Casey Johnston, the writer behind the She's A Beast newsletter and Liftoff, joins us today to answer any and all questions you have on strength training, weight-lifting, exercise, and more.
If you’re not familiar with her, she’s written extensively about all of these topics in a number of publications and been profiled in GQ, New York magazine, Slate and the Atlantic, and given interviews on a number of podcasts over the years.
Her focus? It’s on why lifting weights is for everyone — not (or, not only) about getting huge, but about creating a different relationship with your body.
I’m excited to have her here with us today, because she brings such a wealth of knowledge and experience (and a voice of reason) to this topic, as I know many of us have questions about strength training and what, exactly, we should do with it.
Go ahead and post any question you have in the comments, and Casey will join us in just a little bit to answer them. I really look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions! — Terrell
I just went through a medical ordeal and lost over twenty pounds. Speaking frankly, I've got a little loose flesh around my middle. I don't want to put those pounds back on, but what are the best exercises I can do to tighten that flesh back up? Right now I'm doing two sets of 50 leg lifts and crunches twice a day. I heard that regular sit-ups aren't as good. HELP!!!
Hi there Casey! My main question is, as someone who's lifted weights in the past in a gym -- but did it all under the supervision of a trainer, and therefore didn't actually learn much about what I was doing -- where would you tell that person to start? Do I need a gym membership -- is that a must? -- or are there things I can do on my own, starting today? Especially if I've never done it before. Thanks!
What is the basic equipment I can use at home to build overall body strength, burn 5-10 pounds of excess fat, keep me walking/ running strong into my 80’s and beyond? I have 20 minutes 3x a week to dedicate to your recommended routine. Please keep it Simple, Quick & Affordable. Thanks
I just went through a medical ordeal and lost over twenty pounds. Speaking frankly, I've got a little loose flesh around my middle. I don't want to put those pounds back on, but what are the best exercises I can do to tighten that flesh back up? Right now I'm doing two sets of 50 leg lifts and crunches twice a day. I heard that regular sit-ups aren't as good. HELP!!!
Hi there Casey! My main question is, as someone who's lifted weights in the past in a gym -- but did it all under the supervision of a trainer, and therefore didn't actually learn much about what I was doing -- where would you tell that person to start? Do I need a gym membership -- is that a must? -- or are there things I can do on my own, starting today? Especially if I've never done it before. Thanks!
Hi all! Excited to be here, going to jump in and answer q's for the next hour or so--
I won’t be able to attend the live discussion but have a few questions.
1 - How many times a week is appropriate to do strength training?
2 - What is the ideal duration to complete a strength training session?
3 - Should the strength training sessions be adjusted based on goal such as training for a half marathon vs a full marathon?
What is the basic equipment I can use at home to build overall body strength, burn 5-10 pounds of excess fat, keep me walking/ running strong into my 80’s and beyond? I have 20 minutes 3x a week to dedicate to your recommended routine. Please keep it Simple, Quick & Affordable. Thanks
What are your top three fave exercises for getting stronger to conquer those hills? I’m a half-marathoner. Thanks!