New to the weight room

So my question is this: How did you start weight lifting? Was it a friend/trainer/dive in feet first and learn to swim as you went?

Any and all input would be wonderful! Thanks in advance!

I first learned from books and magazines. Go to youtube and you can find plenty of programs and they will teach you proper form with barbells, dumbells, or machines. And none is better than the other. Weights and machines each have their pros and cons. But find a program that works for you, your body, and your goals that you can STICK with. I do a hardcore routine, but that might not work for you. Don't over train. 3 days a week, 2 body parts per session, get your work in, and get the hell out in 45 minutes. It will keep you motivated and not dreading the gym.

I would suggest the book Starting strength, and maybe new rules of lifting.

With stating strength you do pretty much all the workouts in the squat cage. The squat cage is great as, without a spot, you set the catch bars high enough so if you fail you will not hurt yourself.

For about 6 months I have been doing a "group power" (aka bodypump) class at my gym (strength class that involves barbells with different weighted plates and bodyweight exercises set to music with an instructor). I have also used the machines at my gym. I have wanted to use the free weights and target the areas that I most want to work, but have felt totally intimidated and clueless on how to start.
Just recently I downloaded an app with exercises (and videos of what they are) and took it to the weight area at the gym for the first time today. I selected one of the pre-designed workouts which included about 8 different exercises targeting butt/legs and the app told me exactly what to do (number of reps, number of sets, and even timed the rest periods in between). This worked for me since I can't afford a trainer. I don't know if it would be good if I didn't already feel like I had some sense of form/technique, but I did like it and felt somewhat comfortable in the weight area.

I go to a class and I have learned my form there by the instructor correcting me! I started off light weight so I could concentrate on form and slowly I'm building it up! It's a cardio weights class so it's great, I love it! x

So my question is this: How did you start weight lifting? Was it a friend/trainer/dive in feet first and learn to swim as you went?

Any and all input would be wonderful! Thanks in advance!

i played soccer, ran track and swam in high school and played rugby in college so for me it was a necessity to stay competitive and build strength and power. i didnt get serious about it until i started playing rugby because at that time i was much smaller than other girls who played the position i started in (prop) so my coach decided that i should just focus on creaming them with sheer powah :laugh: that ended up working and i was doing stuff like oly lifts and got strong enough that i would cause our scrum to wheel since i was way stronger than the other prop. i eventually moved to flanker and did really well in that position since it requires a mix of speed and strength (think nfl linebackers)

after i got injured, stopped playing sports and got out in the "real world" i never lost my love of weight lifting and i always made sure that any gym i belonged to had squat racks and olympic bars.

so i dont know if my story is all that useful to you. ive been weight lifting for over 20 years now and i've pretty much always worked out with male athletes as well (except for high school since i went to an all girls school) so i've never been intimidated in the gym. but i can understand how it might get to be a bit daunting considering that some people dont have good manners in the weight room, especially the brahs

my advice would be
- dont be afraid to ask someone to spot for you especially if they are resting
- dont be afraid to ask to work in a set while they are resting, especially if you see that they are working with similar weights as you
- dont be afraid of looking like a fool with your form. good form takes thousands of reps to develop so that it's second habit. you will find that the people who are actually serious about it will always be working on their form
- dont think that you dont deserve to be in the weight room if your not lifting as much weight as someone else. everyone starts somewhere and as long as you're consistently progressing then you will also one day be squatting, deadlifting and benching over your body weight
- on the rare occassion that you do meet an a*hole in the gym, dont be scared to call them on their *kitten*. this hasnt happened to me often in the 20+ years i've worked out in cod gyms, but it's happened a few times and each time i've pretty much had to remind the guy that a)it's not their private gym b)i have just as much right to be there as them considering i also pay a fee. both times this happened was because some guy said that i was working out on "his" bench on machine even though no towel was there, he was on the other side of the gym doing something else and the weights werent loaded on the bar.

I just poked around on MFP forums for info. I also gleaned a lot on good form from Youtube, bodybuilding.com, and exrx.net. Then when I had a good mental arsenal of lifts, I joined a gym and got to work.

I was fortunate enough to have gym rat friends who dragged me in and introduced me to the idea that women could indeed look at weights without turning into She-Hulk. However, when I had to move and was in a new gym setting solo, I realized that I really didn't know all that much about real lifting. I met with a trainer one time, read everything I could find on bodybuidling.com, then just had the Rocky theme song on replay the first time I did deads and squats on my own. After a few times, the little voice screaming in my head shut up and I was fine :happy:

A few things that helped me:
1) educate yourself. Walking in there knowing you have a plan and you've done your homework (what is proper form, how do I use the machines, etc.) will make you feel loads more confident then going in lost.
2) wear what you're comfortable in. If running leggings make you self conscious about your thighs, nix them. If short shorts are going to prevent you from learning how to squat properly, trash those too. For instance, I'm self conscious about how thin my arms are so I wear rolled-up long sleeve t shirts on days I'm working those muscles. Small things like that can make all the difference.
3) take a friend! If you don't have friends who are into the fitness thang, then don't be afraid to ask the trainers for help. Along those lines, don't be afraid to ask others for help. Embarrassing as it is, I don't quite have the muscles to lift the bar on the squat rack up and down when readjusting the height. However, I'd much rather be embarrassed for 30 seconds asking someone to help me than dying when the bar squishes me.

Good luck OP :flowerforyou:

When I started I just did the machines too...and then I got New Rules of Lifting for Women. Before I started, I youtubed every exercise just to see exactly what it was. I also made a daily log chart with pictures of the exercises in the spread sheet, that way I could mark down the weights I was lifting and the accomplishements I've made. I highely recommend a stretching class or yoga in between lifting days, it feels so good (even though I'm so stiff I can't touch my toes lol). You'll love it. My rule is if I'm consistent, then I up my weights 2.5 - 5lbs every week, and if it's too tough I'll "de-load". You'll find that with New Rules, the first stage takes forever, but it's necessary to get you used to the gym, lifting, etiquette and confidence, it does get harder. Good Luck! You'll love it.