“I’m new to weight lifting and have no idea what I should be doing HELP” If this sounds like you we have the perfect guide to help inform you on the best way to begin weightlifting and squash any preconceived worries you may have.

Let’s start with the basics, the list below is a fundamental guide to approaching weight lifting the RIGHT way…

1. Always Stretch Before and After Training. We can’t stress enough how beneficial stretching is for your body. Stretching before your workout will enable you to prepare your body for exercise and help prevent injuries from occurring. It is also great for increasing your mobility which will, in turn, benefit the success of your workout. If you need another reason to kickstart your good habits you should know that it is proven to improve your overall health!

Reasons you should stretch after your workout include; reduced muscle stiffness and pain, a chance for the body to cool down after exerting itself, lessens the chance of injury and it can increase your performance in your following workout.

2. Make Form Your Priority. Ensuring you have the correct form from the start of learning any new exercise is essential. In order to reduce the chance of injury as you progress onto larger weights, it is crucial you nail the basics. If your new to weight training try starting with bodyweight exercises, this will build your technique along with your confidence.

3. Stay Focused and Take Your Time. I can imagine in a gym full of people and loud noises it is easy to get distracted. Whilst your mid-movement the last thing you want is to get distracted and lose the tension or potentially worse your form. A great solution to ignoring those hog-like grunters is to create a wicked playlist that will keep you focused and in the zone. 

4. Record Your Progression. Recording your progression through your weeks of training is a great way to keep you motivated as well as encourage results. It enables you to see what weight you were lifting in previous sessions and continuously challenge them.

5. Don’t Ego Lift. Ego lifting is a familiar term within any gym. It simply refers to individuals who lift weights that are too heavy for them and evidently results in pain. Our best advice is to forget what weight others are lifting, don’t compare yourself and lift what’s appropriate to you and the stage you're at in your training programme.

6. Listen To Your Body Both During and After Workouts. This is important advice, especially for those of you who are new to the gym. Listen to your body. This applies both during and after workouts. Yes in order to get gains you need to push yourself but not to the point you feel discomfort or actual pain during the movement. Therefore if you begin to feel pain stop and change your exercise. Equally, you need to be aware of the signals your body sends you the following days after your workout. If your body is feeling tired still from your previous workout then rest. Don’t be frightened of an off-plan rest day, as it will only enable you to come back stronger.