Ladies lifting

free weights

a good program is Stronglifts 5x5

There is a free app for the iPhone for it (not sure about android).


Summary:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary

5x5 is a great program. Make sure you have the core stability to preform compound movements (squats, deadlifts). For the most part, free weights are far better than machines in terms of burning calories, and working out your core (which is EXTREMELY important).

You don't have to train a muscle to complete failure, but you shouldn't be able to breeze through your sets. The way I workout is to stop about 1 rep short of failure to save energy for the next set. If you go to complete failure on your first set, lets say you get 8 reps, then with the same weight the next set you might only get 6, then the next set only 4, then the next only 3. If you were to stop at 6 or 7 on all of your sets you will be doing more total reps with the same amount of weight.

tbh I think you should learn the basics first off. I started on the Body For Life weightlifting side of things couple of years back which has done me wonders today in terms of lifting knowledge.

Work your way up to muscle failure, doing it too soon could cause injury. Get your techniques right and go from there.

I agree on Strronglifts. 5 sets with 5 rep. (5x5) It´s with free weights and very basic. Only three exercises per workout, three times a week. That´s certainly manageable. Personly, I don´t think it´s neccerssary to push it to failure. I push myself, but listen to my body. And five sets with three reps with good form (check out Mark Rippletoe on youtube) is better than 5x5 with to much weight and bad form. Push yourself, but form is the most important.

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Oh and another place I like is Urban Energie Fitness

They have all the exercises spelled out for you. Like Hack squat or leg extension. It shows you how to do the exercise.

Sometimes I can only lift one, or three reps. I just write that down and keep trying for five:)

Bump

I never lift to failure as I don't have a spotter. I try to use a heavy enough weight that the last few reps are hard, but still safe for me to do on my own.

I am following NROLFW, and for the most part follow their recommendations. However, my squats and deads are getting heavy enough now that I can't do 2 sets of 10, so right now I'm doing 3 of 8.

Same here. I'm doing New Rules too. The book can be a little confusing at first, but the MFP group was crazy helpful: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/102-new-rules-of-lifting-for-women-nrol4w

In answer to your questions about reps, NROL4W tells you how many sets and reps to do starting at 2s15r for the most part working to 3s8r while increasing weight (again, for the most part - some things like push-ups increase the number of reps because it's generally a bodyweight exercise). And my understanding of Stronglifts 5x5 (I haven't done it) is that it's 5 sets of 5 reps each, hence the name.

I just started recently and I had read that I should try to lift to muscle failure. Is this a good thing?
What are your number of reps per machine or free-weight? Three sets of eight? Two sets of twelve?

My current program is set up similar to Wendler's 5/3/1 when it comes to exercise choice and rotation.

Each workout starts with a different compound lift such as squats or bench press. I do 3 sets of 5 as heavy as possible with 2 minutes rest between sets. Then I have 4 accessory exercises that uses about the same muscle groups as the primary muscles in the compound lifts. I do 4 sets of 10 for those exercises with 1 minute rest in between.

I don't like to "failure," but I lift as heavy as I possibly can to get those exact numbers of reps. If I can do more, I more weight. If I can't do that many, I take away weight. But all reps are done with good form and I never "fail."

Stronglifts is a good recommendation. It follows 5 sets of 5. Heavy lifting does not do more than 8 reps usually, typically more like 4-6.

I am not a massive guy and everyone has a different body type, but I got feedback that I got good definition - and I got that by lifting medium weights for higher reps.

I am not a massive guy and everyone has a different body type, but I got feedback that I got good definition - and I got that by lifting medium weights for higher reps.

This actually gave me more endurance, but did nothing along the lines of muscular definition.

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I am not a massive guy and everyone has a different body type, but I got feedback that I got good definition - and I got that by lifting medium weights for higher reps.

This actually gave me more endurance, but did nothing along the lines of muscular definition.

I lift medium weight, 3 sets, usually 8 or 12 reps, depending on the lift. With an exception of one 2x20 for the legs with a heavy weight. My ultimate goal is endurance.