Lady Lifters any advice for a novice.

Amy106Days

I have seen your amazing result photos in the forums. I have heard the advice to start lifting to lose weight and get healthy...and I am ready to give it a go.

What would you have wanted to know when you just started out?
Any equipment you can not live without?
How much time/ days per week should I be lifting in he beginning (is it best to allow for down time between lift days?
What is a good routine for 8 lb barbells with no bench...if there is one you recommend. Would you sub in an exercise ball for a bench?
Have you found a wealth of starting out information somewhere? If so you could direct me to the place that might answer all these questions.
Is this something I could feasibly do without ever having to join a gym? I am not anti-gym, just more of a penny pinching hermit.
I am terrified of over straining my neck, so any tips on form or positions to avoid?
Reminder I am a super novice to this (which is obvious from the questions).


About me:
Never really lifted anything but groceries. My boxing gym had a weight section but I avoided it beyond 25 lb kettlebells and a 15 lb bar used during circuit training. I can not manage a pull up. I can only do one real push up so far (up from zero 2 months ago but down from 15-25 before my injury) and I can only do 30 push ups from my knees in one go.

I made a pretty good run at getting fit a couple years ago that ended because I misaligned my cervical spine and pinched a nerve that lead into my left arm.(Not because of fitness. At work I tried to open a file drawer while leaning over from a seated position and wrenched my back/neck in a weird way when the drawer didn't budge as it was locked). I had to take it easy for a while (chiropractors orders) and then (once I got the all clear after 4 months) I just didn't feel like going back through all that endurance training and got lazy. My arm is okay now but I am hesitant to push too hard or to fast at anything or strain my neck because having less than 2 useful arms wasn't my favorite.

I have 5 lb barbells and 8 lb barbells that I borrowed off my mom. I use the 5 lb during cardio dvd workouts and am comfortable with that weight. 8lb in each hand does make a pretty good burn in my arms with simple exercises like bicep curls or chest flys done lying on my floor.
There is no place in my home to install pull up bar safely

Thanks for reading

IreneAdler221

Bump

vicrandom

Www.nerdfitness.com -- workouts on the cheap, with plenty of links showing what good form should look like (although I've done extra research on that to supplement, as not all the videos are great). And an an in-a-pinch alternative to pull up bars.