Why do some men and women, in the effort to improve
their fitness, still resist weightlifting? Here are some motivating
ideas for building weight-room confidence and helping you understand
why this method of exercise is so very important to your success.
1. Lift weights to lose fat: One of the biggest
mistakes people make when starting an exercise and nutrition program
is not including a weightlifting program with their cardiovascular
exercise and low-fat eating regimen. This is unfortunate because
when we cut calories without exercise, we can lose muscle as well
as fat. And when you lose muscle, your body becomes a lot less
efficient at burning fat. However, when you gain muscle, you can
actually condition your body to burn fat more efficiently...24
hours a day!
2. You feel strong and fit: It's a great feeling
when you look in the mirror during your workouts and see your
back muscles, biceps, shoulders, and legs flexing. If you're unsure
about proper lifting technique, hire a personal trainer for a
few sessions. The money you invest is well worth it, as is the
time and energy you put towards an effective program. And weightlifting
can definitely increases your confidence. It's a wonderful feeling
to feel strong, especially after a workout. You look forward to
looking in the mirror, and actually like what you see.
3. You have more energy: Even if you're just starting
out with a few basic weightlifting exercises, very quickly you
won't believe how fantastic you'll feel. Instead of making an
excuse to skip your workout, you'll make excuses to do just one
more set. Plus, with the excess fat you're going to lose, there
will be less of you to lug around and therefore less fatigue.
4. You'll finally see the results: Knowing what
to do makes all the difference. Many people go to the gym for
months - even years - and wonder why they're not getting any results.
Well, it's because they're doing the same darn workout every time.
This is a critical point: you can either quit out of frustration,
or you can become a sponge for knowledge and get some help. Get
your hands on fitness magazines, books, the trainers at the gym,
ask other successful exercisers, or hire a coach. Learn what you
need to do to make your program successful. Acquiring the knowledge
and getting help is all you need to get hooked.
At first you may question what you're doing: are
you going to get too big, are you wasting your time, how do you
know this will work? But then you see other men and women who
have been weightlifting for years and they look terrific. Here's
the telltale sign that your program is working: you start to see
definition and feel firmness in muscles you never thought you
had.
5. You won't get bored: I suspect many people don't
lift weights because they think it will be boring. Just remember
to change your routine every 3-4 weeks to keep things fresh and
your body responding to your training. Change the reps, the sets,
the weight, the rest period, the exercise order, etc. Training
only gets boring if you allow it to.
6. You have everyday, functional strength: Weight
training does wonders to help you with activities of daily living:
Housework, yard work, moving furniture, and carrying bags of groceries
without gasping for air and pooping out within minutes. If you
have a medical condition such as arthritis or multiple sclerosis,
lifting weights can be a godsend. You can rely on weightlifting
to keep you strong where once all your strength was gone.
7. You have a stronger back: Juggling a 30-pound
toddler and a few bags of groceries while pulling out the stroller
can put your back in a compromising position. When you lift weights,
you strengthen your upper and lower body, which reduces strain
on your back when you're forced to lift heavy loads. Plus, don't
you think it would feel really good to walk around knowing that
your back is as tight and toned as your legs?
8. You can train at home: Have you been putting
off getting started with your weightlifting program because you
felt you had to belong to a gym? You can implement a very effective
weightlifting program no matter where you are. Invest in some
dumbbells and an adjustable bench and you're set. Get some exercise
videos or books that focus on strength training; now you can lift
weights on your own anytime you like.
9. You can get rid of pain: Do you have limited
range of motion in your joints? A bad knee? A wrenched neck? Bum
shoulder? Weightlifting promotes strength in your joints so you
have ease of movement. That old knee problem improves enough for
you to can go hiking in the mountains for days without pain. No
pain, more endurance. You can do more outdoorsy things - and have
fun while doing them!
10. You build stronger bones: Bone responds to weightlifting
the same way that muscles do, by becoming stronger and denser.
Building strong bones can be the best defense against osteoporosis.
You're more active, more mobile, and without lower back pain.
And age doesn't matter; you can start when you're 65 and still
experience tremendous benefits from a weightlifting program. IT
IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START A WEIGHTLIFTING PROGRAM!
This article was provide by Garrett J. Braunreiter,
CSCS, GHF's Success Coach. Please visit his site at http://www.worldpeakperformance.com
