# Does minor and unstructured weightlifting do anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2012, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-minor-and-unstructured-weightlifting-do-anything/634949 "2012-09-17T06:28:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-minor-and-unstructured-weightlifting-do-anything/634949/21 "2012-09-18T18:25:05Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > What you’re missing is the competitive or comparitive social nature (which I hate, but you may like) to keep you on track with your goals, and the possibility of getting advice from people who know what they’re doing and can help you work smarter or change things up instead of always doing the same-old routine that your body gets used to. Mostly I’m missing the large amount and variety of weights and exercise equipment that I can’t fit in my appartment. > [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > The weights thing is just something I can’t get my head around, I guess. How to lift them, what I have to do to make them work.. running, I get. You run x distance in y time, and you’re done. . I would recommend getting a trainer for a couple sessions. Most gyms will provide them for a small fee. But generally it’s the same thing. There are different exercises that hit different body parts. Bench press for chest. Squats for legs. Curls for biceps. So on and so forth. People break up their routines in different ways, but you want to cover all the major muscle groups. For each exercise you track how many reps you do of each sets. When it becomes too easy to do 6-10 or so, you increase the weight. The risk for beginners is that they might try to do too much weight, use poor form and then injure themselves with a sprain or a pull. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-minor-and-unstructured-weightlifting-do-anything/634949/22 "2012-09-18T18:44:39Z")
Doing 20 squats or curls everytime you walk past those weights, assuming it’s at least a couple of times a day will begin to have some effect. 2 reps at a time is no different than regular day to day activities like standing up or carrying in the groceries. The good reason for going to the gym is that it doesn’t take too long in a structured exercise regime to get good and noticeable results that can be maintained long term with a few home exercises. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-minor-and-unstructured-weightlifting-do-anything/634949/23 "2012-09-19T01:14:54Z")
Get Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe. Do the program. You’ll turn into a sexy beast. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-minor-and-unstructured-weightlifting-do-anything/634949.md?page=1)