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TRAINING TIPS |
Ever since I started weight training myself I have taken several aspects into account; following scientific and popular training methods but adapting them to suit my perception of what is best for my body. I believe that was the difference that allowed me to overcome obstacles and move towards achieving my fitness goals.
I would like to share some of the tips I know helped me to develop the most appropriate training method to suit my specific needs.
Let Health be Your Main Goal and Motivation
By doing so, it will be easier to overcome the obstacles you will encounter on your way to a better you. Besides, you will not despair if you do not see yourself as having the body of your favorite movie star.
Unless you are physically overweight and your body fat is unhealthily high, if you exercise and eat well, you can rest assured that your body is reaping the benefits of training and you are definitely giving yourself long years of a healthy body and mind.
Train for Yourself
You shouldn’t be at the gym to impress anyone else. As a trainer, I see this situation frequently, here is the scenario.
The weight-training beginner gets into the weight room and starts checking out the fit looking bodies. Then he or she assumes that even though they have not been training themselves, they will still be able to do the same exercises at the same intensity as the experienced lifters. Next thing you know, they’re trying to prove it and start putting themselves through self-imposed torture no matter what.
This is the point where many of them will not come back to the weight room due to the severity of the posttraumatic side effects. The ones that survive to come back will still not find their way to their optimal level of training, since they will be busy trying to impress others rather than training themselves.
Try to Read Books Related to Your Sport’s Field
This is the best way to keep up with the always-evolving world of information and new discoveries. By getting the latest information on everything related to your sport’s activities, you will always have tools to use and adapt to your specifics needs so to improve your performance in your sport.
Use Your Instincts
We are all born with this natural "power" as a matter of survival and since our body is so adaptable, listen carefully to your gut feelings and within reason; follow them.
Let Feeling be Your Guide
I remember back in Colombia when I heard my bodybuilding and personal trainer cousin (Humberto Preciado) to say, "Our body does not know about numbers rather, it just feels".
I used this as a principle and it has led me to "discover" or be aware of ways to maximize my muscular development and sport performance.
When Building Your Body, Do Not be Thinking of Putting on Weight but Putting on Muscles
Most serious weight lifters train on the principle that you have to put on an excessive amount of body weight and fat so that later on, through hard dieting, exhaustive cardio activities and starvation you can bring up the muscles mass.
This is one belief that never made sense to me, even when I first started weight training and therefore, never applied.
I do believe that excessive gain of weight and body fat is just that; excess.
If you train correctly and feed your body with just enough of the right stuff, you will put on some extra pounds, due to the fact that for our muscle cells, fat is one of the main components as well as water. Therefore, as these cells become larger these components will increase proportionally. There is no need however, to go to the point of physically looking fat and getting overly heavy.
Do Not Go Around Comparing Yourself to Others
By comparing yourself to others, you will become vain when you know you are better than someone else and you will become frustrated when you know someone else is better than you. This is a no win situation. Just try to be the best you can be. Everybody is different.
Do Not Give Anything to Your Body in Excess
Do the opposite. Give it a little less than is required, so it is more hormonally sensitive and always ready to take in, rather than to store.
Do Not Spend Your Money on Fancy Supplements Your Body is Not Ready to Use
As a weight-training beginner the most important thing you need to know beside the basics on how to work out is how to feed your body. Try to master this task, rely on natural food to fuel, and refuel.
As time passes and your work out intensity increases, your body will start using and emptying specific nutrients store at a faster rate in order to meet the imposed demands. This is the time to start introducing supplements but still, you will not need the latest products, be money savvy and shop for normal good quality items.
You need to accumulate some time under your belt before you really need the most expensive supplements.
Do Not Exercise More Than Three Times a Week
If you are a beginner when it comes to weight training, it is a good idea to exercise just three times a week. This will allow the adaptation process, which you achieve through proper rest and nutrition, to set in. Here is why.
When you work out, you literately break down muscle cells, but your body is always up to repairing and improving upon any given stimulus as long as you give it the tools to do so. When you rest and nourish yourself, you are providing your body with these tools.
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