Is there any reason that barbells would be indispensable from a serious stength-training program? Or are dumbbells just fine? [more inside]
posted by Vorteks on Jul 1, 2009 - 12 answers

I am getting soreness/discomfort in a strange place while doing squats: on the outside of my right leg only, 4-6 inches above my ankle. I'm returning to weightlifting after a year off with unrelated shoulder injury, and this happens with very little additional weight beyond just the bar. Should I be stretching, starting with less weight, or something else?
posted by stopgap on Jun 6, 2009 - 10 answers

Why is squatting causing pain in my hips? [more inside]
posted by ludwig_van on Jul 3, 2008 - 10 answers

Is it okay to swim after weightlifting? [more inside]
posted by bluejayk on Nov 8, 2007 - 17 answers

The physics of weight lifting: It's often anecdotally said that one should perform lifting reps slowly because the faster you lift the more one develops momentum and the less one actually lifts the weight. The implication is that this builds from rep to rep so that the last one is easier for this reason (developed momentum) than the first rep. [more inside]
posted by OmieWise on Aug 25, 2006 - 21 answers

Today at the gym I saw a couple guys (football players, as it happens) doing an exercise I hadn't seen before. They started with a 50lb dumbbell in one hand, bent over towards that side (that quad ~ 45 degree angle to the floor), the dumbbell fairly close to the floor. They then pushed off with that quad, jumped/transferred weight to their other foot so their body was completely under their arm, & did a military-press-like motion with the weight. They did 3 sets of 10 with each arm. What is this exercise called? Also, what is that general style of exercise called (more active/full body than simply isolating a particular group), & what are some other examples of this style?
posted by devilsbrigade on Jul 22, 2006 - 8 answers

I'm interested in finding good, scientific, non-biased information on weight lifting. Almost everything I seem to find online and in print is either unsupported or linked somehow to supplement manufacturers. Where can I find real deal?
posted by tirade on Apr 20, 2004 - 11 answers

Weight lifting: I'm doing the Super Slow Motion thing and I've got a question regarding muscle failure... Do I go until I fail once, or is it OK to do the next rep after going to fail and backing down? [more inside]
posted by daver on Feb 19, 2004 - 15 answers

I have started to lift weights recently, and I was thinking about taking creatine supplements. Has anyone here used creatine? How has it worked for you? Any recommended method or particular brand?
posted by Quartermass on Jan 19, 2004 - 6 answers