[Mrs SmartyPants]

Hi Everyone !! I have read all of the "sticky" threads up top - but I still have some questions ..

I just bought my first set of "weights" last night ( 30 lb adjustable barbells) and my husband told me to start just trying to do reps with the bar alone and gradually add weight (the weights are 4 x 1.5lbs and 4 x 2.5lbs).

My cousin who lifts told me to wait until I lose more weight to start using them, since I've only lost 6lbs so far and have over 100 to lose. He said to keep up with my cardio (treadmill) and do yoga/pilates - but to hold off on lifting.

We don't have a weight bench - so I'm not sure how to modify some of the excersizes that I saw in the clips in this thread

TIA for any help you can offer !!

I can devote about 45 minutes to an hour / day ...

My "plan" is to walk on the treadmill for 23 mins @ 2.5 (1 mile) 6x/week
do weights on M W F
do yoga/pilates on T Th
and give myself a "free" day on the weekends (one day of just treadmill and one day of NO EXCERSIZE AT ALL except like walking at the mall or cleaning the house)

So far the only thing I'm doing is the treadmill.

[northernbelle]

If you can, get a bench and some dumbbells.
Definitely, start with lighter weights (or the bar alone) until you get the form down pat, then add weight gradually. Generally speaking, the more reps you do, the lighter the weight.

Your plan looks good. It covers the basic areas of exercise. As you find that you want to increase your cardio, make sure you stick to moderate cardio on lifting days. On days when you do both, do the lifting, then later on in the day, do the treadmill.

You don't have to lose X number of pounds to start lifting weights. Lifting can contribute a great deal to weight loss, as muscle burns calories faster than fat does. So the sooner you start working on your muscles, the better to reach your goals.

Best of luck!

[kykaree]

I started lifting at the beginning, and boy am I glad. My scale loss slowed a bit, but my fat percentages have whizzed down, as have my inches. If you weight train, measure! Sometimes the scales don't tell the whole story and it's very easy to get discouraged. My shoulders, arms and back look like someone nearer goal weight, my legs and stomach are a different story, but are coming along nicely.

If you can't afford the money/space for a weight bench, a fitball is a good substitute, you can do a lot of weight exercises on it. Like chest press, pec fly, tricep extensions, and I sit on it for biceps and shoulder press, makes you work your core as well as your chosen muscle group.

[Mrs SmartyPants]

Thanks for the replies !!

I think I got dumbells and not barbells (I got the handheld ones) .. I guess *I'M* the dumbell :P

We have a fitball (my 2 year old has cerebral palsy and his therapists use it with him) .. but I'm afraid of getting on it (at 250lbs) isn't there some sort of "weight limit" for those things ? I mean my treadmill has a weightlimit of 250lbs ..

[4rabbit]

Hi,

I would also start with lifting light weights, and NOT wait untill you had lost some more weight. Also, I do not believe that you really need an official weight bench. You can also do a lot of excersizes lying back on a stability ball or a sturdy coffee table even. The stability balls are also great for crunches (abs) and they are not expensive.

Krista's site www.sumptious.com (womens weight training) has also good info on dumbells alone workouts. I started with these and they got me under way pretty well.

The rest of the excersize plan sounds fine, but I miss a food plan. I would also look into that, because you can very easily eat more calories than you can remove by all the excercise.

good luck,
rabbit

[kykaree]

Stability balls are based on height, so you may need a different size to your son's ball.

I found the weight limit somewhere on line when this question came up on the 300+ group, it's something like 420lbs or something, so you have a few meals of Macdonalds to go before you get near that!!!LOL

I started using one at your weight. I didn't read barbell, I assumed you meant dumbell, so I guess I count as a dumbell too, or I'm a good mind reader LOL