Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for books on weight training. Ideally, the book would have a reasonable amount of space devoted to the principles of weight training as well as comprehensive pictures of different exercises (I'm uncoordinated). And it should be for women who want strong bodies, not men who want to weigh 300 pounds

I'm feeling more comfortable in the weights section of the gym now and more courageous about branching out!

Thanks!

Body Sculpting for Women, Weight Training for Dummies, and Body for Life for Women would be my suggestions espeically for giving you pictures and descriptions. (And Pamela Peeke has new one out Fit to Live, but I haven't read it yet.)

Others would be Strong Women Stay Strong, and any other by Miriam Nelson, more for the theory than the actual exercises.

Ooh I second BFL For Women and the Body Sculpting Bible for Women. I keep the BSB in my gym bag.

I can say without a doubt these two are my favorites:
1. Shape Training - AWESOME book if you want to learn how to plan your workout based on where you store fat, what your weakest muscles are, and what your best points are.

2. The Body Sculpting Bible for Women - excellent instructional strength training book, the title says it all

Hi Baffled: It's great to know that you are feeling comfortable in the free weight area. That was half the battle for me. That, and sweating in public.

FitMom, Pat, and Jennifer have all provided great suggestions. I also wanted to include one of my favorites "Sculpting Her Body Perfect" by Brad Shoenfeld.

I also wanted to pass on a tip. Look for "cue words" to memorize that will trigger your memory on the correct form. You may have to study one exercise/lift at a time from several sources: books, websites, before you find something that works for you. Then write the cue words next to the name of the exercise to remind you at the gym. Each source has a little different way to explain or demonstrate the form/movement which helps to reinforce the information when it's time to execute it at the gym.

Happy Reading.

Thanks for the suggestions! It looks as though I must get the "Body Sculpting Bible"--choosing among the others will be more difficult!

Just by the by, do you guys use some kind of journal or notebook to track your progress with weights? What kind of information do you record?

Thanks again!

Absolutely! I use a small notebook that I can carry around while I do my workout. I have a separate page for each workout (i.e. a UBWO page, a LBWO page) and I make a little chart where I record the exercise, the weight, the number of sets/reps, oh and the date and a place for my weight, which I fill in about one a week. I can get 6-8 workouts on a page depending on the size of the page. It's fun to see how you progress, and I love not having to clutter up my mind with how much weight to use for which exercise.

My gym has forms for this but to me they're too big and awkward to carry around.

Hi Baffled: I use a small notebook too just like Pat. I turn it on the horizontal and write the dates across the top, on the left side I write the exercise. Under the date, and next to the activity I fill in the weight and reps

5/17 5/19 5/21 etc.

dumbell row #25 12, 10, 8 #25 12,10,8
dumbell chest press #20 12, 12, 10 #20 12, 12, 10
dumbell chest fly #15 15, 12, 10

Like Pat I also have an ubwo section, the first half of the notebook and an lbwo section which begins from the back. When the two meet in the middle it's time to get a new notebook.

I also want to suggest checking out some of the books you requested from the library before purchasing them. Just to be sure that you find what it is you are looking for in each book.

Oh right, I turn mine horizontal too - more room that way!

Oopsie, how embarrassing. This is the book I have in my gymbag, not The Body Sculpting Bible. I have the BSB for Abs, and it looks great! But I have to admit I've used it very little. Ab exercises are my most unfavorite thing on earth. I'd rather swing kettlebells than do abs!