HALP! Heavy Lifting Made Me SUPAH Bulky!!!

middlehaitch

@RoseTheWarrior, you look wonderful.

As an aside, I really like the top you are wearing in your after pic

Cheers, h.

arditarose

@RoseTheWarrior That is an amazing transformation. May I ask your height, and I know it's personal...but I am curious as to your age range? You don't have to say.

Also, when you started 5x5 did you have any lifting experience previously? Did you start with a trainer or learn yourself?

RoseTheWarrior

@middlehaitch thank you!

@arditarose I'm 5'3", 47 years old. I'm not new to lifting. About 8-9 years ago I lost 96 lbs also doing lifting. Sadly ended up gaining it all back for various reasons. I've tried using trainers in the past with bad results so this time it's all me. If I'm going to try something new I just read up on it and/or watch a bunch of YouTube videos on form.

I should specify I didn't hurt my arm lifting. I actually got tennis elbow while playing tennis!

memathmfp

@RoseTheWarrior Wow! Your transformation is amazing!

Thank you to all of you who have shared your stories here. I'm just starting my weight training and I'm feeling so inspired by you all.

I'm 49, 5'5.5", and currently 201lbs. I've lost 66 lbs changing how I eat and doing yoga for strength and flexibility. Now I'm ready for the next level. Thanks for inspiring me!

sandflower81

shortchange1 wrote: »

Kerryatoon wrote: »

I'm just getting started in weight lifting but here is my progress so far. The first pics I was losing weight eating at a deficit and doing cardio.. 12 lbs later I'm doing a 5x5 program. I'm looking super bulky right?
FYI: I'm a breast cancer survivor without reconstruction.. if my scars offend you I'm so not sorry.

I'm so happy to see another woman that looks like me! I'm a breast cancer survivor who didn't do reconstruction either, but I'm still sporting my radiation tan and my scars aren't as faded as yours yet. Great job on your body!!

WOW hehehe I didn't even notice until I read your response. Just a beautiful and strong woman! Beautiful body.

jasperdog52554

Bump

tashantx

Kerryatoon wrote: »

I'm just getting started in weight lifting but here is my progress so far. The first pics I was losing weight eating at a deficit and doing cardio.. 12 lbs later I'm doing a 5x5 program. I'm looking super bulky right?
FYI: I'm a breast cancer survivor without reconstruction.. if my scars offend you I'm so not sorry.

You are my hero

tashantx

March 2015


July 2016
Let's talk about what lifting does for butts! I have a little more cellulite than the lighting shows in the after picture but I'm happy with how much my body has changed. I was so scared to lift at first but I'm so glad I did. I still have a long way to go . I'm so grateful for threads like this and all of you inspiring women!

jhnbwh

AWESOME........

Gallowmere1984

arditarose wrote: »

Roar. 19 year old me vs. 30 year old me

30 year old you could totally kick 19 year old you's *kitten*.

Well done.

gradchica27

Tonight at the gym these two ladies, whom I've noticed doing some seriously awesome lifting for a while now, complimented me on making my one armed dumbbell snatch look smooth and controlled and said they were impressed I was using 30lbs for it. It made my night! I've only been lifting for about 4 months, so it was a real confidence booster to get a pat on the back from some more experienced lifters.

So if you notice a new lady working hard for a while, maybe tell her you notice her kicking butt and make her night too

Kerryatoon

[/quote]

You are my hero[/quote]

Thank you!

diverjent

RoseTheWarrior wrote: »

@arditarose I'm 5'3", 47 years old. I'm not new to lifting. About 8-9 years ago I lost 96 lbs also doing lifting. Sadly ended up gaining it all back for various reasons. I've tried using trainers in the past with bad results so this time it's all me. If I'm going to try something new I just read up on it and/or watch a bunch of YouTube videos on form.

Thank you for sharing your experience with lifting. You look absolutely great!! I need to start!

arditarose

RoseTheWarrior wrote: »

@middlehaitch thank you!

@arditarose I'm 5'3", 47 years old. I'm not new to lifting. About 8-9 years ago I lost 96 lbs also doing lifting. Sadly ended up gaining it all back for various reasons. I've tried using trainers in the past with bad results so this time it's all me. If I'm going to try something new I just read up on it and/or watch a bunch of YouTube videos on form.

I should specify I didn't hurt my arm lifting. I actually got tennis elbow while playing tennis!

