Weight Training FAQ

Why do I need an Individualized Weight Training Plan?

Weight training is a tool you can use to help build and/or maintain additional muscle. Muscle is the primary vehicle the human body uses to burn calories. A loss of muscle means a slowdown in metabolism. A gain of muscle means a speeding up in metabolism. This is a critical factor in the lifelong pursuit of fitness and ideal weight management.

The benefits of weight training go far beyond simply helping to build muscle. This type of exercise (in the right amounts and at the right intensity) has been shown to increase bone density, increase energy levels, and help to sculpt the body you want. Although many experts may disagree with us on this one, we also feel that weight training performed at the right intensity and pace can also expedite your fat loss goals (although to a lesser degree than cardiovascular exercise).

Classic weight training is also known as anaerobic exercise, which means without oxygen. It is because of this lack of oxygen that a lot of experts feel that weight training is not a fat burning endeavor. However, at the right intensity and pace, you can turn your weight training program into a cardiovascular workout that will help you to burn bodyfat. If bodyfat reduction is not your goal, and sheer muscle mass is, we will tweak a few key variables to ensure that you will gain muscle.

But I don't want to gain muscle, because then I will look too big ...

This is the most common statement of most of our new female clients (and even a few of our male clients). Remember, muscle takes up less space than fat, so even if you put on an additional five pounds of muscle and lose five pounds of fat, you will actually be smaller (even though your weight hasn't changed). We beg you not to fall into the trap of believing that if you train with weights you will get too big.

It takes years and years of dedicated weight training to put on the kind of muscle mass that you see displayed in many of the popular muscle magazines. Even then, a large percentage (of both men and women) have used chemical enhancement to get their body to that level of muscularity; i.e., they have used steroids or other growth enhancers. Women should keep in mind that the primary growth hormone in the human body is testosterone, and most women have very low levels of that particular hormone. So, even if you are really busting your butt in the gym with some seriously heavy weights, the chances of you ever getting too big are slim to none.

What do I get with an OPT4FIT Individualized Weight Training Plan?

You get an individualized Weight Training Plan that is based on your commitment in this area. We will provide you with a day by day plan that will guide you through your first three months of training. At that point you should have a better feel for what your body needs to keep performing at its highest levels.

• We will provide you with all of the exercises that you need to perform to meet your individual goals.
• We will base your plan on how often you want to work out.
• We will tell you how many sets and repetitions to perform, and how long to rest between sets.
• We will give you guidelines to help you figure out the ideal weights you should use on each exercise.

There will be no guess work. All you have to do is follow the plan, and you will feel more energetic, you will be stronger, and you will gain or maintain muscle in conjunction with your goals.

These plans have been followed by many of our clients who collectively have gained hundreds of pounds of muscle. In short, these plans work!

Are you interested in personalized fitness?
	If you are in the Boise area, please contact us to set up a one-on-one session. Thank you for visiting OPT4FIT.