Weight training: It’s simpler than you think

It took consistency more than fancy angles to make THIS muscle!

I often get e-mails from other sites that shout out news about some new workout program that’s better than all the rest.

And if you’re not working out this way, these e-mails suggest, you are wasting your precious time.

Oh, geez. It’s just not so complicated.

Yes, there are a few rules that will help you to learn.

Such as working large muscles before smaller muscles. For example, back before biceps.

You don’t want to do your biceps curls and then have to do pulldowns, pullups or rows.

Why? Because your biceps assist in performing back exercises. And if the biceps “give out” before you’ve tired out your latissimus dorsi (your lats), you won’t be able to push your lats as much.

That’s not good, because the idea is to tax your muscles as much as possible each time you work out.

Do that and they grow. And that’s what you want.

But other than that, you can work out effectively without ever knowing all these interesting tidbits about angles and quirky new exercises.

For quite some time, you just need to START.

You need to be consistent.

You need to use good form at all times.

Good form is important–mainly because you want to avoid injuring yourself.

But also because you want to get the most out of each exercise.

Lose the “negative” on a biceps curl and you lose half the exercise!

If you’re going to take the time to work out, you might as get the most from it.

Focusing on good form and expanding your exercise repertoire (by learning more exercises) is probably all you need to think about for at least a couple of years.

Don’t worry just yet about “attacking the muscle” from this angle or that angle.

Or “confusing” your muscles (funny notion) with this workout plan or that one.

Stick to the basic exercises. They work.

Push yourself every time you go into the gym.

Try new exercises once you’ve mastered the basics.

Don’t dawdle or lengthen your workout with water fountain chats.

Getting in and out quickly makes the whole gym experience more pleasant. It makes you want to go back tomorrow.

And don’t worry about the hundreds of magazines and web sites hawking the latest killer workout.

It’s really not all that complicated. You can get excellent results with consistent, focused workouts.

Just a mention. I got the latest issue of Oprah today. There’s a piece in there where they surveyed 60-year-old women AND teenage girls.

Seems older women work out for health.

Teenagers work out more to improve the way they look.

No surprise, really.

Quite honestly, I work out for both reasons, but health is edging out vanity, I tell you!

Here’s the thing: You don’t need to learn every angle the muscle can be attacked to improve your health with strength training.

You just need to get in there and give it your best!