By Alex Bakhovsky
Updated: May 23, 2023
7 minutes
)
Strength training is an essential part of any exercise routine, and every fitness enthusiast should know the basics. With strength training, you can increase your muscle tone, carve out healthy curves in your body, and even improve your overall health! It’s easier to get started than it looks — all you need is some basic equipment and a willingness to give it a shot. In this article, we’ll cover why strength training is important for everyone (spoiler: it’s great for improving joint mobility and heart health!), tips for how to build strength safely, and more. So get ready to learn the incredible benefits of weightlifting – It might just transform your life!
What is Strength Training?
Strength training exercises encompass a wide spectrum of activities that build muscle strength and endurance. These typically involve lifting weights, using bodyweight or resistance machines, performing basic movements such as pull-ups and push-ups, and taking various forms.
In addition to training with external loads (such as barbells or dumbbells), you can also use your own body to develop powerful muscles through bodyweight exercises like squats, push-ups, planks, etc.
Other Forms of Exercise
It’s important to understand that there’s a difference between strength training exercises like squats and other forms of exercise like running. The former primarily emphasizes building up certain muscle groups in an effort towards building lean tissue and increase
bone density
.
Running, on the other hand, focuses on stamina and improves cardiovascular health while maintaining existing muscle tone. In essence, you’re not only working different parts of your body when switching between these two types — you are literally changing the type of motion your joints are performing as well!
Health Benefits
Strength training is one of the best activities you can do to keep your body and mind healthy. After all, it’s not just for bodybuilders anymore, strength training has many benefits that make it a worthwhile exercise for people of all ages and abilities. Let’s talk about some of these health benefits.
One of the major advantages of strength training is improved
cardiovascular health
. Resistance-training exercises help strengthen your heart muscle and reduce your risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Studies suggest that strength training as little as once or twice a week can have positive effects on cardiovascular health markers too.
In addition, strength training helps boost your
metabolism
which makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if necessary. Regular strength training will also provide you with greater
flexibility
in other areas since muscle fibers may become more supple when trained correctly. Research further shows that people who incorporate resistance training into their routine have higher energy levels throughout the day than those who don’t lift weights at all – so you can stay productive even after those grueling sets!
Resistance training doesn’t only benefit our physical well-being – it serves mental purposes too! Studies conducted by Columbia University found that after eight weeks of doing upper-body resistance exercises, adults reduced symptoms associated with depression. Additionally, they reported
better sleeping habits
– another important factor in maintaining overall
mental health
and wellness!
No matter how old you are, regular resistance training helps improve bone density which is key to preventing issues like osteoporosis or fractures later in life. All in all, there are plenty more benefits to getting familiar with basic kettlebell press movements today than just toning up for beach season: improve your cardiovascular function and control hypertension, improve joint mobility, reduce body fat levels, increase metabolism rate, sharpen mental alertness, support a healthy aging process, just to name a few!
Step–by–Step Guide to Starting a Strength Training Routine
Whether you’re just starting out with a new form of exercise such as weightlifting or returning after some time away from the gym, successfully conquering this setback begins by setting up an appropriate plan. If possible, you may find it helpful to enlist the help of an expert, such as a personal trainer, to design a road map ahead – one designed specifically for someone looking into long-term health benefits rather than the short-term fixes ‘miracle diets’ promise.
While full-fledged routines tend to use 3 sets of 10 – 12 with rest intervals between each rep, for beginners – starting lighter may very much be the way forward. For instance, cycle lighter weights broken down into 8 sets may offer a more sustainable approach minus dangerous strain on certain body parts – one habituated with 4 intense sets per week complemented adequately by both cardio activities like jogging, running, cycling, etc., plus stretches and yoga poses as needed will simply do perfectly! At least like this, our bodies won’t succumb immediately throughout workout sessions.
Few Basic Exercises, Their Benefits, and How to Do Them Correctly
-
Squats
Targeting your quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings as well as your core, squats are one of the most effective and fundamental strength exercises out there!
To start – feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart with toes pointing outward about 10 – 15 degrees from forward, bend at the knees while keeping your torso upright, then move downwards until reaching optimal depth (typically when hips are parallel to the ground).
