Weight lifting is a wonderful way of increasing your own physical strength as well as improving your overall health. While lifting weights may seem straightforward at first, the truth is that there are many things that go into it, such as proper form and knowing your limits. Many beginners will assume they can just start lifting without having any prior knowledge but more often than not this ends with injury or just not making the progress they hope for. Lifting weights can also seem intimidating to first timers as they may fear that they look weak or perhaps they just don’t know where to start. Luckily, it’s not that hard to get a start in weight lifting and there’s plenty of helpful information out there. Here are a few tips to help you get into weight lifting.
It’s All About Technique
While lifting weights may often seem as simple as doing a few curls, it’s actually a little more complicated than that. You want to be sure you’re using the proper form and lifting techniques, otherwise you can injure yourself and likely won’t make as much progress as you’re hoping to make. One great way to learn proper lifting techniques for yourself is to take a class with a professional trainer. Trainers can show you exactly what you need to do and then work with you to make sure you’re doing it properly before you go off on your own. If you’re not willing to spend the money on a class, you can find plenty of education materials on the internet from professionals.
Figure Out The Perfect Weight
When you start lifting, it’s important you pick the appropriate weight for your body. You’ll likely have to experiment a little bit before you find the perfect fit. While you might want to gravitate toward heavier weights, it’s always better to start light and work your way up. A good way to figure out your weight is by getting an idea of how you’re feeling after a few sets of reps. For example, if you’re doing 3 sets of 12 reps of bicep curls, your arms should be pretty tired by the time you get to the last set and even more tired for the last few reps. Your arms will likely be shaky by the time you’re done but if you’re feeling extremely uncomfortable then you’re likely going too heavy. If your sets are extremely easy, you’re likely going too light.
Remember Rest Days
While you may feel inclined to lift weights everyday due to wanting to see progress, it’s vital to your overall health that you take rest days. You’re likely going to get sore – this is a good thing. When doing any type of muscle training, your muscle tissue tears and then slowly repairs itself, which is how it gets stronger. If you don’t give it a break, it won’t ever get the chance to repair itself. So don’t over work your muscles. If you keep at it and stay healthy, you’ll see progress over time.