Weightlifting

aamberrr

Hey guys!

I'm new to the message boards here, but not new to My Fitness Pal. I was just wondering if anybody here does weightlifting? I started out doing the program from New Rules of Lifting for Women several months ago, but have taken a break and started working out with my fiance's parents (a little background: They are beasts, and they work out during lunch hour; I'm a school teacher so decided to train with them for the summer).

Anyway, I LOVE weightlifting, and am totally convinced of the benefits of lifting. I find it to be more effective than cardio (but I do fit a little cardio into my schedule, too). I'm a woman, but I lift as heavy as I can, and am aiming not just for fat loss, but for increased strength as well.

The only frustrating thing with weightlifting is the pounds on the scale don't drop as fast. I know, I know, pounds don't matter, measurements and clothing sizes show the real difference. For some reason though, I just can't stop hating the scale (maybe I should just throw it away!).

I just thought I'd see if there's anyone else here who enjoys lifting? What kind of stuff do you do? I'm finding that the workouts from New Rules of Lifting for Women is a lot different than the workouts I'm doing with my future in-laws, but I'm all about switching it up and trying new things.

cheddle

weightlifting... is... amazing...

errry day.

If your looking for a great program look up the StrongLifts 5x5 program, big full body lifts, great strength gains, easy to follow.

BlackRose101

I love to lift. I spend half of my time at the gym doing that, and I spend double that time dreaming about my future biceps haha.

meshashesha2012

true, the pounds dont drop as fast as someone doing tons of cardio or lifting with barbie weights BUT it makes fat away melt like butter. so who cares about the scale? it just means the Earth loves you that much more and will work that much harder to keep you from floating away :laugh: one month i only lost 3 pounds but a complete clothing size :laugh:

i was doing strong lifts for awhile but i missed olympic lifts so now I'm doing starting strength. I'm thinking about joining a Crossfit gym as well

aamberrr

Thanks! After the summer I'm going to finish New Rules, but thanks for the suggestion! I was wondering what to do after I finish the New Rules program.

I LOVE full body lifting, which is what NRFW really emphasizes. Squats are my favorites.

[edit: Sorry, I didn't see the "quote" button when I posted this response. Just to clear up any confusion, this was a response to cheddle's post.]

aamberrr

true, the pounds dont drop as fast as someone doing tons of cardio or lifting with barbie weights BUT it makes fat away melt like butter. so who cares about the scale? it just means the Earth loves you that much more and will work that much harder to keep you from floating away :laugh: one month i only lost 3 pounds but a complete clothing size :laugh:

i was doing strong lifts for awhile but i missed olympic lifts so now I'm doing starting strength. I'm thinking about joining a Crossfit gym as well

Nice! If you join CrossFit, let me know. I'd love to hear feedback, as I've looked into it as well. I found a video on YouTube of Nichole from CrossFit doing overhead squats and she has since become my idol. :-P Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjuULPqI-WY

Spartan_Maker

Hi, Amber. I, too, enjoy strength training.

I do a Circuit Training routine for two rounds, three days a week, and for one round, three days a week: 1. Jumping Jacks (55 reps); 2. Deadlifts (8 reps); 3. Dips (8 reps); 4. Squats (8 reps); 5. Shoulder Press (8 reps); 6. Kettlebell Swings (35 reps); 7. Pull-ups (12 reps); 8. Chin-ups (12 reps); and 9. Decline Push-ups (12 reps). Between each set, I walk 0.2 miles. Between each round, I rest for 5 to 10 minutes.

I take off on Sunday and do nothing.

jamkat

I've also recently started NROL4W and I love it! Check out the story in this link. If it doesn't help you to realize that worrying about what the scale reads is a big waste of time, I don't know what will.

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

I came across this link on another MYP post from last Fall. I think every woman should read it! Good luck!

Mummyadams

Me too!

I LOVE lifting and always max out on my last set. Have just started crossfit to fit into my routine as I was getting a little bored. Soo...I do Crossfit (intro level only) for 2 days a week and the other 3-4 days I do interval training meaning 10 min hard cardio - weights - 10 min hard cardio - weights - 10 min hard cardio - weights.

Concentrating on 1 or 2 x similar body parts per day, plus getting my cardio in. I figure with Crossfit I am getting a total body work out allowing me to specificy on the body parts I wish to improve on at the regular gym. Keeps it interesting and fingers crossed the results will speak for themselves - I am certainly starting to see some results.

Ditch the scales - they don't work for us lifters :-)

Find a new pair of jeans you want to fit into instead and make that your goal - good luck.

