Weightlifting

Back to Lifting

2006-01-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a while because the class I had to start the blog for had ended, but I guess I can still share some relevant information. Not only did I take time off from posting I also took some time off from lifting. I definitely took a little too much time off, but it brings up a good point. In any training program your body needs a certain amount of rest to recover from your workouts. Now usually this occurs by lifting different muscles on different days, but you can't forget that even when focusing on one muscle there are many others that are helping. Therefore, your body may need more rest then you think. A popular method is to do a certain lifting program for an 8 week cycle then take a full week off. So the entire cycle consists of 8 weeks on 1 week off then 8 weeks back on. Many people think they will lose strength if they skip a week, however, this is a common misconception. Many people actually feel stronger and perform better after a full week off.

Beach Season Continued

2005-05-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

As for losing weight fast there are very safe ways. If you've ever looked into the South Beach diet it says you can lose over ten pounds in the first two weeks just by eliminating carbs. This is just a quick solution to get ready for the beach however and should not be practiced regularly. The healthiest diet is one that balances all of the food groups.

On a side note the assignment that this blog was created for is due today, but I will continue to post and update this blog so keep checking back. Thanks for all your comments and I hope they continue.

Beach Season

2005-05-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

Well it's almost beach season but don't panic. There is still a month until the really warm weather hits so get to the gym now. One month is plenty of time to shed those last 10 pounds. All you need to do is control your diet by reducing carb intake, get to the gym at least three times a week, and get in as much cardio as you can. Here's a great site for beach workouts .

Great Blog for Weightlifting News

2005-05-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

Check out this newly updated blog for weightlifting news . This blog contains great information on all aspects ofweightlifting including a section devoted to weightlifting for different sports, a forum, and software you can use to track your workouts. As I mentioned in an earlier post tracking your workouts is one of the most important aspects to training, so check out this blog NOW!!

Women's Fitness

2005-05-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

There is a common misconception that women should not lift weights because they don't want to develop big, bulky muscles. This couldn't be farther from the truth since weightlifting burns more calories then cardio and when combined the make for the best combo. Any beginners exercises are good for men or women, remember to include exercises for all parts of the body. Many people forget to do lower body which is important for overall strength. The important thing for women to remember is what their goal is, for most women it is to be toned and thin therefore you should do less weight and more repetitions instead of high weight and low reps which is used to gain strength. Check out this site for information on women's health and fitness .

Ideal Weight

2005-04-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Figuring out your ideal weight is a very complicated process. Basically, if you are healthy and comfortable with your weight that is your ideal weight, but most people want an exact range. Recently, people have started using Body Mass Index (BMI), which uses height and weight to caculate how much body fat a person should have. Here is a site to calculate your own BMI . Using BMI has come under much speculation, however, because it does not take into account muscle, which as most people know weighs more than fat. Therefore, if you look the way you want, feel good, and are healthy your ideal weight is whatever you want it to be. A tip for those trying to lose weight is to not focus on the number but simply on how you look and feel. Weightlifting is shown to improve a persons look and feelings in as little as one week.

Lifting with a Partner

2005-04-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

Lifting with a partner is another important aspect to any training program. Not only does this allow you to have a spotter for safety reasons but also helps with motivation. Think about how many times you feel lazy or end up not going to the gym, now imagine if you had a lifting partner who called you up and really wanted to get to the gym or showed up at your door to pick you up, you would definitely feel bad letting them down. This has been proven to help motivate people to get to the gym. Also, if you have someone lifting with you your competitive nature is more likely to kick in and you are more likely to push yourself while you lift. I know from experience when I lift with my friends and they do more reps than I do I get back on the bench and try to push out just as many or more. So if you are still having trouble getting into a regular routine find a friend who wants to go to the gym and try working out together.

Quick Fix: Plastic Surgery

2005-04-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

Plastic surgery is definately a quick fix for any lazy person who doesn't want to workout all the time. However, working out is part of a lifestyle that can be any part of staying healthy. Therefore, plastic surgery may be a quick fix, however, not living a healthy lifestyle will prevent you from truly obtaining the body you want. If being overweight affects your health plastic surgery can be a jump start to a healthy lifestyle and you should start working out after the surgery to prevent any serious problems. A common misconception is that just because you are skinny you are healthy, but in fact many thin people can have internal heart problems. Studies show that regularly working out can prevent serious cardiovascular problems, as well as, mental problems such as stress and depression. Check out this website on plastic surgery to answer any further questions . Here is a website that discusses weightlifting and health problems .

