Hey everyone-- men, please reply too if you can help!
I know the weight lifting issue is huge and hairy over in the Tri Forum. But I want to bring it up here in the estrogen-tinged The Womens.... So TTB and other mainstream tri books advocate weight lifting--- for females especially--- and my (female, USAT) coach for the past two seasons had me doing some weight sessions. I don't mind it, but did not LOVE it either. Now I am in a better gym with better equipment so am rethinking it all. I developed a midline abdominal hernia at some point during my tri training so I had that fixed last year and dropped the weight lifting during the healing.
But overall, I dropped weight training (was only doing it 1-2 x a week) because it WIPED me OUT! High reps, low weight, or the lift to failure. Either way it seemed to wear me down so much (when also doing the 8-15 hours of training per week that is)
No coach this year. Just me and a Matt F. plan for a couple of HIMs. No weight lifting on his plan (a customizable one from Tri mag)
Okay recently I have gone to yoga about 6 times. 1-2 times a week for Bikram Yoga, 1.5 hours in a 105 degree room. I actually like it. (thought it would be too touchy-feely, hey-wow, namaste type of thing but I like that the instructor sticks to a script. It definitely gets the HR up there in some of the poses). So I figured the yoga is strength and stretching together.
But, it wipes me out TOO! It kicks my butt recovery-wise. Drink a lot after and all day, eat within 30 min etc etc....
I am the one who started the hypothyroidism thread, so maybe my low thyroid is still all part of the problem... so I thought I would just ring up my ST gal friends and compare notes about it.
Also--- help me figure out this Weight to Strength ratio thing... is that just a theoretical ideal or is there actaully a number one calculates? I "get it" that you want to be as strong as you can be at an ideal weight (to not haul excess pounds along, but still be strong). I weigh 130 #, am 5'6". I think I am an athletic build (broad shoulders, small waist, broad hips, long torso ((Gap "Curvy Jeans" is my fit type, if that helps)). But I think I am scrawny and lumpy... terrible climber. Sticks for wrists and ankles but don't really muscle up much. And I am 48 so the hormones "they are a-changin' ..."
And osteoporosis is huge in my family... I think the running and general fitness will curb that, but weight lifting is recommended to prevent it (albeit probably is just a general recommendation for joe-average females).
Summary: weights, yoga, recovery from these; weight to strength ratio? Is weight lifting worth it??
The collective wisdom here at ST is pretty awesome! Thanks-
C
I know the weight lifting issue is huge and hairy over in the Tri Forum. But I want to bring it up here in the estrogen-tinged The Womens.... So TTB and other mainstream tri books advocate weight lifting--- for females especially--- and my (female, USAT) coach for the past two seasons had me doing some weight sessions. I don't mind it, but did not LOVE it either. Now I am in a better gym with better equipment so am rethinking it all. I developed a midline abdominal hernia at some point during my tri training so I had that fixed last year and dropped the weight lifting during the healing.
But overall, I dropped weight training (was only doing it 1-2 x a week) because it WIPED me OUT! High reps, low weight, or the lift to failure. Either way it seemed to wear me down so much (when also doing the 8-15 hours of training per week that is)
No coach this year. Just me and a Matt F. plan for a couple of HIMs. No weight lifting on his plan (a customizable one from Tri mag)
Okay recently I have gone to yoga about 6 times. 1-2 times a week for Bikram Yoga, 1.5 hours in a 105 degree room. I actually like it. (thought it would be too touchy-feely, hey-wow, namaste type of thing but I like that the instructor sticks to a script. It definitely gets the HR up there in some of the poses). So I figured the yoga is strength and stretching together.
But, it wipes me out TOO! It kicks my butt recovery-wise. Drink a lot after and all day, eat within 30 min etc etc....
I am the one who started the hypothyroidism thread, so maybe my low thyroid is still all part of the problem... so I thought I would just ring up my ST gal friends and compare notes about it.
Also--- help me figure out this Weight to Strength ratio thing... is that just a theoretical ideal or is there actaully a number one calculates? I "get it" that you want to be as strong as you can be at an ideal weight (to not haul excess pounds along, but still be strong). I weigh 130 #, am 5'6". I think I am an athletic build (broad shoulders, small waist, broad hips, long torso ((Gap "Curvy Jeans" is my fit type, if that helps)). But I think I am scrawny and lumpy... terrible climber. Sticks for wrists and ankles but don't really muscle up much. And I am 48 so the hormones "they are a-changin' ..."
And osteoporosis is huge in my family... I think the running and general fitness will curb that, but weight lifting is recommended to prevent it (albeit probably is just a general recommendation for joe-average females).
Summary: weights, yoga, recovery from these; weight to strength ratio? Is weight lifting worth it??
The collective wisdom here at ST is pretty awesome! Thanks-
C