This is the fifth article in the series Getting into weight training: a female-friendly guide. A PDF version is also available to download for free: Getting into weight training: a female-friendly guide PDF

1. Why lift weights?
4. Exercise technique

2. Types of weight training
5. Training programmes

3. Starting out
6. Create your own programme

Training programmes
A training programme arranges exercises […]

This is the sixth article in the series Getting into weight training: a female-friendly guide. A PDF version is also available to download for free: Getting into weight training: a female-friendly guide PDF

1. Why lift weights?
4. Exercise technique

2. Types of weight training
5. Training programmes

3. Starting out
6. Create your own programme

Create your own programme
Creating your own […]

This puzzles me because almost every strength website I come across these days has the obligatory “why women should lift weights” article. Yet despite all these attempts at myth-busting, it appears the message isn’t getting through.
Body Pump, a group exercise class involving free weights set to music, seems to be as popular as ever with […]

People often go on about how much crap there is on the internet, especially when it comes to strength training. But amongst all the rubbish are some real gems, and I will be highlighting my favourite sites on here from time to time.
To start with, here are five sites you’ll love if you have any […]

If you are after all-round strength, it’s important to understand the different types of strength – or even that there are different types of strength. It will help you to pin down what kind of training you need to do to reach your goals. It will also help you to cut through the crap when […]

The girl in the video clip below has excellent pull-up form, doing full range of motion every time. I can’t always say the same for myself!
Pull-up clip
A popular method to train pull-ups is to use negative reps, i.e. you are only completing the negative portion of the exercise, the down phase. Use a chair […]

I was moved to write this post by something that happened over at another site message board I regularly visit. The members are predominantly men but there are a few women who post regularly. One of the women, who has just completed a 3-month weight training programme put together by a professional PT, asked for […]

Like most people, when I first joined a gym (almost ten years ago) I was given a programme that included some aerobic and some resistance work, mostly on machines or with pink dumbbells. The free weights were a complete mystery to me and I took no notice of them.
After a while, I started going to […]

It can be rather intimidating to start using the free weights room, especially if you are the skinny guy in a room full of gorillas or the only female in a room of iron-toting men.
But there really is nothing to fear once you get used to it. So I’ve put together some tips to help […]

Many women are reluctant to get into weight training or if they do, are reluctant to progress and lift heavier weights for fear of looking like a female bodybuilder! Well, let’s deal with that one right up front.
Looks
If you train with weights, you will look better than ever!
You won’t get big – really! It’s really […]