Table of Contents
If you haven’t had a set exercise routine for a long time, it can be difficult to get started. While some forms of exercise can be relatively easy to start doing, you don’t need any specialized equipment to go for a morning jog, it can be hard to know whether you are doing proper form, or exercising the amount you should.
For weightlifting in particular, not only do you need particular equipment, it can also be dangerous if you don’t do it correctly. This is one of the most popular physical activities in the world, but there are several things that you should consider before you begin weightlifting.
Here are five tips for getting started, where you work out at the gym or at home.
Hire a Personal Trainer
Look for a personal trainer who can help you at a local gym or in your home. This individual can teach you how to lift weights correctly so that you won’t incur an injury.
The personal trainer will determine how many pounds you can lift safely while you are beginning your training, and also, the trainer will create an individualized weightlifting program for you.
Some gym memberships will include training from a trainer who has certification in weightlifting. If you have been trouble finding the motivation to exercise, a personal trainer can help provide the structure that you might have been lacking.
Read Books about Weightlifting
If you can’t afford a personal trainer, consider how to educate yourself. You might not think of your local library or bookstore to be the first place you should go to learn about exercise, but this is often the easiest and cheapest way to educate yourself.
Proper form and care of the body is essential in any exercise, but perhaps even more important when weightlifting, which can cause series injury if done incorrectly. Read each book carefully while taking notes to understand how the right number of repetitions can help you to lose weight and build muscle faster.
Your library might even carry exercise DVDs, and of course, YouTube and the broader internet can be a great place to find potential routines. This access to a broad range of materials should help you nail down a diverse and satisfying exercise routine. Just make sure you provide for all parts of your body. You shouldn’t be skipping leg day.
Buy the Proper Garments
To make the process of lifting weights easier, you should have the proper weightlifting clothes. A specialty store will have these garments available in a variety of sizes and colors. The correct garments, shoes, and socks can protect you from bruises and scrapes while you are lifting small to heavyweights.
If you are enjoying a workout at a gym, then you must follow its dress code while lifting weights. What’s most comfortable will vary from person to person, as well as from season to season. However, you should wear loose-fitting clothing that doesn’t restrict your movements. Sneakers that have a good grip and enable you to move are also essential.
Join a Local Gym
You should join a local gym that has an assortment of weights, including barbells or special machines. The employees who work at the gym can teach you how to use the machines, and you can also meet other people who are learning about the sport of weightlifting. Having a community around you can help you stay safe and you can swap tips and tricks as you work out.
Invest in Barbells and Other Weights
To have more opportunities to exercise, you can buy barbells and other weights along with machines that have weights attached to the items. It is a good idea to have a separate place for the weights, such as in a spare bedroom, the garage or a basement.
If you live in an apartment or otherwise don’t have much space for weights, you can get small handheld ones or sand weights that you Velcro around your arms and legs to weightlift at home. Lifting water jugs or books can also be a fine substitute.
Avoiding an Injury While Lifting Weights
You should always wear shoes while lifting weights along with standing on a slip-resistant surface. There are also safety devices that you can wear, including braces for your knees, back or abdomen. Even if you are lifting at home, have a friend or family member nearby who can spot you. Don’t lift more than you can reasonably expect and build up gradually to heavier weights.
Exercise is an incredibly fulfilling way to pass the time. It improves both your mental and your physical health in countless ways, including curbing depression and anxiety, growing strength, and helping you fight illness.
However, especially you are out of the habit, it can be difficult to get started. The above tips should help you start to lift weights, which can quickly become an important part of your exercise routine.
