Strength training is an important part of any fitness routine.
Whether you’re looking to boost your metabolism, tone your
muscles, or strengthen your bones, it’s easy to reap the many
benefits of lifting weights. Here are tips for improving your
routine. 1. Make sure you wear comfortable and supportive shoes.
2. Never hold your breath during weight training — it can cause
your blood pressure to rise dangerously. Instead, exhale as you
lift the weight and inhale as you bring the weight down. 3. Lift
and lower weights slowly, using a smooth, controlled motion. If
you depend on a weight’s momentum to move it, you won’t get
strengthening benefits. 4. Start with weights that can lift
comfortably 10 to 12 times (a “set”). As you get stronger, you
may either increase the number of repetitions or the amount of
weight (not both at once). When a set of 12 repetitions feels
easy, try increasing the weight by 5 percent. Let your muscles
recover between sets. 5. Work the large muscle groups (legs,
back, chest, arms) first