Self-motivation
People begin lifting for two reasons:
1. To gain muscle
2. To get stronger
Lift to get stronger. Whether you want to tone, or build muscle, you still need to set strength goals. Do not set goals like: by the time it is summer, I want my arms to be huge. Rather, set strength goals like: In two months, I want to be able to max my bench out at 170 pounds. If you are toning, your goals might be something like: In two months, I want to be able to do 3 sets of 10 with 20 pounds for bicep curls. If you set strength goals, you will start getting stronger. As you become stronger, you will begin seeing results.
Lifting to get stronger is only the first step. After you realize this is the best way to lift, you will start getting excited about lifting because you actually ARE getting stronger. Before you know it, days will turn into weeks, and weeks into months. Think about it: say for your bench press, you start out doing 3 sets of 5, with 135 pounds. If you increase that weight by only 5 pounds every week, you will be doing 3 sets of 5 with 155 in a matter of weeks. Of course, you must also eat right and get the right amount of rest, but you get the idea.
So, once you start lifting to get stronger, you will start seeing results. However, the only way you are going to see results is with consistency. You have to stick to your workouts and your workout plan to actually GET stronger. A big part of consistency has to do with your first week or two of lifting. If you make it past the first week or two of your plan, it becomes a part of your daily routine (like brushing your teeth), and even more so as time goes on.
Now all you need to do is find a particular workout that is right for you. Of course, that all depends on how much time you have, and how much time you want to dedicate to your routine. You should lift anywhere from 2 to 5 days a week. If you lift less than 2 days a week, you might not see any results at all. If you lift more than 5 days a week, you run the risk of over working your muscles. Over working your muscles can also lead to injury, which would interrupt your routine. So, stick to something that you can handle, and if you want, you can build up your routine more and more as time goes on.
Return to lifting from self-motivation
Home | Forum | Blog | Links | Disclaimer | About | Contact |
