When a person has never done weight training before, he or she has a unique opportunity to prevent bad and dangerous technique mistakes before they become habit. Weight training for beginners often focuses on form and theory rather than actual improvements in bodily strength, but this is no reason to become disheartened. The best tip for weight training for beginners is to start by doing exercises right, no matter how slowly. Even though physical improvements will be slow at first, understanding how weight training works can keep a person from developing lopsided muscles or even experiencing serious injury. Once a beginner has progressed past the initial learning period, it will be possible to progress steadily toward a desired physique.
One excellent tip for weight training for beginners is to learn how to stretch. Stretching is just as important for strength training as it is for aerobic exercise. Getting warmed up with a short run is also a good idea. Being prepared for weight training is important for success.
Before attempting any exercise, whether it uses free weights or a machine, a person must understand the proper technique. A fitness instructor can be helpful in weight training for beginners because he or she can immediately correct bad form. Improper exertion can lead not only to serious injuries, but also to undesirable muscle formations. For instance, if a person has a serious tendency to favor the right arm, that arm will eventually appear lopsided.
This is the most important weight training tip for beginners because bad technique is hard to change once it becomes habit. A body often learns to do a physical task in a particular way and then falls back into that pattern despite efforts to change. By building the necessary physical awareness in the first place, a weight trainer will avoid many problems later on.
Another important tip for weight training for beginners is to make a mental connection between groups of muscles and exercises. It can be obvious which muscles an exercise is meant to target, but there are always other muscles in use, and the same muscle can be trained in different ways. When designing a fitness plan, a person should be able to choose exercises that will produce the desired results.
Starting small is important for beginning weight trainers, which can be disheartening for some people. Keeping a log of one's progress can help combat the feeling of slow improvement. One thing all beginners need to keep in mind is that results will not be seen immediately, although improvements in feelings of personal health are often immediate. Sticking with the program is the key to success.