Weight Lifting

Exercise is a very important aspect of your family’s health. Many people lift weights in order to build muscle, strength and endurance in order to keep their bodies healthy. It is important to know that though weight lifting can be a healthy habit, it can also be dangerous if done incorrectly.

One of the main mistakes that people make when it comes to lifting weights, like many other types of exercise, is not stretching ahead of time. Going straight into lifting without stretching your muscles is a good way to tear those muscles. A torn muscle can be very painful and takes weeks to completely heal. Another mistake people often make is lifting with bad technique. If done incorrectly, you can seriously injure muscles, tendons, ligaments or even your bones. There is no harm in researching the correct form before lifting in order to avoid getting hurt.  Knowing how much weight to use is also an important factor in avoiding injuries. Make sure that you or family members are not worried about what people around the gym are lifting. Adding too much weight than what your body can handle is a one-way trip to hurting yourself. If you aren’t sure about how much to lift, start small and gradually work up. Remember, low weight with more reps is great endurance exercise. High weight with low reps is good for strength and power. Just make sure you are able to handle the amount of weight you are throwing around!

Make sure you know what you are doing before deciding to work out with weights! Stay safe!