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New-ish, want to learn about strength training and bodybuilding

categoricalimperative
Posts: 1 Member
Hello all,
I'm 18 years old, this is my second account on MFP but the first that I really intend to use. First time, I was 15 years old, ended up with diagnosis for AN and was put in a re-feeding program. I lost a lot of muscle mass, and am hoping to develop the skills I need to determine my body shape and composition without being unhealthy!
I danced ballet for 6 years growing up, and quit once I got to high school. Since then, I've started running. I am not structured in any way about my training—as I live in Oregon, it is as much about getting outdoors as it is a form of exercise. For that reason, I do a variety of distances. Some days I time myself on 5K (currently at 29:40), some days I time 10K, my longest distance is half marathon. I have started taking adult beginner ballet classes twice a week, but of course they are not physically intensive. The past few weeks, I've started adding in T25 videos—not doing the training program detailed by T25, but just doing the Alpha or Beta video of my selection twice a week. As I lost a lot of muscle mass previously, especially lower body large-muscle mass, I want to learn how to do strength training. I'm kind of intimidated, but I think I will at least begin by doing T25, studying anatomy, and getting a gym membership.
My parents are a somewhat of an obstacle in this pursuit. Every time I come home from school, they try to feed me as much as possible for 4 weeks straight. Understandable, but not a constructive solution. I want to be healthy.
Has anyone been in a similar place? Other women seeking to gain muscle mass? Advice on how to start lifting?
I am glad to join the community!
I'm 18 years old, this is my second account on MFP but the first that I really intend to use. First time, I was 15 years old, ended up with diagnosis for AN and was put in a re-feeding program. I lost a lot of muscle mass, and am hoping to develop the skills I need to determine my body shape and composition without being unhealthy!
I danced ballet for 6 years growing up, and quit once I got to high school. Since then, I've started running. I am not structured in any way about my training—as I live in Oregon, it is as much about getting outdoors as it is a form of exercise. For that reason, I do a variety of distances. Some days I time myself on 5K (currently at 29:40), some days I time 10K, my longest distance is half marathon. I have started taking adult beginner ballet classes twice a week, but of course they are not physically intensive. The past few weeks, I've started adding in T25 videos—not doing the training program detailed by T25, but just doing the Alpha or Beta video of my selection twice a week. As I lost a lot of muscle mass previously, especially lower body large-muscle mass, I want to learn how to do strength training. I'm kind of intimidated, but I think I will at least begin by doing T25, studying anatomy, and getting a gym membership.
My parents are a somewhat of an obstacle in this pursuit. Every time I come home from school, they try to feed me as much as possible for 4 weeks straight. Understandable, but not a constructive solution. I want to be healthy.
Has anyone been in a similar place? Other women seeking to gain muscle mass? Advice on how to start lifting?
I am glad to join the community!
0
Replies
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Welcome. It really is a juggling act. I was diagnosed with AN as a teen and I carried BN/EDNOS for about 8 years after that. Just really make sure that you have your "head on right", because as you are likely well aware it can be very easy to slip back into old habits. For me, I am doing well...no binges, no restricting, no obsessive exercise, etc but almost none of my current goals have anything to do with my weight/size/etc. My goal is to lower my BP and cholesterol back to normal (I'm 29 and too stubborn to accept that as my life...for now lol) which requires stronger cardiovascular health...of which I have none...so my main goals are to have sessions daily that get my heart really pumping, and eating the correct foods for me go along with eating for fuel to meet those goals.
you may want to check out some of the bodybuilding boards. You may have difficulty adding much muscle mass if you are eating at a calorie deficit.0
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