Where did you start?

[shadowphoenix]

I'm curious to see how heavy some of you lifted at the very beginning and how long it took you to get you where you are today. I've really just started lifting a couple of months ago and I'm at pretty menial weights, I think (anywhere between 5-20 lbs.) compared to many people who post here.

Obviously, there's a reason for that, and the reason being that I just started and many of you have been lifting for years. But I thought it might be interesting to see where some of you started.

[RImuscle]

I started lifting weights one year ago today and seriously I had trouble with just working with the bar at first. During my first leg day my trainer was just having me do body weight exercises and my legs totally gave out. I crumbled into a heap on the floor! lol This past November when I maxed out I benched 155, my squat was 255, and my deadlift was 265. I'll be maxing out in 4 weeks and I can't wait to see where I am now. I never in a million years thought I'd hit those numbers!!!!!

[BuffedWildCat]

I don't remember many of my lifts when I first started but I do distinctly remember that I couldn't even do one tricep dip. I also remember doing dumbbell presses for chest with 15's and I think I started barbell presses with just 2.5 lb plates on either side, so 50 lbs for bench. That's just nutty, hehe. But yeah, I can still remember! I can't remember as much about legs but I do remember that I did have some weight on the barbell, 25's I think but I'd been speed skating for years before I started weight training so I guess my legs were pretty strong already from that (and perhaps some of it is just genetic).

Oh, and I never tried doing any maxes until I'd been lifting for 4 years and the only one I tried was bench press. I wanted to be able to bench at least my bodyweight so I tried it back in 2004 and I did it, 140 lbs (which is what I weighed at the time)!

[AmyJ]

You girls have made some awesome improvements!

When I started lifting a little over a year ago I could not even do a bodyweight squat, I kept falling over or getting stuck trying to get back up once I was down! On programs other than the one I'm on now I've gotten up to 120x5 on squat now (I know still weak, but it's crazy progress from where I started ) I started benching with a 25lb bar and can do 75x5 now. I did assisted dips with 40lbs taken off and now I can do bodyweight. I did deadlifts with 30lbs to get my form right when I started and I maxxed out at 135 not too long ago.

It sucks starting out so weak, but evertime you lift a little more it's a huge accomplishment so it's really exciting!

[SumthinOrNuthin]

Its a great journey that you're on because every 1-2 months you'll be looking back and thinking 'look how much I can lift now!' I remember starting out (looong time ago) and lifting 5 and 10lb weights, then some years later cracking my deadlift max and lifting just over 200lbs. That was one of the most euphoric feelings I've ever had, I wanted to run round the gym going 'wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' !!

Enjoy yourself, you're going to have a blast

[star4822]

I started weight lifting(seriously) about 8 months ago. When I first started, I was just squatting/lunging/deadlifting with my own bodyweight to make sure I got proper form down. Then I moved to the bar for a few weeks(45 lbs), to add some weight, but to make sure I was still maintaining proper form.

Now, even though it may not seem like much compared to some of the lifters, my squat and deadlift is now 80 pounds. I feel like that's a pretty big accomplishment, compared to where I first started! Plus, I'm pretty certain no other girls my age that I know would be able to do that, so it makes me feel that much stronger. Hell, even some of the MEN at my gym lift lighter than I do!

Keep at it though, you'll definitely keep getting stronger, if you're consistant! You'll look back a few months from now and be proud of how far you've come!

[TurbulentFluid]

I started roughly 2 years ago, and decided to up the weights slowly. I'm not going for the comps or into pro bb-ing, so the main issue is to have fun!
I started light, 25 kg on all my lifts, and I didn't do free weight squats till a year ago. Currently, (some of) my stats are:
lat pulldown: 50 kg / 10 reps
bb bench press: 50 kg / 6 reps
bb squat: 50 kg / 10 reps
weighted crunch: 55 kg / 25 reps
decl. leg press: 110 kg / 10 reps
bb row: 45 kg / 8 reps
s.l.deadlift: 45 kg / 8 reps
db press: 2x12 kg / 10 reps

etc... hope this gives you some idea! (bb row and deadlift fail because of the grip, that's why they're the same weight/reps)

[teenyGreen]

I started weight lifting 13 years ago. I was in high school. My one rep max on bench was 95lbs. Now I do 100lbs for regular workouts, four sets, 8 reps. It's a huge accomplishment for me. Weight-lifting has always been about being strong for me.

[SpartanChick]

I started when my abs were absolutely burning after 7 situps, about 4 years ago. I can't (and probably shouldn't, for what I do) lift anywhere near as heavy as y'all, but my endurance is getting purty good.

It's amazing how far you gals have come, kudos to everybody!