Critique this advice from the trainer at the gym for me

I can't imagine any good trainer wanting to you to shy away from lifting heavy because you'll get big. I can't really speak to the rest of it apart from my own experience.

So, for what it's worth, when I started back at the gym, my trainer had me doing all sorts of full body exercises and compound lifts. He was always very careful, though, to make sure I wasn't lifting so much that my form went to hell.

I'm going to say he doesn't know what he's talking about.

I'm not a trainer nor do I have any qualifications so don't take my word for it.

I know virtually nothing about this, but I have to say that I was given almost identical information from a trainer 3-4 years ago. He said to do more reps with lighter weights. But no idea if that's accurate.

A few MFP people have been talking about a book just out about lifting, for women. Maybe it would have some answers.

In my opinion...A good trainer should teach you how to lift appropriately. Once you get the proper form then there is no reason you can't lift free weights. I also agree you won't bulk.

Get a different trainer!!! Oh and for the record, you probably already know, women who lift weights ONLY get huge muscles if they're on steroids.

If you have no true base, I can see where he is coming from. You should build a base up first before you can delve into heavy lifting. It is risk for injury if you go one day not strength training into 75 plus pounds deadlifts, etc. Definitely take advice from above, learn the form with a Pipe or light bar. Then build up your strength. You can still do all of the exercises you want to do but focus on building up your strength week by week. And don't think you have to start with 5 pounds. Test the waters out and find a starting weight that is challenging but not overly. Also, focus a lot on your core and form. Supermans, Push-ups, ab exercises other than your basic crunch...anything that will get your core strong will help. Good luck with your training and just remember: your body is amazing and with some patience it can do what you wish it to :-)

To add...it doesn't have to be machines. I personally think free weights and body weight exercises are the way to go if you want to build strength. resistance machines aren't natural enough or challenging enough imo.

Understandably, the trainer is trying to get you to focus on stabalizing your core muscles which, in the long run, will make you stronger overall. It is my experience however, that trainers that give this kind of advice though typically want you to focus on your core strength for as long as your contract is with them if you know what I mean.

I want to start strength training. The last time I was in a gym was 10 years ago, I don't remember anything about how to use machines or proper form or all that. I've been reading what you've all recommended and said regarding lift heavy, low reps for us girls. So I went into the gym and told the trainer this is kind of what I was looking for, that I wanted to do free weights, learn things like deadlifts and squats and lunges. and needed some orientation/training.

I had a fitness assessment and he disagreed with the lift heavy/low rep thing on this basis: that I am new and have no strength and need to build some strength in core groups on the machines before moving to free weights, indicating that I'd be too high risk for injuries like rotator cuff blah blah blah without some strength to build on. He also made some comments about women getting big on the lift heavy/low rep scheme which almost made my eyes roll back into my head.

IDKWTF, please assist. Ask me questions if you need more info.

Listen to your trainer or FIRE HIM!

Actually, in this case I would tend to agree.
If you're starting out, start slow, get acclimated, then move up to more intense forms.
We must crawl before walking, walk before running and run before soaring!

While this is sound advice, the part that makes me think he's a bit douchie is that he's pushing her toward machines rather than awesome free weight exercises within her capability. machines tend to isolate muscles and ignore stabilizers.

Compound lifts CAN be dangerous for beginners, which is why you have a trainer to show you how to do them properly! Nothing says that you should load a bar up with 200lb and start throwing it around. Start light but don't shy away from barbells just because some dude thinks little girls should only be using the thighmaster.