How much do you lift?

As I lost weight, I lost a lot of upper body strength. People used to get out of my way in the grocery store, I was so big and strong and menacing looking. Everybody wanted me to help them move because I could pick up a whole couch by myself. I've been doing more resistance training to get some strength back, and I use two sets of weights: one set is 6.6 pounds each that I use when I'm doing a full-blown hard workout, and the other set is 10 pounds each that I use when I'm not going to do as much. A lady told me today that she throws up 18 pounds on each arm, and does lots of reps. Dang. Does everybody else do that much?

when im real lazy i use two pound weights and when im more motivated i use 4 lb ones. when i worked with a trainer he had me up to 10 and 12 lb weights, but i always felt that was too much for me.

I lift the TV remote control... :-) OK, seriously though... I've not been disciplined with my exercise at all, but when I do lift, I do 5 pounds, sometimes 10... I reckon it depends on how strong that lady is... I know I couldn't do 18... it'd be too heavy and I'd end up doing less reps and bulking up instead of toning... Angie

I've been at this three years and my routine is every other day alternating upper and lower body and doing an hour of cardio each workout.  This does not work for everyone so you should not compare yourself with others.  What is important is that there is some sort of resistance training coupled with cardio on a fairly regular basis. Upper body (core) - crunches 100 @ 75lbs Chest press 4 sets of 15 reps @ 40 lbs. bicep curls 4 sets of 12 reps @ 25 lbs. tricep press 4 sets of 12 reps @ 55 lbs. overhead triceps 3 sets of 12 reps @20 lbs. pull downs 4 sets of 12 reps @ 75 lbs. Lats and dorsi row 4 sets of 12 reps @ 55 lbs. pull ups 2 sets of 8 reps Lower body crunches (core) 100 @ 75 lbs. seated leg press 4 sets of 12 reps @ 85, then 3 sets of 8 reps @ 130 seated quad curls 3 sets of 12 reps @ 35 lbs. seated glute curls 3 sets of 12 reps @ 80 lbs. torso rotation (core) 12 sets of 12 reps at a progressive 30 degree angle @ 100 lbs. rotator calf 3 sets of 25 reps @ 110 lbs. back extension 3 sets of 20 reps @ 110 lbs. Thigh aductor 4 setsof 12 reps @ 80 lbs. Thigh abductor 4 sets of 12 reps @ 80 lbs. Glute leg press 4 sets of 8 reps @ 112 lbs.

Wanda, yikes there is no way I could do 18 lbs, I lost lots of upper body strength also.   I just recently bought some hand weights (5 lbs) and that's about all I can do right now.  I really need to add strength also, but hate exercise :(.

How much weight you lift depends on what you're trying to accomplish; you can build strength, size, power, and/ or endurance.  It also depends on your muscles' current capacities, which can be changed by your strength training routine over time.  Here's a link to a good weight training article that provides a lot of detail about how to strength train:   http://weighttraining.about.com/od/succeedingwithweights/a/weights_faq.htm There are certainly some upper body exercises where I'm using 50-60 pounds, but when I'm working smaller muscle groups (e.g., just biceps or just deltoids), I'm lifting smaller weights (8-15 pounds).   Good luck on your continuing journey -  Kellie

Heck I'm just using a couple of food cans!!!!!!

Chest press I'm doing 20# (10# in each hand)
Bicep/tricep I'm at 8-10# depending on the day
Shoulders I use 3-5 # depending on the day
Back I'm usually around 50# on the circuit trng equipment

Bekah

Wanda, since I don't go to a gym for weight lifting I couldn't possibly give you numbers but I have experienced the same thing.  I used to be able to lift up to a 10,000 btu boxed airconditioner and now I am lucky to get an 8,000 under control.  Every day I lift cases of dishes, liquid soaps- bleaches, vacumes...that kind of stuff but I know that I do have a lot less upper body strength.   One thing definitely there...muscle definition.  I got a real gross-out in the mirror the other day while getting ready for work.  Working on the back of my hair with both hands I got a clear view of the tops of my arms and shoulders and the rounded definition of the muscles was so masculine that it really was awful.  I just have to remember never to go around in public with my arms up that way in a sleeveless shirt.  LOL Molly

Too funny, I personally love to see cut and definition on women.  There is a difference between bulk and definition.  Unless a woman is training for competition it is hard to imagine it would look masculine.