How did you start lifting?

[Anonymous]

I have been active most of my life and am well versed in many exercises and activities, but I have never lifted and find myself at a loss. How to even get started? What exercises do I do when? I have pretty clear goals for why I want to start lifting (tone, increase strength, improve bone desnsity), but a personal trainer is not possible right now and am ovewhelmed by everything available on the interwebs. If you did not start with a trainer, how did you get started, and how long did it take you to feel comfortable with what you were doing? Thanks for any advice for a newbie!

[Anonymous]

I picked up the basics over the years through working with trainers and taking group fitness classes.

But now there are so many resources online - lots of articles out there, youtube videos, fitness accounts on Instagram. Also check out FB group Women Who Lift Weights.

[Anonymous]

I originally started by going to the packed campus gyms in college and doing the machines after watching how other people used them. Then I took group fitness classes at a gym in my 20s and 30s. Now I follow the Hard Core peloton workouts and do those classes. It’s a really good mix of generally one heavy leg day, one chest and back day, one arms and shoulders, one lighter leg day, and a full body day (not in that order). Two active recovery days with yoga, foam rolling, Pilates or stretching. It has really helped me with consistency!

[Anonymous]

I worked with a trainer to learn basics. Now I use a program where I get new workouts every month along with videos if all exercises. Watching the right videos that break down for is very important and useful.

To really get stronger you need to lift heavy snd challenging weights. The last few reps should be really hard.

I use https://www.sfinnercircle.com/

[Anonymous]

Peloton app has good videos and programs.

[Anonymous]

I was a thin runner/swimmer who didn’t lift at all until the year I turned 40. It has been 10 years now and I learned through YouTube instructionals and watching other people at the gym.

[Anonymous]

Bootcamp at the gym, small group lifting and reading books

[Anonymous]

Trainer twice a week

First two months were just focused on get my core to where it shouldn’t and suitable for lifting.

Still do trainer twice a week. Once very 3-4 months i do two weeks of trainer everyday.

[Anonymous]

I learned by working with trainers and doing boot camps on and off for the past 20 years. If you’ve never lifted before, go to a class or do some sessions with a trainer. You need to learn proper form so you don’t hurt yourself. Once you have the basics down, you can workout however you choose, apps, on your own, at a gym. Start with light weights and progress from there.

[Anonymous]

I started with https://www.reddit.com/r/bodyweightfitness/ because I wanted to make the habit before I started investing money in equipment and classes. It’s a great community and they have great resources for beginners. Then once I had a firm time commitment going I added dumbells and a bench.

[Anonymous]

I took Body Pump classes at a local gym. Once I got comfortable there, I used what I learned with free weights on my own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been active most of my life and am well versed in many exercises and activities, but I have never lifted and find myself at a loss. How to even get started? What exercises do I do when? I have pretty clear goals for why I want to start lifting (tone, increase strength, improve bone desnsity), but a personal trainer is not possible right now and am ovewhelmed by everything available on the interwebs. If you did not start with a trainer, how did you get started, and how long did it take you to feel comfortable with what you were doing? Thanks for any advice for a newbie!

I was a swimmer whose mother broke her hip without even falling down. I had a bone density test and was told I had osteoporosis. So I decided it was time to move from the pool to the weight room. a friend who lifted taught me the basics, and then I worked out on my own. My bone density increased. One doc assumed I was getting foxomax from another source. Another doc accidentally reversed my subsequent bone density test, telling me that I'd lost density, instead of gained it. I stopped going to docs and kept up in the weight room, eventually getting a trainer for just a few lessons..

I gained a few lbs - all muscle -- and actually look thinner.

[Anonymous]

Reading a book. Watching others. Reading the instructions on the machine and going slowly at first. Watching YouTube videos.

[Anonymous]

Can you do this at home or so you need to belong to a fitness center?

How do you do it at home? Especially with the leg work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you do this at home or so you need to belong to a fitness center?

How do you do it at home? Especially with the leg work?

Strength training at home is really difficult unless you have a true home gym with a range of dumbells, barbell, rack, and a bench.

To properly strength train you need to use weights that are challenging enough to force your body to change/get stronger.

There are ways to challenge your body with limited weights; more reps, slow movements down and so forth, but still having heavier weights is the most beneficial.