In this way, the muscles are trained to accept more weight in a much easier way, over time. If you try and rush the process of building stronger muscles by lifting too much weight for too long a period of time, your body will have no problem letting you know. The process of muscles building needs to be a gradual one. A little pain is normal and should be expected, but if you can’t move the day after you workout…that’s your body’s way of telling you, “Stop abusing me or I’m staying right here...”
One of the most important things to remember (besides not abusing your body) is that the proper form is everything when you’re lifting weights and doing any form of exercise. The correct posture, stance and grip that you use for weightlifting will keep your body from doing itself injury in many cases. The exercises that you do will also be much more efficient if you learn to lift with correct form while doing them. If you start with bad form and then add weight to that incorrect form, the outcome will not only be ineffective exercises, but may also cause you pain and even injury.
It’s also very important to hydrate your body before, during and after you exercise. You should get two eight ounce glasses of water into you before you work out and four more glasses while you’re working out. Don’t worry about sloshing your way around the gym; your body will have no trouble soaking up this water as the muscles start to heat up and beg for moisture. The oxygen in the water will help your muscles cool down and strengthen as the water is absorbed into your system.
For those just starting out with weight training, it’s important to take your time. If you’re in a rush to get the perfect body you’ve always wanted…you’re going to be disappointed – and sore. You should follow a basic weight training routine for at least a month before you even think about moving onto more advanced routines.
This will allow you to develop the correct form you need for effective and safe weight training. You have to believe that the shape you want to be in will happen if you just take your time and do the job right. You wouldn’t want to live in a house that was built quickly. How safe would that be? Take the time to build the best body you can with the proper form and as little pain as possible (sorry, but there will always be some pain –that’s just the way things are).
Keeping a log of the weights, reps and pain levels associated with those exercises, will help you measure how your training is progressing. It helps to have goals as long as they’re realistic ones. Aiming too high, too fast will only end up discouraging your efforts. Realistic goals will help you stay motivated.
To get yourself started check out some of our full body
weight training exercises. Remember your form and eat big to get big.