Keep good form throughout – shoulders back & chest up while engaging core muscles – extend legs, return to starting position for 1 rep.
-
Pushups
One of the best upper body exercises there is, push-ups target multiple muscles in the chest, triceps, and shoulders all in just one move, going down face forwards towards the floor into plank position – control your descent and return back up! Make sure shoulders do not sag down away from ears during descent (proper alignment vital), but thrust up instead by engaging and firing cores – this way, not just muscle growth, but overall fitness improves drastically!
-
Glute Bridge
Activating several muscles in your posterior chain– namely the glutes, hamstrings, and core – this exercise works perfectly for strengthening the lower body as well.
Lie down on your back with feet flat on the floor, hips distance apart, and palms facing downward – lift your buttocks off the floor squeezing them upward towards the ceiling as you reach the plateau top, then slowly lower down starting position before repeating reps for desired number sets – keep movements controlled throughout.
Importance of a Balanced and Varied Routine
For any type of physical activity, it is important for progress that we keep our body guessing constantly. To that effect, a balanced and varied routine should consist of exercises targeting different muscle groups to provide a complete overall routine – this helps maximize benefits and reduce injury risks to an even greater degree!
For instance, incorporating compound movements like squats or hip bridges while alternating with upper extremity exercises like push-ups, deadlifts, etc., will make sure your long-term plan remains intact as opposed to just honing only one specific exercise!
Any form of strength session also works best when coupled with certain stretches and yoga poses post-workout as this offers additional benefits for mobility.
How to Schedule Workouts And Rest Days
When it comes to consistency and continuous progress, it’s all about scheduling rest days into your workout plans according to individual lifestyle preferences and workloads.
Consecutive workouts can certainly break down one’s body sooner or later, so taking breaks in between is essential in order for the muscles to have time to recoup & recover.
Usually,
48 hours
, depending on intensity plus performance outcome – may be needed for rest and recovery, but if lifestyle permits a more active approach, then less strenuous sessions, limited and spread out over different days, may work similarly well.
Always remember
nutrition and hydration
play a huge role in supporting workouts – weekdays can feature more elaborate meals, whereas weekends’ fasted workout sessions supplemented by IF may very well fit right in here too!
The Role Of Nutrition In Strength Training
Any discussion regarding strength training invariably entails mentioning nutrition. Good wholesome food is fuel – albeit not always found easily – for exercising. Admittedly, taking diet-related aspects seriously always pays dividends – both before, during, and after exercise.
Since protein acts as a primary building block for muscles, having adequate quantities [at least 25% daily caloric intake] ideally from eggs, meat, etc., assists tremendously in both hypertrophy (size increases) and improved recovery from intense workouts alike!
In addition, complex carbs offer necessary energy reserves for physical activity, whereas fats help act as insulation along with providing backup reserves for prolonged efforts amongst other functions. Choose ‘sweet potatoes’ instead of white starches, salmon versus processed meats where possible! Allowing ample opportunity to take greens throughout the day helps ensure optimal nutritional intake, hence successful outcomes from strength training plans eventually!
Safety First – Common Injuries and How To Avoid Them
The most common injuries associated with weight lifting include tears, sprains, strains, tendonitis, shoulder impingement syndrome (bursitis), and lower back pain. Fortunately, these injuries can be easily avoided by following a few simple safety tips.
Firstly –
warm up
! Warming up is essential for both mental preparation as well as physical – a few minutes of light cardio to increase blood flow and prepare the muscles before pushing your body hard is key.
Secondly, always remember proper form – pay attention, especially during each rep whether under maximum load or just starting out – performing lifts incorrectly increases risk hugely, something one should guard strongly against!
Thirdly, seek professional assistance where appropriate for posture tailored to specific individual needs – this way chances of hitting progress plateaus reduce drastically, plus sessions become more enjoyable too!
Key Takeaways
Strength training is an activity with many different physical and mental health benefits: from increased strength and improved joint stability to reducing risk factors associated with chronic diseases.
This article has outlined some essential information on strength training, so now all that’s left is for you to find the right plan specifically designed for YOU to begin your journey toward a stronger version of yourself! Stay hard!
