Strength Training - Advice please

What?! That's insanity. You will not get bulky doing SS 3x/week. I've been doing SL 5x5 for a few weeks and am considering a 4 day program, because I want to build muscle faster. (There are programs that properly rotate muscle groups, etc. to allow for recovery time.) You should show her the pics of heavy lifting chicks on MFP...

Never mind. I wouldn't waste my time on a gym that doesn't know women can't easily get bulky lifting weights.

Edited because I realized this was the GYM MANAGER who said this.

gym manager at my work gym

Almost had a heart attack, then I see it's a work gym so I'm guessing the manager isn't qualified to give out expert advice therefore gives BAAAAD advice. Do your own research, this person has no idea what they're talking about.

SS or SL5x5 and show that work gym manager

If your gym manager says that lifting heavy weights will make you bulk then she is very unqualified.
It is a myth and a lot of women believe that lifting weights will make them become body builders, its absolutely false!

Men and women have different hormones as you know and it is testosterone that makes you bulk, which is why men do. Women only have a low amount of natural testosterone so working out on heavy weights will not make you bulk. In fact I would highly recommend lifting the heaviest you can and do 4 sets of 8-10 reps (9 to 10 reps should be a struggle) and do that, do lots of leg and back work as they are the largest muscle groups in your body. Squats are a girls best friend is a common phrase in the fitness world so would highly recommend them to lose fat and tone your legs, *kitten* and core. Lunges, step ups etc using weights are a must. Back work grab some dumbbells and do dumbbell rows, then pulley and lat pull downs using gym equipment and again using the same heavy weight theory.

Myself I have lost over 100lbs and gone from 45% body fat to 19% and looking to get to 12/13% by September. With this new addiction to health and fitness I am now soon to train to become a Personal Trainer. My journey started September 2012 and I was a hefty 325lbs and now currently 225lbs. I had to go through so much research during this journey to find what worked best for me and now I am starting to finally understand my body. The above information is to try and nudge you in the right direction to do a little research and trial and error tactics. I have three large women right now doing a food plan and fitness program like I mentioned above and they are dropping fat at a great steady and healthy rate.

As I can't show you myself I would recommend Google and search for squatting/lunges/step up techniques so you don't do it wrong and hurt yourself

Hope this helps

Thanks, that's really helpful

Obviously *I* am aware lifting won't make me bulk, I was just amazed to hear it from someone who is supposed to know what they're talking about!

Shame you're not in my bit of the Country, Jadeh

It's a myth that just won't die. I found out a few weeks ago that even my husband believes it. He told me I should be doing more reps because I'm a woman. Yeah, I've been doing 5 reps for 2 years. Hasn't made me bulky yet.

Read "New Rules of Lifting for Women." The getting "bulky" or "huge" myth will be explained in just the first two chapters.

I'm the same height. That gym manager sounds very "estupid". But not hearing the convo it's hard to really judge why she gave that workout to you.

Do what you want. Wanna be badass? Lift heavy.

I would ask for a different trainer. Just because she's the head banana doesn't mean the other trainers will necessarily share her philosophy.

It doesn't have to be awkward- you just say something like "I appreciate your efforts but I would like to work with someone who's training philosophy lines up with my goals, I want to do Stronglifts and I want someone familiar with the program" She'll get over it. If she's a good manager she won't take it personally and will set it up for you.