The gym can be a very intimidating place, and there’s a major learning curve involved when you first start out. We want to make it easier. Here are 10 beginner tips to help you start your lifting career!
1. COMPOUND MOVEMENTS ARE KEY
Rather than doing curls at the beginning of your workout, you’re going to want to start with compound movements. These are movements that involve the use of multiple joints (such as chin-ups) rather than just one (curls). These exercises create a more optimal hormonal response, helping you to grow faster!
2. DON’T FORGET TO DIET
Many underestimate the power that a diet has over the physique. However, your efforts in the gym can be rendered nearly useless unless you eat properly outside of the gym. Hit your macronutrient (carbs, fats and protein) requirements while eating clean to make sure you aren’t wasting your time in the gym.
3. CONSISTENCY AND PATIENCE
It’s easy to get demotivated when you don’t see the results you want after a short period of time. Consistency is key. You might not notice a difference in the first few weeks because it takes time. Whether you’re going to the gym every day or every three days, just make sure you’re hitting each muscle group at least once a week, every week.
4. PLAN
Plan with regard to the gym and the kitchen. To ensure you’re hitting your caloric requirements, plan and cook ahead of time so you can just grab the food and eat. At the same time, don’t be showing up to the gym with no idea what you’ll do that day. With preparation, you can ensure that you’ll get the most out of the workout and meal because you’ve analyzed it beforehand.
5. KEEP A RECORD
Keep a record of both your goals and your progress. Set short-, medium- and long-term goals to stay motivated and push yourself to new heights. Keeping record of workouts can show you how much you’ve improved since you began and show you that your efforts are paying off. Not to mention, you’ll love looking back and seeing how far you’ve come.
6. SLEEP!
After working or being at work and/or school all day, and then working out intensely, you’ve put your body through a long day! If you’re only getting 6 hours of sleep per night, you’ll find that your body may become exhausted over time. Adults require 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night; however, if you need to recover from weight training on a regular basis, you should be aiming for the higher end of this range to ensure you don’t burn out from all the stress your body is under.
7. ASK FOR HELP
Although it might be intimidating to even think about, consider approaching someone to ask about form or technique advice whenever possible. If you’re unsure about something at the gym, the employees are sure to help you, as are experienced athletes. The gym is not a place you want to learn by mistake, so just ask!
8. EDUCATE YOURSELF
There simply is no end to information that can help you because there are new things constantly being discovered. Knowledge is power, and there’s a direct correlation between the two when it comes to the gym. So make sure to take advantage of all of the amazing free information available online, like here at sixstarpro.com, and never stop learning.
Hopefully you’ve found value in these tips. Good luck and happy lifting!
