Thread for All Women who LIFT
stormystrickland
Posts: 187 Member
I've been lifting for about a month now and I really love it. I want to know what weight you started out lifting for lower/upper body, what weight you lift now, etc. Just anything and everything you want to talk about concerning lifting. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts and advice! 
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Replies
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I've been lifting for nearly a year and I estimate that my strength has increased for lower body lifts by 30% and for upper body lifts by about 15%. I was really, really weak when I started. I've noticed my functional strength and grip has improved as well. Of course, I've lost body fat, gained a little muscle and experienced body recomp too. I like the way weight lifting has improved my life overall.0
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Bump. I'd like to see starting and current weights lifted too. 0
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Bump...I lift, but am thinking about adding more lean mass. I am inerested in tips on building from anyone who has been successful...0
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I lift...and LOVE IT!0
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I"m 44yrs old. I started with 1lb dumbells a year ago. I do the Tony Little Total body curcuit video 3 times a week and moved up to 8lb dumbells just this week though I think I could do 10lbs and fewer sets on a couple of things.0
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I have been lifting since March and I LOVE IT. I lift 3 days a week. I started out w/ 20lbs, 10 on each side and now I'm up to 80lbs. I have lost body fat and gained muscle. I'm now cutting body fat, so I have dropped my weight and increased my reps, I work 2 muscle groups per day, 3 times a week.0
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I have been lifting since March and I LOVE IT. I lift 3 days a week. I started out w/ 20lbs, 10 on each side and now I'm up to 80lbs. I have lost body fat and gained muscle. I'm now cutting body fat, so I have dropped my weight and increased my reps, I work 2 muscle groups per day, 3 times a week.
How long did it take you to move up weight? I'm worried about moving up too quickly. I've never lifted before this past month so I'm worried about form even though I'm not too sure what form actually is... I'm doing Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer and I love it! I'm just not sure how heavy I'm "supposed' to be lifting. Especially for arms. I started out using 8-10 lbs dumbbells last month and now I'm using 15-20 lb. depending on what exercise I do. Should I be moving up weight faster?0 -
I spent most of my time using lighter weights and involving them in circuit type workouts/higher reps to burn calories and get more of a cardio work out in until just a few weeks ago. Now, I'm doing that same thing still 2 days a week and lifting heavier 2 days a week but still not "heavy" according to what I see a lot of people describe as heavy here. I like to keep my reps at 10. If I can't do 8 I lower the weight. If I can do more than 10 I increase the weight. I also use dumb bells, medicine balls, kettle bells, free weights and stay away from machines. I'm a fan, but I'm still so focused on weight loss on seeing the scale move 2lbs a week I get anxious about it. LOL0
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I have been lifting for about 2 years now, I LOVE it., I feel strong and confident!0
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Back in 2005 when I joined a gym for the very first time, they had me start at 4-6 lb. dumbbells doing bench presses, bicep curls, tricep extensions, squats, lunges etc. but then I stopped after I got sick for few months. Then after 5 years (yeah I know that's too long to wait) I started over again with 2-3 lb weights doing the same workout but with addition of deadlifts, knee push-ups & planks. Then after few weeks upped it to 5-8 lbs. & was able to do full push-ups.
Right now I lift weight ranges from 35-60lbs. for upper body exercises & 70-80lbs. for lower body.0 -
Love lifting, have been doing it for ~7 years. had to cut back for race season but look forward to restarting next week after my last race.
We'll see if I maintained my weights...at the beginning of june i was at
85lb*6reps for bench
135*8reps for romanian dead left
115*6reps for back squats
Keep us posted ladies!0 -
After hearing about all the great things lifting can do for you I had to try it, no clue where to start so I got ChaLean Extreme.
It is 3 months long, this is my last week. I got some nice results. I use dumbbells from 8 to 20 lbs. I probably could go heavier, but I dont have any bigger ones. I am now hooked on lifting. I love the way my arms and bottom are starting to look.0 -
I have been lifting since March and I LOVE IT. I lift 3 days a week. I started out w/ 20lbs, 10 on each side and now I'm up to 80lbs. I have lost body fat and gained muscle. I'm now cutting body fat, so I have dropped my weight and increased my reps, I work 2 muscle groups per day, 3 times a week.
