It's exciting and daunting to start a new strength training journey, especially when there are so many myths and lies out there. As a beginner, it's important to learn what will set you free instead of what will hold you back. Let's find out the truth behind the five most common myths about strength training and give you the peace of mind you need to start lifting.
Myth 1: Lifting Weights Will Make Me Look Like Arnold Schwarzenegger
A lot of people think that putting on weights will make them seem like male bodybuilders. This is a worry that stops a lot of people, especially women, from adding any strength training to their exercises. To genuinely build massive muscles, you need to train, eat right, and sometimes work hard for years. Strength training mostly makes muscles firmer or more toned, not bigger. Your exercise routine and food choices hold the key. Do strength training to "jack" up your muscle definition and speed up your metabolism. Don't worry; you won't appear like She-Hulk.
Myth 2: Beginners Shouldn't Lift Weights
A lot of people think that beginners should only do cardio before they start lifting weights. Everyone can benefit from simple strength exercises, in fact. For beginners, exercise builds strength, improves posture, strengthens bones, and makes them generally healthier. You can move on to more difficult exercises once you feel more competent. Start with basic activities like squats, lunges, push-ups, and others. Because everyone needs to start somewhere, start doing strength training early on to get the most out of your fitness potential!
Myth 3: You Need to Lift Heavy Things to See Results
Many people think that if you don't lift high weights, you're not making progress. That is not even close to being true. Progressive heavy lifting can help you gain muscle over time, but it's not the only way to get results. The most important thing is to employ good technique and gradually increase resistance as your body gets stronger. Adding and taking away repetitions and using resistance bands to engage your big muscles will help you gain strength and endurance while lowering the risk of injuries that can happen when you lift heavy things the wrong way.
Myth 4: Strength Training Isn't a Good Way to Lose Weight
Many novices don't believe that weight training may help them lose weight because they think they can only do cardio. Your resting metabolic rate should increase while you lift weights to gain muscle. This means that your body will burn more calories even when you are not doing it. Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, so you'll keep burning calories even after your workout. Adding regular strength exercise to your routine will help you lose weight and keep it off by keeping your metabolism functioning.
Myth 5: You Have to Spend Hours at the Gym
A lot of beginners find it hard to believe that growing muscle involves doing long sessions at the gym. There is only one problem: when it comes to working out, quality is more important than quantity. When you train all the major muscle groups and follow the rules of progressive overload, which means incrementally adding weight or resistance over time, shorter, more intense exercises can be just as effective. Even going out for 20 to 30 minutes a few times a week will build enough muscle to speed up your metabolism.
End: Take Control of Your Fitness Journey
You will be able to approach strength training with a clear mind when you learn the truth about these fallacies. Keep in mind that your path to fitness is unique to you. It's all about finding what you enjoy and what works for you while having fun along the way. Use strength training as a way to change yourself, not only your body but also your mind. You'll notice it build not only muscles but also strength and self-confidence.
Every set and every rep brings you one step closer to being a stronger person.
