Newbie Advice

[PrISM]

So in reading various newbie threads asking for suggestions of lifts for a beginner, I see a lot of people suggesting the staple (and more complex) lifts like squats, deadlifts and Olympic lifts. Now as an example, I've been training with my trainer for about a year now. We didn't start doing back squats until about 6 months in and working on progression towards it. We only recently started doing things like push presses and push jerks, then moved to front squats and hanging clean pulls last week to work towards the clean (my first big Olympic lift).

So I guess my question here is, is it a good idea for someone who's brand new to weight training to attempt to undertake these kinds of lifts whether or not he/she really has the ability to do them properly? Or is it really not that big a deal?

 

[limestix]

Of course not, at least not with heavy weight. You don't have to rack up 3 cookies for your first squat. When you are just starting, throw the bar on your back and practice with that for a while. I guess the specifics are left out in suggestions and its hoped that common sense will prevail.

imo everyone should start out doing a FBW with dumbells and a stability ball. After that, move to barbell exercises and compound lifts, starting with light weight for form, then moving into it.

Also, of course your trainer is going to take it slow, for a couple reasons:
a) They want your money. They dont want to have a client for a month and send them off with everything they need. They want you to keep coming back.
b) They don't want you getting injured. If you work hard and do difficult exercises, well, lets face it, people are stupid, don't do everything right, and your chances of getting hurt are going up the more weight you rack and the harder the movements you do. You get hurt, they get in trouble.

So yea, all beginners should take it slow, but its usually pretty hard for beginners to take it any way but slow since they are usually weak and out of shape. And a PT is always going to take things very slow with you. Not only for the reasons stated, but because thats how its 'supposed' to be done. Anytime you bring money and 'professionals' and such into an equation, it also comes with rules, regulations, guidelines and the like.