lifting weights at home

tschaff04
tschaff04 Posts: 296 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am going to add weight lifting(or at least try) into my daily routine at home. What weight would you suggest I use to start and how many different weights do I need. If a few which weights would you recommend for someone starting off?
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Replies

  • gatorginger
    gatorginger Posts: 947 Member
    bump
  • CrisN99
    CrisN99 Posts: 159 Member
    I really like ChaLean Extreme, by beachbody. She is really funny (if a little dated) and motivational. They only go about 35-40 minutes and fly by.

    You can even do the workouts with resistance bands if you don't want to buy the weights. I have done it with both but prefer dumbbells.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I am going to add weight lifting(or at least try) into my daily routine at home. What weight would you suggest I use to start and how many different weights do I need. If a few which weights would you recommend for someone starting off?

    Go to a store where they sell weights and try them out. That will give you an idea of how much is heavy enough for you as well as helping you with pricing.
  • nuttyduffy
    nuttyduffy Posts: 255 Member
    I lift at home & I've got the following:

    0.5, 1, 2, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 & 12.5kg

    I started off fairly light but am now getting heavier!

    Hope that helps :smile:

    Edited to add I'm in the UK hence kg's & not lbs!
  • karensoxfan
    karensoxfan Posts: 902 Member
    I'd get a set of adjustable dumbbells to start. I'd also buy an adjustable bench & swiss ball, and check out some of the lifts in New Rules of Lifting for Women (NROLFW) which has a group here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/102-new-rules-of-lifting-for-women-nrol4w

    NROLFW calls for some barbell & cable lifts too, but they can be modified to use dumbbells, esp. for beginners.
  • bpotts44
    bpotts44 Posts: 1,066 Member
    Look on craigslist and get some there. And check out www.nerdfitness.com and www.scoobysworkshop.com for workout routines.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    craigslist.com

    look for an olympic barbell + weights.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    craigslist.com

    look for an olympic barbell + weights.

    +1
  • gaston095
    gaston095 Posts: 24
    What about bodyweight? you don't need to jump into weights yet :)
  • khl84
    khl84 Posts: 11 Member
    I just bought some kettlebells....10 and 15lbs. I will get a heavier one soon but at least I can work on my form while lifting some weight.
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    I lift at home - Chalean Xtreme, stronglifts (boring! ) and what ever else...I have adjustable dumbells (the most versatile I think) - up to 50lbs - currently deadlifitng with those so will need heavier soon... But I also do kettlebells - up to 25lbs...
    Start with what is heavy for you - and work from there...Go try out a few and look at some programs - I can definitely reccomend Chalean Xtreme - it's easy to learn and she is a seriously good instructor........
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I started with an inexpensive bench and barbell set from Sears for around $100 with about 80 pounds in weights. Then bought some 2.5 and 5 pound plates so I could increase a little more gradually. Then bought a some more plates. Then had to buy a new barbell. Now I can go up to about 170 pounds. It'll at least last me until I finish Stronglifts.

    I would have rathered go from Craigslist, but any listing was in some far-flung location with photos that looked like they were taken in Buffalo Bill's Chamber of Horrors, and I don't want to put the lotion on the skin. Between the money I'd spend on gas getting there and the risk to my personal safety, I'm opting to keep an eye out for sales at Sears and Dick's.

    But I've spent about the same amount in the past 6 months as I would have spent on membership fees at the gym, which didn't have free weights, so I'm not complaining. :smile:
  • oOMusicBabii
    oOMusicBabii Posts: 494
    I am buying what I need to start lifting at home (starting after the new year). I'm going to follow New Rules of Lifting for Women (was a good read, seems easy to follow and gets rave reviews from people).

    I have a pair of dumbbell handles and 4 x 2.5 lb plates (all standard) for under $15. I will be purchasing some 5 and 10 lb plates (probably going to spend around $50-$75 on these) as well as a barbell in the near future. Should last me some time before I need to buy more 10 lb and some 25 lb plates.
  • yecatsml
    yecatsml Posts: 180 Member
    i got all of my weights and bench off Craigslist. There is also a couple used fitness places around me that I plan on hitting for more weights (.50/lb) this weekend as I've maxed out my current set
  • kaaaayla
    kaaaayla Posts: 91 Member
    if you're just trying to tone up and not bulk up, i'd use light weights (2 or 3 lbs) with lots of reps. I do a bunch of Jillian Michaels dvds for toning, and she only uses 3 lbs and she's wayyyyy in shape! She says it's better to use low weight and high reps.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    I went by my local Goodwill regularly. I should have gotten the bench when I saw it, but didn't. I did manage to score a curl bar and about 150lbs worth of plates for extremely cheap.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    if you're just trying to tone up and not bulk up, i'd use light weights (2 or 3 lbs) with lots of reps. I do a bunch of Jillian Michaels dvds for toning, and she only uses 3 lbs and she's wayyyyy in shape! She says it's better to use low weight and high reps.

    That's a myth. You will not bulk up, you will just lose fat and look fitter. It's okay to start with the smaller dumbbells if it's accompanying cardio, but you really need to read up on actual lifting programs, not just adding weight to cardio.

    Stronglifts 5x5
    Starting Strength
    New Rules of Lifting for Women
  • oOMusicBabii
    oOMusicBabii Posts: 494
    if you're just trying to tone up and not bulk up, i'd use light weights (2 or 3 lbs) with lots of reps. I do a bunch of Jillian Michaels dvds for toning, and she only uses 3 lbs and she's wayyyyy in shape! She says it's better to use low weight and high reps.

    That's a myth. You will not bulk up, you will just lose fat and look fitter. It's okay to start with the smaller dumbbells if it's accompanying cardio, but you really need to read up on actual lifting programs, not just adding weight to cardio.

