I'm curious about your past and present strength

[luvmypt]

When you first began lifting, how much did you lift a set of 8 for: (max means nothing to me. it seems to vary from day to day)

Bench
Lat Pulldown
Squat
Bicep Curl
Skull Crushers

Tell me after how many months,years later, what are you lifting in those same areas.

I've been lifting for 1-2yrs. I've seen strength gains but they have been painfully slow and not as much as I'd like. I'm lifting heavy but after reading Margie's post, I think I'm going to try alternating heavy,mod,light. Oh yeah, if you don't mind, give me your age. I wonder if my slow progress has anything to do with being 45.

My stats

Before
Bench- 30 lbs
Lat Pulldown 50 Squat 65 Curl 10 SC 30



Now
Bench 75-80
Lat Pull 75
Squat 125
Curl 25
SC 45

Great thread!

Okay, so max for 8 reps very first time I started lifting, ooh, how fun!

Bench: 50 lbs

Lat pulldown (wide grip): 60 lbs

Squat: 155 lbs (actually a guess as when I first started squatting I used the smith machine)

Bicep Curl (olympic style barbell): 50 lbs

Did not do skull crushers when I first started but I know I couldn't even do 1 friggin dip when I first started, LMAO!

Max for 8 reps CURRENTLY (after 2 yrs 4 mo):

Bench, last I tried (have not benched for 5 months not free bench anyway, due to no training partner): 105 lbs

Lat pulldown (wide grip): 120 lbs

Squat, last I did them (I don't actually weight train legs anymore): 225 lbs for 10 reps

Bicep Curl (olympic style barbell): 70 lbs

Skull Crushers: 47 lbs for 12 reps

And now I do WEIGHTED dips, yippee! Did triceps yesterday and did first set with 10 extra lbs (added to my 140 lbs) for 12 reps! I'm pretty proud of that one. [img]/forum/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Also, if you look in my journal (in my signature), I actually kept track of all my lifts there for a while if anyone is wanting to compare, a little friendly competition is always fun! I haven't kept track now for a while, just got tired of it I guess, plus I'm cutting so my strength hasn't been going up any and in some cases it has gone down a bit. Come October I may start keeping track again as I plan on giving the cutting a break and focusing more on strength gaining instead. [img]/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Jolie]

Those are awesome improvements girl! Way to go!! I would say you're doing great, especially at the age of 45! You should be proud of yourself!

My stats for 10RM before:
Bench: 60lbs
Lat Pulldown: narrow grip-75lbs.
Squat: 85lbs
Bicep Curl: 15lbs
Skull Crushers: 30lbs

My stats for 10RM now:
Bench: 80lbs
Lat Pulldown: narrow grip-100lbs
Squat: 115-120lbs
Bicep Curl: 25lbs
Skull Crushers: 45lbs

So these numbers are for 1 set of 10 reps max...meaning I fail on the 11th rep. And note that this isn't what I lift every workout. During volume training, I usually lift a little lighter than that so that I can get more sets in.

[sicily1962]

<blockquote><font class="small">posted by luvmypt:</font><hr /> When you first began lifting, how much did you lift a set of 8 for: (max means nothing to me. it seems to vary from day to day)

Bench
Lat Pulldown
Squat
Bicep Curl
Skull Crushers

Tell me after how many months,years later, what are you lifting in those same areas.

I've been lifting for 1-2yrs. I've seen strength gains but they have been painfully slow and not as much as I'd like. I'm lifting heavy but after reading Margie's post, I think I'm going to try alternating heavy,mod,light. Oh yeah, if you don't mind, give me your age. I wonder if my slow progress has anything to do with being 45.

My stats

Before
Bench- 30 lbs
Lat Pulldown 50 Squat 65 Curl 10 SC 30



Now
Bench 75-80
Lat Pull 75
Squat 125
Curl 25
SC 45 <hr /></blockquote>


Hi,
I'm 40 yrs old,
5'4 1/2"
140lbs
15%BF
and when i first began lifting, the man helping me was all business! "You are here to lift - lets get it done" to this day we are best of friends and he actually trained me for my first show.
I started of course w/ empty Bb's and lower weights.
I do remember always doing a 15rep scheme though to help lean me out.

Bench - Empty BB
Lat Pulldown - started w/ 30lbs
Squat - Empty Bb then up to 65 in a short time
Bicep Curl - 25lbs (EZ bar)

Today...a little stronger [img]/forum/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Bench - 205 as one rep
Lat Pulldown - 165 for 8
Squat - 315 for 6
Bicep Curl - 70lbs for 4
Skull Crushers - 65 for 8

My strength level comes and goes as i train in and out of my show cycle.
I am all natural and pride myself in that fact and love to lift. what can i say?
It's been the most beneficial thing i've ever done for myself.

