We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
What is a safe starting place when you return to the gym?

Ihateusernametaken
Posts: 8 Member
Hi, as the title suggests I'm just now returning to the gym after a 1 and half year hiatus. My question is more specifically what is a safe starting weight so I don't tear anything?
Note: my maxes were bench:245 squat:340 and deadlift: 315
Note: my maxes were bench:245 squat:340 and deadlift: 315
0
Replies
-
Essentially the empty bar. Maybe as much as 135 (less, if you have bumper plates) on deadlift. Work up from there. Depending on what type of program you're attempting to follow, you'll have to decide what sort of rep range you want to use while working up.1
-
Start with as heavy as you can go for 10-12 reps for the first couple of weeks so you get used to the movements again, then go ahead with a program and go as heavy as it says0
-
Essentially the empty bar. Maybe as much as 135 (less, if you have bumper plates) on deadlift. Work up from there. Depending on what type of program you're attempting to follow, you'll have to decide what sort of rep range you want to use while working up.
This^^
Are you following a proven progressive lifting program? It should have information on how to start.0 -
I always did my own thing my workout would go like this
Bench 1×10 at 50% (warmup)
1×8 at 65%
1×6 at 75%
1×4 at 80%
1×2 at 90%
Then light weight flys 3×10
After that pushup variations into burnout.
After a while I do switch it up just to shock the muscles0 -
start with the empty bar. If you've been off for a year and a half, you could probably take 6 or 8 weeks of slowly building back up, strengthening your tendons etc, until you are full speed. That's what i would do.2
-
start with the empty bar. If you've been off for a year and a half, you could probably take 6 or 8 weeks of slowly building back up, strengthening your tendons etc, until you are full speed. That's what i would do.
Thank you, my first day back I did too much so I was just wondering0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 260.5K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.7K Fitness and Exercise
- 393 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions