Getting serious again

[Just a Girl]

Hey everyone, it's time for me to get my ar$e in gear and get serious about my training again. I've spent the most of this year d!cking around in the gym and not taking my training seriously. I dabbled with long distance running and ran a half marathon and whilst I really enjoyed it, it's not where my heart lies. I want to get STRONG!

I'm finally sacking off my crap gym that has no olympic barbells of squat rack and joining a BB gym. This is a HUGE step for me as I planned to do it last year and was too scared in the end as I was worried about looking like a noob. However, if I want to progress I know it's something that I have to do.

I've been looking for programmes and have decided to do Rippetoe's Starting Strength. Has anyone done this programme? Would you recommend it? Should I buy the book or can I get enough information on the net? Does anyone have a copy of the book they'd like to part with?

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to do this properly now

[MJ.23]

Awesome, hope you gain well. Dont feel like you are a "noob" in the gym. If its a serious gym then all the guys/girls there will actually be really helpful as fact is everyone starts off at different points to other people. I found this out when i joined ministry. Its an amazing family atmosphere with everyone helping everyone else out. I get advice from guys who can deadlift 400kg; but they arent bigheaded in the slightest. Hope the gym you join is like this.

Doesnt matter if you are 4 stone or 20 stone everyone has their goal they are aiming for.

Guess my advice is the usual cliche stuff. Get your kcals in, lots of rest, water etc... Ive never done starting strength before but i can highly recommend Defrancos westside for skinny b-astards 3 program. Lots of variety and great gains! Maybe an idea for the future.

Reading around about starting strength everyone seems to rave about it, so it seems like a good idea.

[Just a Girl]

Thanks so much MJ! I know it's crazy to feel like a noob but I just can't help it. It took me a while to feel comfortable in the free weights section at my current gym but now I don't care at all. However, there are no really serious lifters there - just a bunch of guys that don't train their legs

The BB gym I'm joining has a 95% male membership so that freaks me out but I'm sure there will be guys on hand to help.

I have no problem getting the kcals in, I'm a greedy gal lol. I'll have a look at Westside for Skinny B**tards - have heard of it but not read up on it.

Thanks for your support

[MissVanda]

I have no doubt that you are gonna go down a totaly storm in a gym with 95% male membership :-) I have to say I thrive in places like that, feel most at home there. The best gym I went to was some seedy old bodybuilding gym that was all thumping men, thumping music, grime, sweat and dirt in Perivale. I loved it. It was awesome, and inspiring and totally motivating every time. I miss the gym. So go make the most of it. And let me know what the program is like, I'll be looking to get back in the gym and start in earnest in the new year (absolutely no point at the moment, totally the wrong time of year) so be very interested to know how you found it.

[Just a Girl]

Cheers mate, hopefully there will be a nice strong man or two on hand to help me out lol. Your old gym sounds great, why did you leave?

I'll let you know about the routine, am very excited about starting it. I've always trained in the 8-12 rep range so it will be cool to see how strong I am and can get.

[ATZ]

Is your goal simply to gain strength JAG? Or are you still looking for that "Figure Competitor" look? As good as starting strength is, I don't think it's for everyone in all fairness. Although you may find a favourable impact on your legs and glutes with squatting 3 x per week... ;o)

[Just a Girl]

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Is your goal simply to gain strength JAG? Or are you still looking for that "Figure Competitor" look? As good as starting strength is, I don't think it's for everyone in all fairness. Although you may find a favourable impact on your legs and glutes with squatting 3 x per week... ;o)

I do want to gain strength, yeah, but am also looking for a hot bod I wouldn't say no to something like this:



or this:



Don't want to look like a competitor but do want to be lean and shapely.

My legs are a real problem zone for me (as with a lot of women) and they hold a lot of fat so take a lot of time to lean down. I was hoping squatting 3 x week would help with that.

Would you recommend a different programme then? Thanks for the advice by the way, you know your stuff so certainly will pay attention

[ATZ]

My experience of training ladies is minimal, I must confess. But I think one of the main mistakes is not enough of the female training population train heavy enough, so a good linear progress programme like 531 or starting strength with sensible exercise choice should be fine.

If you also want some fitness to go with the strength maybe investigate crossfit type workouts - they seem to work very well for women for some reason, or a programme that combines strength, hypertrophy and some fitness work, like WS4SB as MJ has already pointed out.

[fussyjim]

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I do want to gain strength, yeah, but am also looking for a hot bod I wouldn't say no to something like this:



or this:



Don't want to look like a competitor but do want to be lean and shapely.

My legs are a real problem zone for me (as with a lot of women) and they hold a lot of fat so take a lot of time to lean down. I was hoping squatting 3 x week would help with that.

Would you recommend a different programme then? Thanks for the advice by the way, you know your stuff so certainly will pay attention

I wouldn't mind looking like that either....

+1 on WS4SB I really enjoy the layout and made some good gains (I hope). It's not that "strictest" of programs and can fit it around whatever current goals/targets you have!

[MJ.23]

The first woman is doing bicep curls in the steam room haha!