How to Start Resistance Training

Resistance training is a form of exercise that improves muscular strength and endurance. During a resistance training workout, you move your limbs against resistance provided by your body weight, gravity, bands, weighted bars or dumbbells. Some exercise machines can also be used for resistance training.

Definition and Benefits

Any exercise where you move your body against resistance can be considered resistance or strength training. The definition of resistance in this form of training is simple as well. Resistance is any force that makes the movement harder to perform.

Resistance can be provided simply by moving your body against gravity or by adding weighted dumbbells. You can also add resistance by using machines at the gym or by using equipment such as weighted bars, bands, or kettlebells. This form of training can also be called weight lifting or weight training.

The benefits of resistance training are significant. If you start a weight training program, you can expect your body to get stronger, tighter and leaner.

6 Things to Know About Resistance Training

People who participate in this resistance training usually have an easier time moving through activities of daily living (ADL) because their muscles move more efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are some myths about resistance training and resistance training exercises that may keep you from starting a program. These are the most common questions that new exercisers ask about strength training.

Will weight lifting make you bulk up?

Most women will not bulk up if they start doing resistance training exercises. But both men and women may notice more muscle definition when they start lifting weights. But this form of exercise helps the muscles to look tighter and more sculpted, not fat. The amount of muscle definition that you see will depend on the amount of fat that is covering the muscle.

How do resistance training exercises affect your weight?

Weight training may increase your weight slightly. But muscle mass weighs more than fat mass. So even though your body weight may increase, your body size may shrink. In addition, muscle helps you to maintain a healthy metabolism. Muscle burns more calories than fat, so if you build muscle and reduce fat, you’ll burn more calories all day long.

Can you do resistance training exercises every day?

You can lift weights every day, but you shouldn’t train the same muscles every day. Muscles need time to repair and rebuild. Many exercisers do some strength training every day, but alternate body parts. For example, they might do upper body exercises one day, and lower body exercises the next.

Do You Need Protein Supplements?

Most exercisers don’t need protein powders or supplements to make the most of their resistance training program. In fact, some supplements can do more harm than good. You can get the protein and nutrients you need from eating a healthy, nutritious diet.

What’s the best form of resistance training?

There is no form of strength training that is necessarily better than the others. For that reason, many smart exercisers combine different methods to get benefits from each. For example, they might lift weights one day and use exercise machines the next. Or they might do bodyweight exercises one day and take a class that incorporates resistance bands on another day.

Do I need to belong to a gym to do resistance training?

No, absolutely not! In fact, some of the best strength training routines include primarily body weight exercises. These are movements done against the resistance provided by your own body weight and gravity. For example, a push-up is a bodyweight exercise. Lunges and squats are also body weight exercises. The best part about doing a bodyweight exercise is that it requires no equipment, so no gym membership is required.