Heavy weights?

[startootsie]

Hi all! I got to low of a body weight so I had to gain weight and let my body rest for a while, but now I want to get back into weight lifting, and I had a few questions about it: do you think heavy weights is to much of a strain on your body? I was thinking about this a lot and I thought if you did to many heavy weights you could hurt your back and is it a huge strain on your body? Is lighter weights better with pilots?

Just wondering!

If you have any answers please share!

[dread_head]

hello,
I really don't think heavy weights put to much stain on the body. heavy weight won't hurt your back if you lift them right. It all depends on the type of exercises you do and how you do them. make shure you pay attention to your posture especally if you are doing squats or lunges. that's where a lot of people hurt there back. what are pilots?? Glad i could help.... Good luck :D

[rawfigure]

heavy weights when approached in a systematic way are beneficial. Strat out at a weight you can do 10-12 reps, add weight each week until you can only do 8, then 6 if you so desire. Never jump right into heavy weights. You need to be sure the joints, ligaments and supporting muscles build too so as not to injure yourself.

[startootsie]

Thank you for the respones! I'm sorry I misspelled it, I mean Pilates.

That is good addvice about the heavy weights, a trainer at the gym that was helping me was pushing really heavy weights on me and it just didn't feel right to start out that way, so I'm glad I found out!

Thank you!

[Shona]

You say you want to get back into weightlifting, so I presume you've done it in the past?

I find it a bit worrisome that a trainer would try to push heavy weights on you right away ... especially if you haven't lifted in a while ... that seems to me to be a sure way to hurt yourself. :(

The general rule of thumb with weights is building muscle - heavier weights, fewer reps; muscle definition - lighter weights, more reps.

If you are just returning to weights and want to build muscle, work up to heavier weights by doing pyramids. For example: a partial pyramid - 12 reps @ 3lbs, 10 reps @ 5lbs, 8 reps @ 7lbs. A full pyramid - finish off the partial by coming back down with another 10 reps @ 5lbs and 12 reps @ 3lbs. This range of weights is nice to start because it lessens the chances that you will pull or strain anything until you get used to working out again.

I love weight work ... it is quite addictive and makes you feel awesome! :)

[startootsie]

Thank you for the addvice! 7lb weights? That's light com pared to what he was putting on me! He went really heavy when I did squats! I felt really wrong about it, but he pushed so hard I couldn't stand up. He is a very nice person, just helping me out of kindness, but he was puching me way to hard! It got to the point where my butt got sore and it didn't heal for the over a week, and I told him this and he said good! But you are only supposed to be sore for a day or so right? I have to start out really easy, because my body is so stressed!

Thank you so much, that really helped me!

I just love to wrok out all together! It makes you feel so good!

[Shona]

A bit of soreness is good ... it lets you know that you are working the muscles enough. If you are sore for a few days - normal when starting a new routine - most trainers will tell you to continue with your next workout and work through the soreness. This soreness will lessen as your muscles adjust to the program. After a while, you will come to relish a small amount of post-workout soreness because it signals that your body is responding to the weights. However, you shouldn't be terribly sore for a long time, nor should it ever feel painful. That is a sign you are working too hard or the weights are too heavy.

I think it is better to start with light weights. You still get the benefits and lessen the chances of injury. It is very easy to hurt yourself doing too much too soon and muscle injuries are quite painful and can take a long, long time to heal. When you no longer 'feel' a workout with light weights, it is easy enough to go up a pound or two. Also, vary your routine every six weeks or so. Your muscles will get used to a workout after a while and stop responding.

[startootsie]

I got sore for a week or so, maybe longer after I had been doing them for a while. I didn't just start a new program and get that sore, I actaully was waiting to get sore cause after the workouts I didn't fell anything, but it's like all the soreness then came and stayed for a long time!

Thank you again!

[juliebove]

I don't think you should start out with heavy weights. Start out light and work your way up. That way you won't damage your body.

[startootsie]

Good idea, but for now I don't know what to do cause when I work out it seems my body's still to stressed cause when I wrok out my hair falls out more! I decided to give my body a week to 10 days to rest and then slowly work my way up. Who knows I might need for then that!