People are more focused on their fitness today than they were before. In the past, a visit to the gym three times a week was considered good enough.
But now people want to make fitness a part of their lifestyle. This is why several new training methods have emerged, and certified personal trainers are tasked to design creative exercise programs for clients so they can reach their fitness goals while revamping their lifestyles.
Strength training is one such training technique that’s more than just exercise and weight loss. It requires lifestyle changes to achieve proper results, so trainers need to learn a few tips to design effective workout programs. This guide will help you do just that.
Additionally, if you want to learn more about different forms of fitness training, check out W.I.T.S. Education’s fitness training courses.
How Does Strength Training Work?
Strength training is a type of workout designed to increase the body’s lean muscle mass. The exercises rely on resistance using different techniques. Besides increasing lean muscle mass, strength exercises help reduce weight by burning excess fat. The core of strength training relies on weight training, resistance training, and muscle training.
So fitness trainers can use different workout methods to create exercise programs as long as the core of the program relies on the three main components. However, developing muscles isn’t the only part of strength training. This training is also to increase the physical activity of the client and help them lead active lives.
Effective Strength Training Secrets
Keep The Training Simple
Strength training is commonly associated with heavy workouts involving deadlifts and kickboxing. However, you don’t have to recommend these to your clients. Instead, you can work on simpler exercises that can help achieve the same results. They may take longer, but it’ll be easier for your clients to incorporate them into their lifestyles.
The key is to remain consistent. If the exercises are too complicated, your clients won’t stay motivated. Moreover, instead of going straight for the weights, you can start your clients with dumbbells, resistance bands, and kettlebells to make learning easier.
Work On The Core
Most strength training exercises rely on the core muscles to support the body weight. But that doesn’t mean your clients need to get a visible six-pack to begin training. It means that the initial stages of strength training should be focused on developing the core muscles so you can build a strong foundation.
This will make it easier for the clients to tackle weights and demanding exercises as the training progresses. But building core muscles also require persistence and intense training. It’s not something that can be achieved in a week. This is why strength training is a long-term process; your clients should know this before they begin training.
Give Plenty Of Rest Time
Workouts like strength training involve constant muscle tears to generate new muscle fibers and increase the body’s muscle mass. However, if proper rest time isn’t allotted to the clients, their muscles won’t heal properly, and it can lead to muscle fatigue. If left untreated, this can escalate and cause injuries.
So depending on the client’s physical fitness and the training intensity, you should determine the appropriate rest time for them. The time can be as short as one day or as long as three days. When the client starts progressing, you can reduce their rest time or mix their training with other workouts to keep the body active without causing muscle fatigue.
Keep The Progress Slow
In fitness, pushing to the limit is considered a good thing. But this isn’t always the case. If you force your clients to push themselves too hard, they could get injured or lose motivation. Additionally, strength training is a difficult form of fitness, and it requires proper posture to lift weights. If your clients don’t master the proper form, they won’t see any meaningful results no matter how quickly they learn the training.
On the other hand, taking one step at a time will allow clients to not only adjust their lifestyle according to their changed routine but will also make it easier for them to achieve their desired results.
Divide The Workout
Division of the training is important in each kind of workout. You can’t expect your client to keep training without facing any adverse effects. This is why as a fitness trainer, you’re required to divide workouts in a way that works with the client’s routine and fitness levels. For beginners, strength training is difficult and can lead to fatigue.
Moreover, the clients won’t be able to do other stuff in their routine if they’re always tired. This is why the training intensity should depend on the client’s fitness levels and daily routine. Once they get the hang of things, you can increase the training frequency.
Pay Attention To The Diet
Diet plays an important role in all forms of fitness training. But when it comes to muscle development, its importance can’t be ignored. No matter how intense workouts you recommend to your clients, they won’t see any positive results if they don’t follow a proper nutrient-rich diet. The body requires vitamins, proteins, and other important nutrients such as fatty acids to build muscles.
So when you’re designing an exercise program, make sure you create a diet plan that includes all the necessary nutrients. However, ensure your client isn’t allergic to anything or has dietary restrictions.
Advance Your Fitness Career With W.I.T.S. Education
Join W.I.T.S. Education right away if you want to earn your certification as a certified personal trainer! W.I.T.S. Education offers a variety of personal health training programs for anyone seeking to work in the fitness industry. Our courses include certified personal trainer courses, group exercise instructor, and medical fitness specialist courses.
Additionally, W.I.T.S. Education is the only institution that has received N.C.C.A. and American Council of Education accreditation and grants students college credits. We offer both online and in-person training labs for our courses. Our labs are spread out over North America. Instead of making our students book smart, we emphasize providing them with practical knowledge. Browse our course offerings and enroll right away.