Lifting...strong lifts? Heavy?? Help!

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Replies

  • wolfsbayne
    wolfsbayne Posts: 3,116 Member
    Hi! Saw this post, and I just HAD to comment!
    I'm a female lifter too. I used to do power lifting and crossfit for fun, and I loved it. I hurt my back a year ago trying to maxing out at a 225# squat - bad idea. Like many others have said, heavy lifting is not what will get you results. I did it because it was fun, and I loved getting my numbers up - but if you're wanting to get a toned body, it's repetitive low weight sets (but of course eventually you will be able to increase weight over time - but be careful! do NOT (i mean really, do NOOOOOTTT) do ANY kind of lifting without learning proper form. This is a great way to rip up your joints and tear muscles. If you can't find a trainer, please do all the research you can (youtube is great for this) before trying any lifts. A good way to keep yourself safe is to get a buddy to watch you, and make sure your form is correct. Even in the mirror, it's hard to tell if you have right form.


    confused_lion_king.gif
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    The Stronglifts programing is a good beginners program and once 5x5 becomes too much, it goes to 3x5 an is almost identical to Starting Strength. I personally just do not like Mehdi's business practices and can see no reason for people to get sucked into paying to join his site when the same information is available for free. But to each their own. Hopefully as a business owner and marketer he has matured since 2008.

    He hasn't, he is a misogynistic *kitten*.

    The program works, though he stole it from Reg Park and modified it every so slightly. And if you do as suggested (I did not when I was doing it) and start with the bar, you will have a few months to work form and mobility before the weights get challenging.
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    Hi! Saw this post, and I just HAD to comment!
    I'm a female lifter too. I used to do power lifting and crossfit for fun, and I loved it. I hurt my back a year ago trying to maxing out at a 225# squat - bad idea. Like many others have said, heavy lifting is not what will get you results. I did it because it was fun, and I loved getting my numbers up - but if you're wanting to get a toned body, it's repetitive low weight sets (but of course eventually you will be able to increase weight over time - but be careful! do NOT (i mean really, do NOOOOOTTT) do ANY kind of lifting without learning proper form. This is a great way to rip up your joints and tear muscles. If you can't find a trainer, please do all the research you can (youtube is great for this) before trying any lifts. A good way to keep yourself safe is to get a buddy to watch you, and make sure your form is correct. Even in the mirror, it's hard to tell if you have right form.

    are you for real?

    repetitive low weight reps???

    BAW HA HA HA HA HA HA

    no.

    To refute this, I would refer the poster to this fellow poster, who does the Wendler 5x3x1 program.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com//fivethreeone
  • Chaskavitch
    Chaskavitch Posts: 172 Member
    Hi! Saw this post, and I just HAD to comment!
    I'm a female lifter too. I used to do power lifting and crossfit for fun, and I loved it. I hurt my back a year ago trying to maxing out at a 225# squat - bad idea. Like many others have said, heavy lifting is not what will get you results. I did it because it was fun, and I loved getting my numbers up - but if you're wanting to get a toned body, it's repetitive low weight sets (but of course eventually you will be able to increase weight over time - but be careful! do NOT (i mean really, do NOOOOOTTT) do ANY kind of lifting without learning proper form. This is a great way to rip up your joints and tear muscles. If you can't find a trainer, please do all the research you can (youtube is great for this) before trying any lifts. A good way to keep yourself safe is to get a buddy to watch you, and make sure your form is correct. Even in the mirror, it's hard to tell if you have right form.


    confused_lion_king.gif

    jfrice is right about the form, at least. Definitely definitely learn to do the lifts correctly. When I deadlift wrong, my back hurts really bad. When I did squats wrong, my knee always hurt afterwards. Don't think that lifting heavy means it is supposed to hurt. It is supposed to be difficult, and you will almost certainly get sore, but it shouldn't hurt your joints or spine all the time. Youtube is a good resource, because you can look at a lot of different people doing it, instead of just having one friend or one trainer who thinks they know what they're doing.
  • wolfsbayne
    wolfsbayne Posts: 3,116 Member
    Hi! Saw this post, and I just HAD to comment!
    I'm a female lifter too. I used to do power lifting and crossfit for fun, and I loved it. I hurt my back a year ago trying to maxing out at a 225# squat - bad idea. Like many others have said, heavy lifting is not what will get you results. I did it because it was fun, and I loved getting my numbers up - but if you're wanting to get a toned body, it's repetitive low weight sets (but of course eventually you will be able to increase weight over time - but be careful! do NOT (i mean really, do NOOOOOTTT) do ANY kind of lifting without learning proper form. This is a great way to rip up your joints and tear muscles. If you can't find a trainer, please do all the research you can (youtube is great for this) before trying any lifts. A good way to keep yourself safe is to get a buddy to watch you, and make sure your form is correct. Even in the mirror, it's hard to tell if you have right form.


