Falian

Many people do not understand the importance of proper procedure when you are doing weights. Yes weight is important but not doing the excersice right can not only cause injury but it will also not be as effective. Here are some steps to help:

* Have a Trainer/Experienced Lifter show you the correct posture for certain weights/machines.

* Posture is KEY. Make sure that you are not using your back or neck in most of your lifting, this is a sign of bad posture/form.

* Go Slowly! - Rushing your lifting is not effective at all. E.G: When doing bicep curls lift up quickly and then let the weight down as slowly as you can, which will maximize the pressure put on the muscle.

Hope this helps !

sparky

Good Call - when I am at the gym I see so many guys lifting really heavy weights and showing off to try and impress the girls but there form is sooo bad. I carry on smug in the knowledge that I might not be lifting as much as these guys but at least im lifting right!

Falian

Yeah, its a big problem. The funny thing is they will be out of the gym for a month with a thrown out back and you will keep on going with the correct form.

sparky

Yep thats the plan I will be left alone with all the girls then woohoo! Seriously though when ever I try a new lift I always lift really light first to get the form right (with the help of the gym dude) and slowly work my way up through the weights. It helps my work outs enormously!

Talis

Yeah, considering that im just starting to lift, i will keep this in mind. So low weights for the correct form? And then slowly move up?

rwogh

It is very important that newbies start off with very light amounts of weight...you can't come in all Gun-ho and kill yourself...you'll just be damaging your muscles. You need to tone and get your muscles in shape first.

platinum

Yeah - get the form right - you may find lifting light weight the correct way may get you improvements anyway This way you avoid injury and you will be getting the maximum out of every lift

Talis

Yeah, im trying to learn the proper procedure from the directions on the machines, i hope im doing them right. I might have to hire a trainer pretty soon.

easyG

Normally just asking a person who works at the gym whil teach you how to use machines properly. I would get a personal trainer if you were to lift free weights though - thats a completely different game!

Dizaster

Yeah I learned going back down slowly is harder, I used to just go fast to try and get them oer with(my sets) but later realized I was just basically wasting my time.