For women just starting out, and I mean JUST starting out, no activities here folks, at all, zilch, nil, nodda......the only things I've lifted lately are 3 lb bags of M&M's ............ so what size weights would you recommend 2, 3, 5 lbs ?????
I'm really interested in starting to do weight training but slooooooowly.
My short answer is, it depends on what particular lift you are doing and how strong you are right now. However, I *think* there are relatively few lifts that would require a 2-5 lb start; even without having done any lifting in ages, I started at 40 lbs for bench press, squat and stiff-legged deadlift (and only because that was all the weight I had for my dumbbells). Tricep/lat stuff would probably start really light, though, or if you were going to carry the weights during some other exercise (like stairclimbing), you'd want to start light or with no weight at all.
I'm not one of the experts around here, though, so hopefully someone knowledgeable will come along and help you out.
Jack has a great idea about the workout that is posted over at the men's corner. It is a great beginner workout.
As for the amount of weight to use well that all depends on you and where you are at as a beginner. Everyone is different...Some beginners will be able to use 5# weight to start others 2# or less... Here's a way you can tell. On your first workout if you can easily lift 10-12 reps with 2#, that's too easy... Next workout up it to 5#... and so-on... How do you know if you have the right weight? Let's say that with the 5# once you get to 7-8-9 reps and your muscle is burning and your brow has popped some sweat beads but you get that 10th one in... .... Well you've got just about the right # !! When you can do 12 reps with that 5# up it to 10#... KWIM??
I know Mel our in house Trainer will also have some excellent pointers as a professional... I'm not a trained pro but have been lifting for 20 years and I love to read all I can about lifting, nutrition and health...
Hope this helps and if y ou have any questions ask away!!
WHAT are you planning??? are you thinking of some hand weights for doing things in the privacy of your home? or are you considering <ack> actual exercise equipment??? or even a gym???
have you been talking to peachie??? about her pretty little pink and blue handweights that she's currently staring at from the height of her treadmill?????
Well I'm not looking into pretty pink hand weights, I was interested in weight training (I'm probably saying it wrong) At this point I do not want to bench press, just some starting out exercising w/weights, doing some simple reps, squats, stuff like that. I read that the 1 - 2 lbs wasn't really effective. Do they have 3,4,5 lb weights?
Yes Jiff in the privacy of my own home, I have social anxiety and there's no way I could go to a gym or approach a trainer for help at this time, thats why I'm asking here. And nope haven't heard from Peach in a long time.
I'd like to come home at night and w/a 2 year old its kinda hard to get anything in but I figure w/weights I could do them inbetween this and that. no?
I feel physically very week so I was thinking 3 lbs but wasn't sure. Maybe even brining a set to work and going in a conference room during my lunch to get a little in.
Leenie -- weight training's right; so are strength training, lifting weights, toning, resistance training, and bodybuilding. They all pretty much mean the same thing -- building muscle with weights (like dumbbells or your own body weight) or resistance (like machines).
Ilene's right -- you'll be able to tell what weights to use once you try an exercise. But don't be surprised if you're stronger than you think. Being overweight is actually a form of strength training itself, since everything we do is with added weight. Whenever we walk up the stairs, it's with extra weight. Whenever we carry the laundry or groceries, we're carrying extra pounds -- kind of our own personal dumbbells strapped to our bodies.
When I joined a gym, the trainer I worked with was amazed at how strong my legs and back already were, due to carting around an extra 122 pounds for all those years. I think Jiff's experienced the same phenomenon. And all the years of weight bearing make for some very strong bone, too. So maybe there's ONE benefit of being overweight!
Leenie, how about experimenting with cans of food until you find the weight you want to use? I don't know how heavy a large can of juice weighs but it is a start.
If you go to Krista Scott Dixon's Stumptuous website - (see basic bodybuilding info sticky here in this forum) she has a page titled "No Weights? No Problem!" that you might find of interest.
For me, the cans wouldn't really work - mostly because they'd slip right out of my hand It's pretty easy to find used weights though, check garage sales, your local Penny Saver, www.craigslist.org (if there's a Craigslist in your area) or Play it Again Sports. (I wouldn't recommend buying weights on eBay unless it's a local seller - the shipping would be HORRENDOUS to say the least).
What I do to figure out if I need to move up in weight is simple - if I can lift a weight more than, say, 10 or 12 reps without going to failure or close to failure, then it's time to go up in weight...
Recommended Weights
............ so what size weights would you recommend 2, 3, 5 lbs ?????
.... Well you've got just about the right # !! When you can do 12 reps with that 5# up it to 10#... KWIM??
It's pretty easy to find used weights though, check garage sales, your local Penny Saver, 
