A LADY WHO LIFTS - 1 year of progress! (pics)

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Replies

  • BlueInkDot
    BlueInkDot Posts: 702 Member
    You look PHENOMENAL.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    Thanks for sharing your transformation, amazing. :flowerforyou:
  • AmandaAguilar_13
    AmandaAguilar_13 Posts: 1 Member
    Wow you look great! You are truly and inspiration and I will definitely take a look at "The New Rules of Lifting for Women". As you have shown in your pictures, hard work definitely pays off!! (: Amazing job!
  • grabenson7
    grabenson7 Posts: 88
    You look very good, and have done lots of work there a very big well done there, hope you dont bulk your self up too much remember your a lady.
  • fittiephd
    fittiephd Posts: 608 Member
    OP, were you completely self-taught or did you have some help from a trainer or anyone? I ask because I would probably hire someone for a bit because I'm scared of injury.

    Also, which took you longer per workout, SL or NROLFW?

    Hey! Originally I was self taught, I looked at videos and read instructions and asked questions on forums for guidance. I can definitely see the benefit of having a trainer show you how to do the correct form for one or two sessions but I'd be wary that the trainer you hire will know the form guidance you need. I eventually did get some form tips from a friend of mine who I trust a few months ago and also recently I went to a lifting-only gym where some powerlifters who really know their stuff gave me some extra pointers for some little things I was doing wrong that helped a lot. I've always moved very slowly in increasing my weights for lifts to try to maintain the best form I can and make sure to prevent injury. I've seen a lot of examples where women meet with trainers and ask for guidance on form for a specific workout and then the trainers say "oh don't do that you'll get bulky from lifting heavy do these bodyweight exercises and cardio instead". Which is fine for some (and no you won't get bulky), but if you want to lift heavy make sure you stand your ground and say no I'd please like form guidance.

    NROLFW takes much longer per workout than stronglifts does. Stronglifts I can sometimes get in and out of the gym in 40 min or less including stretching at the beginning and end, adding isolation moves to the end of the workout and doing ab work and 1 min rests between sets. Depends on if there are wait lines for the racks hah! NROLFW has much longer workouts, especailly because it adds cardio in after every other workout starting in stage 2, so that adds another 15 min.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    OP, were you completely self-taught or did you have some help from a trainer or anyone? I ask because I would probably hire someone for a bit because I'm scared of injury.

    Also, which took you longer per workout, SL or NROLFW?

    Hey! Originally I was self taught, I looked at videos and read instructions and asked questions on forums for guidance. I can definitely see the benefit of having a trainer show you how to do the correct form for one or two sessions but I'd be wary that the trainer you hire will know the form guidance you need. I eventually did get some form tips from a friend of mine who I trust a few months ago and also recently I went to a lifting-only gym where some powerlifters who really know their stuff gave me some extra pointers for some little things I was doing wrong that helped a lot. I've always moved very slowly in increasing my weights for lifts to try to maintain the best form I can and make sure to prevent injury. I've seen a lot of examples where women meet with trainers and ask for guidance on form for a specific workout and then the trainers say "oh don't do that you'll get bulky from lifting heavy do these bodyweight exercises and cardio instead". Which is fine for some (and no you won't get bulky), but if you want to lift heavy make sure you stand your ground and say no I'd please like form guidance.

    NROLFW takes much longer per workout than stronglifts does. Stronglifts I can sometimes get in and out of the gym in 40 min or less including stretching at the beginning and end, adding isolation moves to the end of the workout and doing ab work and 1 min rests between sets. Depends on if there are wait lines for the racks hah! NROLFW has much longer workouts, especailly because it adds cardio in after every other workout starting in stage 2, so that adds another 15 min.

    Thanks! I've already had a trainer at the gym say some dumb things, so I know to be fussy! Time will always be an issue for me, so I think SL will be the one.
  • HappyGrape
    HappyGrape Posts: 436 Member
    Smashing! You did not look bad before at all but now you really look fantastic - well done anjoy looking superfit!
  • Martucha123
    Martucha123 Posts: 1,089 Member
    fantastic job!
    this is probably the best recomp I have seen on MFP
  • holly273
    holly273 Posts: 84 Member
    Hey, this looks AWESOME, I really want to start lifting heavy on some sort of program...I've done Body Pump for a few months and worked with free weights alone a few times but no real program, and it's all been while eating at a deficit, and doing lots of cardio. Now I'm at about 135ish lbs (I'm 5'7) and I thinkkkk I'd like to be somewhere between 125 and 130...but I'm more worried about how I look than a number on the scale. My question is would you recommend starting a program while eating at a deficit (knowing that muscle gains will be tiny or nonexistent) until I'm at the weight I'd like? Or just eating at maintenance and starting a program before trying to cut down any more weight? Or (scary - I don't think this is the best idea but it's what other people have told me) eating at a slight surplus for a while to start lifting? Basically, what calorie levels will change my body composition faster?
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    You look fantastic! Great work!
  • herebeeri
    herebeeri Posts: 39 Member
    OP - you look incredible and are a massive inspiration. I'm looking to get NROLFW, join a gym and hire a trainer to help me start out but I am definitely nervous about doing it!
  • lizzy00125
    lizzy00125 Posts: 138
    Nice work. You look great. I started out with NROL as well. It is a great beginner book.
  • GiinaBeanxo
    GiinaBeanxo Posts: 15
    You look awesome. I love the definition of your back! Congrats
  • KatjaO
    KatjaO Posts: 71
    Wow, wow, and wow!

