Learning to lift weights (on a budget)

[Anonymous]

YouTube "university" is free

[Anonymous]

The books Starting Strength or Eat, Lift, Thrive

[Anonymous]

Try Fitness Blender online. There is paid "Plus" content (at a very reasonable price), but there are lots of free videos. These are workout videos not instructional videos, but they do explain form and focus on the importance of proper form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend Meg Squats Before the Barbell program - https://www.strongstrongfriends.com/before-the-barbell/

Meg is amazing and has a video for every move. You can try the free program and then progress to a Home Workout Plan or Gym Plan for only $8 a month! Download the App or use the web.

FWIW I worked with her a million years ago before she became a fitness influencer and she is a fantastic human being.

[Anonymous]

I use the FitBod app $12 a month. It designs workouts and has demonstration videos. It works with you as you become stronger and do more. A great investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I frequently see recommendations to hire a personal trainer, which sounds great and expensive. Are there group weight training classes that anybody can recommend where the teacher focuses on form? I have a full set of dumbbells at home, and would ideally get to a point where I could do most of my workouts at home--I don't want to join a gym. I would be open to using a county facility--I read that there are weight rooms in the recreational centers.

I'm located in Bethesda, and my goal is to increase strength and build muscle. Am I being penny wise pound foolish? Would this approach set me up for injuries--do I really need to just save up for a personal trainer?

Yes. Do you have someone who can join you and that would reduce the price per person? I pay my trainer $40 for 1 session a week to train DH and I. You won't build muscle doing assisted machines at Planet Fitness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I frequently see recommendations to hire a personal trainer, which sounds great and expensive. Are there group weight training classes that anybody can recommend where the teacher focuses on form? I have a full set of dumbbells at home, and would ideally get to a point where I could do most of my workouts at home--I don't want to join a gym. I would be open to using a county facility--I read that there are weight rooms in the recreational centers.

I'm located in Bethesda, and my goal is to increase strength and build muscle. Am I being penny wise pound foolish? Would this approach set me up for injuries--do I really need to just save up for a personal trainer?

Yes. Do you have someone who can join you and that would reduce the price per person? I pay my trainer $40 for 1 session a week to train DH and I. You won't build muscle doing assisted machines at Planet Fitness.

$50 a month and she can join OneLife, where they have personal trainers who will make her a plan. Not just assisted weights. Plus you can attend classes, including weight classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try Fitness Blender online. There is paid "Plus" content (at a very reasonable price), but there are lots of free videos. These are workout videos not instructional videos, but they do explain form and focus on the importance of proper form.

I also love Fitness Blender and have learned a lot from their videos.

[Anonymous]

Agree on Peloton app! I love the strength classes. I do 3-4 short classes each day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I frequently see recommendations to hire a personal trainer, which sounds great and expensive. Are there group weight training classes that anybody can recommend where the teacher focuses on form? I have a full set of dumbbells at home, and would ideally get to a point where I could do most of my workouts at home--I don't want to join a gym. I would be open to using a county facility--I read that there are weight rooms in the recreational centers.

I'm located in Bethesda, and my goal is to increase strength and build muscle. Am I being penny wise pound foolish? Would this approach set me up for injuries--do I really need to just save up for a personal trainer?

Yes. Do you have someone who can join you and that would reduce the price per person? I pay my trainer $40 for 1 session a week to train DH and I. You won't build muscle doing assisted machines at Planet Fitness.

$50 a month and she can join OneLife, where they have personal trainers who will make her a plan. Not just assisted weights. Plus you can attend classes, including weight classes.

Those classes don't do crap. They are based on high rep counts and that is actually more bad than good. She needs someone who can spot her while doing a bench press and push her to do a 300-lb leg press. That's the kind of stress you need to build muscle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I frequently see recommendations to hire a personal trainer, which sounds great and expensive. Are there group weight training classes that anybody can recommend where the teacher focuses on form? I have a full set of dumbbells at home, and would ideally get to a point where I could do most of my workouts at home--I don't want to join a gym. I would be open to using a county facility--I read that there are weight rooms in the recreational centers.

I'm located in Bethesda, and my goal is to increase strength and build muscle. Am I being penny wise pound foolish? Would this approach set me up for injuries--do I really need to just save up for a personal trainer?

Yes. Do you have someone who can join you and that would reduce the price per person? I pay my trainer $40 for 1 session a week to train DH and I. You won't build muscle doing assisted machines at Planet Fitness.

$50 a month and she can join OneLife, where they have personal trainers who will make her a plan. Not just assisted weights. Plus you can attend classes, including weight classes.

How much does the personal trainers at OneLife cost in addition to the monthly fee? Is it one on one training.

[Anonymous]

Can you manage just a few sessions with a personal trainer to learn a workout that you can do on your own? I do think it is worth it, given the cost and frustration of rehabbing injuries caused by bad form.

[Anonymous]

I have seen trainers teach people bad form. Read some articles, watch some videos and use your money to buy a tall mirror. Do not go on what lifting feels like. You need a mirror to check your form. Start with weights that are light and focus on proper form. Only move up when you can, keeping proper form.

I found hardware stores have fairly inexpensive long mirrors.

[Anonymous]

YouTube university

[Anonymous]

Any great YouTube workout with resistance bands?