Think strength training workouts are only for young, male muscleheads? Think again! Strength training is important for both men and women of any age, and is a vital component of a well-rounded fitness program.
How often should you do strength training workouts? Well, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthy adults 18 years of age and older need to do muscle-strengthening activities two or more days per week. You’ll want to make sure you hit all the major muscle groups, namely the legs, hips, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and arms.
You can work all your major muscle groups during each strength training session (i.e. a full body workout) or do “splits,” where different body parts are worked on different days of the week. Your goals and the amount of time you have to exercise will most likely determine which method you choose. If you have a limited amount of time to exercise, and/or your main goal is to improve general health, then total body stregth training workouts are probably the best choice. If, on the other hand, you have more time to exercise and/or want to increase muscular development, a split routine may be the way to go.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to belong to a gym to do strength training. All you really need are a good set of dumbbells, and you’re ready to go! If you’ve got the space and the money, you can get additional strength training equipment such as a barbell and plates, resistance bands, medicine balls, or a weight bench. You can even use your own body weight for a great workout.
For more on strength training workouts, check out the links below:
- Benefits of weight training