Weights 101

LemonyFresh

After a hard old slog with more downs than ups, have managed to shift 2 stone and am now 8stone (I'm female and 5foot). Ideally I've another 1/2 stone to stone to shift to be down to my ideal body weight (I'm very small boned/framed underneath the chubs!). Anyway, seeing as I pretty much did it all through diet and some walking, the body ain't looking too lean or toned. I've been reading on here that lifting weights is the way to go to trim the upper arms and generally sculpt the body.

Problem is I'm a complete novice in this area. Would a dumb-bell set from Argos be worth their salt? What weight should I be lifting at my height etc? Gym is not an option as I don't have the finances! Thanks!

rubadub

LemonyFresh wrote: »

Would a dumb-bell set from Argos be worth their salt?

Yes, but you would outgrow it quickly their 20kg set. This is the best value set in argos.
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3008250/Trail/searchtext%3E50KG.htm

There are cheaper ones but they are crappy cement/plastic/vinyl and will degrade, they are also more bulky and have weak hollow barbells.

50kg will seem a lot when you get it but strength increases dramatically over the first few months, the female lifters here would attest to that. You might need a hand getting it from the shop though, you could take it in a few goes, just leave bits at the counter, or get a helper.

check out www.exrx.net for weight tips.

check out www.simplefit.org for bodyweight exercises you can start right away.

LemonyFresh

That's a great help, thanks a trillion!

Mellor

Bare in mind, alot of people get hung up on the "weight" in stone orwhatever.
If you tone up and losr some fat, your weight may stay the same. This is because muscle is denser than fat. Chances are, you'll look better and be healthier, even though weight hasn't budged. You might be aware of all this, but just incase.

wasabi

Also have a read of www.stumptuous.com - lots of great weight training info there, and written by a woman so it's sensible stuff

+1 to what rubadub said, you'll outgrow a light dumbbell set very fast.

LemonyFresh

Mellor wrote: »

Bare in mind, alot of people get hung up on the "weight" in stone orwhatever.
If you tone up and losr some fat, your weight may stay the same. This is because muscle is denser than fat. Chances are, you'll look better and be healthier, even though weight hasn't budged. You might be aware of all this, but just incase.

Thanks! Yeah, I know that. I'm not rocking back and forth muttering "must reach seven stone" over and over :pac: If I didn't lose another pound but the body sucked itself in, I'd be mucho happy!!

LemonyFresh

wasabi wrote: »

Also have a read of www.stumptuous.com - lots of great weight training info there, and written by a woman so it's sensible stuff

+1 to what rubadub said, you'll outgrow a light dumbbell set very fast.

Cheers......50kg seems seriously scary to little old me at the moment :eek:

rubadub

LemonyFresh wrote: »

Cheers......50kg seems seriously scary to little old me at the moment :eek:

Many just think of weightlifting as bicep curls, my brother who does weights could not understand why I had so many plates, asking if I really can curl more than 50kg. The deadlift allows you to lift a lot of weight- but watch your form!. you might want to visit a gym a few times so people can check your form, I just do not lift near my max ability. The www.exrx.net site has good tips on form, so does www.stronglifts.com but a GOOD professional is worthwhile visiting.

The 50kg also means you can have plates on each bar, you have 2 dumbbells & a straight bar. I have about 140kg in plates, have a dumbbell loaded to 27kg and 110-120kg on a bar and then a lighter dumbbell. Means I do not have to go unloading each time.

The small plates are small diameter so you might want to rest them on a bunch of blankets for deadlifts, to raise the bar up higher, also cushions them on the floor.

I remember getting the 20kg dumbbell set years ago and thinking it was more than enough! I was aimlessly curling at the time, then I read up properly years later and strength increases rapidly.