starting strength training again

[*sunshine*]

I've neglected strength training for awhile now and recently decided to try the Body for LIFE program. We have a home gym (no free weights though) and I find that I can't continue to add weights as I go through my sets (12X, 10X, 8X, 6X, 12X+12X), even if I start out at the lowest weight setting for my first 12. By the time I get to 8X, it's too heavy to perform the exercise properly and finish the reps.

I'm not looking to bulk up, but just lose a couple pounds and tone up. Any suggestions on a weight training program, or should I just go back to my old three sets of 12 reps per muscle group?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Woodt]

Hows your diet? How old, heavy, active are you? Use the search bar, should help.

 

[*sunshine*]

I think I eat fairly well, but I know there is room for improvement: balanced diet of protein, whole-grain carbs, fresh fruits and vegetables etc.. I don't 'diet' -- I eat healthy most of the time and allow my self to indulge once in while.

I am 32 yrs old, a stay-at-home-mom to one toddler and am 5'3" and 122 lbs. I am semi-moderately(?) active: cardio workout on the treadmill twice a week and then almost-daily bike rides (pulling DS in the bike trailer) and walks to the park and other seasonal sports.

I recently lost about 5 lbs this spring getting into a cardio routine, and now I need to bring the strength training into it.

Surely my post isn't the first of it's kind, so I'll search the site as well...

 

[deschain]

At what increments do the weights increase on your machine?

You may need to increase the weights by a smaller amount for each set. Free weights come in very handy for that. If the weights on your machine increase by 10 pound increments, you might look into selling it to buy free weight stuff or just adding some fw into what you have.