Stronglifts for women

Good to see so much support. I do suppose I should pick a weight that at least feels like a challenge?

I guess if I pick something I can throw around it won't work.. but then what.. should I not be able to lift it another time at the end of the set, or still feel ok?

let's not overthink this. pick a weight and get started. as long as you're increasing the weight weekly, eventually it will be plenty challenging. and in the meantime you'll be getting your form down pat as well as giving your tendons and ligaments a chance to adapt to the rigors of lifting.

go lift something
go lift anything
go lift

Ha I like that. *lifts up her cat and watches it jump away* Ok.. maybe not that. But I get the picture. Stop thinking and start doing, or I'm like to only work my brains.

you. i like you.

heh...

fyi
Dead lifts are typically your heavier lift
squats second
bench
then Over head press

typically.

True for me as well.

Heh - I often stick my dog on my shoulders - sometimes jog a little bit with him there (he's not entirely impressed with that, to be honest).
He weighs just over 100lb.

I'm doing SL 5x5 now, just started Saturday. Last week, I did 2 60-minute sessions with a personal trainer at the Y to work on my form for squats, dead lifts, bench, overhead press, and the variety of dumb bell substitutes and other exercises there are out there. It really helped a lot to be able to have someone give me confirmation on form. If you can't do that, no worries - videos, mirrors, and asking others!

Don't fret about how much (or little) you are starting out at. Don't. We all start somewhere.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary this was a great summary on SL5x5.

Watch good videos on form. Practice in front of a mirror. Don't be scared of free weights. Just lift. You'll do great.

If you can't lift the standard bar (45 pounds), DO NOT WORRY! Use one of the smaller bars you can typically find around there or modify and use dumb bells or body weight first and build up. There is no shame in this - you are doing something for your health, and that is to be celebrated.

For me:
Heaviest - deadlift
Next - bench
Next - squat
Next - military/overhead

Now, I recognize that bench and squat are reversed from the typical - which is why I pointed it out. My arms are typically stronger than my legs because I haven't pushed them in the squat form yet. Today I did it at 65# but I felt like I wasn't going down low enough, and that is going to be the way I build all that right muscle strength, so Thursday, I'm going to drop down to the bar and just work on form, form, form and getting lower and trusting my body not to fall over. Years of being morbidly obese mean I don't trust my legs to hold me up because I was short and held the fat in places that I felt I was going to just tip over and look like some horrifically laughable version of a broken Weeble. I think I *can* do the bar and a correct form squat, but trusting myself to get all the way down is hard. If I struggle there, I'll drop back to dumb bells until I make myself comfortable and work back up.

Strength will come.

I'm only 2 days in and I'm already addicted to it, I can tell. I did machines for months and built up some strength and that was nice, but this just gives me an extra 'oomph' to my day that I can't explain

Ok, finally! Other women doing stronglifts!!
Any suggestions? I lost over 15 lbs but gained like ten back?!? I am freaking out!
HELP