Utterly Lifestyle

When someone says the words ‘weight training’, visions of sweaty brows and heat packs overtake the consciousness. No one likes to be reminded of how they could be stronger, leaner or more buff! Finally motivating yourself to start weight training is hard enough on its own without worrying about any technical details, so below are a few tips that may help you!

• Train your largest muscles first. Training large muscles such as thighs and back takes up a lot of energy so it is important to train them first and smaller muscles such as biceps last because they don’t require as much energy. This way you can manage your energy levels more effectively.
• Morning or night? It really depends on your own body and also your daily schedules. Training in the morning is more likely to become a routine whereas afternoon training sessions are often put-off.
• Training in the morning also gives you higher energy levels for the rest of the day, and if you like training outside, the pollution levels are at their lowest at earlier hours of the day.
• Training in the afternoon also has its benefits. Your body is at its peak in terms of flexibility, endurance and core temperature and can help you achieve a better performance. Training a few hours before bed can also help you fall asleep faster and more soundly. However, don’t train too close to sleeping hours as it can keep you awake and alert.
• If you decide that you want to train in the morning, make sure you spend a good amount of time stretching as your body won’t be as flexible or warm and this can lead to injury. Stretch all areas of your body even if you’re only working one section. This is because you may also be working other areas without realizing it.
• Make sure you train muscle groups equally. If you train triceps for 10mins, then work the biceps next. This is to avoid muscle strains or postural problems.
• Training your muscles 2-3 times a week will help you see results within 8-12 weeks time.
• DO NOT train your muscles consecutively. This means, do not partake in muscle training every day. You should have rest days to give your muscles time to regenerate.
• It is normal to feel sore 24-48 hrs after muscle training, however to avoid injury or permanent damage ALWAYS get your training techniques checked by someone who knows what they are doing. Weight training may look easy but it can be dangerous and might not target the muscles you want it too!