What is the best weight to start of lifting weights ?

Answer 1

That's a very vague question. Depends on the muscle, workout, intensity of workouts, your workout goals(toning or bulking muscle), age, and your current condition. There are so many variables. Do various workouts and see what you can rep. Make sure you can move the weight correctly w/o help or little help. Also make sure you can get in 4 good sets of 6-10 reps.

Answer 2

I need to know a couple of things before answering this properly.
First, what are your age and gender?
Second: what do you wish to accomplish? (general health, bulk up, be a champion weight lifter etc.. etc...)
Assuming you are a male, over 16 and wish to tone your muscles to be in good shape and in good health, here is what you do:
For a given machine (don't use free weights unless you have an experienced person to instruct you close by) find out the max you can lift one time (just keep increasing and trying, resting a bit in between. After you found your max, then:

1) use about 70% of that max to do 6-8 reps, rest and repeat this set two more times (always with a rest in between).

2)Work one group of muscles each day you work out and let that group rest until it is not sore any longer before you exercise it again (it is rebuilding itself while you give it a break).

3) when you are doing easily 12 repetitions with the 70% max weight, in one particular machine, increase about 10% in weight and reduce the reps again to 6, than start increasing the no. again as you find it easy enough to do 6.

3) Eat at least 100g of protein a day, not more than 3 hours before your workout (not within one hour before it either), or you can also eat the protein right after wards. Eat enough carbohydrates before, but not more than about 40-60 g a day depending on your size and age.

Go for it, the first and most important step is to start, than resist every discouragement and lazy suggestion from your body that says "I am too tired today". You will feel better after the workout, stop complaining (tell yourself that, many times over).

Answer 3

Really a tough question to answer. What I like to do is go in and do your max on the weights or machines. Write them all down and start your work out routine at 40% after two weeks got to 50% then after two more 60% try that for a few weeks when you can do ten reps of your 80% successfully that will be a good work out and it is giving you something you can progress. Before you know it your max will go up dramatically. Do this workout 4 Days a week, others do cardio.

Answer 4

Roberto has great advice and is 100% correct on the free-weights. You can seriously hurt yourself if you do it wrong, especially if you grab too high of a weight and over exert yourself before you realize it.

the way I was taught a long time ago: First, get on a treadmill for at least 5 minutes and walk. This will get your blood pumping. Do some stretching. Then, get back one the treadmill and do a 20 min moderate workout (don't kill yourself nor do it at 1 mph). Now your muscles are fully warmed up, oxygenated, and ready to go. (Drink lots of water/sports drinks, have a good protein intake). Having a healthy cardiovascular system will help your muscles get a better workout.

... to get good tone, use a low weight and do more reps (about 50% of your max 12-20 reps for 3-5 sets), trust me, even light weights will tire your muscles with enough reps, tone you up, but not make you look like Arnold or a pro-wrestler. You want muscle, find the weight that you can just get your last rep done of the final set (5-8 reps 2-3 sets) ... in other words, take it slow and build it up each work out until you find that weight, then as you continue and it becomes easier, move it up a notch.

When you are done, get back on the treadmill and walk for 5-20 minutes. It will allow your muscles to cool down and the blood to continue to circulate properly. Don't forget to stretch again when you are done. This helps you stay flexible, reduces soreness, and gets rid of the lactic acids that are built up by the workout (a major cause of soreness other than muscle damage).

I will give a personal experience and hope you can learn from my mistake. I hit the machines after a few years of not working out on weight machines. I found my max and dropped it a few notches, thinking I could pretty much pick up where I left off. I was doing 3 sets of 10 reps on about 10 different machines back to back with very little rest in between. The next day, I couldn't put my arms against my body nor could I easily lift them to even shoulder height. I learned my lesson about taking it easy at first. Mind you I was trying to push about 100 lbs after not using my muscles that way in years, but I thought it wasn't much because I used to push more than double that. I was even getting a bit 'cocky' and pushing the machines a couple reps each with one hand at the same weight just to prove to myself I could still do it.

Be careful and take you time. If you are going to a gym, watch the people around you, if you find someone nice, ask their advice. We have a free group at my local gym to help people go at their own pace and learn the proper ways.

Answer 5

i have to say i agree with the first guy to answer your question....there are so many things to think about. if your anything like me and your not in the best shape of your life but use to be in great shape the try remembering the heaviest thing you picked up with out straining and try that weight. you want to feel your muscles pull but you don't want to hurt your self either.

Answer 6

It depends on how much you weigh, how much muscle you have, how old you are, and what do you mean by lifting weights (bench press, free weight lifting. ect.)

Answer 7

start with a 16 oz. bottle of watter and hold it out strait in front of you for as long as you can Intel you can do that for ten minutes then start lite and slow so you don't heart yourself or ask your doctor

Answer 8

start from 15, if fifteen is too light go to 25, etc.

Answer 9

it does not matter what weight you are it matters on the parent or gardian and age