How long did it take you to move up weight? I'm worried about moving up too quickly. I've never lifted before this past month so I'm worried about form even though I'm not too sure what form actually is... I'm doing Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer and I love it! I'm just not sure how heavy I'm "supposed' to be lifting. Especially for arms. I started out using 8-10 lbs dumbbells last month and now I'm using 15-20 lb. depending on what exercise I do. Should I be moving up weight faster?
Once your current weight is no longer a challenge, then you move up. You always want to constantly challenge your muscles. Your body will tell you when it's time to move up in weights. It took me about three months to move up that weight. Now my legs could always withstand more weight so I can press about 125lbs on my legs. You move up at the pace your body tells you. Some people will intentionally move up weight every week or so, and you can do that, but I believe that you should work at the level that is challenging you until it's no longer a challenge, so you don't overdo it. I've overdone it before and all it does is make you wanna quit lifting. Your muscles will naturally become stronger so you don't have to worry about not moving up.0 -
I have been lifting since March and I LOVE IT. I lift 3 days a week. I started out w/ 20lbs, 10 on each side and now I'm up to 80lbs. I have lost body fat and gained muscle. I'm now cutting body fat, so I have dropped my weight and increased my reps, I work 2 muscle groups per day, 3 times a week.
How long did it take you to move up weight? I'm worried about moving up too quickly. I've never lifted before this past month so I'm worried about form even though I'm not too sure what form actually is... I'm doing Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer and I love it! I'm just not sure how heavy I'm "supposed' to be lifting. Especially for arms. I started out using 8-10 lbs dumbbells last month and now I'm using 15-20 lb. depending on what exercise I do. Should I be moving up weight faster?
I always use the 2X2 rule.
If I can do 2 more reps at my current weight for 2 workouts in a rows, time to move up.0 -
I have been lifting since March and I LOVE IT. I lift 3 days a week. I started out w/ 20lbs, 10 on each side and now I'm up to 80lbs. I have lost body fat and gained muscle. I'm now cutting body fat, so I have dropped my weight and increased my reps, I work 2 muscle groups per day, 3 times a week.
How long did it take you to move up weight? I'm worried about moving up too quickly. I've never lifted before this past month so I'm worried about form even though I'm not too sure what form actually is... I'm doing Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer and I love it! I'm just not sure how heavy I'm "supposed' to be lifting. Especially for arms. I started out using 8-10 lbs dumbbells last month and now I'm using 15-20 lb. depending on what exercise I do. Should I be moving up weight faster?
Once your current weight is no longer a challenge, then you move up. You always want to constantly challenge your muscles. Your body will tell you when it's time to move up in weights. It took me about three months to move up that weight. Now my legs could always withstand more weight so I can press about 125lbs on my legs. You move up at the pace your body tells you. Some people will intentionally move up weight every week or so, and you can do that, but I believe that you should work at the level that is challenging you until it's no longer a challenge, so you don't overdo it. I've overdone it before and all it does is make you wanna quit lifting. Your muscles will naturally become stronger so you don't have to worry about not moving up.
That makes a lot of sense and helps me a lot. Thank you! The weird thing for me is that I started with next to no arm strength, but I could do about 110-130 for my legs.0 -
If you are worried about your form you probably need to check with a personal trainer or someone who is qualified and can watch your form because it is always better to do one rep with perfect form then 10 with the wrong form because then you are only building your muscles in the wrong way.... That being said not everyone can afford a personal trainer so if that is the case try doing the exercises in the mirror so that you are able to see if you look the way they do in the videos or from the pictures online (jamie easons)
Also if you are looking to build size you want to go lower reps with higher weight (somewhere in the 6-8 range) if you are looking to lean out a little you go to a little lighter weight and keep the reps to around 10-15 then for endurance you want to go light and be able to do anywhere from 12-20 reps. With all situations a good rule of thumb is have the last 3 reps be hard but still doable with good form.
I have been lifting for about 9 years and I love how it makes you feel but you need to make sure that you are doing it right or it will just hurt you. Increasing your lean muscle mass also helps burning calories because it takes more calories to keep them going while you are at rest.
Also if you are concerned you are moving up too fast you should be fine if your form is good and also you can try doing "drop-sets" or even "super-setting" your exercises. Hope that helps anyone!0 -
Heavy is whats heavy to you. Just like you moved up from 8-10 to 15-20, you'll know when it is time to increase again. Just continue to increase weights!! Challenge yourself !! And eat!! Eat especially protein, have to feed those muscles and let them repair and rest. And Just keep lifting girl!I have been lifting since March and I LOVE IT. I lift 3 days a week. I started out w/ 20lbs, 10 on each side and now I'm up to 80lbs. I have lost body fat and gained muscle. I'm now cutting body fat, so I have dropped my weight and increased my reps, I work 2 muscle groups per day, 3 times a week.
