(02-10-2013, 14:32)Outofstyle Wrote: Timare how did you first start weight lifting? Like I went to the weight room today and was going to start with just 5 lbs on each side, and then thought I could maybe start with 7.5lbs but first I picked up the bar with only one 5lb weight on it and it was so heavy for me! So I went without any weight, just the bar, and had troubles lifting it up onto my shoulders. And then once it was up I had trouble balancing it and it felt heavy on my neck and shoulders so I did about 4 squats before I put it down. How do you push through that initial part when you really don't have any strength at all? Should I hold off on the weighted squats for a bit and build up some strength?
Oh! How did I miss this? Sorry!
It was difficult! I remember being overly aggressive, too, and did walking lunges with 30lbs in each hand (for a first timer, that's A LOT), and I pulled my glute!! And I pushed through the rest of my routine with a pulled glute. I was a little afraid to workout for some time after that. So your instinct is right: start focusing on strengthening the muscles you wish to later build, or you will end up injuring yourself as I did, and you don't want that! You can start with light dumbell weight for free-weight exercises, or very light weight on the machines, and then gradually increase. I should think that you won't have to work on strengthening for more than a month (if you are exercising twice a week) at the absolute most! I'd say optimistically you should be able to start increasing your weights gradually after the second week, but if you are not ready at that time, don't worry about it and take your time. Everyone is different and it is important to listen to your body. But, once you are strong enough to start increasing the weights, you will find that you will grow stronger at an increasingly faster rate and will probably increase your weights every week to every three weeks (again depending on the exercise). At that time, it's ok to be aggressive and actually you will need to be aggressive to shock those muscles and force them to grow!
When you say you picked up the bar, you are referring to a barbell, right? Hunny! Haha of course it was too heavy for you
Those bars can weigh anywhere from 35-45lbs (well, the ones I have used), without the weighted discs!!! Look at you being aggressive
After you have the body weight squats down (it is important to work on your form first), then start with dumbells. Then you can work your way up to the barbell.
I'm impressed that you got that barbell up on your back! Woooo girl! Get it!