got more out of the gym from that. I tend to start with a five minute warm-up on the elliptical and then go from there on the weight machines. I have not yet gone into free weights as I want to be shown how to do it properly, and for that I want to have a goal and personal programme.

Our gym has a ladies room complete with dumbbells, barbells etc., I am itching to learn routines to use them!!!

songbyrdsweet

An excellent post, I've never seen so much common sense in a thread before!

P.S. No full body exercise with difficult technique should be 'taken lightly' (see what I did there?)

Ahhhh, hahah, took me a second but I got it.

jg627

An excellent post, I've never seen so much common sense in a thread before!

P.S. No full body exercise with difficult technique should be 'taken lightly' (see what I did there?)

Nice pun

jg627

I absolutely love the feeling I get when my muscles are being used, such as stretching when climbing, doing yoga, or lifting weights. It's a very satisfying feeling, and to me more addictive than getting out of breath on the treadmill.

Since joining MFP I have been learning more about lifting heavy, and have got more out of the gym from that. I tend to start with a five minute warm-up on the elliptical and then go from there on the weight machines. I have not yet gone into free weights as I want to be shown how to do it properly, and for that I want to have a goal and personal programme.

Our gym has a ladies room complete with dumbbells, barbells etc., I am itching to learn routines to use them!!!

Good luck finding a trainer that will show you the correct form... I don't have very many nice things to say about most personal trainers at health clubs, if you can even call them that. No offense to any personal trainers who may be reading. You're better off reading tutorials and watching youtube videos or even making your own videos and asking youtube users to check your form and give you hints. Google how to do olympic squats and how to do romanian deadlifts. Bent over barbell rows are good if you stick to the basic form, not the fake curl variation. You're probably pretty strong already if you do a lot of climbing. You might like the clean and jerk and overhead press and all those goodies. Don't forget the bench press.
Don't be afraid of the barbells though. You're actually more likely to hurt yourself on a machine than with a barbell if you're using heavy weight. It's very hard to use good form on a machine that restricts your motion to unnatural movements.
There are lots of websites out there with lots of good information for starting lifters.

ninerbuff

Ya'll are right... BUT squats and dead-lifts cause a lot of injuries. IMHO, those movements should be taken lightly and controlled. Same is true with free weights vs. machines. There's a greater advantage to free weights but maybe getting the muscle strong with machines 1st is the way to go.

You could get hurt on any exercise doing it wrong. Going down to far on a preacher curl could damage tendons in your elbow. Turning your head while doing cable rows could crick your neck.
If any free weight exercise is done correctly and with the right weight, then injuries are reduced. When I started in lifting, machines were sparse. We had a Universal machine and that was it. Rest was free weights. I start most of my clients, who are free from any injury, on free weights the first day.

heatherzotigh

I love weight lifting!