Weight Training Techniques to Improve Your Fitness

By Mumma And Her Monsters November 09, 2019

Most people tend to ignore the thought of where to hold their weight when doing lunges and squats. According to fitness experts, different techniques target various muscle groups, and some may help your recovery in case of an injury. Here is how weight placement can transform common exercises:

Front Squat vs. Back Squat

Front squats are known to exercise the front part of your body, which includes the quads and abdominal muscles. Moreover, front squats shift the center of gravity towards the toe side of the foot, which increases your ability to move the body forward.

Back squats also exercise your quads, and at the same time, they work out your glutes and lower back. The pressure applied to your spine is essential in strengthening the spine but can result in severe pain and discomfort to people with spinal injuries or a weak core.

Straight Arm Planks vs. Forearm Planks

Forearm planks challenge your core and can be done by people who tend to exercise their base but have weak arms or poor shoulder stability. Workout supplements available at musclesfax.ws can come in handy, especially if you’re just getting back to training after a long hiatus.

According to gym trainers, keeping your forearms parallel to each other rather than holding your hands together. It promotes proper scapular and postural positioning.

Straight arm plank engages several muscle groups. Furthermore, since your body is far off of the ground, it is easier to maintain stability, which makes it even more effective in achieving overall body strength.

Lunges with Dumbbells at the Sides vs. Lunges with Dumbbells at the Shoulders vs. Lunges with Dumbbells Overhead

Holding dumbbells on your sides while making lunges decreases the amount of work required to move your body. In addition, it minimizes the amount of work your core has to do to stabilize.

Holding the dumbbells at your shoulders and with your legs pushing the weights forward and upwards requires more strength.Nonetheless, this exercise is limited to the size and shape of dumbbells, and it is useful in strengthening your core muscles.

Lunges with the dumbbells overhead challenges your core and shoulder stability. However, you should be cautious to avoid injuring your shoulders.

Sit-Ups with Your Hands Crossed Over the Chest vs. Sit-Ups with Your Hands Behind the Head

Performing sit-ups with your hands crossed over the chest increases your stability, hence making the exercise easier. This exercise targets your upper abs and is gentler on your cervical spine.

On the other hand, sit-ups with the hands behind the head put more emphasis on the lower abs and you will experience fewer neck strains.

Benefits of Weight Training

Other than burning excess calories and fat, here are other standard benefits of weight training:

Weight training increases your heart rate, which promotes blood circulation throughout your body. Based on research, blood flow-improving effects of weight training are known to last up to 30 minutes after the training session.

Besides that, the training strengthens your muscles, which helps to boost stability. Lifting weights is also known for improving your posture and helps you to stay upright.