Walking into the gym with a customized weight lifting routine designed to achieve your weight training goals Is the easiest, most efficient way to build a lean, strong body.
The key to a successful weight lifting routine is to train hard, eat right, plan ahead, measure your success and record your achievements. It is imperative that you plan ahead by first defining your individual fitness goals then build a personalized weight lifting program based on those goals. Also, you need to keep track of your vital statistics and daily weight training workout details in a journal to help you stay focused and motivated.
Designing a weight lifting routine for yourself can be difficult especially if you don’t know where to start.
Here are 7 Simple Tips to help you:
1. Identify exactly what your ultimate weight lifting goals are. Do you want to build pounds of lean, shredded muscle? Or do you just want to tone up a bit? You must have a clear vision of what you want to achieve in order to design a weight training routine that works best for you.
2. Get a journal so that you can keep track of your success. A fitness journal is important so that you can plan your daily lifting routines and track your progress. It is vital that you know exactly which exercises you will be performing each day and to keep track of how much weight you lifted for each movement. This way you can continuously build upon previous weeks achievements.
3. Before you step into the gym, take your measurements and record them in your journal. Measure your chest, waist, hips, biceps, and thighs before your begin lifting weights. This will give you a good starting point to look back on. Take another measurement after a month of weight training; now see how far you’ve come! Keep tabs on your progress, it will build your self confidence and drive you toward your goal.
4. Design your weight lifting routine based upon your goals. My trainer, who happens to be a Natural Bodybuilding Champion, recommends that beginners should start with a foundation building weight lifting routine. So, start by doing 3 sets of 6 to 8 repetitions of each of these multi- joint weight lifting exercises:
· Squats
· Dead Lifts
· Bench Press
· Close Grip Bench Press
· Overhead Press
· Dips
· Pull Ups
5. Always strive to use perfect form when executing your weight lifting routines. Body position and form is much more important than how much weight you are lifting. Focus and concentrate on each and every repetition, squeeze the muscle and count to 2 at the top of each movement before releasing the weight back down.
6. Walk into the gym with confidence; know that your weight training routine is fast and effective. Wear comfortable clothes, bring your journal and plenty of water. Don’t worry about what others around you are doing, just put on your favorite music and get the job done.
7. Feed your newly built muscles within one hour of your workout. You just tore the fibers in your muscles and they need nutrients to repair themselves in order to grow. Fortify them quickly with a fast absorbing whey protein shake directly after each weight training workout. It is imperative that you fortify your muscles with the precise amount of protein at regular intervals throughout the day, not just after your workouts.
Starting a new weight training endeavor can be a very daunting task for beginners. There seem to be so many questions that come up once you get going, like; How much weight should I start with? When should I increase the amount of weight I’m lifting? Or, should my arms feel like rubber after I’m done with that exercise? To help alleviate some of your confusion, it’s a good idea to find a training buddy at the gym who has some weight lifting experience or pick up a good bodybuilding book that explains how to perform each weight lifting movement correctly.
Congratulations on taking the first step toward building a leaner, stronger you! It may seem confusing at first, but if you utilize these tips, you should be able to feel more confident and secure about your new weight lifting routine.
