no access to heavy weights. what do i do?

Body weight exercises are a good start. If you can't purchase a bar, plates, bench, rack, etc., I'd suggest getting some heavy resistance bands and modifying squats, bench, dead lifts, ben over rows and over head press for them.

I am just starting the first 10 week program of Mark Laurens "You are your own Gym." The book offers multiple body weight programs that show how to increase load with new exercises or adjusting the technique.

Since I am just starting, I cannot vouch for the success of the program! But, I have read through the book and I like what I see. You can pick it up online for $10/15.

body weight exercises are great! i purchased a set of dumbells that came with a barbell bar pretty cheap, that could be something to look into

It's no myth that you can reach all of your strength training goals with body weight exercises and a bare minimum of inexpensive props. Someone already mentioned "You are Your Own Gym" but "Body by You" by the same author is another great option for beginner/intermediate females. Kettlebells are another inexpensive option. Personally, I don't know why anyone chooses to spend tons of money and go to a gym when they don't have to, unless it's for social reasons in addition to fitness.

I also regret that I didn't have a clue about body weight exercises last summer when I bought a used Bowflex gym. I had to disassemble it to get it in the house and now it's impossible to figure out how to get it back together even with original assembly instructions (I had to take pulleys off instead of unthreading the cables). Now I have no interest in the Bowflex. Body weight exercises can be done anywhere, anytime. No more excuses. lol

You can achieve a lot with the kettlebells.

The only non-kettlebell lifts I do are a barbell deadlift and rows on a TRX. I occasionally deadlift a 40kg bell if I'm not feeling up for the bar that day.

kettlebells are not strength training.

That said, they are a great dynamic conditioning template. And very useful for most any sport training.

kettlebells are not strength training.

Depends on what level of fitness you are at.
If you struggle to lift a 25lb kettlebell from the floor to over your head...then lifting that will be strength training.

kettlebells are not strength training.

Wut? Kettlebells allow me to squat, c&p, snatch, etc. I just increased my weight in 1/2 get-ups and c&p too. :bigsmile:

And the things go up to 108lbs in my gym. Lots of room to grow.

thats not kettlebell training then. thats using a weight to do compound movements.

Kettlebell training is very specific in it's description. And it's not strength training. Strength training is also very specific. Maximal load exercises where failure is hit very shortly.

edit: that is to say you can use kettlebells to do strength training. I don't deny that. Swing heavy dual bells up and do 5 shoulder presses till you hit failure. voila, strength training. But you could get 2 dumbells and do the exact same thing. Traditional kettlebell training is about power and endurance training through full body movements to create continuous momentum. Hence why most everything you see with it is non stop and fluid. And it's dam good at it too. Thats why the basic movement is the swing, and movement derivatives are measured in time usually, rather than reps. Think of it as very functional circuit training.

Body weight exercises can be very challenging, although you won't get very big without weights. They are harder than they look. I actually was able to do some body weight exercises more effectively after doing some weight work.

As with many exercise topics, what you do depends on your goals and commitment.

Ok, I never said anything about this "kettlebell training." OP has access to kettlebells; I lift using mostly kettlebells because they fit well for my RMs. It's just another option to all the bodyweight suggestions given OP's existing tools.

Fair enough. Misunderstanding. I just assumed that when the OP is talking about not having access to heavy things, that kettlebells would be included in that and prop just has a 16lbs one in her gym. Could be mistaken however.