How did you get started with heavy lifting?

myluckyeights · September 2013

I've decided it's time to lose my exercise security blanket and jump into something new. Cardio is great but it isn't doing enough for me. I'm amazed at the results many of you are seeing with heavy lifting, but I feel completely intimidated with regards to getting started. Up until now, my "lifting" has consisted of the weight machines, so this is going to be a whole new area of the gym for me.

How did you get started with this? Did you see a trainer, have someone show you, read a book and figure it out on your own? Any advice for someone just jumping in?

Thanks!

shellfly · September 2013

I actually got started using a video game! Well, sort of - it's marketed as a game, but trust me, it's not. :P I used the Nike+Kinect training program for the Xbox 360. I was completely new to strength training - couldn't even do a proper push-up. I think it was a good place to start because you can tailor it to the exact type of training you want (in my case, weight), length of time for your workout, and intensity level. I started on "easy" for 15 minutes and wound up progressing all the way through to "intense" for 45 minutes.

It starts you with mostly bodyweight exercises, and as you advance, you incorporate more with dumbells. I increased the dumbbell weight as I went along. When I felt like I'd gone as far with it as I could without buying a bunch more dumbells (and because my husband wanted to get into barbell training), I switched to the Strong Lifts 5x5 program. I'm sure a lot of people will tell you to start with a program like that, and maybe you should, but I just thought I'd throw out a different approach because I felt like the program worked really well for a beginner and gave me a good foundation for moving on to barbell training.

bigred503 · September 2013

right now ive only used my bowflex but ive lost a total of 11 inches as of today, the most is 3 inches off my hips alone! and ive INCREASED my cals!!! i started aug 7th... i got the motivation to start simply from seeing the success other ladies have had on the forums! before this i was all cardio and body weight strength training...

Hauntinglyfit · September 2013

New Rules of Lifting got me started. I've since moved on, but it's worth a read, imo.

skinnyjeanzbound · September 2013

I also recently moved into the "big girl" section of the gym. Started by doing some isolation moves with dumb bells and kettle bells--upright row, tricep extension, bicep curls. Not b/c it necessarily makes sense to do isolation first--in fact, everything I've read suggests you should really start with compound moves. However, I was comfortable doing those exercises and it gave a reason to hang out in that area of the gym and figure out where everything was, etc.

Next I added bench press, a week later dead lift, then squats. Next week I will add overhead press. I use the internet to watch videos about proper form and read through the threads for information as well. I started each new lift with the bar only (= 45 lbs) and am working up to doing 5x5. I still do the isolation moves and some of the weight machines, along with core stuff like roman bench and hanging crunches.

Ideally, I would say hire a trainer to get you started with proper form. I just don't have the cash right now. Plus, I used to lift years ago, so a lot of this is just refreshing my memory when it comes to form.

I am loving it and wish I had started lifting again years ago.

bonjour24 · September 2013

I did New Rules of Lifting for Women too, after seeing so many women on here talking about it. I liked it. And it told me what I needed to know as a new person to lifting. I think there's more updated versions out there now that may be better though.

How did you get started with heavy lifting?

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