Resistance Training: Benefits, Uses, and Where to Start

Resistance training is an amazing way to help build overall strength, lose body fat and improve your health. It can be hard to know where to start, why you should be doing resistance training and who to ask for help if you get a little lost. Learning about resistance training isn’t impossible though, in fact, it’s easier than you might think. If resistance training is something you’re interested in learning more about or starting, then here is what you need to know.

What is it and why do it?

Resistance training is often referred to as weight training and it refers to the exercises where you add weights or resistance to build muscle. Resistance training has many benefits including building lean muscle mass which helps burn fat faster, increase strength and overall health. Resistance training is usually performed at a gym or somewhere that has the necessary weights or resistance bands to help add that resistance to your exercises. Adding weights is a great way to challenge yourself as well, offering a new dimension to a health kick or set of goals. Remember, resistance training is beneficial for all as it can make holding a baby, pet or doing yardwork just a little bit easier. 

Uses

Resistance training has many uses, including, helping people overcome injury, building muscle to achieve new goals or simply making a more well-rounded exercise routine. Adding resistance to your training is a great way to set new goals, monitoring progress over weeks or months to tangibly see yourself getting stronger. It’s also great for helping you do new things in life, like playing sports, taking on new hobbies or simply learning a new skill. 

Resistance training has a number of different methods, routines and approaches, so finding the right one can be a fun journey as well. For those overcoming injury, resistance training is often recommended as it helps build back any lost muscle or strengthens muscles around the injury to help lower the risk of reinjuring yourself. Depending on what your goal or reason for starting resistance training, there is likely many uses that match your goals.

Where to start

It can be daunting as you start your search into the world of resistance training. The number of online resources, on-premise resources at the gym or even just social advice from friends can be pretty overwhelming. One of the best places to start is talking to a personal trainer. Personal trainers are qualified individuals who can assess your needs, goals and fitness levels to design a resistance program that is both safe and challenging. Making sure you start in a way that is challenging but sustainable is key, remembering that leaving your ego at the door is the most important factor. 

Just because someone else can lift more than you, means nothing. When you start out, it’s crucial to focus on form and not how much you can lift. Strength will come in time, so long as you work hard and work safely. Personal trainers can work with you, or simply conduct an assessment to get you started on the right program, either way, they are the perfect way to get started.

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Resistance training is one of the most rewarding and personally challenging exercise routines you can do. The uses include helping people lose weight, overcome injury or increase overall health, so it’s only natural to be curious about why so many people incorporate resistance training. How you rotate this type of training with your existing routine will depend on what you are wanting to achieve. If resistance training is something you’re considering, then use this simple guide to get started and learn where to go for help.