Thank you for answering! You look great.

jasperdog52554

I really want to start soon. I have a lot of weight to lose, 80lbs or so. I am unfamiliar with the weight room in the gym. Thinking of starting SL 5x5 or strong curves. I am a definite pear shape and want to shape my backside, but not lose it. Anyone have an opinion or advice? Also, what about calories? should i start at maintenance? small deficit?

slimcharm20

Same here @jasperdog52554 just trying to figure it all out! Good Luck!

jessiefrancine

jasperdog52554 wrote: »

I really want to start soon. I have a lot of weight to lose, 80lbs or so. I am unfamiliar with the weight room in the gym. Thinking of starting SL 5x5 or strong curves. I am a definite pear shape and want to shape my backside, but not lose it. Anyone have an opinion or advice? Also, what about calories? should i start at maintenance? small deficit?

If you want to lose 80 lbs, you should be eating at a deficit (set your MFP to lose 1/2 lb a week or whatever you're comfortable with). You can definitely still lift heavy on a deficit, and it's smart to start doing resistance training now while you're still losing. I started with Stronglifts about a year ago and it's been great. Very simple AND very effective. There is a great SL women's group here on MFP - find it and join it, even if you decide to do a different lifting program. But if losing weight is your main goal, you must must must eat at a deficit. If you eat at maintenance, you won't lose any body fat.

slimcharm20

@jessiefrancine your post wasn't for me.. but was very helpful, thank you!

jasperdog52554

amyrebeccah wrote: »

jasperdog52554 wrote: »

I really want to start soon. I have a lot of weight to lose, 80lbs or so. I am unfamiliar with the weight room in the gym. Thinking of starting SL 5x5 or strong curves. I am a definite pear shape and want to shape my backside, but not lose it. Anyone have an opinion or advice? Also, what about calories? should i start at maintenance? small deficit?

I have done both programs and my recommendation would be to start at SL 5x5 because there are fewer exercises to learn, and the ones you do learn give you great fundamentals for the variety that you find in Strong Curves. But either would be a good beginner program. If you do decide on SC, I would invest in the book--it's not expensive and there's some good detail in there. The SL program is available for free on pdf.

If you have 80 pounds to lose, you should continue to eat at a small deficit.

Thank you! That's what I was thinking too. Maybe I can get the hubs to do it with me. Although it would be funny to see him doing hip thrusts in the weight room! dying to know, how did your butt turnout after SC?

@jessiefrancine thank you!

@slimcharm20 I think we got some good advice today! Good luck

jasperdog52554

@amyrebeccah that would be awesome

slimcharm20

@jasperdog52554 Yes, thank you for asking the great question!

sophiemama

I've been reading this thread for years now. I check back in ever now and then to see who has posted an awesome picture. I'm not new to MFP but I am new to lifting. I've lost 40lbs with cardio, which I am incredibly proud of. It was hard work. But I'm a little squisher than I prefer. I've been lifting heavy for about a month now. My weight has stayed pretty much the same but I've lost 3.5 inches all together!! Lifting is so empowering. I'm the mother of two small children so finding time between naps and diaper changes is a challenge for me. With lifting I feel like I can accomplish more in a short amout of time compared to cardio. I think it's important to show the earlier stages of progress too. So I thought I would share. I obviously have work to do but I'm so excited!

MrsK20141004

Going to give this thread a bump because it deserves more love!

JenHuedy

sophiemama wrote: »

I've been reading this thread for years now. I check back in ever now and then to see who has posted an awesome picture. I'm not new to MFP but I am new to lifting. I've lost 40lbs with cardio, which I am incredibly proud of. It was hard work. But I'm a little squisher than I prefer. I've been lifting heavy for about a month now. My weight has stayed pretty much the same but I've lost 3.5 inches all together!! Lifting is so empowering. I'm the mother of two small children so finding time between naps and diaper changes is a challenge for me. With lifting I feel like I can accomplish more in a short amout of time compared to cardio. I think it's important to show the earlier stages of progress too. So I thought I would share. I obviously have work to do but I'm so excited!

Fabulous start! I can definitely see a difference!

JenHuedy

I've gotten so much inspiration from this thread over the time I've followed it. Now it's time to quit lurking and share.

I started SL 5x5 after losing about 80 lbs with walking & running (and calorie counting, of course!). I did the program as designed, except for a couple months over spring/summer when I dropped to 2x week and didn't add weight while training for a half marathon.

Aug 2015: 5'5", 148lbs/size 8
Current: 137, Size 4/6

I apologize for the bad pics. They're my first gym selfies!

batoolnabulsi

I wanna bulk too

batoolnabulsi

Awesome

RoseTheWarrior

@JenHuedy wow! Fabulous!!

memathmfp

@JenHuedy nicely done! I'm just starting my 5x5 journey after losing 65lbs. You give me hope that I might one day look that good!

memathmfp

Thanks to the inspiration I've gotten from this thread, I started my SL program last Friday. Woo hoo!

Does anyone else get excited for their next workout? Or is that just me? Because I'm heading to bed tonight thinking, "Yay! I get to lift tomorrow!"