Lifting weights? Getting strong?

amyprzyby · August 2013

I've mainly stuck to cardio, but I've been hearing more and more about strength training and how it'll boost fat burn, I'll gain muscle/ become more toned, and best of all, I'll be strong!

Now the problem I have is... I don't know where to start. What does strength training actually involve? Can I do it at home as I don't have a gym membership? Do I need weights? How often do I need to do it? What are some of the "moves"? Ahhh help!

I figured I'd turn to the MFP community first since I know a lot of you have experience with it and maybe you've even been in my shoes before. Anything you have- articles that have helped you, your favorite YouTube videos... anything!- will be a great help.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read!

smwooley · August 2013

The book New Rules of Lifting for Women is really great. I can do all the exercises at home, but I do have some weights at home. (Although I prefer to go to the Y

) Also, check out the website http://eatmore2weighless.com/
(NO www.) If you click on any of the tabs at the top, and then scroll down, on the right side they have workouts, including a beginner workout. It's a really good place to start. I love how I feel from lifting and I like losing the inches :drinker: Good luck!

MoreBean13 · August 2013

Start with "You are your own gym"

http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Your-Own-Gym/dp/0345528581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377227366&sr=8-1&keywords=you+are+your+own+gym

Otterluv · August 2013

Start with "You are your own gym"

http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Your-Own-Gym/dp/0345528581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377227366&sr=8-1&keywords=you+are+your+own+gym

^^ came here to say this.

If you would like to start with weightlifting check out "Starting Strength".

You won't regret starting strength training. :flowerforyou:

nmtGurl · August 2013

Or you can do it all for free and very simply:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/12657-all-pro-s-beginner-weight-lifting-routine

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/10067-eat-train-progress-

mustgetmuscles1 · August 2013

Strong Curves is a great book. Has gym and at home workout plans in it.

hmjohnson25 · August 2013

Nerd Fitness has free body weight routines, too. Starting Strength is a great book, as others have said.

amyprzyby · August 2013

Thank you, everyone!

SunWillow · August 2013

I found this site very helpful.

http://www.exrx.net/

ADixie4You2Know · August 2013

Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 or 30 Day Shred are a good place to start. I am on week 3 of Ripped right now. They combine strength and cardio. You can get them at Wal- Mart for around $10.

holly273 · August 2013

I'd say start as simple as possible. I tried to start with New Rules Of Lifting For Women, and while it was a good read, I'm not a huge fan of the workouts, I like simplicity and they change up a lot, and add in some exercises that I personally feel are too complicated to try to get perfect without a trainer.

I did a bit more research and decided that for me the easiest way to progress in strength was to just focus on the big 3 compound lifts of powerlifting. I couldn't afford a trainer to help me figure out every new lift in every stage of NROLFW, but from just 1 session with a good trainer, I got my form for bench, squat and deadlift to a good, safe place for training (and if I'm ever worried I can ask one of the big guys in the gym to just check my form for a set).

So personally that is what I'd suggest - bench, squat and deadlift, 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps, 2-3 times a week.

Lifting weights? Getting strong?

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