Beginner Weightlifting Advice

As a beginner, it can be intimidating to start weightlifting on your own. If I could go back in time, here's the advice I would've given to myself as a beginner weightlifter 6 years ago:

1. Don't focus on the weight you're lifting, focus on your technique.

   
   

   I see so many people in the gym pushing out sh*tty reps of weight that's much too heavy for them. This is an easy way to burn out or get injured before you've been in the gym for very long. I recommend aiming for a full range of motion with a weight that feels like you're leaving around 2-3 reps in the tank by the end of your set. Getting a full range of motion will allow you to get a full stretch on your muscles, and going through your reps slowly will allow more time under tension. Both of these techniques are better for muscle growth. Once you've gotten your technique down, then it might be more appropriate to push the weight on your exercises, even if you're not sure you'll get all of the reps.

   
   

2. Use a good variety of machines and free weight exercises.

   
   

   A lot of beginners avoid free weights (dummbells, barbells, because they are more intimidating and need more knowledge to perform correctly. However, working on free weights can help you to use movement patterns more realistic to daily life, challenge your balance, and engage in good core stability. This is why we created our Motion Ready beginner weightlifting program. This program is meant to help people who are brand new to the gym and need guidance to feel comfortable with basic machine and free weight exercises!

   
   

3. Create performance-based goals alongside any aesthetic ones.

   
   

   As much as people hate to admit it, aesthetic goals are what usually drives people to start up an exercise routine. There's nothing wrong with this. However, having performance-based goals alongside your aesthetic ones can help drive you when the scale isn't moving, or you're seeing slow progress in your physique. I recommend creating a goal that's time-based, realistic, and measurable. A good example of this might be a goal to squat your body-weight in the next 6 months. I find that setting performance-based goals can be difficult for beginners, as this isn't usually their driving factor for entering the gym, but can pay off dividends in the long run.

   
   

   If you need anymore help as a beginner weightlifter, don't hesitate to reach out to us or follow our instagram or tiktok for free tips and tricks.