Dumbbells May Burn But They Don’t Bite
By Shania Rayford
Due to the misconception that endless hours of cardio are the best way to lose weight, I have learned that many people begin their fitness journey only on the cardio side of their gym facility when starting on their own. For a beginner, I can see why it can be a bit spooky when it comes to incorporating resistance training into their workout. Staying in one spot, on one machine, out of everyone else’s way does seem more ideal for someone new to the environment. The thought of moving around, using different machines and equipment, and potentially having more eyes on you while working out can be intimidating, but it is not as scary as it seems and will provide you with great benefits if done consistently and correctly.
When consulting with someone that is interested in getting into strength training, I always encourage them to start small and slowly progress as time goes on. Just because you see people doing pull-ups and one-handed push-ups on TikTok, does not mean that you start out doing those movements as well. Making small changes consistently will gradually allow you to build up the strength to do those vigorous movements. But for now, as a beginner, I always suggest clients start out by using the weight machines for about 4-5 weeks, before doing free-weight movements. By starting out with weight machines, this allows you to learn the movements, what muscles are being used, and the correct range of motion to avoid injury.
If you are one of those people who are terrified to cross over to the other side of your gym, have no fear because your Move Well staff is here! As a Move Well membership holder, you have access to scheduling training sessions with our staff to help get you comfortable and confident in exploring different areas of fitness. In your session, one of our staff will answer any questions you may have, create a workout regimen uniquely for you, and demonstrate how to correctly execute those movements. Schedule your appointment today so we can help you get over your fears and enjoy all the benefits that strength training has to offer.