Starting weightlifting?

[martinanonymous]

I'm thinking about starting to lift weights, but I'm worried that I'm going to do something wrong and will injure myself. When I mentioned it to my primary care physician, he said that it's really important to do so only under the direction of someone who really knows what she/he is doing and that one needs to lift really light weights very, very

Comments

[mutated_queer]

It's important to learn to lift with good form before you go near heavy weights but you don't necessarily need someone experienced to help you with that though it is the easiest way. The second best thing imo is to start very light and add weight slowly and use mirror/film yourself. The other concern in starting off in flexibility/mobility because lack of it can also result in injury so another reason to start of gentle and work your way into it. Given you haven't being doing your physio exercise I think it'd be wise to do them for a few weeks before you start doing anything else, otherwise you increase your odds on injury

[nolovelost]

the thing about light weights and higher reps is this is more about toning and losing fat rather than building muscle. so if that is your goal i recommend this basic regiment structure

[mutated_queer]

"the thing about light weights and higher reps is this is more about toning and losing fat rather than building muscle

[idlehander]

There was a somewhat relevant post made on the Reddit ftm forum recently

[martinanonymous]

In the past, I was prescribed wall push-ups. When I got good at those, I progressed to knee push-ups. I never got to normal push-ups, and I'm not sure it's such a good idea to put that much weight on my hands with my wrists at that angle. Maybe push-up handles would be okay, but I didn't like them when I tried them.

I don't have a pull-up bar, and I don't think I can get one, either. I can't imagine my parents being okay with me putting one up somewhere, even if I had the money.

I got a referral for occupational/physical therapy for my wrist, take three, and found out that I don't have to pay a co-pay for it so I'm starting that on December 4th. Probably I'll get some instruction on what kind of exercises I should be doing.

[idlehander]

If you were able to do knee pushups, you'd probably be able to work your way up to regular pushups eventually. The strain on your wrists is pretty similar in either position. It's great that you're going to see a professional regarding your wrists, I'm sure that will be really helpful in developing a repertoire of exercises that won't be harmful to your body.
Like industrialdoom said below, there are pull up bars you can buy that just hang in the doorframe and don't require any mounting or hole drilling. I know you're on a tight budget, but maybe it's something you could save up for? I believe they're around $30 or less and there's a big variety of exercises you can use them for, not just pull ups. I'd definitely recommend checking out some body weight exercise forums as there are lots of things you can do with conventional household items that you may not have considered.
I know that for myself, working out regularly has been a key element in lessening my depression and increasing my overall happiness and confidence levels. I hope you'

[industrialdoom]

There are back exercises which require no, or little equipment

[idlehander]

I have homemade rings but I'd never thought to hang them off my iron gym. That's a great idea and I will give it a try! I think these are all great suggestions. Body weight exercising can be so versatile, I'm always impressed by the variety of movements people are able to come up with. I also like how body weight stuff relies a lot on core and stabilizer muscles, so you gain a lot of functional strength.

[industrialdoom]

yeah, they work pretty well off the iron gym, you just have to be careful that you don't swing, or do something like a horizontal row at an angle that will pull the thing out of the door.