    Stronglifts 5x5
    Starting Strength
    New Rules of Lifting for Women
    Also adding to this a lovely thread about the topic! http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/814313-why-women-dont-but-should-lift-weights
  • Spanaval
    Spanaval Posts: 1,200 Member
    craigslist.com

    look for an olympic barbell + weights.

    This. An olympic barbell weighs 40, and that should be a good starting point for something like Stronglifts.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    if you're just trying to tone up and not bulk up, i'd use light weights (2 or 3 lbs) with lots of reps. I do a bunch of Jillian Michaels dvds for toning, and she only uses 3 lbs and she's wayyyyy in shape! She says it's better to use low weight and high reps.

    That's a myth. You will not bulk up, you will just lose fat and look fitter. It's okay to start with the smaller dumbbells if it's accompanying cardio, but you really need to read up on actual lifting programs, not just adding weight to cardio.

    Stronglifts 5x5
    Starting Strength
    New Rules of Lifting for Women

    Agreed! I did not start getting results that I wanted until I started lifting heavier. You do realize that Jillian works out off set, right? She didn't get the way she looks by just doing 30 day shred with 3 lb dumbbells.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,328 Member
    craigslist.com

    look for an olympic barbell + weights.

    +1

    Agreed, if you want good weights, and Olympic barbell, and a bench would be a good place to start. At the very least realize you will need something at least as heavy as your purse, probably heavier.
  • TooHott2Trott
    TooHott2Trott Posts: 57 Member
    Bump!
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    As for the amount of weight, you should be lifting enough weight to make something in the 5-8 reps range a challenge.

    As for programming, the tried and true beginner programs are Starting Strength or StrongLifts 5x5. New Rules of Lifting For Women gets honorable mention.

    As for equipment, the gold standard would be a power rack, bench, olympic bar, and set of plates. This is a rather large and space-consuming amount of equipment to acquire, therefore a decent compromise would be a set of adjustable dumbbells (I recommend something that is expandable to 90 or 120 lbs, as you will quickly grow out of the cheap 50 lbs ones), and a bench.

    Good luck. Hope you get as much pleasure and progress out of it as I have.
  • FluroFaye
    FluroFaye Posts: 130
    Depending how strong you are, I would start off at 2 or 5kg <3 If you're doing 2, do about 15 reps. 5? Do about 5 reps :) Best bet is to go to a shop, see what you can lift ONCE and then half that weight to get something you can do 5 reps with. For me at the moment that's 5kg.
  • treatingmybodyright
    treatingmybodyright Posts: 184 Member
    If you're an at-home exerciser, I can't recommend enough the usefulness of adjustable weights. We have an expensive Nautilus set that goes up to 55 lbs. each, and a less expensive set that goes up to 25 lbs. I think kettlebells are also phenomenal and perhaps some bands. There are tons of free workout programs on the web, so crank the music and get lifting!
  • brianyeager
    brianyeager Posts: 44
    I use a Powertec rack (http://www.amazon.com/PowerTec-WB-PR11-Powertec-Power-Workbench/dp/B00574S394/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354816296&sr=8-1&keywords=powertec+power+rack), a weight bench, and I have 700lbs of olympic weight plates. For dumbbells I use Bowflex SelectTech 552. I started out with as much weight I could do for 8 reps for each workout (bench press, incline press, overhead press, dumbbell flies, curls, triceps extensions, etc.). When I can do that weight for 3 sets of 12 reps, I increase the weight. It has worked well for me. Good luck! Work hard and you'll enjoy the results.
  • Jtorres326
    Jtorres326 Posts: 157 Member
    If you're an at-home exerciser, I can't recommend enough the usefulness of adjustable weights. We have an expensive Nautilus set that goes up to 55 lbs. each, and a less expensive set that goes up to 25 lbs. I think kettlebells are also phenomenal and perhaps some bands. There are tons of free workout programs on the web, so crank the music and get lifting!

    I second the adjustable weights. I finally invested in a pair of Select Techs and it has to be the single best piece of workout equipment I've ever bought. I use them for chalean extreme and it's working fantastically for me. I know they can be expensive, but wait for sales. Got mine onsale at Amazon.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    I use a Powertec rack (http://www.amazon.com/PowerTec-WB-PR11-Powertec-Power-Workbench/dp/B00574S394/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354816296&sr=8-1&keywords=powertec+power+rack), a weight bench, and I have 700lbs of olympic weight plates. For dumbbells I use Bowflex SelectTech 552. I started out with as much weight I could do for 8 reps for each workout (bench press, incline press, overhead press, dumbbell flies, curls, triceps extensions, etc.). When I can do that weight for 3 sets of 12 reps, I increase the weight. It has worked well for me. Good luck! Work hard and you'll enjoy the results.

    :cry: ... *wants power rack*
  • Siekobilly
    Siekobilly Posts: 401 Member
    My rig is in my pictures (I think it's open). I use a FitnessGear mid-width bench from ****'s Sporting Goods, which they no longer sell, but with my rig a utility bench would probably be better. With that I also purchased a FitnessGear olympic barbell with 255lbs in weights (total of 300lbs). To round out the rig I purchased a Valor Athletics BD-6 Safety rack http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TJCHC0/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&redirect=true

    This pretty much lets me do any workout I need., and all-in-all it wasn't too expensive. As for what workouts to do, I'd recommend StrongLifts 5x5, or the other one...always forget what it's called.
  • tschaff04
    tschaff04 Posts: 296 Member
    What about bodyweight? you don't need to jump into weights yet :)

    I am actively working on losing my last 25-30 pounds but I want to incorporate weights into that slowly. I feel like I need to build a good core under what fat is left so I can be more fit. I do other forms of working out as well but haven't tried lifting. :)

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