Lifting / Body weight exercises... Help... I'm lost

camila_scl · September 2013

I'm 5'2, starting weight 152 lbs, current weight 141.5 lbs and my goal weight is 116-122 lbs (maybe if I get more "toned" it could be a higher weight). I have no idea about lifting. Seriously, not a clue so please help!

- at what weight should I stop doing cardio and just do lifting? Currently I'll do both

- I can't go to the gym (noo money lol) so I found a series of body weight exercises and I have no idea if they are effective or not,

- I don't have much muscle mass, I've never exercised in my life and even when I was like 103 lbs in high school I had the so called "skinny fat" body type so I'm wondering if I do body weight exercises at a calorie deficit will I gain a little more muscle mass or just mantain what little I do have?

- I own a pair of 2 lbs dumbells, If I exercise with that and body weight exercise near goal weight could I be "tone" or you can only acomplish that with heavier weights?

Any advice (even though I didn't ask especifically) would be appreciated

thanks!

rybo · September 2013

Continue to do both, unless you just don't like cardio then stop whenever you want, regardless of weight.

What exercises are you doing? How difficult are they for you? How many reps of each movement can you do?

You will gain strength, and your muscles will likely expand from holding more fluid, but otherwise depending on your deficit, you probably won't gain actual muscle. But you might gain a little since you are completely new to strength training. But for now that's really not important.

Use the 2 pounders as paper weights or door stops. A proper body weight routine will not require any weights at all.

Here are a couple good resources
Nerdfitness
you are your own gym (and a spin off program called you are your own body)

reach4thestar · September 2013

You don't have to stop doing cardio and start lifting....you can do both....
I was in same boat as you...couldn't go to gym but wanted to lift heavy....
I first started with JM's shred and ripped in 30.., used 2lbs initially then 4 and then 6lbs....but I knew I wanted to lift more heavy stuff....didn't have access to barbells

I researched on Internet and read about sandbag training....
I currently use a army duffel bag load it with sand or rice or whatever i want to fill it with and do loads of routines...
Sandbag training can't equate to barbells but it works most of the muscle groups in your body in a brutal way...
I have noticed good improvement in my body and have lost inches....I don't like cardio so I don't do it now....
:flowerforyou: