First few weeks of weightlifting have been a struggle - advice appreciated
- Thread starter TheCenturion
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too much weight can lead to poor movement/poor posture/muscle weakness or imbalance/more serious problems
not having a clue what they are doing, not being flexible enough, having imbalances are more likely to lead to poor movement/poor posture/muscle weakness or imbalance/more serious problems than too much weight tbh.
Of course it can, but it's far from the most likely cause.
Your lower back should never hurt. If it does, OBVIOUSLY don't continue moving heavy weight around, but it's much more important to address the other things I listed. If my lower back starts hurting, I more or less know that my technique was off.
Considering the OPs experience level, it's fairly likely that he was just moving poorly.
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This here is probably a cause of your lower back pain.
Don't squat on the smith machine..... learn to squat properly. There's plenty of online material and books available. It doesn't matter if you have to lower the weight a lot. Squatting properly is always going to be better than doing it on the smith.
Also... have you ever injured your lower back? Even just a twinge?
What is your posture like? Do you slouch when you're sitting, or do you sit upright?
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Just got back from my first gym session in a while. I've tried so hard to get my form correct, but I'm still convinced it's pants and is damaging my joints and back 
For example, I've watched so many videos and followed Morba's advice on bent over rows. But it's doing sod all to workout my back and instead kills my triceps. I'm not convinced by the other exercises I've done either.
What are my options from here? I'm so desperate to get my form right so I can workout properly. Next time I workout, I'll record my lifts and upload the vids here. Would it also be worth significantly lowering the weight I'm lifting? This would probably allow me to get my form better, but it wouldn't stress my muscles at all would it? And if the weights are low and my form is still wrong, I wouldn't realise because it wouldn't really affect my joints/back.
Damn, working out is just so depressing.
For example, I've watched so many videos and followed Morba's advice on bent over rows. But it's doing sod all to workout my back and instead kills my triceps. I'm not convinced by the other exercises I've done either.
What are my options from here? I'm so desperate to get my form right so I can workout properly. Next time I workout, I'll record my lifts and upload the vids here. Would it also be worth significantly lowering the weight I'm lifting? This would probably allow me to get my form better, but it wouldn't stress my muscles at all would it? And if the weights are low and my form is still wrong, I wouldn't realise because it wouldn't really affect my joints/back.
Damn, working out is just so depressing.
Yeah, lower the weight, plenty of time to up the weight once you are comfortable doing the exercises.
You wouldn't suddenly start running flat out for miles having never gone for a jog before, would you?
Incorrectly lifting heavy weights is a quick way to get an injury.
You wouldn't suddenly start running flat out for miles having never gone for a jog before, would you?
Incorrectly lifting heavy weights is a quick way to get an injury.
TBH too much weight leads to all those things.
If you try to squat to heavy and you are not conditioned enough to handle it your form, posture, movement, balance and flexibility through the hips will go to pot through the movement. This leads to over compensation to try and get the bar back up to standing position,which leads to rounding out of the back and a 1 way ticket to a shot lower back.
Most new lifters problems start with too much weight because many of us are too stupid to leave our ego's at the door.
Just got back from my first gym session in a while. I've tried so hard to get my form correct, but I'm still convinced it's pants and is damaging my joints and back
For example, I've watched so many videos and followed Morba's advice on bent over rows. But it's doing sod all to workout my back and instead kills my triceps. I'm not convinced by the other exercises I've done either.
What are my options from here? I'm so desperate to get my form right so I can workout properly. Next time I workout, I'll record my lifts and upload the vids here. Would it also be worth significantly lowering the weight I'm lifting? This would probably allow me to get my form better, but it wouldn't stress my muscles at all would it? And if the weights are low and my form is still wrong, I wouldn't realise because it wouldn't really affect my joints/back.
Damn, working out is just so depressing.
Maybe try seated cable rows, lat pulls, pull ups, one arm dumbell rows for a few weeks to build back strength before moving on to barbell rows ? Its rally important to get form right with any kind of bent over rowing action or squats as incorrect form could lead to an injury which would set you back months if your recovery is slow.
What you're describing is just poor movement, which will be happening regardless of weight. It might be more obvious the layman when the weight is heavy, but it will still be present at lighter weights. Flexibility can't get worse because the weight is heavier either.
How weight are you actually using, TC?
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I've not been doing barbell rows. What I'm referring to is dumbbell BORS.
Will do, next time I go to the gym (Sunday)
I'm benching and squatting 15 kg and shoulder/arnie press is 10 kg.
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I only weigh about 54kg anyway.
Why not? Because form doesn't break under light weight?
Triceps hurting in a dumbell row? Interesting.
The only thing I can think of without being in a gym is that you're going funny at your elbow at the top of the row by trying to keep the dumbell in a certain position.
Post videos ftw.
The only thing I can think of without being in a gym is that you're going funny at your elbow at the top of the row by trying to keep the dumbell in a certain position.
Post videos ftw.
sounds like arm might be moving in more of a tri kickback action than a row if getting Tricep action in a row ???
No idea. I had a go at midnight last night with a chair to try and see how my tricep would engage... I was waving the thing all over the place trying to get it to spark up...
The only thing that came out was that you're not moving by pulling your elbows back, but by pulling at the dumbell. It sounds dumb, but the dumbell should be hanging loose, as such.