I’m just dying to talk weightlifting! It’s Rude to proselytize but unfortunately salesmanship has always been one of my traits, so at least I’ll try to confine it to this opt-in, rather voidy space.

Note: IANAD, IANAL either!

Check out Casey Johnston’s LIFTOFF for a really lovely, comprehensive beginners guide to weightlifting. The basic movements – the ones you associate with weightlifting – are straightforward to learn, and a lifetime to master. So, I feel it’s not hard to start, and it stays rewarding for a LONG time!

A barbell is generally 45 pounds. There are some which are 35 pounds, but they are less common at your normal gyms. If you can’t lift that yet, then work up to it with dumbbells. But I bet you will surprise yourself if you try a barbell back squat at that weight, even without having tried it before.

The barbell is used for many many lifts, but in addition to the squat, some other common lifts you’ll see are the deadlift, where you use your legs to push off the ground while holding on to the barbell, and the bench press, where you are pushing the barbell up above your horizontal body.

If you’re not sure where to begin and you’re curious, the book I recommended is GREAT, and I would love to talk to you about any questions you have, and barring all that, just go hang out on one of the weird machines at the gym and observe for a little while (this is a Casey Johnston tip).