Printable View
I recently restarted lifting wieghts again after about 1.5 years off due to many moves in the last 1.5 ( 5 moves :eek: ) and I can't beleive, well, I guess I can believe how weak my arms have become. I have maintianed some leg strength from riding. So forget waiting (non pun intended:p ) until the new year, My after Thanksgiving resolution is to do weight lifting 3x a week. No more excuses.
I can relate. I started strength training again last week after about the same amount of time off. I thought I'd maintained some of my strength through swimming, but NO. My upper body was crying in pain the next day, and my legs begged me for a walker to help out. Sad, how quickly it all goes away.
Oh gosh, 1.5 years? I took 3 months off from the gym this summer for triathlon training. Started lifting again this fall. I remember after my first session (tried to take it easy), I could barely lift anything for 3 days. My biceps have never been so sore (they looked like they had retained their tone . . .) :( Take it easy, that's a while to have been not lifting. By starting now, you'll be moved up to the higher weights by the new year. While all the resolutionists are fighting over the 5-10 pounders, you'll get your choice of dumbells at the gym. :)
You will get your arms back before you know it!
I do find that the weight stuff comes back fairly quickly if you don't go nuts in the beginning. I totally overdid it on my first day back at serious weights 2 weeks ago - had trouble walking down stairs for days. I think that cycling doesn't work exactly the same muscles as weights, so you can lift more that you probably should.
For me it's the overhead lifts that are totally back to beginner for me -- it's like I never lifted a weight in my life. I guess you use your biceps some on the bike, especially if you stand a lot, but you never lift the bike over your head, so those muscles have had quite a vacation.
It is nice to know that I am not the only one. Right now I am so motivated I wish I could do it every day although I know I have to take every other day off. Right now I am not a member of any gym so I use my weights that I got back from the "pod". Thanks for the thoughts:)
I've been off the weights for 47 years. :)
Seriously, I started doing weights for about 4-5 months and was amazed at how quickly gains were made, but I fell off the wagon for the last six month and I feel like Im starting at zero again.
Good luck!