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light weights questions

shelby17 Posts: 4 Joined: 2005/05/25	2005/05/25, 12:53 PM i am thinkin of starting weight training to improve strength and muscle size but i dont want to go too heavy to start as right now i am pretty unhealthy. I'm thinking i wanna first improve my overall fitness before doin heavy weights, but im thinkin of doing light weights to start. Is this a good idea? what benefits will this give? (i know it wont give strength and mass). Can it build an alright base to go heavy later? Also will light weights maintain my current amount of muscle as i do cardio? (as i hear lots of cardio will burn muscle as well as fat) Overall do u think light weights will help improve overall fitness in any ways? thanks in advance 4 ur help (if i get any:P)
bropie Posts: 1,084 Joined: 2004/12/04	2005/05/25, 01:14 PM beginning with light weights is a great idea. it will help jumpstart your muscle growth and metabolism, and be a great time to practice technique and form.
	2005/05/25, 05:39 PM Light weights and high/very high reps build muscle endurance....is it best way to train? I wouldn't do it..... whether you lose muscle while doing cardio depends on your caloric intake...if you create a deficit then you will lose some muscle no matter what you do.... Also this is a powerlifting thread...so obviously we train heavy....and we see a lot of benefits from this style of training....it's fine and dandy to practice form with light weights and use them for warm up....but working sets for this style of training should be in the 1-5 rep range....mostly working in doubles and triples
gatormade Posts: 1,355 Joined: 2003/10/01	2005/05/26, 08:25 AM If you are just start then you shouldn't begin with heavy weights anyway. Build your base. If you need a plan then drop me a line at my email address.
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2005/05/26, 08:44 AM Starting with light weights will allow you to learn form much better. Its a good place to start. -------------- The best feeling in the world is the feeling you get after a tough set of squats after you step back from the power rack and throw up all over the floor.
DeadOnArrival Posts: 95 Joined: 2005/05/22	2005/05/26, 09:11 AM Take a year to build a decent base. Keep the reps mainly around 8. Occasional low reps sholud be ok, but not often.
gatormade Posts: 1,355 Joined: 2003/10/01	2005/05/27, 10:58 AM I also progress them as they can handle it and their form stays excellent.
gatormade Posts: 1,355 Joined: 2003/10/01	2005/05/27, 10:57 AM I keep most of my strength exercise reps low for beginners and use light weight. Low reps allows them to focus for a short period of time and have a smaller chance of form breaking down and getting injured. I will have an athlete do 15-20 sets of 2 with a light weight on a given CORE exercise - I mean clean, bench, squat, etc... It gives me a chance to give them feedback after many sets. I use simple exercises after the strength exercises and then that is where we perform 10-20 reps. This is what works for me.
DeadOnArrival Posts: 95 Joined: 2005/05/22	2005/05/27, 08:14 AM wrestler said light weights are good for learning new movements. I said build a base for about 1 year. This depends on age and history of sports etc. You would build up strength in the higher ranges. After a year of that the joints and ligaments should be ready for some punishment.
timmstar Posts: 426 Joined: 2003/12/08	2005/05/27, 08:17 PM sounds good shelby, give it a go and see what happens thats the only way to actually see and do it, if your just starting out it should be BETTER to start off light, but u must remember you will only progress with time. from menace "Also this is a powerlifting thread...so obviously we train heavy....and we see a lot of benefits from this style of training....it's fine and dandy to practice form with light weights and use them for warm up....but working sets for this style of training should be in the 1-5 rep range....mostly working in doubles and triples" menace its obvious his new to this site so give him some time to.. shelby try posting your posts in the right forums some people get uptight with where you must "post" :P
GymSimth Posts: 6 Joined: 2005/05/27	2005/05/28, 01:56 AM I'd use the same approach as gator for the complex moves like cleans. Squats I start off with body weight and just have them do lots. I correct as we go. It's probably best for a total newbie not do maximum lifts until they have around 1 year of stenght training. I think I read once that 2 years is reccomended.
shelby17 Posts: 4 Joined: 2005/05/25	2005/05/28, 08:14 AM ok thanks alot for ur replies, i'll start off light. timmstar, i shouldve posted this in the beginners to weight training fitness right? sorry about that, i guess i posted it here cuz i am eventually gonna go heavier 2 improve strength n power. sorry again, and i really appreciate the help.
timmstar Posts: 426 Joined: 2003/12/08	2005/05/29, 07:49 AM i dont care honestly where you post, and thats understandable what you said, just some other people get all wetty about it..:) anyway goodluck