questions about strength training please help a girl out?!

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jardimgirl
jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I really want to try lifting since its what I hear help get rid of yucky fat and help preserve lean muscle (I think that's how it works) however, I'm in a bit of a scenerio. I would love to go to a gym and was going to invest in some weights for home use but money is extremely tight now. ( hubby got laid off today and I'm a stay at home mom and we just bought a home 3 months ago) thank god our family vacation is already paid for August. I really want to get in shape and start now, but withno epuipment, what can I do?

Replies

  • DjinnMarie
    DjinnMarie Posts: 1,297 Member
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    get creative. Use old milk jugs filled with water to do squats and hammercurls.

    Compound movements like push ups and pull ups
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,141 Member
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    Start off with body weight exercises, push ups, lunges, squats, planks.

    ETA: Look at some of Zuzana's workouts on Bodyrock on youtube, she's cray cray, but just look at her body!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw_ZR86hNQI
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
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    thx! ill just have to use my body and we'll see where that takes me :)
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
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    Try fitnessblender for free workout routines, many of which don't need any equipment. You can sort by lack of equipment, time, and strength vs cardio focused

    30 day shred is available on youtube. This is really more cardio than strength, but its a start.

    You Are Your Own Gym is about $10 on kindle or paperback from amazon and needs no equipment.

    Once you can get to a gym or buy weights, I would suggest StrongLifts 5x5 or New rules of lifting for women. Good luck!
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
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    There are a couple of bodyweight routines on nerdfitness.com
  • the4beatles
    the4beatles Posts: 3
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    I swear to god - Blogilates on Youtube. You only have to use your body weight. She is so inspiring and she REALLY gets you through the workout with her personality and she distracts you! It's so much fun doing workouts with her!
  • whitebalance
    whitebalance Posts: 1,654 Member
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    What they ^^ said, and also check out "Convict Conditioning" (google it).
  • kittymoney
    kittymoney Posts: 115 Member
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    i am also interested in what others have to say as I would like to start increasing strength training to 4 days a week I am at 2/3
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
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    Nerd fitness
    YAYOG
    convict conditioning
    Tons of body weight strength routines out there with little to no equipment needed
  • omgkittens1
    omgkittens1 Posts: 12 Member
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    I'm really glad that you posted this, I was literally thinking about this while on the treadmill earlier!! I was going to search for stuff on youtube and hope for the best, but I really like the milk jug idea!!
  • Pixt
    Pixt Posts: 95 Member
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    Another option would be to watch the video's on this post:
    http://lifehacker.com/these-12-videos-show-the-proper-form-for-a-7-minute-ful-499199366

    Then look for a web, iphone or android app to time the workout. Two to three circuits of the seven minute "workout" take zero equipment besides a wall, a floor, and a sturdy chair and give a reasonable body-weight workout. Just be sure to watch videos about proper form on all the exercises before you start the first time.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
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    You might want to look into bodyweight training if funds are limited. Maybe check out You Are Own Gym, NerdFitness, or Convict Conditioning.

    Bodybuilding.com has a really great exercise database that you can search based on equipment (or lack thereof).

    Other options:

    TRX Suspension (home edition). I believe it is about $200.

    Using sandbags

    There is a Cap Barbell Dumbbell set (w/ plates) on Amazon for about $50. It is about 30-35lbs to start. You can purchase heavier plates as funds become available.
    http://www.amazon.com/Cap-Barbell-40-Pound-Dumbbell-Set/dp/B000VCDXNS/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386018141&sr=8-1&keywords=cap+barbell+dumbbell+set

    Check out craigslist and Ebay for benches, plates, weights, etc.

    Get an Iron Gym Bar. It's about $30 on Amazon and can be used for chin-ups, pull-ups, hanging leg raises and such.
    http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Gym-Total-Upper-Workout/dp/B001EJMS6K/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386018197&sr=8-1&keywords=iron+gym+pull+up+bar

    Some other helpful links:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/850719-strength-training-the-basics
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/902569-barbell-routines-when-you-only-have-dumbbells
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
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    wow thanks for all the information!!! I was wondering however, if using bodyweight will still give me the results id like? see the pic below? i saw it on the internet and the pic on the left is how i look lik now (my belly is a bit bigger) and id really like to be nice and lean like the girl on the right, or at least close to it :)

    http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad47/jardimgirl/insipration_zps2348629a.jpg
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
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    wow thanks for all the information!!! I was wondering however, if using bodyweight will still give me the results id like? see the pic below? i saw it on the internet and the pic on the left is how i look lik now (my belly is a bit bigger) and id really like to be nice and lean like the girl on the right, or at least close to it :)

    http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad47/jardimgirl/insipration_zps2348629a.jpg

    That is more with her having a lower body fat %. In this case, I'd at least start off with basic body weight exercises while possibly eating at maintenance for a recomp or a slight deficit.

    The thing with any strength/resistance workout routine is to challenge yourself - not just with reps but with making it heavier/harder.

    For example, push ups. Start of with half push ups if need be but after you can do say 30 in a row, move on to full push ups. From there, declines and maybe divebombers, supermans, spider crawls, etc.

    Barbells (or at least dumbbells) are highly recommended because it gives you the most bang for your buck. But again, you need to be progressing in the weights on these just like you would need to progress through making bodyweight exercises harder.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
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    A lot of people do a LOT with bodyweight and it's an excellent start given your situation.

