Strength Training Machine
How To Stay Motivated At Strength Training With & Without A Strength Training Machine
Jason Scotts
Introduction
Strength training is one of the most important aspects of any fitness program. You should be involved in a strength-training program if you have any of the following goals:
· Weight loss
· Better overall fitness
· More strength and muscle tone
· Improved performance at sports or other activities
· Better bone health
All of the above can be gained by incorporating strength training into your every day life. The types of people who use strength training have changed somewhat over the years. It’s not only young males interested in sports or bodybuilding but people from all ages, of both sexes wanting to achieve a whole manner of different goals.
Whatever your reasons for including strength training into your program you can guarantee the following benefits:
Speed Up Your Metabolism
Strength training has been shown to speed up your metabolism more effectively than any other form of exercise, such as aerobics or cardiovascular exercise. This doesn't mean you shouldn’t do these types of exercise though.
However, if you want to lose weight you should realize lifting weights or doing some other form of strength training is vital to your success! Weight loss is only one potential benefit of strength training.
Strength and Muscle Tone
Some people specifically want to get stronger and look more muscular. If this is a major goal for you, you may be interested in bodybuilding. Today, women as well as men, are competing as bodybuilders. For this type of sport, you obviously must engage in some type of strength training.
Muscle tone, muscle size and physical strength are related but not the exact same thing. Someone who is training for strength alone won’t do the same type of routines as a bodybuilder, for instance. If you look at Olympic weight lifters, for example, they certainly look (and are) very strong, but they don't have the same proportions as bodybuilders. Similarly, bodybuilders are quite strong, but not as strong as power lifters.
On the other hand, some people don’t want to look muscular. Some women are afraid that weight training will give them a muscle bound appearance. This will not happen if you train in the right way. We’ll look at this later on. You can train for any particular goals you have in mind.
If you want to be stronger and have healthy muscle tone but not look like a bodybuilder, that's certainly possible. In fact, you have to work very hard to achieve the kind of ripped physique a bodybuilder has. So you don't have to worry about getting looking like this if you don't want to!
Better Performance at Sports
Some sports obviously require strength. Football players, wrestlers, weight lifters and martial artists, depend a great deal of physical strength. Yet even non-contact sports such as golf, tennis (and other racket sports) and baseball require a certain amount of strength too.
Strength training can improve your performance at any sport, not to mention reduce the chances of injuries.
Strengthen Your Bones and Prevent Injuries
It's not only athletes who need to be concerned about injuries. As you age, your bones get thinner and more vulnerable to injury. This is true for everyone, but women in particular are vulnerable to problems such as osteoporosis.
Strength training isn't only for your muscles but also for your bones. By lifting weights, using strength-training machines or even doing freestanding exercises will help to keep your bones healthy. Obviously, if you're engaged in any type of sport or strenuous activity, it's very important to keep your bones strong.
Chapter 1 - Identify Your Goals
Before embarking upon a strength-training program, you should identify your goals. As we mentioned in the introduction, there are many possible goals for a fitness program. Look at the following list and see how many of these goals are yours. You don't have to choose only one; it's perfectly feasible to achieve several different goals through strength training!
· Get stronger
· Lose weight
· Gain weight
· Improve muscle tone
· Get ripped physique of a bodybuilder
You’ll get fitter and stronger, as well as improve your muscle tone by following any good strength-training program. This implies, of course, that you exercise regularly. Consistency is the key to any fitness program.
However, some goals are obviously more specialized. When it comes to strength training, most people want to either lose or gain weight. These are obviously two goals that are complete opposites. To some extent, working out will "normalize" you, and help to reach your ideal weight. However, there are different approaches you’ll want to take depending on whether you want to pack on some pounds (in the form of muscle of course) or shed them.
A lot of this will come down to your diet, which we’ll discuss in a later chapter. If you're one of those fortunate people who actually like your weight then you’re one step ahead of the game!
If you have aspirations towards being a bodybuilder, you’ll have to devote a lot more time to your fitness program than someone who’s simply trying to get fitter and a bit stronger. This isn't a book about bodybuilding, so we won't be going into any specialized routines you must do for that purpose. This type of information is not hard to find, though.
Even if you want to become a bodybuilder, you should first start out with the basics. If you rush headfirst into an advanced program when you haven't exercised much lately, you risk getting burned out or injured.
When identifying your goals, you should consider other factors, such as:
· Your age
· Lifestyle
· Your overall state of health
Should You Consult With Your Doctor?
It's always a good idea to see a doctor before starting any new exercise program. This is especially true if you're over 40 or have any long-term health conditions. This doesn't mean you have to be perfectly healthy to start exercising.
On the contrary, an exercise program is one of the best ways to get healthier. But if you have any health problems or are taking any type of medication, your doctor can suggest ways to ensure your safety.
Very young people, who are in their early teens or younger should also consult with a doctor before getting involved in strength
