Weights for dummies

Camy

Camy

New member
Hello my dear experts,
I have been on this for a while, and doing fine, but I have decided to start doing weights because a) a lot of people here recommended it highly and I have heard often it will boost my weightloss, b) I am quite weak and two sports I love and am learning (or will start learning in a few months) require strength in my arms and legs (I am learning to surf and I will start breakdance possibly in october) and c) because I think I could do with some definition ;)!

So, now my problem is, I have NO clue about weights. I mean I have seen them in the gym and I know the shape of them :) but even when people post on here the names of the moves tell me nothing. I have seen in the gym and in movies people lifting them up with their arms straight, or sort of pulling them together in front of their faces with elbows flexed, but other than that I don't know what to do with them.

So anybody feels like sharing what they do, how to start, how often to repeat each movement, which weight they use (I am pretty small so I think I should start with the ones that are barely visible!), or what I should do being a total beginner and having no idea.
I also don't know how to balance it, more arms than anything else? How do you do it to strengthen your legs? Those machines??

Thank you very much for your help, Camy
 
A resource that I use and LOVE is the New Rules series of books. There's The New Rules of Lifting for Women and then just the regular The New Rules of Lifting.

Both are great books, although the one for Women is very much geared towards dispelling some of the myths about weight lifting (like the one that says you have to lift barbie weights or you'll bulk up).

They also teach you about full body lifting vs trying to isolate muscles (full body is better).

Highly, highly, highly, highly recommend them. I was a total noob when I started reading them. I started out following their plan and asked a trainer at my gym to help me with my form on a few movements.

Well worth the $20 for each book. Althouh I think at this point they're both available in large format paperback for around $15 each or something like that.
 
Does your gym offer a lifting class - Rep Reebok or something similar? I've learned so much from the lifting classes at my gym!
 
I started with weights in 1993 by using the machines. I did this for about 12 weeks, and my muscles started getting the hang of things. I then started reading Muscle & Fitness magazine, and read the articles about how to do different free weight exercises. Then I just tried them at the gym. But if you have access to a gym, I found the machines really helped to break me into doing weights. Dont get intimidated about moving up in the weights once you get the form down. As you noted, its a good idea to start with really low weights and just learn the proper form at first. Always hold your stomach muscles very tight when you do any exercises at all. Move only the body part that is lifting the weight, hold your body tight and rigid otherwise..knees not locked though..back straight. Those are very important tips to getting proper form.
 
Thank you everybody,
now my problem is, I do have access to a gym, but otherwise, I live in Ghana and we have neither great books nor magazines, nor trainers. I also can't get them shipped as we have no postal adderss (great huh?).
So if anyone could point out a website with like basic weight training that they found good for instance, that would be amazing!
Camy
 
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