Now then, any of you melon farmers lift weights? Brief history: I'm 30 odd, 6ft 1" and about 14.6 stone. Never weight lifted in my life and live quite a sedentary lifestyle. Technically i'm obese although I don't look it. I've been doing stronglift exercises for a bout 3 weeks, in 5 x 5 sets. They are squats, deadlifts, bench press, barbell rows and overhead presses. As I'm all fat and bone I had to start with just the barbell and no weight added on, adding 2.5 kg to the weight every time I go. So I've gone from squatting the bar to about 47.5 kg so far. Within 12 weeks I should be squatting more than 100 kg. It's meant to build a core base of strength so that then you can branch off and do other types of lifting, and be generally good for your health, back, posture, legs etc. You also get to eat a lot which is good. It's going well so far, although I fell over yesterday with two 10kg plates in my hands and had all the 'bros' in the gym pissing themselves. Anyone got any experience or advice? I've got chalk and ordered a belt, and watch youtube vids to make sure my form is right. Anyway if this thread dies on it's arse I'll resurrect it in a few months time as I'm sure you'll all be really keen to hear about my progress
I go to Base Fitness on Grovehill Road in Bev. Are you weight lifting as well or other forms of exercise?
If you can afford it, invest in a couple of lessons from a personal trainer, they'll make sure your posture is right and also give you a view on different exercises that you can do as the same repetitions over and again aren't always the best for you - variety helps to build muscle
As an example - with squats it's good to vary it between back squats (bar on your shoulders), front squats (other side of your neck) and then also doing a variety of single leg exercises like split squats, bulgarian etc. it's also good to work the same muscle groups with things like a variety of deadlifts too
You’re 6’ 1”, 14st 6lb & obese? **** me I need to pile on some extra inches, I appear to be overly short for my weight. Once trimmed up & looking like Arnie Schwarzenegger you should do a Charity dead lift with Me & Chazz on the bar. Perhaps raising money for your own rehabilitation?
I think eventually I'll move into this sort of thing but I find I have to concentrate to make sure the single variety of stuff I do is done properly. Once my form in these becomes second nature I'll branch out I think.
Luckily the people in the gym are friendly enough to spend time and help out with form and advice so hopefully will save some money there.
If you've never lifted before then Stronglifts is a good place to start, build a base and learn the basics. As Pierre said you'll mix it up later but for now that program is well....erm programmed. Of the lifts you're doing the deadlift is the one you need to be absolutely spot on with in terms of form. The main thing (apart from progressive overload) is consistency - to see results you have to stick with it. You've been going great guns for 3 weeks and as you've seen you've got amazing newbie gains. They will slow eventually but if you keep going they'll won't stop. Oh and remember Abs are built in the kitchen...
Cheers mate. There seems to be a bit of debate with deadlift as to whether the bar should effectively roll up your shins and thighs, or just touch your shins at the start. So far I start with the bar touching my shins and it hits my thighs but it's not in constant contact. I haven't had any back pain so I can't be doing it that incorrectly anyway.
I don't feel like I even have a core centre. I'm not even sure what I'm doing there. I have trouble in remembering to breathe for the most part of my day in this life. I am 50 & 5ft5" & 100 kg (15 stone). I had a dislocated knee as a teenager , & have been fearful of physical activity ever since , even thou I grew up in Australia. And it's about the psychological fear to me and a weakness in that knee , that could result in the patella shifting across the plate. So 9 years ago I started to slowly run on the treadmill to gain confidence. I still do. Whilst at the Gym , I tend to move about the space and dabble on the fixed machines etc.I throw away good money in membership fees monthly by even going. But I do enjoy It.
If you have one you can always use a trapbar for deads. It's not exactly the same exercise but I use one more often than not now.
Trap bar deadlifts will help your back as you don't get as low to the floor, and can in essence do it like a squat, they will **** your traps up though without you realising it!