| If you want to feel stronger, get more flexible, achieve | | | | Obviously, after events such as these, you would |
| better balance and body harmony, and just be able to | | | | probably want your body to be much stronger, but |
| perform physical activities much better than you do at | | | | jumping into strength training exercises after such a |
| present, it's time to get into strength training. Strength | | | | weakened condition would do much more harm than |
| training exercises activates your muscles to work | | | | good. Let's get going, but slowly. |
| further than it is used to, which, in effect, is how it | | | | It is important to have a strength training program that |
| becomes stronger. | | | | involves the majority of the muscles in your body. |
| There are many strength training exercises but they | | | | Don't just focus on one part of your body e.g. if you |
| can be broken down in to 3 basics: abdominal, upper | | | | wanted to get a nice six pack. Do this and the rest of |
| body and lower body exercises. Abdominal exercises | | | | your body will suffer. A primary program you can start |
| strengthen your center, which is supposed to give you | | | | with would involve the bench press, lateral pulldowns, |
| optimum control over the rest of your body and keep | | | | overhead press, bicep curl and tricep pulldown for |
| all your power in check. Exercises for the upper body | | | | upper body; squats, leg extensions and leg curls; and |
| involve the back, torso and arms, while legs, thighs and | | | | abdominal crunches for your midsection. You can add |
| hips are developed by lower body exercises. | | | | exercises later on. |
| Nearly all of the exercises will be lifting weights, they | | | | There are even programs with combination exercises |
| will be your weight resistance. This said, you must be | | | | for people on the go. Such exercises include squats |
| aware of risk factors involved when starting out on | | | | with bicep curls, or with overhead press, lunges with |
| your strength training program. For example, if you | | | | lateral raises, and so on. But these are for later, when |
| have any diseases or problems with your heart, or | | | | you've already achieved some strength and |
| even if there is any history of coronary disease in your | | | | experience in strength training. |
| family, you must get your doctor's permission before | | | | Your strength training exercise program should be |
| you can start a strength training program that involves | | | | very basic when you start out. Eight to twelve reps |
| weight lifting. If you suffer from obesity, chronic | | | | per muscle group is the recommended minimum to |
| hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, asthma always consult | | | | help you get your desired results. This |
| your doctor. | | | | recommendation comes from The American College |
| You should also talk to your doctor about being ready | | | | of Sports Medicine. As you progress with your |
| for strength training when you are recovering from | | | | exercises, the amount of resistance that is applied to |
| surgery, have had no physical exercise whatsoever | | | | your exercises must increase as well, but again, don't |
| prior to your upcoming strength training plans, are | | | | rush into it. The only way to go is up. Increased |
| pregnant or had given birth less than three months ago. | | | | strength will be yours in no time. |