YES!!! That’s what it was haha, thank you! I guess this could turn into a fun learning game.
Tonight was an easy mile and half on a treadmill and then the stair stepper. I was pretty busy today but worked it in so I would have something.
I noticed I haven’t been sleeping or eating as much since I’ve been working out more. Normally I would be in bed by 9 and still feel like shit in the morning. My energy has increased!
Tomorrow I’m with my trainer and ready to go hard!
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I’ve been lifting for a few years now and I still put stuff like this in my log…
Tricep extension with the cable machine where you pull it over your head
3 sets of 10
I say document your work in whatever format works best for you!
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Thank you 
you just made me feel a heck of a lot better!
Tonight with my trainer was absolutely garbage!! He had me work on my upper body and my hands were really shaking. I was pissed but kept pushing as much as I safely could. The weights were not too much for me to lift at all. I have no clue what the hell is going on unless it’s like some say, that I need to get stronger. As I said before I’ve had a shake in my hands my whole life and can deal with it. When I lift weights it’s worse and limits me. We even had to adjust some exercises 
Have you considered grip work? Possibly heavy loaded carries could make your grip stronger, which might help stop the shaking.
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Could it be CNS fatigue? Weakness and insomnia are some symptoms of CNS fatigue.
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Oh, thanks so much. And you’re much younger than I was when I started lifting. [quote=“countrygirl2016, post:13, topic:219320”]
If you have any advice for me while I’m doing this, please don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts. I appreciate what you have to say.
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Sure. And please feel free to ask anytime.
Really, there isn’t a lot of difference between how a beginner man would train, and how a beginner woman would train. Their logs can be intimidating because they’re just lifting so much heavier, but the principles are mostly the same. Honestly, I did a lot of BW (body weight) work like walking lunges, split squats, planks, pushups, chins - for several months - before I even needed to progress to heavier weights. And as a beginner, I was doing more full body workouts, not doing body part splits like I usually do now. Some of those BW movements are pretty challenging for women getting started.
It looks like your trainer has you doing quite a bit of activation work, resistance band stuff, learning the movement patterns, BW movements. This stuff all lays a foundation for making your muscles do what you want them to do.
@ Hand tremors/ shaking - “it’s always there.” Like your hands may temble a bit even when putting on mascara? If so, maybe have your physician just check it out to relieve your mind.
I’ve never had problems with shaking hands. My hamstrings will shake when stretched sometimes (part of the stretch reflex). When I started lifting, I did have to work on my grip a lot. My ability to hold something heavy in my hand was a limiting factor. Farmer’s Carries are good for that. - Just pick up a couple of DBs and take them for a walk around the gym. Work your way up to carrying heavier ones.
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I like the idea of doing grip work and if nothing else it should help me feel safer when my shake kicks in. What specifically would you recommend I do? I am not giving up on this!
I haven’t heard of CNS fatigue but will look it up and see if they have any tips. Thank you for bringing that possibility to my attention!
Younger than me? …from what I could tell you look like your my age! I am happy to know I’m at at a good starting point according to where you say you started. My workouts are taking a little longer because I’m really concentrating on the motions and how it feels. I am also trying to figure out what weights to use depending on type of exercise. He’s writing it all down and I am happy I was able to increase my weights some. I am amazed at how much is mentally required when lifting… I get hot headed at myself because my expectations are too high. Yes, my hands shake a little even when putting on mascara! I’ve thought about contacting my doctor just to be sure I’m good. I blocked it out until it started messing with lifting and now I can’t stop checking to see if I am. I went through the military with it but everything was fast paced it wasn’t a big concern.
Thank you for allowing me to ask you for advice. I need to knock the pull-ups out like you can awesome lady!!!
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Couple of things generally seem to work: farmer’s carries (weight in one or both hands and walk); pinch gripping a plate or top of a dumbbell (not exactly pinch gripping, but still fingertip).
If you do single handed farmer’s carries you’ll also feel it a ton in your trunk because it’ll teach you to stay tight which is a very important ability.
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Awesome!!! Any information you can recommend to me is appreciated. I will for sure be trying that this weekend.
At my age. Thanks, but I have a couple of college-age kids! I’d log in the Over 35 Forum but I believe it’s all PLers over there. When I started my log, there were more women logging in this section. [quote=“countrygirl2016, post:31, topic:219320”]
I need to knock the pull-ups out like you can…
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Thanks, but I’m a munchkin, so those BW exercises aren’t nearly as impressive on me as they would be on you. There was a woman named Bron who logged in the Figure Athlete Forum. She’s closer to your height and weight and she did have some impressive pull-ups, but it’s kinda unusual in taller/ larger women.
Some of the physical stuff may come back to you sooner than you think. Did you have pull-ups when you were in the military?
edit:
Has anyone seen @Babypowerlifter lately? She’d be a good person for you to follow. She was into PLing, but also did a lot of conditioning stuff that would be great for you, and she just knows a lot about training in general. Plus she’s super nice.
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@countrygirl2016 these may be useful to you. I’m afraid I don’t know a ton about grip work.
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In the military I think I only had to do 5 pull-ups and those were rough. I’m excited to see the way I progress through this. You look amazing!!!
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@MarkKO that information is very helpful!! You are awesome for helping me learn more.
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My pleasure. Hopefully it helps.
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Soooo this randomness is what I did without the trainer tonight. Thankfully my shake wasn’t as bad and I’m proud of myself. It may not be what some would call heavy weights but I feel like a champ 
One arm dumbbell rows 30lbs 3 sets of 12
Tricep extensions 15lbs 3 sets of 12
Bench press 55lbs 4 sets of 12
Bench press 65lbs 3 sets of 6
(Didn’t count)
Crunches
Planks
Flutter kicks
V ups
Machine Gun Kelly “Bad Mother Fucker”
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Nice work, and I’m pleased to hear that the shaking seems to be improving. I think it will continue to do so if you stick with it.
“Heavy” is purely subjective. There will always be people who are stronger, leaner and better-conditioned than you are, unless you find yourself at the top of the heap somehow. Don’t worry about how you stack up to others. Worry about how you stack up to yourself.
The trick is to make sure you are challenging yourself to get stronger in a sensible and controlled fashion. 55lbs for 12 is heavy for you today. Next week try 60lbs for 12. Maybe you get 10. Fine. Next week try to get 12. Maybe you get 13 that week. Super. That just means it is time to load the bar to 65 pounds and give that your best crack.
You want to be doing more work overall, whether it be through heavier weights, more reps, or a combination of the two. That’s how you get stronger.
Oh, and you don’t want to quit either. That’s a sure-fire way to regress. You’re doing fantastic. Keep it up!
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