"Abs are made in the kitchen" - confused question

OP - what does your current weight training regimen look like? Do you do compound lifts, free weights, machines..etc?

As others have noted, you probably lost a lot of muscle due to your ED …so you may actually have less abs to reveal then the "normal" person …you can fix that by working on your abs about an hour a week …weighted crunches, russian twists, decline weighted sit-ups, etc…but it is still going to come down to diet and heavy lifting program..

I started out using "body sculpting bible for women", but people on bodybuilding.com didn't think much of that, so I've switched to NRL4W. Thing is, compared to the previous book, NRL4W seems really easy. I guess it's because I've had to start at week 1 again.

Everything I do is using dumbbells - I have a 20kg set but I'm going to have to order more discs soon as I'm up to 18kg.

isn't that a Weidler book?

Regardless- NROL is good- but you won't be able to do it with dumbbells- the point of these programs is to progressively load- so you'll need to keep moving up- i'd see about investing in some barbells- much like your little hamster friend has in your avatar- or perhaps start looking at a gym.

Compound training with a barbell is like shopping at Wal-Mart- you can get a lot done at once instead of shopping at specialty stores. lots of bang for your buck- and not hours and hours days on days- usually just 3-4 lifts a week. Works better for most people than trying to fit in 1-2 hrs 6 days a week.

you beat me to it, but I was going to suggest the same...

'The body sculpting bible for women' is this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Sculpting-Bible-Women-Third/dp/1578264014

I'll stick to NRL4W though


Righto - so it's better to invest in a barbell. I was considering it, just that presumably I'd have to get a rack to place it on and whatnot too?
Would it be a good idea to buy a month's gym membership / personal trainer session and get them to show me how to use said barbell properly (ie pose etc) or is it pretty easy to get from youtube / books?

any progressive strength training will work. it doesn't matter how old it is- I just started an older program- just because it's old doesn't mean it's bad. Muscle work hasn't changed THAT much- stuff just falls out of popularity LOL.

Go with New Rules. It's fine- it's solid- it's proven.

yes- if you get a BB you'll need some form of rack- scoure craigs list- you can usually get a decent set up for 500 or so. esp for a woman you won't need more than 8 45's most likely (that's a 405 lb dead lift) so you'd have no more than eight 45 plates- and then a variety of pairs of 2.5, 5, 10 25- and even 35's if you can get your hands on them.

the information is there. You do not NEED a trainer to get what you need.

But you do need some dedication to education. You can't just go do it and hope to get it right- there information is there- but you need to be willing to research- and practice technical stuff- video yourself- get some feed back.

This is why a trainer is nice- you get that- hopefully (if they are any good) and you get instant feed back- you pay for them to have done the research and help correct you as you do it.

it's really personal preference. I actually trained- but I would never EVER buy training sessions- unless it was for coaching on an upper level- I personally have no issue doing the research- reaching out to like minded- more knowledgeable people and asking for help.

So it's really preference and comfort level. you can go either route- it's just a matter of what you really want to do- you may hate the gym environment- or you may spend 500+ on a rack and equipment and realize you never train at home (that's me) so I suck it up and pay upwards of 300+ a year for a membership to a gym. It works for me and it gets me out of the house and doing what I love.
(my house eats me- once I'm there- I can't leave much less get anything done!!!!)

dat's what we are here for!!!

ask away if you have more questions.

Now...

go forth... and be fabulous!