I wanted to thank all of you at this forum for all the inspiration to start a free weight program at my health club/ fitness club gym! I have been a lurker here for a long time and after losing about 40 lbs in the last 2.5 years ( 14 in the last 8 weeks) based on all of your encouragement and success signed up for with the fitness director as a trainer last Thurs. He set me up with a simple routine using free weights and a few machines! Don't ask me quite yet what they all are, I have it on a filed card at the club and am learning the language! I am so excited! I am to do this 3 days a week and I work out in the pool 5 to 6 times a week for cardio. I sometimes do the eliptical or treadmill as a change. I also have a pilates reformer at home. I am 51 and can not believe how great I feel! I have been on 3 Chicks website since it was started, but somehow after a lag, lost my name and account and created this new one a while back. I have been hanging around on and off over the years!
This is such a supportive place. I really didn't understand weight training at all or what it could do. All of you here have inspired me! It really helped that many of you are in my age range. Or have been where I have been. Or made me understand this can be a key part of weight loss and fitness. That this can tone! Like many women I was concerned this would make you look like a body builder type guy shape ( or something like that)! I now understand if that is not what you want you can do this and benefit in lots of ways.

I still have some weight to lose and a lot to learn about weight/ resistance training. I am open to any suggestions. I really just wanted to let you all know how much I learned from all of you and maybe inspire someone else to start this path. I like to hang around here with like minded people who understand the struggles and rewards of living healthy and fit, and hopefully thinner! Thanks to all of you here.

Hello StarSpangled! I’m so excited for you, congratulations on getting yourself started with strength training regimen. I know it has made a huge difference for me. It’s like I can’t wait to get to the gym some days, sounds crazy but it can happen. I’m a swimmer too, I try to get in the pool 1-2 times a week and do elliptical and walking and now rollerblading for other cardio (it’s nice to have options!).

Congratulations on all your progress so far, 14 lbs in the last 8 weeks now that’s awesome! Look forward to seeing more of you around here.

out of lurkdom, SS! How thrilling! Weight-lifting is just going to be great for you. You're a great age, too: there are quite a few of us hanging around 50.

or at least welcome out of lurkdom! I'm so glad you decided to go investigate what your gym had to offer. It has made a huge difference in my life and body. I'm 51 also, and by no means do I look like a body builder guy!

Congratulations and have fun!

Please keep posting and let us know how you are doing
Mel

Nor does Mel look remotely close to being 51.

I'm convinced that weightlifting is the Fountain of Youth for women our age (I'm 51 also )

STAR - Great for kicking things up and going for it. I LOVE the weights, the cardio I only do because it affords me 60 minutes of time when no one is asking me any questions.

I think lots of people, especially women, see Weight Training and think of those Mr. World Competitions or the covers of Muscle magazines. But it really also can be about strength, balance and relaxation.

I have such role models to look to as I approach 50.

I'm 51 next month - and I'm just finding out how wonderful weight training is as well. In fact DH is so impressed with how I've done that he's actually gonna shift some weights as well! My cardio is stationary bicycle three times a week and I also have a 2 hour walk with my dogs every day.

I agree with Sugar Cube that both weights and cardio give me 'me' time - almost like meditation!

Should have said in my earlier post: I'm 50!

LOL, this thread should be called Fifty and Lifting!

Mel

Thanks for all the great posts! I told a non exercise friend I was going to be lifting ( to lift) and she thought I said I was going to have lift... as in a face lift or or plastic surgery! She says you really don't need it, since you lost weight you look even younger! Too funny! I told I probably wouldn't do that... and if I did, she would have to drive while I robbed the bank!

I also want to add that I won a Trek bike at the club for an anniversary party they had Sat night! It was a raffle. You earned tickets for filling out a bingo like card and for every 4 goals that you met, then you got a ticket. One just for coming to the event. You had to be a member to win and present. I had 5 tickets and could not believe that some people didn't read the signs they had up in the club for a month on how to do this! It was a huge party, 1800 people and a lot of fun. Semi formal, free eveything, food and drinks! Super nice people. I have never won anything! I was so excited! We live near a bike trail and I will be heading out to do that. I am 5.3 and I called the bike shop and asked if I could trade to a smaller size. Shop took the 18 inch Trek and ordered me a womans bike 13 in, same model. They didn't have to do that, very nice. Getting it next week. Life is good when you exercise! Anyone ever win anything exercise related? One prize was a years membership, another 2X a week with a personal trainer for a year!

Very very cool on the bike!

The only prize I ever won for exercising was losing 122 pounds. And keeping it off for four years now. Which is a pretty darn good prize!

I forgot about that, the ultimate prize!

And Meg you have been a huge motivator to me.... Your start, goal and size stats are very close to mine. Age too!

Heck, then there's no way you can fail, right?

PLease don't say 50 and lifting, I am still south of that. LOL.

STAR - Wahoo, what a wonderful prize. and as for the bike shop, now where are you going to go and where are you going to send all your new biking friends, right, good promo for them and probably for not much bother. Also, my bike shop is really a bunch of big kids and they love what they do and so would love to trade some one into the proper sized bike.

MEG - That 122 is a lovely prize.