| Success with Strength Training |  |
Author: Jesse Cannone CFT, CPRS, CSPN
URL: http://www.seriousstrengthtraining.com
Strength training is the most effective way to turn your body into a
fat burning machine and stay in great shape! It is the most
productive form of exercise there is! In order to be successful with
strength training there are some basic principles that must be
followed if you want to receive the many benefits which strength
training has to offer! The three most critical factors are
progressive overload, intensity, and recovery.
Progressive overload simply means that you must force your muscles to
work harder each time. That means you can't use the same weight every
workout, regardless of how many sets or reps you do. The best way to
do this is by attempting to increase the resistance / weight used
and, or increase the number of repetitions performed at each workout.
Intensity is also very important. You must force your body to
increase its strength. For example, if you typically do 3 sets of 10
reps on the leg press at 115 pounds, and your legs are capable of
doing 16 reps, why is your body going to make any improvements? Your
body will only add muscle if you force it to work at a higher level
than it is used to. The most effective way to overload your muscles
is to perform one or two sets per exercise, and continue each set to
muscular failure. That means continuing each set until no more
repetitions are possible. Challenge yourself!
Once you have overloaded the target muscle group you must then allow
for proper recovery and over compensation. This means you must rest
long enough to allow for recovery of the targeted muscle group, the
nervous system, refill glycogen stores (Energy stored within your
muscles), and also allow enough time for the muscles to make
improvements or increases. This process takes time. Generally, it
takes between 2-7 days to recover from a strength workout! The harder
you work the longer it takes your body to repair. Don't short-circuit
your progress by strength training too often!
Basic Guidelines for Successful Strength Training
· Strength train no more than three times per week!
· Perform 1-2 sets per exercise!
· Choose 1-2 exercises for small muscle groups and 2-3 for large
muscle groups. (ex. 2-3 exercises for legs, back, chest, and 1-2 for
arms, shoulders, etc.)
· Choose no more than 8-10 exercises and work hard on them! . Always
keep a record of all workouts! . Take each set to failure or fatigue!
· Perform each exercise SLOWL V! Force the muscle to do the work --
NOT momentum!
· As soon as you see a slow down in progress it's time to make a
change to your program!
Below are some sample workouts and frequently asked questions
regarding strength training.
Full-body Workout 1-2 x per week (approx. 30-40 mins.)
Lat pull-down 2 sets Chest press 2 sets Leg press 2 sets
Lateral raise 1 set Bicep curl 1 set
Triceps pushdown 1 set Leg curl 1 set
Leg extension 1 set
Upper / Lower Split
2-3 x per week (approx. 25-40 mins)
A. Upper
Seated row 2 sets
Shoulder press 2 sets
Lat pull-down 1 set
Pectoral fly 1 set
Lateral raise 1 set
Bicep curl 1 set
Triceps pushdown 1 set
B. Lower
Leg curl 2 sets
Glute machine 1 set
Leg press 2 sets
Leg extension 1 set
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I lose the flab on the back of my arm or my spare tire?
A. It is physically impossible to only lose fat in one area. What you
can do is decrease body fat by burning more calories than you
consume. Increase muscle tissue with strength training and burn more
calories all day long, even while you are sleeping!
Q. How often should I strength train if my goal is to burn fat?
A. 2-3 times per week would be great! You will build muscle tissue,
which burns calories 24 hours a day, and you will decrease the chance
for excess calories to be stored as fat!
Q. What if I don't want to bulk up? I just want to tone.
A. If it were that easy to bulk or get big nearly every guy in the
gym would be huge] Women generally don't have the genetic potential
to build large muscles due to hormonal differences. Plus, don't
forget that adding muscle tissue to your body is a good thing! It
makes everything you do much easier, reduces the chance for injury,
and increases your metabolism!
Q. How many sets and repetitions should I do?
A. This will vary depending upon your goal. If you are training to
increase strength, due fewer sets but higher intensity (1-2 sets to
failure per exercise). If training for muscle size, perform multiple
sets (2-4 sets, but only 1 to failure). The number of repetitions
will vary also depending upon the speed at which you move the weight
and your goals. In general, shoot for 8-12 reps.
Q. What are the benefits of strength training?
A. Strength training, if done correctly, can make some major changes
to your body and mind! Here are just a few:
1. Increased metabolism
2. Increased strength and flexibility
3. Increased muscle tone
4. Reduced stress levels
For more information on how you can maximize the benefits of strength
training, please call me at 240-731-3724 or e-mail jesse@a...
fitness.com
Jesse Cannone is a certified personal trainer, nutritionist, and best-
selling fitness author. Sign up to receive his free email course,
Muscle Building Tips which is full of powerful tips and techniques
for maximizing strength and size.
http://www.seriousstrengthtraining.com
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