Welcome!

Welcome, I'm 48 and have a similar amount to lose. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. It's great that your training with your husband. I train with my son and I find it very helpful to have somebody else with me to check my form. We ended up joining one of the cheaper gyms because it was the only one with a power rack. I hope you enjoy getting stronger!

I just started too and did 35kg squats, 15kg bench press and 20kg barbell rows. What kind of weight did you use? I'd like to see if I'm doing it heavy enough!

**EDIT** I just used the barbells with the weights already attached so these numbers do not have the extra weight of the olympian bar**

Thanks everybody! I'm excited too! nd yes, it is great to have a workout buddy. But...that first workout really traumatized my husband! LOL Don't get me wrong, my legs are sore too. But I've been doing other workouts; he hasn't worlked out since February. And he thought that because we did squats with only the bar that it wouldn't be much to it. WRONG!! He is crying like a baby and wondering if he'll be able to do squats tomorrow morning! So yes, this should be an adventure. :-)

I sure wish we could find a cheape gym with the free weights we need. We're still searching. But if we can't find one by the end of this week, I guess we'll have to bite the bullet with Gold's.

Happy lifting everybody!

Your profile says Bolling AFB. What about the base gym?? If not them, Andrews has 2 gyms - best of all they are FREE!! Traffic is a bear though.

Hi Everyone!

I have a question. I just did my first workout yesterday, with the 45/45/65 recommendation. I was not able to complete the 5x5 on any of the 3 exercises. I DID use the smith machine for squats and bench presses...

I KNOW that's bad. But I am scared (quite petrified, actually) to leave the womens area, and us lowly, weak women don't get a squat or a power rack. This means I would have to go out to the main area of the gym, and that thought alone makes me want to return to the 30 Day Shred.

I have actually been lifing for a while now - but I have not really been able to make any progress, or get any stronger. I always seem to get to failure before I *think* I should (I started with NROLFW). I have a sneaking suspicion that this is due to my form. Which is why I have set up an appointment with a personal trainer for next Wednesday. I am hoping he will MAKE me go to the racks and throw on some weight.

But, until I can have him watch and correct my form, should I continue TRYING, or should I just hold off until next week?

Well, on the squats, on the 5th set, 5th rep, I couldn't stand back up after I got into the squat. I was losing form, my feet were coming off the ground, I couldn't keep my knees straight, I just... couldn't get up. 5,5,5,5,4

On the Bench Press, same thing. Once I got it down, I couldn't push it back up... my arms were shaking, and I thought I was going to drop it on my head... On that one, I got 5, 5, 4,5,3.

On the Rows, by the 4th set, I couldnt lift the weight using just my arms... I was lifting completely up. Instead of staying bent over, my back was straightening, and my shoulders were rising... 5,5,5,4,2

I just looked at my records. My first try looked like this:

Squat: 45 lb bar, 5 sets, 5 reps each
Bench Press: 45 lb bar, 3 sets, 5 reps each, 1 set 4 reps, 1 set 3 reps
Bent over barbell row: 30 lb bar, 5 sets, 5 reps

First time on overhead press:

Overhead Press - This was the first time I was trying this exercise. I tried it with the olympic (45 lb) bar, but I only did 3 reps and I think my form was off on the last rep. So, I went to the half-rack* and used the 30 lb bar. 4 sets of 5 reps. I'll go to 35 lbs next time.

So, I couldn't even row with the 45 lb bar to begin with, and it took a couple of tries to get to 5x5 on the bench.

While you're at the low weight, do pay attention to your form, and if your form is failing don't count the rep.

Hi Everyone!

I have a question. I just did my first workout yesterday, with the 45/45/65 recommendation. I was not able to complete the 5x5 on any of the 3 exercises. I DID use the smith machine for squats and bench presses...

I KNOW that's bad. But I am scared (quite petrified, actually) to leave the womens area, and us lowly, weak women don't get a squat or a power rack. This means I would have to go out to the main area of the gym, and that thought alone makes me want to return to the 30 Day Shred.

I have actually been lifing for a while now - but I have not really been able to make any progress, or get any stronger. I always seem to get to failure before I *think* I should (I started with NROLFW). I have a sneaking suspicion that this is due to my form. Which is why I have set up an appointment with a personal trainer for next Wednesday. I am hoping he will MAKE me go to the racks and throw on some weight.

But, until I can have him watch and correct my form, should I continue TRYING, or should I just hold off until next week?

I have never been scared of mucking in with the grunters (men's section)...I am not sure what would help you other than saying the usual everyone has to start somewhere and the guys actually are not looking at you (they do if you lift heavy and right though) in any kind of way (heck some of the guys are out of shape too). Maybe go with someone or get a male friend or trainer in the gym to spot you. Or even a female friend, if they are so inclined. At my gym if you need help, you just call one of the three or so gym hands to help (even if it is just to ask a question).

Are you eating enough? Stupid question, but if you aren't putting the calories in, the body will respond accordingly and let you know that the muscle does not have enough fuel to lift that heavy weight. I do not think (from personal experience) that you can make big strength gains and lean mass gains if you are not eating enough protein for one...it might be your state of mind, I kind of have to work myself up a little mentally to lift the heavier stuff...it might be your form...not sure, but the major thing I can see from your post is your fear to be in the men's section and hence the fear to lift heavy...we are strong women, we can lift heavy and it does wonders for our feminine bodies...