Age has nothing to do with it...
Determination and drive have everything to do with it.
You have to want it...
and i do! [img]/forum/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
If you have any questions..don't hesitate to send me a message.
Margie

I think it's really interesting seeing the strength differences between us and different muscle groups. Everytime I see other natural women's lifts, I have to wonder why my biceps seem to be stronger yet my other muscle groups are the same or weaker than others with similar stats. Isn't that weird? Makes me wonder how and why that happens. And it's weird how my triceps have dramatically improved in their strength but yet they still have no size.

And Margie, you are just friggin strong girl! Maybe I should've had YOUR trainer cause you are almost the same stats at me yet much stronger! I am wondering if I will be doing those same lifts as you in another 2 years since I've only been at it 2 years so far. Right now on this cutting diet it ain't gonna happen cause I believe my calories are just too low for me to gain any strength and the fact that I had to go down in weight for some muscle groups! For instance, before I started that Beverly diet, I had gotten up to doing 45 lb dumbbells on the flat bench for 12 reps and now I can just barely do the 40's for 12 reps! That really made me frustrated but I figured it was to be expected with cutting. [img]/forum/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

In any case, come October I WILL be eating enough calories to gain strength and hopefully MAINTAIN the same body fat! [img]/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[sicily1962]

LOL!!
You are so funny! [img]/forum/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
I can't help it honey...can't have anyone telling me it can't be done.
I pride myself on strict form and doing things most women won't attempt..and some men.
Lot's of "light bulbs" running around my gym! lol!!! [img]/forum/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
(big chest/chicken legs)

The sky is the limit.
My theory is : i'm in the gym to train...so i train.

Pain is weakness leaving the body...USMC
margie

[luvmypt]

Sicily1962,

How long have you been lifting? Could you give me a glimpse of your workout? I've switched from flat bench to db presses due to shoulder problems and actually like them a lot better. I just moved up to 40 lbers.

I've been doing 1 body part/day w/ 1 hour workout. I lift 5 days/week. I try to do 3-4 different exercises with 8-10 reps where it's tough to get the last 1 done. I do 3-4 sets.

From what I see from the posts, I'm not doing something right, unless you guys have been lifting for years and years. Okay fine, I'm an 'A' personality, and am more competitive (aka hard on myself) than I'm willing to acknowledge.

Help me Obie Won. You are my only hope.

[Big_Red]

WOW! You girls Rock!
I feel like a WEENIE. I have been lifting for about 4 years pretty diligently but I train alone in my musty basement. So I am a little nervous about some of the really heavy lifting . Truthfully I don't even know my potential. I was happy when I squated 65 pounds. Unless I am totally doing this all wrong, there are some strong ladies out there!

Currently as of this week,
My bench press is 45#, squat is 55#, bicep curl 30#

No where near you guys.

But i am going to catch up!
Vivienne

[sicily1962]

<blockquote><font class="small">posted by luvmypt:</font><hr /> Sicily1962,

How long have you been lifting? Could you give me a glimpse of your workout? I've switched from flat bench to db presses due to shoulder problems and actually like them a lot better. I just moved up to 40 lbers.

I've been doing 1 body part/day w/ 1 hour workout. I lift 5 days/week. I try to do 3-4 different exercises with 8-10 reps where it's tough to get the last 1 done. I do 3-4 sets.

From what I see from the posts, I'm not doing something right, unless you guys have been lifting for years and years. Okay fine, I'm an 'A' personality, and am more competitive (aka hard on myself) than I'm willing to acknowledge.

Help me Obie Won. You are my only hope. <hr /></blockquote>

You are ABSOLUTELY doing everything right!!
Trust that!
Gains come from consistent training and good nutrition and REST!!
Believe me, i am just "bull-headed"!! [img]/forum/images/icons/mad.gif[/img]
I won't take no for an answer.
If i have trouble w/ a lift, whatever, i go back and do it again.
If i have to lower the weight to get my form perfect in order to regain strength, that's what i do.
Whatever it takes.
Believe me, those little 2 1/2lbs plates at my gym...use them!
You won't believe how quickly your gains can be.
Gains don't come by leaps and bounds...baby steps.
Remember that and you will always be confident in what you can do and achieve!!

My workouts are posted in my training journal as i am preparing for an Oct. 26th Bodybuilding show here.
This is my priority and with just 82 days to go...i cannot let anything get in the way of my focus.

You will never see me to the same weight, exercise or rep scheme from week to week.
Change is good and if you make your training flexible..you will see the gains come.
But remember...nutrition is 80% of everything you do.
If you do not eat and supplement correctly, it won't matter in long run.
You have to feed your muscles. I hope this helps.
Have a great day!!
Margie

[Miss Louise]

I don't have all of my stuff in front of me right now, but I do know this.

Last September, I couldn't bench the bar more than one time. Now, I work out with 60 pounds, doing 3 failure sets of aproximately 16,12,8 reps.

My goal is to be able to bench 100 pounds by my birthday. Yikes! It is only 24 days away!
Louise