    Next I would look to get some a barbell set, ideally with bench, double-ideally with a squat rack.
    As an idea, you can probably get a cheap secondhand set with bench for maybe $50. If you're lucky, free - I've got a bar and vinyl weights for free before (it would have been on freecycle, but I was offered first). While not the best setup for keeping going, it's ideal for starting out on and you can build from there.
    If you or your husband are handy with a saw and screwdriver and have some spare wood lying around, you could do as I did and make your own rack - started as a squat rack, but now a 'power cage'. No doubt could make a bench too if you add a bit of foam and some material.
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
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    wow thanks for all the information!!! I was wondering however, if using bodyweight will still give me the results id like? see the pic below? i saw it on the internet and the pic on the left is how i look lik now (my belly is a bit bigger) and id really like to be nice and lean like the girl on the right, or at least close to it :)

    http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad47/jardimgirl/insipration_zps2348629a.jpg

    That is more with her having a lower body fat %. In this case, I'd at least start off with basic body weight exercises while possibly eating at maintenance for a recomp or a slight deficit.

    The thing with any strength/resistance workout routine is to challenge yourself - not just with reps but with making it heavier/harder.

    For example, push ups. Start of with half push ups if need be but after you can do say 30 in a row, move on to full push ups. From there, declines and maybe divebombers, supermans, spider crawls, etc.

    Barbells (or at least dumbbells) are highly recommended because it gives you the most bang for your buck. But again, you need to be progressing in the weights on these just like you would need to progress through making bodyweight exercises harder.

    thank you! what exercises do you feel best once i can invest on weights? like squats?
  • thatonepersonfromtheinternet
    thatonepersonfromtheinternet Posts: 136 Member
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    Body-weight exercises are what you're looking for. Youtube fitness videos (try pilates) and simple household objects will be your friend. Also I'd suggest investing in a pair of 5lb as well as 10lb weights - most youtube routines use them. It may seem simple, but trust me it will hurt. It's a pretty good substitute until you have access to heavier weights.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Options
    wow thanks for all the information!!! I was wondering however, if using bodyweight will still give me the results id like? see the pic below? i saw it on the internet and the pic on the left is how i look lik now (my belly is a bit bigger) and id really like to be nice and lean like the girl on the right, or at least close to it :)

    http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad47/jardimgirl/insipration_zps2348629a.jpg

    That is more with her having a lower body fat %. In this case, I'd at least start off with basic body weight exercises while possibly eating at maintenance for a recomp or a slight deficit.

    The thing with any strength/resistance workout routine is to challenge yourself - not just with reps but with making it heavier/harder.

    For example, push ups. Start of with half push ups if need be but after you can do say 30 in a row, move on to full push ups. From there, declines and maybe divebombers, supermans, spider crawls, etc.

    Barbells (or at least dumbbells) are highly recommended because it gives you the most bang for your buck. But again, you need to be progressing in the weights on these just like you would need to progress through making bodyweight exercises harder.

    thank you! what exercises do you feel best once i can invest on weights? like squats?

    Whether barbells or dumbbells - look into Stronglifts, Starting Strength and AllPros. They will give you a great idea on technique, exercises that should be your main, and an idea about progression. It's a great starting point with lots of info :)


    ETA Links to the above programs:

    Stronglifts pdf: http://s3.stronglifts.com/stronglifts-5x5-report.pdf
    AllPros Beginner Program: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=4195843
    Starting Strength: http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-3rd-Mark-Rippetoe/dp/0982522738
  • khgraves
    khgraves Posts: 54 Member
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    bump for video ideas
  • jardimgirl
    jardimgirl Posts: 522 Member
    Options
    wow thanks for all the information!!! I was wondering however, if using bodyweight will still give me the results id like? see the pic below? i saw it on the internet and the pic on the left is how i look lik now (my belly is a bit bigger) and id really like to be nice and lean like the girl on the right, or at least close to it :)

    http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad47/jardimgirl/insipration_zps2348629a.jpg

    That is more with her having a lower body fat %. In this case, I'd at least start off with basic body weight exercises while possibly eating at maintenance for a recomp or a slight deficit.

    The thing with any strength/resistance workout routine is to challenge yourself - not just with reps but with making it heavier/harder.

    For example, push ups. Start of with half push ups if need be but after you can do say 30 in a row, move on to full push ups. From there, declines and maybe divebombers, supermans, spider crawls, etc.

    Barbells (or at least dumbbells) are highly recommended because it gives you the most bang for your buck. But again, you need to be progressing in the weights on these just like you would need to progress through making bodyweight exercises harder.

    thank you! what exercises do you feel best once i can invest on weights? like squats?

    Whether barbells or dumbbells - look into Stronglifts, Starting Strength and AllPros. They will give you a great idea on technique, exercises that should be your main, and an idea about progression. It's a great starting point with lots of info :)


    ETA Links to the above programs:

    Stronglifts pdf: http://s3.stronglifts.com/stronglifts-5x5-report.pdf
    AllPros Beginner Program: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=4195843
    Starting Strength: http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-3rd-Mark-Rippetoe/dp/0982522738

    thx!!!! i love when someone can provide links :)

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