Start with core exercises and build from there, you will hit a point where you will definitely notice an full body improvement , then everything really starts to come together mentally and physically.

I hired personal trainer 3 times for a period of 6 months to a year. Once was to learn the basics and the other two were to come back from an injury. I learned a lot from each of my trainers and have used their workouts for years. It also helped me feel comfortable in the weight room b/c I know how you use the equipment. I think that's a big issue for a lot of people and a barrier for them to get started with weight training.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think starting at home with lower weights until you’re really comfortable with the movement and know what you’re doing is a good idea. Then when you’re ready, go to the gym. You will be more challenged there and make more progress but if you wait til you know what you’re doing, you won’t get intimidated and just bail, you’ll know what you’re doing. That confidence affects mindset a lot at the gym.

I have adjustable barbells and a bench and can do 90% of what I'd be doing in a gym. The one exception is heavy leg work

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

How do you feel now that you're 50 and lifting 10 years?

Only regret is not starting sooner.

Can you please share your favorite Youtube resources? Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

How do you feel now that you're 50 and lifting 10 years?

Only regret is not starting sooner.

An elective in college back in 1989

Any centers with decent weight rooms in Herndon, Reston, Dulles, Chantilly, fair lakes area that are mostly used by women or feel welcoming to women? I don’t mean that to sound like most aren’t, but I didn’t have a great experience where I lived before (west coast), and I miss machines.

I found a great online program at bodybuilding.com (I'm a young female and wasn't bodybuilding, just looking to lift to lose weight). it was a $7/month membership but I just wrote down the 12 week plan and cancelled after a month. 4 years later I'm still sticking to that plan, and there were many other great ones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think starting at home with lower weights until you’re really comfortable with the movement and know what you’re doing is a good idea. Then when you’re ready, go to the gym. You will be more challenged there and make more progress but if you wait til you know what you’re doing, you won’t get intimidated and just bail, you’ll know what you’re doing. That confidence affects mindset a lot at the gym.

On the other hand, OP mentioned that she's been fit for most of her life. She will VERY quickly outgrow her 10lb dumbbells at home and need to increase resistance.

I agree there are other ways to challenge the muscle. Isolate a single leg. Negatives. Etc. But eventually, you need to increase the weight.

And newbs get those newbie gains. Too many people settle in at a certain weight and then stop challenging their body

T-nation.

It's very bro-ish weighlifting but the articles and programs work

OP here - Thanks folks, this has been hugely helpful! To answer a few questions... I have teenage sons so have a decent home gym. We have a nice treadmill, a rack with an olympic bar and variety of weights, dumbells 2-40lbs and miscellanous straps, kettlebells, medicine balls, etc. My sons have tried to help me get started but what a 19 year old athlete can do is very different from his 48 year old mom!

I like the idea of starting low and slow, that's what's worked with the other activities I've done, so will look into the aps and home programs you've suggested, then graduate to a trainer and/or gym once I have a little more familiarity. Thansk for the help - wish me luck!

I started in high school with “nautilus” machines, and then after college I joined a gym. I worked with trainers to learn lifts because I have a spinal fusion and need to be really careful. Mostly I did the workouts on my own though.

I strongly recommend starting with a beginner strength training program, rather than putting together your own.

Are you planning to join a gym or work out at home? If at home, what equipment do you have or are you willing to buy?

I am currently getting back into lifting in my basement gym. I started with StrongLifts 5x5 and am now doing Strong Curves.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think starting at home with lower weights until you’re really comfortable with the movement and know what you’re doing is a good idea. Then when you’re ready, go to the gym. You will be more challenged there and make more progress but if you wait til you know what you’re doing, you won’t get intimidated and just bail, you’ll know what you’re doing. That confidence affects mindset a lot at the gym.

I started back in 2016 when Bikini Body Guide by Kayla Itsines was popular. Looking back it’s a goofy little workout but it really helped me establish a baseline fitness level that I could work up from. I did 3-4 28minute circuits a week and stayed consistent because I told myself “I can do anything for 28 minutes.” I did BBG three times through and by November 2016 I was ready for more challenge and bought weights.

I worked out at home for another few years before I felt I had stalled even with my home equipment. Then I joined a gym. Now I lift heavy 3-4x a week there. 2 upper body, 2 lower body. I started 5’1 and 100 lbs, I’m now 103-104 but my body looks completely different. It takes years tbh to get to where I am. I remind myself of that often. But that’s how I started. Consistency over time is the biggest thing

Anonymous wrote: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.

How do you feel now that you're 50 and lifting 10 years?