Beginning Weight Training

It is important to start slowly when beginning weight training.

I have been lifting weights since I was a teenager and have had the opportunity to train with some very knowledgeable people.

 Whenever I am informed by a friend or co-worker that they are interested in beginning weight training, and they want my advice, my answer is always the same.

Regardless of what a person's desired goal with weight training may be, it should always be started very slowly.

The reality of the matter is that it is very easy to injure yourself when you are beginning weight training.

Your body is not accustomed to the kind of pressure you are placing on it, and because there is a lack of existing muscle, you can hurt yourself badly if you do not use the proper technique.

What I suggest to anyone beginning weight training is to go through each of the exercises you will be doing very slowly. If you have access to a personal trainer, that is even better, because you can watch him or her do the exercise first and then emulate.

Make sure that you are following their technique perfectly before you repeat, and if you do not have a trainer, make sure you understand how to do the exercise properly.

Secondly, when beginning weight training, always make sure you start with light weights.

A lot of people have the mistaken impression that you have to lift heavy weights to get good muscle tone, and this is simply not true.

There are others who think they are a lot stronger than they actually are and try to over-do it to impress their friends or trainer. Remember that you are not there to impress anyone, but rather to get into better shape.

Third, do not work out for a long time when you are just beginning weight training. This, in my experience, is the quickest way to burn out.

A person puts in two hours at the gym the first time he works out, and then never goes back again. He is so sore the next day, he swears it off for the rest of his life because he did not take his time and build up to it.

The fourth and final pointer I give when beginning weight training is to be safe and be aware. If you are at a gym where a lot of people work out, know what is going on around you.

Be careful not to bump into people or swing weights wildly in close proximity to another person. It is just common courtesy and good safety.

Beginning weight training can be a bit daunting, but the benefits one reaps from doing so far outweigh any temporary discomfort you feel in the short run.

Try it out, but be careful not to move too fast.