Many people recognize the importance of strength training but are simply overwhelmed by the number of exercise programs, books, and websites about it. People look at the pictures of strong, fit individuals and think, “I’ll never be able to do this! Why should I even bother?” For others, the thought of going to the gym and using the weight equipment is terrifying.

If you’re a strength training beginner, you should not fear. You don’t have to have a lot of fancy equipment. You don’t have to devote long hours every week to attain results. You don’t have to go to the gym and work out with a bunch of sweaty, high school guys. You don’t have to read the latest books or buy the new home weight machine. All you need is a desire to learn, a little bit of time, and some basic equipment.

First, go to the local sports store and purchase some hand weights. You can get the lightest ones, but it’s wiser to pick something more in the middle to heavy range so you can “grow” into it. You might also want to get ankle weights, a medicine ball, or resistance cords.

Secondly, you’ll have to determine how you want to conduct your workout. You might check out some books on strength training from the library, watch online clips, read websites, or purchase some exercise videos to learn new exercises and strength training routines. There is no right or wrong way to do this. You just need to find something that helps you clearly understand each process and stay motivated.

For strength training beginners, you want to focus on learning each move properly before anything else. You might do a high number of repetitions incorrectly and forfeit the benefit. Instead, start with short sets of exercises done correctly and build from there.

You can use your hand weights for working your arms and your sides while resistance bands and ankle weights are really great for working the legs. Medicine balls are great for overall workouts and teach a good sense of balance and agility.

You can also accomplish strength training by using your own body weight. These types of self-strengthening exercises might include lunges (which can be made more difficult with hand weights or a medicine ball), push ups, handstands, bridges, planks, sit ups, crunches, or squats. To ensure you have a well-rounded program, you’ll likely want to have a thorough routine that uses both simple equipment and your own body weight/

Strength training routines do not have to cover every muscle in the body every time you workout. If you’re planning on doing an entire-body strength training workout, it’s best to perform the routine every other day. However, you can also divide your strength training up. You might work your arms and lower legs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and work your upper legs and core on the opposite days.

Finally, you can begin strength training in a gym, but if you wish to do so, make sure you have someone who can teach you how to use the machines properly. For someone who has never done strength training, beginning in a gym can be overwhelming and dangerous if not learned safely.

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