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Guest Post: 10 Reasons to Start Body Training

10 Reasons to Start Body Training

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For some people, the best form of exercise is the one which you can keep on repeating over a long time. With bodyweight exercises, there are no barriers to maintaining your efforts. All you need to do is consider a routine and choose some favorite workouts then find the most convenient place and time to make your exercise a sustainable solution.

Each year, the American College of Sports Medicine surveys the prevailing fitness market to make some prediction of the coming year’s largest exercise trends. Last year, the number 1 fitness trend predicted for 2015 was a hands down winner: Bodyweight Training.

What is Bodyweight Training?

Bodyweight training is simply what the name sounds like – using the bodyweight for resistance in performing your exercise. You don’t use free weights which means you are not supposed to use any type of equipment or machine. It includes all the numerous exercises from your old gym sessions like squats, push-ups, crunches, and lunges.

These classic exercises started the fitness era which is now making a dramatic comeback into modern 21st century gyms and apparently for good reason. Bodyweight training provide results that are totally essential for health.

10 Reasons to Start Bodyweight Training

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1. It is an Efficient Workout

Research declares high-output, bodyweight exercises yield awesome fitness results in short durations. Since no equipment is involved, bodyweight workouts allow easy transition from one form of exercise to the next even with very little rest.

2. It develops core strength

At least 29 muscles comprise the trunk of your body, and not surprisingly, a lot of bodyweight movements may be used to move and engage them all. These exercises do not just give you tightly packed abs, you will also relieve lower back pain and stress, gain better posture, and improve your overall performance.

3. It can burn fat easily

Bodyweight circuit training even for only a few minutes can already do wonders for one’s metabolism because of the so called “after burn effect.” This means that your body remains fully revved up and continuously burning calories for a few more hours. It’s right up there with cardio workouts in terms of calories being spent.

4. It Can Be Enjoyed with Endless Variety

You can adapt bodyweight exercises in a variety of ways to the rewards and challenge high. If push-ups are difficult for you, then do them less stressfully from the knees. Or if you think they lack challenge, then try the inverted push-ups. You’ll find no other form of exercise that gives you wider alternative and freedom to change, adjust, perfect, and adapt.

5. It can increase your flexibility

Performing bodyweight exercises that cover a wide range of motion ensures the free movement of your joints. It also prevents certain exercise related injuries and improves your posture. Yoga is actually a favorite example for many of using bodyweight training to improve flexibility and strength.

6. It’s free

Experts admit that the rising popularity of bodyweight training is largely due to its being without cost, meaning, it’s free. It is always available. This goes without saying that bodyweight training is available anytime and anywhere.

7. You’ll see results

Bodyweight training includes “compound movements which involve several muscles and joints in each exercise. Because of this, bodyweight exercises get results easily and immediately.

8. It Prevents Injuries

Bodyweight exercises just use normal workout positions and bodily movements without added strain hence preventing untoward incidents like injuries. Bodyweight training is generally safe for everybody notwithstanding his or her age, fitness level, or experience.

9. You’ll never get bored

If you usually work out on exercise bikes and treadmills, or perform the same set of exercises at the gym whenever you go there, the tendency is to get bored easily. But with bodyweight exercises, countless variations are available. With this, you don’t only overcome boredom, you also get to ignore your dreaded plateaus easily.

10. You’ll achieve better balance

In this balanced training you also improve your balance. If you try to swap a squat or push-up for a pistol squat (single leg squat) you can improve your balance by increasing control and body awareness.

Arguably, of the 10 reasons to start bodyweight training, more particularly important is that bodyweight exercises deliver all the goodness and benefits of resistance training like the traditional weight lifting.

In addition, bodyweight training is incredibly accessible, simple, and versatile. Bodyweight training is also unique in a way that its exercises are multi-functional, because they practically help your body regularly function in ordinary day-to-day life.

It supports and strengthens the body movements you use when playing sport, at work, or at home. They provide the strongest resistance against any type of physical decline.

About the author: Jane McCafferty is a personal trainer and fitness fanatic. In her free time, she blogs over at Jane’s Best Fitness.






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…Workout Wednesday…

Do you have your workouts planned for this week?

Do you know how to create a well-rounded workout plan?

It is not bad to go into the gym and jump on every machine…BUT it is more efficient to work certain muscle groups on certain days when you head to the gym.

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Example:

Monday: Work on upper body (arms and shoulders)

Tuesday: Work on abs and lower back

Wednesday:  Work on legs

Thursday: Work on upper body (arms and shoulders)

Friday: Off Day

Saturday: Work on legs and calfs

Sunday: Off Day

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It is good to try to space out your workout so you are able to target major muscle groups and then on the next day you are at the gym work on another set of muscle groups.  This will allow for proper recover of those worked muscle groups so you can lift hard and work another set of muscles.

You want to try to do 5-9 exercises each day you are in the gym (example: lat pull downs, rows, shoulder press, front raises, side raises, kickbacks).  This will allow for you to introduce a variety of moves in your workout so you are not doing the same things each day.

You want to try to change your routine about every 6 weeks.  There are TONS of lifting exercises or workouts that you can do to keep you workout exciting and different!  You can also do circuit training, cross fit, or another type of fitness class that introduces a lot of various exercises along with cardio to keep your heart rate up.

You have to learn to make sure to target ALL major muscle groups over the course of your training during the week.  If you notice, some people like to skip working on their legs.  Leg days are typically longer and harder but well worth the results if you lift heavy and regularly!

The goal is to have a CONSISTENT and well-rounded workout that will help sculpt your muscles.

Need more workouts and fitness plans feel free to contact me! I offer online training! :-)






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