    I have easier time doing running and cardio. i love the high you get. But looking at your body - I need to start figuring out how to get high on weights!

    Just wow!
  • msvelvetheart
    msvelvetheart Posts: 28
    Wow I think this may be one of the best posts I have read in my life!!! This has just made me determined into getting into weights!!! Currently I've been trying to lose weight doing cardio and tiny bit of strength training, nothing much while eating low cal diet but then I reached a platuau which infuriated me to the point of tears as I was so angry that I was eating little but there seemed to be no point. I eventually pulled myself together a bit, upped my cals and started doing 30day shred everyday as some small cardio here and there. I'm almost finished and I've seen a little change. No weight loss but I expected it. Tiny inch loss which is good but I hoped for more. So I'm starting to get frustrated again and weight lifting just seems to constantly come up as the answer for me. I want muscles so I would be really excited to get into it!!! I just feel totally lost as a beginner though as I have no clue what to do and the names of lifts or what I'm capable of and what I should be doing. Anyways this post jut inspired me so much! And yes I have jiggly bits too! Even after weightloss which shows I definitely need to get into strength more!!!!! Wow thank you so much I'm so getting that book now!!!!!!!!
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    Great transformation. I would that all the anorexic girls would get the revelation that you did.. It is NOT about weight loss.. It is about FAT LOSS... You have done it by EATING and LIFTING... You have dropped body fat and increased lean mass and look great.. Nice job.. Look forward to seeing next year's pics.
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    Awesome work. The more people that see these kinds of results the better. Both men and women. So many people putting off strength training until after they lose weight or not planning on starting at all. Then not understanding why they are not seeing the results they want compared to the amount of work they are putting in.

    Again nice work, you look amazing.
  • Lambeze
    Lambeze Posts: 237
    You have done an amazing job
  • iliveintheshire
    iliveintheshire Posts: 76
    You look absolutely amazing. When I get closer to my goal weight, I totally want to get into New Rules now.
    Edit: I'm doing a lot of free strength training with every workout now, just nothing structured. Just thought I should clarify. Ha.
  • mq68
    mq68 Posts: 118 Member
    great progress! thank you for sharing! Love lifting! :)
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    You've made fantastic progress--looking great!

    I'm going to send my MFP friends to your thread, as I have a lot who are just getting interested in lifting.

    Thanks for answering all the great questions you've had--it was interesting to hear your thoughts on NROLFW vs. Stronglifts for a beginner. I feel like I'm always directing women towards Stronglifts or Starting Strength because I just find those programs so much simpler in design, and much more efficient. But I grew up with a stepdad who coached strength, so I was pretty comfortable with lifting and the guys in gyms, etc. I've encouraged other women to just get over these hang ups and lift, but if it helps to have NROLFW vs. SS or Stronglifts in the beginning, I'm definitely supportive of that.

    I should add that I've not done NROLFW, but I've read the book and liked it, for the most part.

    Best wishes with your continued lifting and your PhD! Exciting stuff. :flowerforyou:
  • lina011
    lina011 Posts: 427 Member
    you look fab:) i also enjoy lifting more than cardio.
  • spidey11186
    spidey11186 Posts: 141 Member
    Excellent work!! I saw this and went to go show a friend of mine on here... only to realize you know her too lol. I'll be pimping you out to others who doubt (because sadly, there are still many who don't understand)
  • tommygirl15
    tommygirl15 Posts: 1,012 Member
    Wow nice! You have a great body shape!
  • notworthstalking
    notworthstalking Posts: 531 Member
    You look like a fit and healthy young lady. Exactly the result women need to realise that lifting gives. Great job and I am glad you enjoy your workouts :)
  • iorahkwano
    iorahkwano Posts: 709 Member
    Congrats!!! You look amazing & you are inspiration for me to continue my lifts!
  • calisunrise
    calisunrise Posts: 307
    you look amazing. :)
  • Storm2685
    Storm2685 Posts: 16
    wow! you look incredible, so inspiring!
  • beki_c
    beki_c Posts: 1
    Hey, just wanted to say congrats for your results! You've obviously been working hard!
    I'm a lady who lifts as well and have been for a while, but I'm struggling to get the results I want!
    As per most women, it's my abs and my butt that I want to focus on!
    I'm unsure whether to put my weights up or not, or even how high to put them up!
    Any tips for a fellow lifter?
  • dbkrantz
    dbkrantz Posts: 138
    That is Amazing! You have had incredible results!

    I am just starting strength training and would like to start lifting at some point so you are an inspiration

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