Anyone SERIOUS about weight training?

I AM ! I AM! IAM!!

Anything you need to know, just let me know!

Februarybride, don't do cardio before you weight train! You should only do about ten minutes before to warm up, and the rest after your workout.

I have a very small chest, not small, but very small. I do as heavy I can on every bodypart. I do dumbell chest presses with thirty pounds in each arm. I rarely work the upper chest (incline bench) because I had pecks that really showed on me at one point. I have very little bodyfat on my chest. But doing chest with the 25-30lb dumbells once a week works just fine to give my upper body the shape I want. If you work on your chest hard enough (without hurting your shulders) your side profile will get curvy. Trust me. The muscles push out the fat, and the tissue on your chest.

If you do dips, with a slight lean forward, this works your lower chest, witch will give you a lift as well.

Girls, don't wimp out on me!!! If your weight are too light, don't be afraid to add more!!! Just as long as your form is correct, you should be fast results.

I have a lot to say.

Feb,
First of all, as you may know, there is no such thing as spot-reducing. But you can change the shape of your legs (arms, butt, etc). If you add muscle to your legs, or any other body part, your body will use more calories throughout the day to keep it alive. Your fat will burn form you entire body, not just the area you are working!! For example, if you train your legs only for a year, and gett extremely fit legs, you will have a lot less fat on your arms. I hope this makes sence.

Here are some answers to your questions....

Q- Tips for the inner thighs??
A- So, work out your inner-thighs by using the adducter (the inner thigh machine), and the leg press is good for the whole leg. Go as heavy as you can for 12 or less reps. if you can do more, than it's too light.

Q- Is it better to do heavier weight or more reps??
A- Heavier weight. (most of the time) Unless you have an injury. Do 12 or less reps for 2-4 sets of an exersize. The first should be light, for a warm-up, and the next should be heavier, and so on. Your last two should be as heavy as you can. As time goes on, (months, years) you will reach a point when you can't get any heavier, so just stick to that weight. Or stop when you get to a desired level. You will not get huge, you will feel like you are because the blood is flowin'

Hope this helps!

Thanks snowboard.....
I don't normally use a lot of weight when I work out. I do about 3 sets of 15 reps normally, by the time I get to the 11th rep it starts to get really difficult and am pushing myself. I assume that that's ok -- I'm looking to tone and shape nicely. So far so good. Now if I could just cut down on eating crap

I recomend going up in weight. That weight you are using is now too light for you. It should be extremely hard to do 10-13reps by the last set. You will not see anymore results if you don't, trust me. Also, if you don't eat right, your efforts at the gym are wasted.

Good luck

Feb - once you start getting into a workout routine, the diet will follow if you just give it a little bit of effort. Your system will start to feel 'clean' and your days of eating junk food will be over just like that. I used to be a total sugar fiend, but since I changed my diet a few years ago I can't really handle too much sugar. It makes me all shaky. And forget about greasy foods - yuck! They upset my stomach. So does too much alcohol.

Don't be afraid to use heavy weights. If you feel you're starting to look too bulky, then drop the weight down and add more reps. Muscle burns a lot of calories, so the more muscle you have, the more calories you'll burn, even at rest. And that's when you'll start losing the inches (although you may not notice much of a weight loss). Most people think I'm like 100 lbs because I look thin, but I have a lot of muscle. I'm actually 125 lbs but a size 2. Before I started weight lifting I weighed less but was a size 6!

Sorry for going on and on.....I'm like Snowboardgirl - I love talking about fitness. It's my little obsession......

Anniegrl,
It's great to hear another girl talk positively about weight training. I only have one friend who shares my views. I am the same weight as you, 125. I weight 116 7 years ago, and was a size 4-6. I lost fat, and gained ten punds of muscle. I am also a size 2. It does get hard to buy clothes sometimes because my arms have shape to them and my back is much wider than my waist. I am sure you know what I mean. The funny thing is, If I go for about 2-3 time a week, or less because work gets tough, I loose weight. Which means I lost muscle, and that's bad!!!!

Where do you work out? I go to NYSC in Manhattan, and sometimes on the Island. I haven't gone in two days beacuse I have a major deadline at work.

I live in Virginia . My gym is awesome.
But I hear ya on the clothes thing - I have a hard time trying to find stuff that fits too only because I'm 5'7' - I have a small waist and long legs. It's hard to find pants that aren't floods! I have narrow shoulders so I don't have to worry about finding tops that fit. My shoulders are my worst body part, but I can't do anything about my bone structure! I do think it's so important for women to work out and I try to encourage people as much as possible. I would love to be a trainer and help them get in shape. What a great feeling that would be. Maybe one of these days I'll get my certification and just do it part-time. Have you ever thought about it?

I'm doing legs today. My chest is still killing me from the other day! My pecs get soooo sore.

Sorry to the rest of the ladies if I'm boring you!

part-time training has alway been a thought of mine as well. But I also do free-lance work in interior design. I can't do everything!!! I wish I could! I love to help people with this stuff, as you can see.

Talk to you soon!