I’ve got a female client in the morning, whose goal is to build strength(YAY!) Originally her goals were listed as ‘to tone.’ But we got her REAL goals pinpointed and she changed her mind…
Since she has virtually no upper body strength, that will be my focus…
Do you all remember when you first started out weight training? Did you go straight to benching/OH pressing? My upper body strength has always been pretty decent, aside from not being able to do a pull up Grumble I could do oodles of push ups while in the Military, and had to climb up and down ladders, while carrying paint buckets!
I’ll probably stick to push ups and shoulder presses for the first little while(depending on how long she stays with me)
I read somewhere that if you can’t do at least 20 decent push ups, then you have no bidness benching anyway…
When I started lifting with a trainer, I’d had maybe a week or two fiddling around on my own with the Nautilus circuit. I was as wet behind the ears as they come.
My recollection is that the upper body work that took place in the weight room (there was a fair amount of machines at first) was all dumbbells. Dumbbell chest press, shoulder presses, bent over one-armed rows. There was no touching of a barbell until months and months into it.
And that was probably appropriate. I doubt that I could have lifted a 45# barbell when I started out.
In fact, my favorite exercise was the flat dumbbell chest press. That was the one that got me motivated to ask to try the barbell bench.
When I first started training I frickin’ loved benching. I loved it so much I did it too often and wrecked my shoulder. But yeah, no reason she can’t bench from the get-go.
this might sound pretty lame, but i’ve been lifting for 6 years and just ventured to the bench (on account of you girls!) i’ve enjoyed the DB flat, incline, decline, flys, all of them. i’ve never had a lifting partner so the BB was ‘off-limits’ in my mind. i think the DBs have built strength, (both arms having to work independent of each other) confidence that i started with 2 17.5’s and now put up 40’s (depending on the exercise)
ok…maybe that’s not impressive strength gain, but i never focused on strength (until now, i’m shifting my focus, damnit!) and knocked out high reps with 30’s and 35’s. the bar seemed intimidating to me, but that’s just me. give her a run through with the DBs and see how she responds. a 45 bar could be difficult for a newb, and might set the tone of “i can’t lift heavy,” if she struggles with it.
also, i think that finding exercises that newbs can do on their own (in case they don’t have endless supply of $$ to pay you to train them for extended time) is good for them because they can stick with it, even if they are alone. and ultimately, you want to help them get on a program they can stick with for life, i’m assuming.
During her orientation I showed her the incline db press and she was struggling with the 10s, which is when she changed her mind about her goals!
For now, her routine is going to be a basic push/pull legs
She can only make it in twice a week(one of those times being with me) I already emailed her the routine we did during her orientation, and tomorrow she’ll have another one she can mix it up with…
oh! only 600 more words left on one of my finals! wahoo! I have to pretend I am an internal communications person for a sports team…and Im writing a memo(a 1700 word memo!!) reminding the organization of a ton of stuff…(basically what we learned in the course)
mmmmmm…it was exactly what I wanted too…just going to do a couple meals like that a week, instead of the all day carb fest…just could.not. handle that much food!
I’ve only progressed into the 50s recently…I’ve kinda taken the focus off of the barbell bench lately. I think I was using my dominate side to get the weight up, and causing my elbow to hurt…just a theory…or it could be from carrying my almost three year old around all her life
Hence my reason for working with dbs for shoulder presses as well…I want my left side to be strong too!
Congrats on your first paying client…That is awesomw, i am sure you will do a great job as you actually lift yourself which puts you many steps ahead of a lot of other trainers out there…Were you nervous??
I’ve only progressed into the 50s recently…I’ve kinda taken the focus off of the barbell bench lately. I think I was using my dominate side to get the weight up, and causing my elbow to hurt…just a theory…or it could be from carrying my almost three year old around all her life
Hence my reason for working with dbs for shoulder presses as well…I want my left side to be strong too!
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50’s…you stud.
i really enjoy the DBs…as i mentioned, i think it ensures you don’t let a dominate side take over and you can get great form that allows for some specialization. my shoulders responded pretty quickly to some minimal work. (not bragging, it’s the one thing i can actually see some definition in so i will take it!)
congrats on your paying client! many more to come i’m sure…
The orientations help break the ice…I wasn’t nervous, but excited! And it felt good to have someone thank ME for my time, effort and a good workout :D[/quote]
Excellent! Your job is really about helping people, and its sure nice to get a “thank you”.
yep!
up and at em early this morning to train someone new!
Didn’t bother weighing in…with my big breakfast and some yummy pot roast (with potatos and carrots!) last night, I just wasn’t interested in seeing the scale +1 or 2 lbs :irked:
Today is an off day…got homework…but I found myself a Friday evening workout buddy! we caught each other’s eye once while I was deadlifting and she was squatting(in the squat rack!!) So it’ll be fun to train with someone for a change!
