strenth training for the ladies

A lot of women on this site use new rules of lifting for women. It's a book and it has a routine in it that you can follow. There is also a book called "starting strength" that a lot of people like.

I joined bodybuilding.com and I found this thread with a beginner's routine that a lot of people on there use and like a lot:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=4195843


I haven't started it yet. I'm in the process of trying to figure out what weights to use... I'm still getting used to using the barbells at the gym... I've never done them before now. So I know how you feel about not knowing any of the "lingo" lol. I feel like a lost child wandering around the weight section of the gym trying to figure out where to go and what to use. I've been lurking around the bodybuilding.com forums for a while now. I've asked a few questions in that thread I posted the link to and the people in there are really nice and helpful.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Check out or buy the Women's Health Big Book of Exercises. It has like 600 strength exercises in it, all with pictures and great descriptions of each one. It's so helpful! It has routines in it, too.

Lift things up and put them down.

^^^ @Dagoth I find your mockery aggravating. If you don't have anything nice to say or helpful to contribute please don't comment. we are supposed to be supportive.

i am in desperate need of strength training! ive been doing straight cardio since january and i am past due for some kind of weight training! i am about to start jillian michaels kickbox fast fix and i know there is alot of toning in that but i feel like i should be doing some kind of weight routine or something. tell me what you are doing ladies...and i probably wont know what you are talking about if you use weight room talk lol ive never lifted so i dont know what half that stuff means :laugh: i do have access to a gym with weights soooo hit me with it!

@ the OP
I've heard new rules of lifting for women is great. I am going to try this soon.

If you are that confused, then hire a PT for a few sessions to get you going.

I have a PT and he sets up the routines for me.. he goes through them once so I know how to do all the exercises, and then after that I'm on my own... works out wonderfully for me!

There has been some good advice, NRoLFW, a PT or Strong Lifts 5x5 are all good starting points

I'm in the same boat! I really want to start strength training/lifting as soon as possible but I'm pretty much clueless. I've just got copies of New Rules of Lifting and New Rules of Lifting for women. Looking forward to dive into them. I can't afford a trainer and I don't know anyone who lifts. The gym I go to has a pretty good weiggt section for women but it's usually empty and I feel a bit likr a fool walking around, not knowing anything.

I am doing TRX suspension straps. I had a trainer run through the exercises with me; now I do them at home. I've lost a bunch of inches in two months!

Lift things up and put them down.

Actually, Dagoth, you made me laugh as I thought you were spoofing the commercial shown repeatedly on this past season's "Biggest Loser", the commercial for Planet Fitness. Yes?

I agree with the suggestions to get the book New Rules of Lifting for Women. It is a wonderful book, he explains about eating, has food suggestions in there, explains the importance of lifting -heavy. He has it set up in Stages with different workouts in each stage.

There are demonstrations (words and pictures) of each of the exercises. Youtube is another good place to go to watch the proper form of exercises.

At my gym when I have questions about an exercise the people that work there are great for helping with it. Just ask people when you are unsure. It is better to ask and to do it correctly than to not ask and have bad form.

It can be scary at first but once you get it you will probably fall in love with it.

GOOD LUCK!

dagoth - lift things up put things down - you made me smile! I go to Curves three times a week which i enjoy but i want to speed up reducing my bingo wings. one of the girls there suggested bottles of water - hold it up high and then take it down behind my head - repeat. I am using a bottle of laundry detergent as it is easier to keep hold of than taller bottles of water. Every time i go out to my freezer i pick it up - do ten reps each arm and then i put it down.
I think sometimes it is easy to over think stuff and then put yoursellf off doing anything. i know my bottles and routine are not as effective as proper wieght liftinhg or doing the 30 day shred, but for me it is an extra something to start with.
I have windows to clean this afternoon and i am planning to use both arms equally - Karate Kid 1 - wax on wax off lol.
Thanks for the smile Dagoth!

The Jillian Michaels DVD's are a great way to get introduced to strength training and they are a great workout at the same time so I would highly recommend those....plus you can do them in the privacy of your own living room They are reasonably priced and I picked mine up at Walmart for about $10 and I'm in Canada so you might get them cheaper if you are in the US