Questions for girlfriend

[stuffperson]

My girlfriend wants to start lifting 3 days a week. I'm suggesting a 3 day split for her of legs/back&bi's/chest&tris&shlrds. She wants to put on some muscle and lose some fat, I have told her she won't get huge, so to do as much weight as possible with good form for ~8 reps give or take a few.

I'm pushing for squats here big time, I think she has a nice rear but if she did squats for a few months I think she could have a muscled up posterior we both would enjoy. she is worried about chest exercises, thinks they will shrink her breast size? doesn't want to do shldr exercises much either, thinks it will make her look too broad. What type of back exercises should she start with... pullups, rows? She would look funny doing deadlifts =)

I dont want to scare her away from this as she is making it sound like she really is going to try to stick with it for a while.. she has just done cardio programs for ~2 months at a time in the past and gotten no results, i think my weight training has possibly influenced her, any suggestions for her?

 

[stuffperson]

PS her diet has morphed from cookies & chips to real food over the last few years, she has done well with that.

 

[Raina]

I think she should be working everything! And if she's scared of doing shoulder remind her that making them a smidge wider will make her waist look smaller and her hip width look more balanced (like the hour glass sort of shape). Have her try doing what you're doing. Just because she's a woman doesn't mean she shouldn't do deadlifts, pullups, or anything else. Working her chest won't shrink her breasts (though they'll most likely get smaller as she drops body fat).

Make sure she's eating enough too! Especially enough protein. If she sticks with a clean diet and regular training for a few months she'll certainly see the difference. Are you planning to train with her?

 

[stuffperson]

Thanks for the suggestions Raina. I have gotten her to workout with me in the past, but i graduated this december and the university gym was the only place we could workout together without having to pay a $10 visitor fee each workout, and my student ID is no longer good to let me into the univ. gym.

 

[Raina]

You might be able to get some sort of couple's deal at a gym.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Like Raina said, she can do everythign you do. A women doesn't need to train differently than a man.

Building shoulders will make her waist look smaller, plus nice round defined shoulders look damn fine! Building her chest won't make her boobs smaller. Boobs are fat. Dropping body fat makes some boobs smaller. In fact, since I started lifting heavier than usual the past couple months, my boobs look BETTER. They are more full and round - because now the boob fat has a nice muscle shelf to sit on.

She can do deadlifts, she won't look silly. Assuming she is taught properly. Pullups are good, as are pushups, and just about anything!

 

[velvett]

I think she could have a muscled up posterior we both would enjoy.

You did not just say that did you.


Chest exercises will cause the muscle to grow underneath the breast and make the breast appear higher and fuller. Breast size is more about body fat - lose or gain body fat your breast will follow suit.

Doing arms without shoulders could make her look like a chicken when the biceps and triceps start to form a nice round shape the shoulder will still appear flat and either bony or rounded dependant on her body structure.

She should absolutely deadlift!

Also, in addition to squating she should do lunges.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Re: Re: Questions for girlfriend

Also, in addition to squating she should do lunges.

I think lunges are one of the best exercises! I love/hate them! lol

 

[gspotme]

velvet-LOL!

hey bro, looks like you've gotten some good advice for her....about the deadlifts- stiffs or regs? Stiffs are so damn awesome for those hams....not to mention lower back, but reg deads, why not have her do good mornings which i do when my man is on the other rack doing deadlifts. we do it at the end of our back day and alternate spotting. good mornings have drastically changed my strength and ability over all with my back workouts and squats. i feel much more in control and anchored.

I cannot begin to tell you how many of my female clients sound like her about not wanting to appear a certain way muscularly....it's understandable since weight training is so much more relative (from the outside looking in!) to men vs. women. So naturally they dont want to emulate a man. however as arnold bible says on the discussion of training women...well theres nothing to say, train as men do- it's our bodies that respond differently. unless she's gonna sup to enhance any look relative to a more muscular look- point blank- she's hasnt a damn thing to worry about. I trained for many years before i ever decided i hit my nat plateau...anyways, im rambling now, all the best of luck, i'm sure she'll do fine.

it's awesome when relationships can share the joys of fitness, rock on you two
train hard
~g~

 

[poopmonkey]

Just a tip

Show your girlfriend Daisies before and after pics. That is how I first came to this board - my boyfriend was very impressed.

Since that day, I have committed to a healthier diet and apretty strict gym schedule - which includes the exact same weight routine as my boyfriend.

This board is a great source of information and MOTIVATION; pass it on to her.

 

[wend]

She might consider doing a whole-body workout three times a week, too. I'm finding that I'm getting quicker results that way. And definitely work those shoulders! Nothing like having shoulders wider than my hips...

 

[LaDyBuG]

ditto what everyone else said...she need not worry about the getting "too muscular" thing...i've been lifting just like my boyfriend for 2 years now, heavy too and i haven't gotten any bigger...just harder and more firm...just keep motivating her and encourage her to stick with it...she'll see results rather quickly since she's a newbie to lifting...pretty soon she'll be addicted like the rest of us!!

 

[stuffperson]

thanks for all the good posts...

we made a 3 day split routine for her today, she actually seems pretty into starting out hardcore instead of doing lots of machine weights or cardio, i convinced her the compound freeweight exercises would give better results for the time she would put into them. I will check up on daisy girls pics.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Progress Pics Here:
http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=278522

 

[stuffperson]

Daisy, not saying I do not believe the pictures, but it truly is hard to believe the person in the top pics is the same as in the bottom. You did frickin awesome!

 

[THEEGAME2544]

My girlfriend wants to start lifting 3 days a week. I'm suggesting a 3 day split for her of legs/back&bi's/chest&tris&shlrds. She wants to put on some muscle and lose some fat, I have told her she won't get huge, so to do as much weight as possible with good form for ~8 reps give or take a few.

I'm pushing for squats here big time, I think she has a nice rear but if she did squats for a few months I think she could have a muscled up posterior we both would enjoy. she is worried about chest exercises, thinks they will shrink her breast size? doesn't want to do shldr exercises much either, thinks it will make her look too broad. What type of back exercises should she start with... pullups, rows? She would look funny doing deadlifts =)

I dont want to scare her away from this as she is making it sound like she really is going to try to stick with it for a while.. she has just done cardio programs for ~2 months at a time in the past and gotten no results, i think my weight training has possibly influenced her, any suggestions for her?

Like Beautiful Raina said, make sure her diet is in full check.....have her training all bodyparts. Moderately the first couple weeks till she gets used to things then have her push full throttle. The biggest misconception that most women that are new to fitness have is that if they use heavier weights to challenge themselves, then they will get huge. Just doesn't work like that.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Daisy, not saying I do not believe the pictures, but it truly is hard to believe the person in the top pics is the same as in the bottom. You did frickin awesome!

lol....It is true. Really is me in both sets of pics!