Add me as a friend if you like as it sounds like we have similar goals.

crisanderson27

Welcome Amber!!

Awesome to have another woman lifter around here!!

Might I direct you to another thread??

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/681920-strength-training-pr-s-brag-about-your-success

Also:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/665012-freakin-deadlifts

I think you'll enjoy them .

aamberrr

I've also recently started NROL4W and I love it! Check out the story in this link. If it doesn't help you to realize that worrying about what the scale reads is a big waste of time, I don't know what will.

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

I came across this link on another MYP post from last Fall. I think every woman should read it! Good luck!

Wowwww thank you for that article! Amazing! I'm sharing this with my sister (who also has started lifting heavy ).

aamberrr

Welcome Amber!!

Awesome to have another woman lifter around here!!

Might I direct you to another thread??

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/681920-strength-training-pr-s-brag-about-your-success

Also:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/665012-freakin-deadlifts

I think you'll enjoy them .

Thanks

taso42

Love it. I wish I started 2 decades ago. I do mainly compound lifts. Currently following Wendler's 5/3/1.

ahealthy4u

Weight Lifting, and Cardio 7 days a week here if I can I don't like missing a day in the gym I aslo do weight training in the water as well Love it.. Along with Jazzercise classes as well. Always have done a lot of weight training.

teinepalagi

I LOVE!!!! NROLFW. I'm currently about to start Stage 3. I have definitely seen great definition in my arms......

RobynMWilson

You have to remember that when you're lifting, you muscles are retaining water for muscle repair. I like the idea of throwing the scale out, personally lol. I just finished ChaLEAN Extreme a couple of weeks ago (my profile pic is 2/3 of the way thru that program) and I just started P90X this week. I've seen better results with lifting than I did in YEARS being a cardio addict. That all being said...can you have someone hide for scale and only take it out once a month for weigh ins? You will start losing again but more importantly you're hopefully losing body fat and replacing it with lean muscle. Have you done body fat and tape measurements?

sjohnny

Love it. Wish I had kept up with it instead of stopping two decades ago.

JennyZD

We need more women like you. Feel free to add me, I train with a powerlifting champion, so it's lift hard or go home:)

Goal_Line

After the summer I'm going to finish New Rules, but thanks for the suggestion! I was wondering what to do after I finish the New Rules program.

I'm doing New Rules for Men. I don't know what's in the women's book, but they have a full year of workout in it.

As for your earlier question. I still do a lot of cardio, nearly everyday and lift 3 or 4 times a week. I'v got about 6 more lbs (of fat I'm tracking lean mass carefully) to go and I'll cut back on the cardio a bit, but I don't see myself stopping lifting - it's turned the clock back on my middle aged body.

aamberrr

You have to remember that when you're lifting, you muscles are retaining water for muscle repair. I like the idea of throwing the scale out, personally lol. I just finished ChaLEAN Extreme a couple of weeks ago (my profile pic is 2/3 of the way thru that program) and I just started P90X this week. I've seen better results with lifting than I did in YEARS being a cardio addict. That all being said...can you have someone hide for scale and only take it out once a month for weigh ins? You will start losing again but more importantly you're hopefully losing body fat and replacing it with lean muscle. Have you done body fat and tape measurements?

I haven't done measurements, but I think I'm going to just to see how I progress. How frequently do you take measurements after the initial first time?

AABru

I've been lifting weights since I was 10...have always loved it. Power lifted through high school and college. Trained a high school power lifting team (and won at state several years) for 5 years before I had kids...and then nothing. lol. I would lift on and off but didn't get serious about lifting again until this past year. I tried p90x, and really liked that, but it took FOREVER to complete one workout (it was hard to find an hour and half everyday). I circuit trained through the school year (also a teacher), and am half way through stage one of new rules for women...I like that I can do a whole workout in about 30 minutes. If I walk to the gym, I have a complete workout! And I love to feel strong...now if I could just get the meathead off of the seated rowing machine while he is between sets, life would be beautiful!

JennyZD

Once a month, measurements are more important than the scale

You have to remember that when you're lifting, you muscles are retaining water for muscle repair. I like the idea of throwing the scale out, personally lol. I just finished ChaLEAN Extreme a couple of weeks ago (my profile pic is 2/3 of the way thru that program) and I just started P90X this week. I've seen better results with lifting than I did in YEARS being a cardio addict. That all being said...can you have someone hide for scale and only take it out once a month for weigh ins? You will start losing again but more importantly you're hopefully losing body fat and replacing it with lean muscle. Have you done body fat and tape measurements?