How long did it take you to move up weight? I'm worried about moving up too quickly. I've never lifted before this past month so I'm worried about form even though I'm not too sure what form actually is... I'm doing Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer and I love it! I'm just not sure how heavy I'm "supposed' to be lifting. Especially for arms. I started out using 8-10 lbs dumbbells last month and now I'm using 15-20 lb. depending on what exercise I do. Should I be moving up weight faster?0 -
I absolutely love, love, love lifting. I started on the machines lifting 20-50lbs and I hated doing my arms. Now I use dumb bells and barbells, benching 100lb, squats170lbs, deadlift 125lbs, should press 65lbs, barbell curls 55lbs, alt dumbbell curls 25lbs etc. I love to see how my body has transformed and seeing my body fat vanish.0
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I just started lifting this past April and LOVE it
currently I have a cheaper bar and set of weights but I`m going to be upgrading to an olimpic bar at the end of the month and some nice plates
started on 35pound bench press sad compaired to some but hey ya gotta start somewhere
30 pound on my squats
30 pound curls
30 pound lunges
40 pound dead lift
30 pound dumb bell row
30 pound arm raise lung
I do 6-8 reps and plan to move up 5pounds each time it starts getting easy (where I feel I could do more than the 8 reps its time to add weight)0 -
Does anyone here every feel weird when working out at the gym? I watch the bodybuilding videos a ton of times so I know what I'm doing, but when I get to the gym I get so nervous. Some of the workouts I can do in my women's section, but most of the workouts I need to do is in the part with all of the men. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting in their way or they'll look at me weird haha I'm just trying not to focus on it so much. I'm there to muscle pump, not impress people lol0
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I've been heavy lifting since April. I'm following the Stronglifts 5x5 program and I do love it! The pounds have been slow coming off, but I've lost 22 inches!!! These are my last 2 workouts....
Squats - Starting weight, empty bar (45 pounds). Last workout weight, 170 pounds
Overhead press - Starting weight, empty bar. Last workout, 80 pounds
Deadlift - Starting weight, about 90 pounds. Last workout, 180 pounds
Bench press - Starting weight, empty bar. Last workout, 115 pounds
Barbell rows - Starting weight, 65 pounds. Last workout, 115 pounds
I increase weight every workout, by 5 pounds, depending on how the previous workout was. If it was really tough, I'll stay at that weight for another workout or 2. If it wasn't a really hard workout, I'll increase 5 pounds on my next workout. And at the gym I go to, there is no women's section. I lift with the men and I'm usually the only woman there lifting. It was nerve wracking at first and I was pretty intimidated but, now it doesn't bother me at all. I go in, do my thing and get out. 0 -
I did Stronglifts 5x5 (am now doing 3x5).
Squats: started with 5x5x65lbs, now: 3x5x125lbs
Bench: started with 5x5x45lbs, now 3x5x105lbs0 -
I've been lifting for about 5 months now and I love it too! I'm on stage 4 of NROLFW right now. Almost stage 5! I think I started at like 24 lbs for lunges and now I'm at 95 so that's a big improvement... deadlifts I started at 50 --> now it's 105. squats I think I started at 40 and now I'm not sure what I'm at but for single leg squats I did 95 so I am guessing my regular squats are over 100 lbs. Lat pulldowns I started at 30 and now I'm at 90.
I think I underestimated my abilities when I first started and also NROLFW starts you out with fewer sets and higher reps and now I'm at 3 sets of 8 so that definitely attributes to the weights I can do.
