*Strength Training*

As a follow up to yesterday's blog, we cannot forget about strength training! Just like cardio, there are a lot of choices/options to be made here as well. All of these choices can be overwhelming and understanding which form is best for you is critical in helping you achieve that optimal performance. Once again, below I list some of the most popular forms and what/who they are best for. 

Forms of Strength Training/Equipment

Free Weights: nearly always mistaken as the body builder weights and with that usually comes the intimidation factor, because many times buff guys/gals are in this area of the gym. Although this image may be true, there are a lot of benefits that come with using free weights. Not typically recommended for beginners, unless using them with a professional, simply due to the ability to lose form very quickly. This form of strength training can also be very good for most, when form is correct, since it is using gravity it then becomes most similar to those movements done in our everyday lives. 

Weight Machines: typically thought of as the beginner/old person form. This form of strength training is a very good place to begin for those that are not familiar with weights in general. The machines allows your muscles to define the movement through repetition, at the same time keeping it within the relative range to help eliminate injury. When using the correct weight and form these machines can take you a long way and at times they can do things for you that free weights cannot (i.e. inner thigh workouts). When not using these machines daily, they will work muscles other workouts do not making them beneficial for everyone! Don't be surprised if one day you see one of those buff guys on a machine. 

Personal Body Weight: known as the "what will I ever get from that!" form of strength training, but to me this form is free and extremely beneficial! It also strives to make people creative in trying to come up with something new. At times it can be too hard for some when first starting out, but each exercise always has a way to improvise, it is just knowing how to correctly improvise to aid your specific implication. For example, a push up can only be done by a few on their first time, so if a full push up is not the answer one can do knee push ups, inclined push ups or even wall push ups. These specific improvises are where the professional comes into play and you should always consult a doctor if your implication may be risky or life threatening.

To conclude, now that we have a better understanding of some of the different forms of cardiovascular work as well as strength training, everyone should know that to lose weight we must be active and burning calories, but to do it effectively and the healthy way, an adequate amount of both cardiovascular and strength training exercises should be combined in your workouts to assure healthy bones and a stronger you! If you combine these the results could be endless and you might be amazed at how well the one helps you perform the other. 

Your Motivator and Companion,
-Gabby