Recent research by sporting goods manufacturers acknowledges that weight training, with almost 40 million followers, is the single most popular type of fitness training activity in America. The reason for this popularity is quite simple. The results are quick, and they dramatically contribute to improved strength, muscle tone, body re-proportioning, appearance, and health. Unfortunately, there aren’t very many books on the subject that an inexperienced person can use with confidence.
Terminology is often confusing, explanations are not clear, and readers are expected to assimilate too much information at one time. The approach taken in this book
does not assume that one explanation or illustration is sufficient for becoming skilled at and knowledgeable about weight training. Instead, carefully developed procedures and drills accompany each step and provide ample practice and self assessment opportunities.
This article focuses on two primary areas. One helps you to learn weight training exercises that are used within a well balanced training program, and the other provides the knowledge needed to design weight training programs. The text begins by describing the manner in which your body will respond to weight training, the equipment that you will use, and dietary and training information that will be essential to your success. From this basis of understanding, basic lifting techniques and exercises are introduced; exercise techniques that are more complex follow this introduction.
Recommended training loads are light while you are learning the
exercises, and progress to heavier loads—loads that will bring about exciting results! Organizing exercises and loads in this manner also offers the best opportunity to learn exercises quickly and without fear of injury.
Once you have gained confidence in training, you are ready to learn how to design your own weight training program. The step by step explanations and self assessment activities presented in Steps 11 and 12 make this the easiest of all weight training texts to follow and understand.
You will find that the use of practice procedures, drills, and self assessment
activities is also unique and is an effective approach to explaining the content and skills of
weight training that is long overdue. This new edition also includes updated references, some different exercises, and variations to the previous practice and learning activities, making them more streamlined and easier to use. The new exercises that have been added require a higher level of skill, making this text more than a “beginner’s text.”
Also, a video has been produced that clearly illustrates all of the exercises included in
Steps 3 through 8 in this text, and also covers safety issues. This is an invaluable resource if you are trying to learn the exercises on your own or helping others to learn weight training exercises.
Another excellent resource for instructors and personal trainers is the Weight Training Instruction: Steps to Success that has also been published since the first edition of this text. Written specifically for instructors, it provides the most comprehensive and helpful approach to teaching weight training on the market today. It includes ways to approach the strength assessment of students, information on assigning workout loads, strategies for teaching exercises, and sample lectures on designing training programs. Weight Training Instruction: Steps to Success in many ways mirrors the approach taken in this text and highlights the instructor’s steps to success for teaching an introductory weight training class.