Lifting Weights

By: Ms. K

I am all about transforming my body into something better. Looking back at my past  four birthdays since the age of 25 my body has transform for the better. I’m not going to say  journey has been easy, but deciding to get healthy and get fit has been a right choice for me. I am not talking about getting skinny because being skinny does not mean being healthy. I am talking about eating right, working out and making lifestyle changes that will only enhance your journey.

It has been over year now since March of 2013 that I decided to fully commit to my journey. I was a cardio queen, I only did cardio, only slightly doing weights. Don’t get me wrong cardio is great but when your been overweight you don’t want all that loose skin. I didn’t want all that loose skin, so I am now adding more and more weight training. I love cardio, I love outdoor cardio even more. I am not a gym person when it comes to doing cardio. At first I would be in the gyms for hours doing cardio now I find the gym boring. Cardio for me is more fun outdoors trying new things. When it comes to weight training since I don’t have all the right equipments minus my 5 and 10 pounds weights and a resistance band. I love going to the gym and doing weight training. My trainer goes hard with me in the gym, but its very important that your lifting weights correctly. I always say don’t go to hard in the beginning start light and work your way up by increasing the weights gradually.

To make sure I am giving you correct methods I borrowed this from Mayoclinic.org  http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/fitness/in-depth/weight-training/art-20045842?pg=2

When you’re weight training, do:

• Lift an appropriate amount of weight. Start with a weight you can lift comfortably 12 to 15 times. For most people, a single set of 12 repetitions with the proper weight can build strength just as efficiently as can three sets of the same exercise. As you get stronger, gradually increase the amount of weight.
• Use proper form. Learn to do each exercise correctly. The better your form, the better your results — and the less likely you are to hurt yourself. If you’re unable to maintain good form, decrease the weight or the number of repetitions. Remember that proper form matters even when you pick up and replace your weights on the weight racks. If you’re not sure whether you’re doing a particular exercise correctly, ask a personal trainer or other fitness specialist for help.
• Breathe. You might be tempted to hold your breath while you’re lifting weights. Don’t. Holding your breath can lead to dangerous increases in blood pressure. Instead, breathe out as you lift the weight and breathe in as you lower the weight.
• Seek balance. Work all of your major muscles — abdominals, legs, chest, back, shoulders and arms. Strengthen the opposing muscles in a balanced way, such as the front of the shoulder and the back of the shoulder.
• Rest. Avoid exercising the same muscles two days in a row. You might work all of your major muscle groups at a single session two or three times a week, or plan daily sessions for specific muscle groups. For example, on Monday work your arms and shoulders, on Tuesday work your legs, and so on.

Follow these tips to avoid common mistakes when you’re weight training:

• Don’t skip the warm-up. Cold muscles are more prone to injury than are warm muscles. Before you lift weights, warm up with five to 10 minutes of brisk walking or other aerobic activity.
• Don’t rush. Move the weight in an unhurried, controlled fashion. Taking it slow helps you isolate the muscles you want to work and keeps you from relying on momentum to lift the weight.
• Don’t overdo. For most people, completing one set of exercises to the point of fatigue is typically enough. Additional sets may only eat up your time and contribute to overload injury.
• Don’t ignore pain. If an exercise causes pain, stop. Try it again in a few days or try it with less weight.
• Don’t forget your shoes. Shoes with good traction can keep you from slipping while you’re lifting weights.

Remember, the more you concentrate on proper weight training technique, the more you’ll get from your weight training program