It took me some time to learn enough about weight training to make intelligent decisions about how to train myself.  Here’s my history with weight training:

1. Learning to lift and building basic strength/developing “normal” strength in my arm and wrist.  Used machines + some free weights.  Cardio consisted of treadmill running and/or walking.  This phase lasted until  around April, 2007.
2. The body building phase –  using mostly free weights, doing a 5-day body part split,  using both compound and isolation exercises.   Cardio was kick boxing classes or treadmill.  Later I learned about high intensity interval training. This phase ended in September, 2008.
3. New Rules of Lifting for Women – Following the 7 stages exactly as presented in the book by Schuler, Forsythe and Cosgrove.  I completed this program in March, 2009.  I am very proud of this achievement, as I learned so much about lifting, and I saw so much improvement in myself with this program.  For the first time in my life, I was able to do a chin up after following the progression outlined in the book.  All that WITH a shabby wrist!  My cardio training was high intensity interval training performed after weight training 3x per week.  On off days, I walked on the treadmill using a significant incline or used the Stairmill.

While I was following the program in New Rules of Lifting for Women (NROL4W) I became interested in kettlebell training, and made the decision to begin training with kettlebells after completing the New Rules program.  Kettlebell training began in March, 2009.