Important Aspect to any Training Program

2005-04-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

Many people begin working out with the greatest intentions but usually quit after they see little or no physical results. What you need to realize is that it takes time but there are results you will notice right away. First the psychological effects, workouts produce endorphins which are realesed in the brain and make you feel happy, exercise also gives you boosted energy, and it can also replace the need for other habits such as cigarettes or caffeine. Next the physical effects, it is important to not measure your success by looking in the mirror every day or stepping on the scale everytime youre in the bathroom. Personally I found that the best way to track results and to get them faster is to use a training log. This log is simply writing down what exercises you do, how many sets and reps, and on what days you do them. You can use any paper notebook, make a table on your computer, or use an online personal trainer. I use men's health "AbsDietOnline" this gives you the workouts to do according to what results you want to see, what exercises/weight you are capable of doing, and also gives you a meal plan to follow. It is important to keep track of your workouts so that you can know when to increase weight on a certain exercise. Also, you can look back to see what strength gains you have made. The "AbsDietOnline" is good because it keeps track of all of this for you, it adjusts and changes exercises as you progress through the program. Check out the link http://www.absdietonline.com for more information and for a free 10 day trial.

Cardio: Getting Toned

2005-03-22T22:42:00.000-08:00

In response to jackums comment on getting toned and losing belly fat any cardio will do. Even without cardio equipment it is still possible to lose belly fat. Yoga has been proven to be a great way to stay in shape, also walking more often can work great. The thing to remember is that your diet will in the end determine whether or not you lose your gut or not. So first get a healthy meal plan and combined with the yoga you will achieve a toned belly.

Steriods in Sports and Weightlifting

2005-03-22T22:36:00.000-08:00

First of all, steroids are illegal and shouldn't be used by anyone. Not that being illegal hasn't stopped people steroids will still be used until more drastic testing measures are taken. Check out this link on steroids in baseball. As for weighlifter California Governor Arnold Schrawzeneggar owes his success to the illegal substances and still advocates their potential. In most recent news Arnold shot down a bill proposing steroid testing in High Schools which has become an increasing problem, being linked to several teenage deaths.

Pencador: Directions and Parking

2005-03-22T22:33:00.000-08:00

Directions to pencador are take main st until it splits at Deer Park and take the hard right lane onto new london, follow that through one parking light and look for signs to Laird Campus. As for parking you can usually park in the towers lot, but as with everywhere in Newark it is still possible to get a tickey. Your best bet is to just run or jog to the gym and get some cardio in.

The Pencader Gym and Gym Hours

2005-03-16T19:14:00.000-08:00

The pencader gym is located under the dining hall at pencader. It is right behind clayton hall and the courtyard marriott on the laird campus. Good times to go to any of the gyms is before 3 o'oclock or late night, however, around spring break the gyms are almost always crowded. As for gym hours click the link for UD Fitness. Also, they are called satellite gyms because they are smaller and surround the one main gym.

Where to Lift at UD

2005-03-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows that the little bob is the main place to lift on the UD campus with the most to offer, however its often crowded. People tend to forget about the other sattelite gyms around campus that can still meet your needs. First, Rodney is the smallest of the gyms and features a lot of cardio machines and a small assortment of dumbbells. Next, Harrington has cardio machines, dumbbells, and a wide variety of lifting machines, as well as, an exercise room with daily classes. Finally, Pencador is the newest of the sattelite gyms and happens to be the one most people don't even know about. Pencador has cardio equipment, dumbbells, free weights, and machines, it also features five flatscreen tvs, is usually less crowded, and has free parking in the towers lot. Next time you want to hit the gym and not wait in line try one of the sattelite gyms.

Great Site

2005-02-27T20:32:00.000-08:00

Checkout this site http://www.bodybuilding.com for information on workouts, as well as, the best cyberstore for sports nutrition. This site has workouts that can be designed specifically for you by professional sports trainers. The cyberstore offers everything from multivitamins to contest prep.

First Post

2005-02-16T18:31:00.000-08:00

This blog will be used to discuss weightlifting at the University of Delaware and in general. It will include tips and suggestions from where to lift and what workouts to do.