Strength training gives you an edge over belly fat, stress, heart disease and cancer. It gives you a healthy body. You’ll get stronger, sleep better, and if you’re a woman, you won’t get bulky. Strength training is the most efficient path to loosing weight. Here’s how to start!
The first thing you need to decide is what kind of strength training you want to be doing. This will depend on what equipment you have available and what your goals are. Here are your options for strength training:
- Bodyweight Training – With bodyweight training, you don’t use any weights, and don’t need much other equipment. This is a great way to strength train if you’re traveling, or just starting out at home. As long as you have enough space to move around, you can get your workout done (and fit it into a busy schedule). One great option is the TRX Home Suspension Training Kit. This exercise tool is reasonably priced, takes up no room in your home, and you can take it with you for traveling.
- Dumbbells – Once you’ve started to plateau with bodyweight training, to break through to the next level, you need to add weight to your workouts. A great source for dumbbells are PowerBlock’s Adjustable Dumbbells. These allow you to select your chosen weight rather than having to purchase a full set of dumbbells, saving you valuable space at home.
- Barbells – If you already have quite a bit of strength, and dumbbells aren’t giving you enough of a challenge, a good barbell with weights are your best choice – especially if your goal is strength above all else. Barbells allow you to progress clearly and quickly, allowing you to add small increments of weight each week. The biggest downside to barbell training is that in order to do it at home, you need to have a squat rack, a barbell, a bench, and enough weight in your house or garage (which is not an inexpensive investment when you’re starting out).
So what is the best form of strength training? Actually, the best workout is one you’ll take the time to do on a regular basis. For example, although barbells may be the best choice for building strength and loosing weight, if you won’t do it, there’s no point in investing in a squat rack, weights, bench, and a barbell. On the other side, sometimes investing in quality home gym equipment causes people to feel guilty if they don’t use it – so in that case, although bodyweight training is cheaper, if you haven’t invested something when you start your program, you may be less likely to follow through on your regular workouts. The best choice may be a mix – some weights for your home gym combined with bodyweight exercises when you’re at the office or traveling.
And, your goals are also important to what your final choice should be. If you’re truly looking to gain strength and shape, nothing can replace a heavy barbell squat and deadlift. If you’re looking to tone and gain flexibility, starting with bodyweight workouts and building up later to other equipment may be your best way to go.
