Weight Lifting
How to Lift Weights Right
Weight lifting used to be something people, primarily men, did to build muscle. Bodybuilders lifted weights to attain their stunning physiques, and weight lifting courses and plans were often advertised to skinny boys who wanted to be bigger so they wouldn’t be picked on or they could get the girl. |  |  |
But today, lifting weights is usually only a part of what’s commonly known as strength training. Beginners weight lifting is almost always a part of this strength and conditioning plan, unless the beginner has a goal of building large muscle mass to be a bodybuilder. Weight lifting techniques are also different for many athletes.
There are several different reasons why people might lift weights, besides athletes than need the heavy conditioning and bodybuilders. Some people, especially men, have a goal of building more muscle through weight lifting . They don’t want to be Mr. Universe with huge, bulging muscles, but they do want more definition and a sculpted look, with larger muscles than they currently have.
For those interested in gaining muscle mass, whether a little or a lot, bodybuilders’ weight lifting tips are ideal. You can find books written by bodybuilders and those who have achieved success in the weight lifting world, as well as magazines and websites containing that information. If the person giving the information has huge muscles that are much bigger than those you’re aiming for, simply follow the exercise and nutrition advice to a degree, rather than wholeheartedly. And look at their diet reviews more for nutrition than whopping protein content. Spend fewer hours lifting weights than they suggest, or do fewer reps, and you’ll get the muscle building benefit without going overboard.
Others use weight lifting as part of a general strength training workout they do regularly. Their goal is not to build muscle mass at all. Instead, they want to tone their muscles and make them sleeker and stronger. How can lifting weights both increase muscle mass and make them smaller? Your weight lifting technique as well as your nutrition plays a role in determining which way your muscles condition.
Lighter amounts of weight and more reps are often used to help a person lose weight and tone the muscles, while a lot of weight with fewer reps and usually a very protein-rich diet are used to build muscle mass.
Lifting weights to tone the muscles also has the added benefit of helping you lose weight, because it speeds up your metabolism. Your weight lifting muscles burn more calories , both when you’re exercising and when you’re resting. So if you tone your muscles, you burn more calories all the time than if you don’t. You can either take in more calories, if you’re trying to maintain your weight, or keep your calories at the same level or slightly lower and you’ll see the fat burning benefits of having toned muscles.
Once you start weight lifting to lose weight, the fast results you’ll feel and see will serve as motivation for you to keep going.