Weightlifting: Whys and Hows

Why am I lifting weights?

That is the biggest question that a lot of people that hit the gym can t answer honestly. And then, they wonder why they don t see a change in their body and lose interest just as fast as they gained it.

First of all, you must decide what your goals are for hitting the gym. What is it that you want to accomplish with your weight training and cardio regimen. Do you want to be more competitive in your sport of choice? Do you want to lose weight, or tone up, or get bigger or stronger? Once you answer that question, then and only then, can you devise a program that is right for what you are trying to do. And, then the fun part begins, and that is trying to tailor a workout designed to fit your needs.

Remember if you just show up to the gym and get on a cardio machine and do a couple of reps of some exercises here and there, you will not be doing yourself justice. You must tailor fit your workout to your schedule and what it is you are trying to accomplish every week of every month.

Have you ever been to the gym and seen the same old person doing the same old workout, week in and week out, and yet years pass and you don t even see a change in their body. Sound familiar? The majority of people that go to the gym do this, and although there is nothing wrong with this type of effort, those of us that are seeking change in our bodies and fitness need to bust our tails at the gym and do so in an organized and scientific manner.

I m not saying that we all need a doctorates degree to learn how to lift weights and get in shape, but we do all need to try and personalize our weight training regimen and incorporate those things every time we hit the gym.

The biggest way to get ideas is to actually look in your own gym and find the people that you can actually see look like they are making progress. Ask them what they are doing and remember that we are all made differently, and what works for some may not actually work for you. That s where the trial and error part starts, and if its working for you then stick with it for at least six weeks.

We all see the various infomercials on P90x, insanity, buns of steel and other workouts to name a few. Let me tell you, that none are as effective as what serious athletes use. The old fashion way of hitting the gym and doing some cardio are what works. It has for thousands of years, and will continue to do so for a number of years to follow.

It doesn t matter if you are a man or a woman. We both must concentrate on maximizing our efforts in the gym and building lean muscle while burning away body fat. It s very difficult for all of us to attain a muscular body. Some of us have genes that allow us to build the kind of body that we wish for, and others have to work out twice as hard just to see any progress.

Working out just causes us to breakdown our old muscle tissue and begin the stimulus for repairing our new muscle bigger and better than before. Intensity, the amount of weight, repetitions, tempo, rest periods, workout days and times, and nutrition all plays an important factor in attaining our perfect body. If we slack on one of these key items, then the others can t work harmoniously to allow us to get to where we want to be. And, don t forget, taking time off from the gym is needed to allow our bodies to rest and recuperate. I know some of us don t want to miss the gym, but those days off are much needed in the way of helping us keep our bodies in tune to want to grow bigger and stronger and leaner than before.