Strength training is for men, isn't it? Nothing could be further from the truth! Women can also get big benefits from strength training, and the weights area is becoming less and less the exclusive preserve of men. Strength training can help you lose weight and get a better body shape. Hello strong legs and buttocks!
Working out your muscles is essential if you want to lose weight. If you combine this in a schedule with cardio training and balanced nutrition, you'll have a killer body in no time. Not sure of the best way to start weight training? Then ask if a personal trainer can help you put together the right strength training plan for you. Your strength training can begin!
The benefits of strength training
With strength training, the kilos don't fly off as fast as with cardio training, that's because you build up muscle mass. This will give you a tighter stomach, legs and buttocks and improve your posture. So, you literally radiate more power and your body mass decreases. Strength training also has a positive effect on burning calories – it means you can burn calories like nobody's business, even at rest. To shed the fat layers, combining power with cardio is the perfect solution.
Challenge yourself!
When you start weight training, you start at a relatively light level. Then later you slowly increase the level of difficulty and the weight used in the exercises. This is because it's important to keep challenging your muscles. This way you stimulate your muscles to continue to develop with each training session. So it never gets any easier, but you get better and better.
The best approach
The most important thing to effectively train your muscles is rest. Rest? Yes. During training, take sufficient time between exercises to recover. The amount of rest you should take depends on your training goal and the intensity of the exercises. Another important thing to think about is the number of repetitions of an exercise. Want more muscle power? Then a maximum of 6 repetitions for each set is sufficient. Want to develop muscle mass? Then 8 to 12 repetitions is perfect. Want to improve your muscle condition? Then it is advisable to do 12 or more repetitions. The ideal intensity for an exercise is you should only just be able to get to the end of the set. Feel like you could have done more repetitions? Then continue until you can't do any more and next time just use a heavier weight.
