Questions about Women Lifting Heavy

RachyLovesRattys

Hey all! I've been working on my health/fitness/weight loss for about 120 days so far (YAY!!) I've only lost about 15 pounds, but all my friends and family say they can see the difference. I sort of can...but it's not really where I wanted to be 120 days in.

The last few weeks, I've been eating above my calories off and on (lots of birthday's and family events lately) which sucks but has been sort of unavoidable.

Also, on a regular basis, I do yoga and go for 5-6 hour hikes (a few times a week).

Anyways....I've always been one to "lift heavy" in my opinion. I always said I'd rather be strong than skinny- and if I could be both well BOOM! :P

My real question here is...what is the definition of "lifting heavy" really? I've seen some sites say that 20 pounds is heavy for a woman...which is a complete joke to me. I currently do about 200 pounds on the leg press machine, 75 pounds for the lateral arm raise, 80 on my thighs, 60 on my chest press...etc. And I do these for as many reps as possible until I literally cannot anymore. Then the next day, I try and do the next higher weight--if I can, I continue- If I can't, I go back to what I was doing the day before.

Are these heavy weights? I don't feel like they are. For some reason I think of heavy as me throwing an "atlas stone" around the room lol. I'd love to know opinions of others on here!

Also, I don't deadlift or anything (YET!- though i've always wanted to try!) because I feel I'd like someone to guide me into the proper form and whatnot before I throw my back out.

I'm also 4 foot 11 and about 123 pounds Thank you all for answering!!

JenMc14

Imho, "heavy" is relative to the person. What's heavy for me will not be heavy for my husband. I consider a weight that fatigues my muscles in less than 10 reps to be "heavy" (for me). Right now I'm doing a program that has 5 reps per set. My last set is often a struggle. Today, where I went up in weight on my bench, I only got 65 for 1 rep, I'd consider that "lifting heavy", even though 65 is probably less than what my husband/other lifters uses for a warm-up set.

BonaFideUK

lifting heavy is entirely relative to the person who is lifting. I'd say if you struggle to do 5 or 6 reps of an exercise then you're lifting heavy.

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

Imho, "heavy" is relative to the person. What's heavy for me will not be heavy for my husband. I consider a weight that fatigues my muscles in less than 10 reps to be "heavy" (for me). Right now I'm doing a program that has 5 reps per set. My last set is often a struggle. Today, where I went up in weight on my bench, I only got 65 for 1 rep, I'd consider that "lifting heavy", even though 65 is probably less than what my husband/other lifters uses for a warm-up set.

This.

My boyfriend can easily hit one plate on bench as his warm up where I'm struggling with 105 as my max. But then we go over to the power rack and I hit my squats 5x5 two plate and he can hardly do the bar :laugh:

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Yes, you are already lifting heavy.

However I'd recommend a good program like Strong Lifts.

Crankstr

You need to visit this thread...it is part 2....you can go back to part 1 if you like what you are reading!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/979178-halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky

RachyLovesRattys

Thank you so much everyone!! :flowerforyou:

Good to know at least i'm on the right track regardless! I wouldn't say the weight I'm doing fatigues me at only 10 reps, so I may need it up it more. But it definitely fatigues me by 20 reps so I must be close!

And, like you said, considering it's a lot for such a small person--I don't feel so bad now!

Also, I've heard a lot of people talking about StrongLifts and saying good things--I'm definitely going to look into it!! Any recommendations with the program??

MercenaryNoetic26

Sounds like you're doin' great so far! I applaud that you're going to have someone help you with proper form when doing deadlifts, bench and squats.

Yes, heavy is relative to the individual. I agree. Never underestimate yourself. You can be tiny AND strong as hell :bigsmile: