 | Preston Peterson, CSCS
is a personal trainer at Health Strategies, Life Strategies Foundation. He graduated from Friends University in 2002 with a BS in Physical Education and a BS in Health Management. He is also a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and is pursuing a Master's Degree in Exercise Science. You may reach Preston at Health Strategies by calling (316) 651-8004 or (316) 651-8015. |
Fitness
2003-05-01 11:29:00
Toning up?
: I want to tone up. My buddy told me that I should never begin a weight training program on my own…that each one needs to be customized. Why is this?
ANSWER: Your friend gave you some very valuable advice. That person was very correct when they told you not to begin a weight training program on your own. The reason for this is that every weight training program or fitness program should fit the individual needs of that person and therefore should be customized. Weight training is much more complex than most people presume it to be. In most cases, it isn't necessarily how intense you train, but rather how you train. There are several variations in training methods that deviate whether results will be desirable to the individual or not, such as amount of resistance, number of repetitions, duration of rest periods, frequency of exercise, etc. For example, someone should train very differently to improve hypertrophy (size of muscle) than to improve muscular endurance or decrease body fat. It would be my advice to consult with an exercise professional that has a strong background and credentials in fitness. For your own safety, make sure the exercise specialist is properly educated or certified by an established organization.
