Hi All! Just Joined

[LizzyLifts]

Hello All,

Just signed up and started my training log and thought I’d introduce myself. I came across the Stronglifts site in Feb., after reading New Rules of Lifting for Women and after working out at home on a TotalGym since Oct. 2008.

While I enjoyed using the TotalGym and started to see results (toning up pretty much everywhere) I certainly did not feel strong/energetic. In retrospect, I’m certain I wasn’t eating enough. I was losing weight, the assumed goal of so many women, and still just didn’t feel good. After reading lots and lots on this site I started taking in way more calories and it’s like little light bulbs started coming on…I realized I needed to build more muscle to enjoy the strength I wanted….duh. I was at the max incline on the TG, and the more I read about the SL 5x5 program the more I wanted to try it.

I'm new to lifting weights of any kind, other than myself or the kids etc. So, I joined a gym two weeks ago and have been working with a trainer…learning and transitioning to free weights…focus, of course, squats (which I’m loving), bench, deadlift, and OHP (this is my “big and scary” due to a weak right shoulder).

I’ve read Mehdi’s articles and watched lots of the youtubes on technique…what a fabulous resource you’ve given us!!!! And so much info and inspiration in the forums here too. Just need to get my deadlift and press going and I can start the SL 5x5 beginners program in earnest.

Any comments on learning OHP would be greatly appreciated!

stats on my training log! liz-s-log-t15122.html

best,

Liz

[thunderdownunder]

Welcome to SL Lizzy! . OHP is a painindabutt for just about everyone. I have been doing SL for 5 weeks now and OHP is already starting to get weighty. It's always(?) the first excercise to stall on. Progrees slowly, concentrate on form and results will surely follow.

thun

[LizzyLifts]

Hi Thun, thanks much! Can't wait to get into the gym tomorrow...working on OHP and Deadlifts

[dylanamus]

I stalled on deadlifts before OHP, but this is due to poor form and grip (small hands and CTS) on the deadlift and a disproportionately strong shoulder region for OHP. So I think, unless you have freakish circumstances like me, you will stall on OHP well before anything else.

Oh and welcome to the forum. Good on you for breaking free from the comfort of your typical regime and seeking a change/improvement. Once you get the form right on squats, I'm sure you will find them addictive

[LizzyLifts]

Hey Dylanamus...thanks for the feedback on OHP and for the welcome...yeah, i'm a ways out of my 'comfort zone' i guess, but it just was'nt doing much for me...lot's to learn, and loving every minute of it. btw, just started reading your log, it's great. looking forward to reading thru more carefully. cheers!

[dylanamus]

It's a solid program. Straight forward, effective and time efficient. I had dabbled in other programs that involved twice as many exercises in an isolation (body building) format (not really being aware it was for body building) and never had the motivation to stick with it. Those kinds of programs require a lot more upfront patience - many exercises to learn, very slow progress, very time consuming, require more than three days a week etc

I'm sure once the program is locked into your memory, you will find it all second nature. I'm still enjoying it after 4 months, so given my bad track record to date, that is saying something! I'm sure you'll get a lot out of it just like everyone else on this forum.