Weights Help !!!!!

misspancakes

Ok, so I I have a gym membership and doing a mixture of Carido and Weights Mon - Fri...

On monday, I cannot get to the weight machines as there is a circuit class who utilise the machines, same with Friday.

So I really only have Tues, Wed and Thurs on the weights.

I am wondering HOW many reps and sets you think I need to do to make a difference.

Jo2926

Have the gym given you any type of programme?

I'm not an expert by a long way, so not sure about how many sets and reps you should do, but I do know you don;t have to use machines. Dumbells will do very nicely, and I assume these are available all the time?

Or you could join the class!

meshashesha2012

use free weights .

check out new rules of lifting for women, strong lifts or starting strength

Sarauk2sf

use free weights .

check out new rules of lifting for women, strong lifts or starting strength

^^this. It will be more effective for you to follow a program if you have never lifted before. They go through the 'hows' on the lifts in detail.

AnninStPaul

use free weights .

check out new rules of lifting for women, strong lifts or starting strength

^^this. It will be more effective for you to follow a program if you have never lifted before. They go through the 'hows' on the lifts in detail.

and since the gym's class schedule is making it difficult for you, and I doubt they're compensating you for the inconvenience, I would try to convince them to throw in several training sessions on how to use the free weights

BusyRaeNOTBusty

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary

LorinaLynn

Really, what they said. Go for the free weights.

I putzed around on machines for a year, and while it was an improvement over doing mostly cardio (and doing cardio was an improvement over being a couch potato), I was absolutely flabbergasted at the changes that have happened to my body since switching to free weights, and even more after starting Stronglifts.

Two months of free weights: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/744311-free-weights-vs-machines-holy-crap

Two months of Stronglifts: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/798545-end-of-week-8-update

obsidianwings

I agree, use free weights. You could start with a program like "new rules of lifting for women" its compound lifts though, so its only 3 days a week, and would require you to have rest days in between rather than 3 days in a row.