I have lost about 1 lb since starting NROLFW (i'm only at a 100 cal deficit anyways) but I am down to a 24.5 inch waist from 26.75 so that's a huge improvement! And my body looks totally different. My bf says he notices muscles all over htat he didn't see before I loooove being stronger and lifting it makes me feel fantastic!! 0 -
Does anyone here every feel weird when working out at the gym? I watch the bodybuilding videos a ton of times so I know what I'm doing, but when I get to the gym I get so nervous. Some of the workouts I can do in my women's section, but most of the workouts I need to do is in the part with all of the men. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting in their way or they'll look at me weird haha I'm just trying not to focus on it so much. I'm there to muscle pump, not impress people lol
For a while I felt uncomfortable but now I'm much more comfortable in my gym. I recently started going to a new gym near my new university so I'm a little more nervous there since I don't know where anything is, but it's not so bad, you get used to it! Bring a friend, I find that helps!0 -
I have been lifting since March and I LOVE IT. I lift 3 days a week. I started out w/ 20lbs, 10 on each side and now I'm up to 80lbs. I have lost body fat and gained muscle. I'm now cutting body fat, so I have dropped my weight and increased my reps, I work 2 muscle groups per day, 3 times a week.
How long did it take you to move up weight? I'm worried about moving up too quickly. I've never lifted before this past month so I'm worried about form even though I'm not too sure what form actually is... I'm doing Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer and I love it! I'm just not sure how heavy I'm "supposed' to be lifting. Especially for arms. I started out using 8-10 lbs dumbbells last month and now I'm using 15-20 lb. depending on what exercise I do. Should I be moving up weight faster?
I always use the 2X2 rule.
If I can do 2 more reps at my current weight for 2 workouts in a rows, time to move up.
This is a good rule. I try to just gauge if I think I can challenge myself to do the reps at a higher weight and usually I can. But sometimes I'll up the weight for one set and I can do it but my form is off so I bring it back down for the next set. You'll be able to tell if your form is funky or if you aren't doing things smoothly. Sometimes I think it's better to struggle with the last two reps and maybe not even be able to do the last one than it is to be able to do 2 or 3 more than you planned.0 -
If you cannot start with 45lbs that is perfectly fine! Start with what ever you can do and increase it by 5lbs every other day! Eventually you'll work your way up to 80++lbs!0 -
Does anyone here every feel weird when working out at the gym? I watch the bodybuilding videos a ton of times so I know what I'm doing, but when I get to the gym I get so nervous. Some of the workouts I can do in my women's section, but most of the workouts I need to do is in the part with all of the men. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting in their way or they'll look at me weird haha I'm just trying not to focus on it so much. I'm there to muscle pump, not impress people lol
I used to get anxious about this too but now I'm completely comfortable. For the most part I'm the only woman that's in the weight section regularly. Everybody is doing their own thing and isn't really concerned with anyone else. The only ones who MIGHT think something about me are the young high school kids hanging around. They would never say nothing though because my hubby is 6"7 and could kick some butt
Anyway it gets easier the more you go!
As for the original post I try to move up often. I do 3 sets of 8 reps at my max weight that I can complete. When I feel it's too easy and my muscles aren't working hard enough I move up and see if I can complete there.
I just moved up from 75lbs on the bench press to 80 and failed after 5 reps on 80lbs. Though I can complete 3 sets of 8 at 75lbs. lol. I love the bench though it's my favorite exercise and I never see other women on there. What's with that?!0 -
I just started reading "The New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women". Already I've upped my protein consumption, and I can't wait to get going on the workouts. I have all the equipment pretty much, except for a barbell with weights but that shouldn't be a big thing.
For work my supervisor makes up mandatory PT sessions (I'm under his authority one weekend a month, two weeks a year). This Sunday it was a half hour or so of alternating pushups and pullups, then a run. My upper body is still destroyed. Once I heal, I can start training!!0 -
Love hearing what everyone is doing. I started New Rules in March and I've almost completed (stage 6 right now). It has been great for me and I've increased my strength considerably. What I use weight wise really depends on the exercise for me, but the thing I hate the most is everything is 5 lb increments. I find where I'm at is often a bit low, but jumping up by 5 lbs (per arm) can be a bit much. I'm typically lifting 20-30 lbs per arm on exercises that call for it and averaging 20-30 (not including the bar) when doing barbell exercises. Squats are around 110 and deadlifts at about 95. Barbell exercises I can increment smaller, but dumbbell exercises are a minimum 5 lb increase.
I do love what it has done for my body though, my arms and legs look awesome (if I do say so myself) and I've had lots of compliments (easier to show off the new bod in the Summer, hehe).
Love, love, love lifting0 -
I don't lift yet. I recently bought an elliptical machine and I've been using it faithfully, but I'm struggling to start a beginner strengthening program. I understand why it's so important, but I don't want to go to the gym. Any advice for creating a cheap home program for strengthening?0
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