Workout websites/apps/suggestions?

June 27, 2012 11:19 AM

Looking for workout routine suggestion sources, primarily for weightlifting routines.

I am posting this for a friend, who states: I've been through bulgarian squats, plank-awesome and just about everything in between. But now I have to keep the momentum going alone.

My question is whether anyone knows of a storehouse of workout suggestions? Or could make some suggestions - regarding my continued drive to become the Hulk Jr? I've got a few beloved sources (Stumptuous - although she doesn't post anymore; Scooby the Fitness guy; and this Kettlebell woman who wants to bring everyone down to 8% body fat). I want to set up a routine for the next 12 weeks or so, that I can grow from. And a little variety thrown in (because otherwise I'll end up cheating). And I really want to continue to lift weights and work towards an unassisted pull-up :)

PS. I hate running. Just FYI.

(She'd also like it if there were an app or website that would keep track of her progress, and suggest when it was time to increase reps, weight, etc. She already knows about Fitocracy, MyFitnessPal, etc.)

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

posted by EggplantPizza to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

Best answer: Starting Strength and The New Rules of Lifting for Women are two perfectly great programs that your friend can stick with for twelve weeks and see some awesome results. I'd recommend either one (but not both at the same time).
posted by telegraph at 11:28 AM on June 27, 2012 [2 favorites]

I've just discovered the workouts at Health Habits. The workouts seem very well thought out and include links to videos for each of the moves in case there's something you're not familiar with.
posted by gubenuj at 12:08 PM on June 27, 2012

My partner loves the workout of the day via SEALFIT, and though I don't think it has an app, he finds it easy to download as a note to an iPod touch for the gym. It does have some cardio and sprints thrown in, but they're really flexible. I do the baseline versions (stripped down a little-- like 30 kipping pullups instead of 50 normal ones) with him sometimes and I've been surprised at how fun they are. The comments are often helpful for finding workarounds or different weights, if you do not in fact want to be like a Navy SEAL.
posted by jetlagaddict at 12:09 PM on June 27, 2012

Seconding The New Rulea of Lifting for Women. It has 7 stages to work through in 13-24 total weeks, depending on the number of workouts you do each week. I'm on stage 3 and I notice a real impact on my physique and stamina.
posted by cocoagirl at 12:21 PM on June 27, 2012 [1 favorite]

Consider the 5X5 plan, or get one of Pavel Tsatsouline's books - the deadlift + bench plan is simple and can generate big gains, at least for a while.
posted by 4midori at 1:30 PM on June 27, 2012

Starting Strength is more or less (depends on who you ask, I'm sure) the gold standard of novice weightlifting. It's simple, straightforward, and linear. You add weight every day/week in small increments until you can't, at which point you aren't a novice weightlifter anymore, and can worry about more complicated programming.
posted by wrok at 6:09 PM on June 27, 2012

Response by poster: Thanks so much for the great recommendations, everyone! She's bought The New Rules of Lifting for Women, and checked out GainFitness, and is very excited to get started with them.
posted by EggplantPizza at 5:51 AM on June 28, 2012