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Resist It!
Working Out with Weights
By Kelly Burgess
"When you go to a gym and see those mirrors lining the walls, they aren't there so you can see if you're looking good, they're to make sure you're doing it right," says Leonard.
Both women agree that the best way to start a strength-training program is to make a plan of action. Neporent advocates hiring a personal trainer just for a session or two to get started, but for those who can't afford it, there are many good books and videos available, such as Neporent's Weight Training for Dummies, and the Strong Women series by Dr. Miriam Nelson. These books are geared toward the beginner and talk not just about weights and strength training, but also about living an overall healthy lifestyle.
Another option is your local library, which is a great resource for both books and videos.
Once you have your workout planned, make a schedule. Neporent advocates incorporating a total body resistance-training workout into your schedule at least two to three times per week with a day of rest in between each strength workout. In other words, take your walk or do your aerobics video as usual. Then, either on, say, Tuesday and Thursday, or Monday, Wednesday and Friday, do your complete strength training workout from head to toe.
Leonard, on the other hand, advocates working out five days a week -- both aerobic and strength training, but to work different muscle groups each day. So, for example, you might work your arms and chest on Monday, then legs and buttocks on Tuesday, and so on. Whatever works with your schedule is what you should choose. The most important consideration, both of our experts agree, is to not overdo it. "You want to stimulate the muscles, not annihilate them," says Leonard.