Over the past few weeks I began acquiring a few female clients who are relatively new to the fitness scene. While I typically take clients who bring advanced prior knowledge to our sessions, I welcome those who are new to the scene with open arms. Adding fitness to your lifestyle is an eye-opening experience, but I have also come to better understand why so many woman are timid by a 'traditional' gym. So today I am going to begin a new series I like to call "Gym Talk." My hope is that Gym Talk will help answer and clear up a lot of questions as well as maybe bring a better level of comfort for those of you whoa are stepping into a gym for the first time.
Reps? Say What?
You might ask "what the hell is the difference between a rep and a set." Don't feel like your the only one. Right off the bat, you have to start somewhere, and if you think when I first walked into a gym I didn't ask the same question, you're well mistaken. Here is a breakdown of typical gym lingo.
Repetitions (aka Reps)
A repetition is a single movement of any exercise.
Sets
A set is a series of repetitions, of an exercise, done at one time.
Breaking Down a Written Workout Plan
Ever get a workout plan from your trainer and wonder "what the heck does 3x15 mean?
So what does “3×15″ mean and how is it different from “5-5-5″ or “3-3-3-3-3″?
3×15 means “three sets of fifteen reps.” Generally, people take this as three sets of fifteen reps at the same weight whereas “5-5-5″ or “3-3-3-3-3″ implies the reps and sets be done by gradually adding weight or increase in repetition.
Supersets
Supersetting is a more advanced way to lift weights involving doing two exercises in (separate) reps, one after the other, with no rest in between. The exercises can be for the same muscle group, which is my favorite way of using them, or for different muscle groups if you are trying to mix things up.
The Benefits of Supersets
It's a good idea to change your strength workout every 4-6 weeks to avoid plateaus, and supersets offer a great way to completely change what you're doing.
What is a Plateau You Ask?
A plateau is when your body yields little to no results to an exercise that your body previously responded well to (whether it be that you stop losing weight, toning or gaining muscle.)
Reps? Say What?
You might ask "what the hell is the difference between a rep and a set." Don't feel like your the only one. Right off the bat, you have to start somewhere, and if you think when I first walked into a gym I didn't ask the same question, you're well mistaken. Here is a breakdown of typical gym lingo.
Repetitions (aka Reps)
A repetition is a single movement of any exercise.
Sets
A set is a series of repetitions, of an exercise, done at one time.
Breaking Down a Written Workout Plan
Ever get a workout plan from your trainer and wonder "what the heck does 3x15 mean?
So what does “3×15″ mean and how is it different from “5-5-5″ or “3-3-3-3-3″?
3×15 means “three sets of fifteen reps.” Generally, people take this as three sets of fifteen reps at the same weight whereas “5-5-5″ or “3-3-3-3-3″ implies the reps and sets be done by gradually adding weight or increase in repetition.
Supersets
Supersetting is a more advanced way to lift weights involving doing two exercises in (separate) reps, one after the other, with no rest in between. The exercises can be for the same muscle group, which is my favorite way of using them, or for different muscle groups if you are trying to mix things up.
The Benefits of Supersets
It's a good idea to change your strength workout every 4-6 weeks to avoid plateaus, and supersets offer a great way to completely change what you're doing.
What is a Plateau You Ask?
A plateau is when your body yields little to no results to an exercise that your body previously responded well to (whether it be that you stop losing weight, toning or gaining muscle.)
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