I haven't done measurements, but I think I'm going to just to see how I progress. How frequently do you take measurements after the initial first time?

IronPlayground

I stopped weighing a few months ago. I don't even think about the scale anymore. I'm currently doing StongLifts 5x5. I've been at it for about 12 weeks. I'm reading about Wendler 5/3/1 and am wanting to switch to that soon.

wookiemouse

I just finished ChaLEAN Extreme a couple of weeks ago (my profile pic is 2/3 of the way thru that program) and I just started P90X this week. I've seen better results with lifting than I did in YEARS being a cardio addict.

I SO agree! Chalean Extreme was my "gateway drug" to weightlifting. The year I did that - first coupled with C25K, then with Turbofire - I only lost 8 lbs (stupid, stupid scale) but I dropped from a size 8/10 to a size 4. HUGE difference. I still pull out that scale now and I DON'T KNOW WHY! I eat clean, I stay at my cut value daily for calories, and my workout routine is set. There is NO WAY I can possibly gain weight yet I still drag that thing out. Argh. What is wrong with me???

Anyways, I have NROLFW but have just read it for general info, I haven't followed any routines yet. I've done CLX and P90X in the past. Right now I'm doing Cathe's Shock Training System (STS) which is a 4 month heavy weight program which I luuuuv.....Mon is shoulders, chest and triceps, Wed is legs, Fri is back and biceps, each routine is an hour. First mesocycle focuses on endurance, I'm in mesocycle 2 now which focuses on hypertrophy....Cathe is a fan of drop sets and trisets which makes me super happy and a nice change from the usual routines. I do some minimal cardio on Tu/Th (an hour or less) and that's it. I tried adding in a quick 30 min run after my weight routines and my body pretty much flipped out on me. So back to less cardio.

After this, I'm going on to P90X2. Love my weights!!!! I just wish my forearms would toughen up already! I can go much, much heavier on deadlifts and squats but my forearms give out before my legs do. I'm using a 20 lb weight vest on squats and lunges so I can back off on my dumbbells to 35 lbs, which is just really sad.

MisterDubs303

Also, there's a group for that:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/807-strength-training

smksapper

So happy to see this! I started reading The New Rules of Lifting for Women in late May. My husband goes to the Y with me and we do the workouts (he modifies his a bit since he can lift more.) He asked me to not weigh myself the first few weeks to give myself time to see a difference before freaking out about the scale which was a fantastic idea - now I'm hooked and I get it! I'm on phase 1 and opted to do the higher amount of workouts before moving on to phase 2.

I haven't been watching my calories much since summer started but got back to it this week and have been logging. I've lost about 4 lbs since May BUT am fitting into some clothes I couldn't wear out in public before I started the lifting.

Also, saw the Nerd Fitness reference in a link someone posted a few comments up - GREAT sight I love that they support heavy lifting for women.

I'm going to check out the links to the groups here. Just wanted to say HI and happy to read this!

Going4Lean

I like compound lifts, but i cant stick to any of the programs myself

hark15

This is great stuff!! I recently started kickboxing but want to get back into heavy lifting on alternate days - seems like the benefits are pretty clear! Maybe I'll check out the New Rules of Lifting for Women!! I'm going to check out some of the links on here once my trial is over and try to learn more as I make the final push towards my wedding

aamberrr

This is great stuff!! I recently started kickboxing but want to get back into heavy lifting on alternate days - seems like the benefits are pretty clear! Maybe I'll check out the New Rules of Lifting for Women!! I'm going to check out some of the links on here once my trial is over and try to learn more as I make the final push towards my wedding

You should DEFINITELY check out NROLFW! It gave such great info on lifting and diet, and I love the workouts. It really focuses on total body exercises that make sense based on how the human body is designed to move/the things you do everyday (for example, it talks about how tricep kickbacks are really unnecessary because when in real life do you ever push something behind you? and triceps can be worked out in other ways that actually compliment the things you do in everyday life.)

I totally recommend it. Also, when is you wedding? Mine is next summer.

QueenGorgo

I love lifting more than puppies. I love weight lifting more than Jello Pudding pops. I love weight lifting more than a double rainbow with a pot of Gold and a crazzy effin hot Leprechaun at the end of it....the best part of my day is when I wake up and I go to the gym..I'm going to bed early tonight so I can go to sleep- so I can wake up and go to the gym...

*sigh* more than cheesecake, porkchops, or sprial cut ham...

But not bacon...let's not get crazy

findingme07

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