    confused_lion_king.gif

    jfrice is right about the form, at least. Definitely definitely learn to do the lifts correctly. When I deadlift wrong, my back hurts really bad. When I did squats wrong, my knee always hurt afterwards. Don't think that lifting heavy means it is supposed to hurt. It is supposed to be difficult, and you will almost certainly get sore, but it shouldn't hurt your joints or spine all the time. Youtube is a good resource, because you can look at a lot of different people doing it, instead of just having one friend or one trainer who thinks they know what they're doing.

    The gif was for the "heavy lifting is not what will get you results." I don't know how to bold anything :blushing:
  • Chaskavitch
    Chaskavitch Posts: 172 Member
    I know the gif was for the advice about the "repetitive low weight sets", but I just really liked it, so I left it :) It is still appropriate, as the bad advice is still quoted. I stand by my decision to keep the Lion King :)
  • wolfsbayne
    wolfsbayne Posts: 3,116 Member
    I know the gif was for the advice about the "repetitive low weight sets", but I just really liked it, so I left it :) It is still appropriate, as the bad advice is still quoted. I stand by my decision to keep the Lion King :)

    :drinker:
  • NickDoesFitness
    NickDoesFitness Posts: 112 Member
    Try resources on bodybuilding.com's website! Great advice and info on there!
  • monkeywizard
    monkeywizard Posts: 222 Member
    I do Stronglifts and I haven't paid anything. Stronglifts is very straightforward, easy to remember, and doesn't take a whole lot of time. Oh, and I do get a newsletter once or twice a day from the guy that is head of it. Some are helpful, some are not. Again, I didn't pay anything for it.

    This here.. plus there is an app for your phone (iOS or Android) that tells makes it super easy (and also free!)
  • Drunkadelic
    Drunkadelic Posts: 948 Member
    I am beyond over hearing about how Mehdi used to be "a scrawny guy who got beat at arm wrestling by a GIRL! and now he has abs!!" *gasp*

    I do love StrongLifts though. Great program. The app is awesome (and free).
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    but if you're wanting to get a toned body, it's repetitive low weight sets (but of course eventually you will be able to increase weight over time

    :noway:

    @Mehdi newsletter, the guy is a condescending twit is what I personally believe. I will always remember this one day when I read one of his letter, he was completely bashing the poor dude who was simply asking him how to effectively incorporate running in his SL schedule...

    Anyways, SL might be free but as far as good form ressources go, I would really invest the 10$ into the SS book, it's well worth it.
  • sjacks9
    sjacks9 Posts: 1 Member
    I've been following the StrongLifts programme for about 5 months now and can't complain. You will definitely gain a lot of strength and muscle (I estimate I've gained around 10 lbs so far, I'm a guy). I changed it up a little bit after week 16 or so since I wanted more cardio and added some supplementary excerices. But its really good for teaching you proper form by forcing you to begin with a light weight. And no, I did not pay a thing to download the information.
  • jfrice12
    jfrice12 Posts: 16
    i clearly dont mean repetitive low weights forever - but for someone who is completely new to lifting, why would she start heavy? if she has bad form, she is completely screwed.

    if you bothered to even look at the site i referenced, a 'low weight' is considered a weight that you are comfortable doing 8 reps x 3 sets at a comfortable maximum when first starting out. afterwards, you increase to a medium weight- which is actually a weight where you can do 5 reps x 3sets at a less-that-comfortable maximum.

    sorry if my lingo isnt up to par.


    also, other than saying she should start light with low weights, what exactly is the 'bad advice' that i had given? if its my opinion that she should start low, and you disagree - then its just a different suggestion. bad advice would be telling her to eat 500 calories a day and lift 200% her body weight on day 1.

    lastly,
    [/quote]

    The gif was for the "heavy lifting is not what will get you results." I don't know how to bold anything :blushing:
    [/quote]

    im sorry, it must be my blind eyes, but youre trying to quote me... but i dont actually see where i said that ...ever.

    im clearly a heavy lifter, i've already mentioned that. i advocate it greatly. i just think that if she is simply interested in getting a little toned, low weights is a good place to start. otherwise, it's dangerous without a trainer.