A Quick Guide To Achieving Maximum Results, Even If You’re Completely New To Lifting
Proper Form Is Everything
Your form when performing an exercise can make the difference between mediocre and killer results. Bad form can involve many things: using momentum and “swinging” your limbs; poor posture, which can cause unnecessary stress on your muscles; and generally not being in control during the exercise. By using gradual motions, focusing on engaging the correct muscle groups, and referencing exercise diagrams, you can make sure your form is spot on! Yes, this is more work. And doing it “right” might reduce the number of reps you can do… But you’ll get to where you want much faster.
Progressive Overloading
When you have a vision for the body you want to build, it’s natural to want it now — the danger here is lifting too heavy too soon. It’s easy to fool yourself into thinking you can lift heavier by taking shortcuts with your form, make sure you stick to step #1! Once you find the amount you can safely lift for the optimal number of reps, it’s totally normal to stay at that level for a bit. Don’t be in a rush to lift more — small increases over time will add up to more lean muscle than you’re probably thinking, so be patient and you’ll be rewarded!
Give Yourself Plenty Of Rest
I used to do strength training 6 days a week (plus tons of cardio) — I didn’t realize how much this was setting me back until much later. Please don’t make the same mistake! 3-5 days of focused, targeted strength training is enough to reach your goals. Muscle is torn down during workouts and built during rest periods, so it’s counterproductive to shortchange yourself on downtime! Rest before your workouts matters too — in other words, don’t time your cardio right before your strength training sessions or you’ll have too little energy when training.
If you want to join a program that offers clarity on the exact exercises to do, your ideal number of reps, how many sessions a week to aim for, and so much more in order to build the body composition you truly want…
