We all know cardio and interval training are great for fat loss but if you really want to tone up, lift heavier weights and make your muscles stronger, resistance or strength training is the way to go. In fact, the more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even when you are not working out. However, lifting heavy weights can be intimidating for many beginners. The good news is that lifting weights doesn’t have to be a daunting task for anyone. The key is to start slowly and build up your strength over time.
The term “weight training” refers to any type of exercise that uses weight to build strength and muscle. This could be with free weights (like dumbbells, barbells and weight plates) or machines that have weight attached, like a lat pulldown machine or leg extension machine. Some strength trainers may also use medicine balls, kettlebells, sandbags, resistance bands or even their own body weight. For beginners, the best option may be to use a set of dumbbells since they are easier to adjust for different weights than other equipment, like kettlebells or barbells.
Regardless of the equipment used, there are a few things that all beginner weight training workouts must have:
Beginners need to build up their muscular endurance before trying to increase their muscle strength and size. For this reason, a good beginner strength training workout should include both exercises that work the muscles in the upper body and those that work the muscles in the lower body. This will help to prevent injury and allow for better results. Additionally, a beginner should always start with a lower load (weight that they can lift for a lot of reps) and then gradually build up to higher loads, as they get more comfortable and confident in their ability to handle them.
To get you started, we’ve put together an easy-to-follow, beginner friendly strength training workout that is perfect for any fitness level. It is a full body workout, but it can be done at your own pace and doesn’t require any special equipment. The plan includes three days per week of a total body dumbbell workout, with one upper and one lower body workout. This allows you 1-2 days of recovery between each workout so that your muscles can grow and repair themselves.
Milena Estêvão is a YouTuber passionate about sharing her experiences (challenges, successes and motivations) in the fitness activities she is involved in.
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