Top Ten Reasons to Get Hooked on Weightlifting
By By Garrett J. Braunreiter, GHF's
Success Coach
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 provided byGarrett
J. Braunreiter, CSCS, GHF's
Success Coach (please visit his site at http://www.worldpeakperformance.com)
and GHF.
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