Muscular strength exercises can be a great complement to cardiovascular training. Not only does weight training make you stronger, but it can also help you to improve your overall body composition, boost bone health, improve posture, and support healthy joints.
But don't worry, you don't have to exercise every day to reap great results. Most people see a noticeable improvement with two to three workouts a week.
There are a few guidelines to follow to stay safe and make the most out of your strength training exercise program.
When first starting out, try to master the circuit training workout first. It is an effective workout for the whole body. Once you've mastered circuit training, try the split routine that challenges you to work various muscle groups harder on three different days.
In this example, you'll train the entire body twice per week. Begin with a 5-10 minute warm-up on a stationary bike, treadmill, or another cardio machine. Then go through the exercises one by one, starting over at the end.
Start from the top and repeat 2-3 times.
If you're a little more experienced and have more time to spend, you can divide the body into three parts and do more focused training. Unlike circuit training, you do multiple sets of one exercise before moving on. Remember to do a 5-10 minute cardio workout before each routine.
To improve your overall fitness, make sure to do a couple of cardiovascular workouts per week in addition to your muscular strength exercises. Also, remember that good nutrition will help you to be successful along your fitness journey.
Make sure you consume a balanced diet that includes protein, energy-boosting carbs, and healthy fats to fuel your daily needs. If you need help developing a meal plan to meet your goals, speak with a registered dietitian or fitness nutrition specialist to develop a plan that works for you.