How to Lift Weights

Co-authored by Laila Ajani

Developing a weightlifting routine and learning correct weightlifting technique is a great way to get in shape and take full advantage of what the gym has to offer. Keep reading to learn how to get started pumping iron.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Lifting Properly

1
Choose an appropriate amount of weight. When you're first getting started lifting, it's difficult to know how much weight to lift. You don't want to start with too much and max out after only a few reps, because multiple repetitions are the proper way to build muscle. Likewise, you don't want to lift weight that is too light for you. To choose the proper amount of weight will take some practice.^{[1]
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- Figure out how many reps are appropriate for the routine you're working on. If you're doing bench presses, you'll want to do more than 3 or 4 reps to build muscle, so you'll need to find an amount of weight you'll be able to lift 10, 15, or 20 times before you experience muscle failure.
- Muscle failure is the point at which you physically cannot perform another unaided rep. The more you lift, the more familiar you'll become with your muscle failure point, and the more you'll be able to push it.
- Ideally, muscle failure will occur immediately following your last intended rep. Choose the heaviest weight that you can lift for the intended number of reps.
2
Lift slowly and steadily. Getting a workout done quickly isn't the best way to maximize the good effects of lifting. Don't rush your way through your lifts, which risks injury and ends up being a waste of time. Doing fewer reps slowly and properly is better than maxing out on super-heavy lifts and getting done in record time.
- For a good workout, set aside at least an hour. Don't work out more than a few hours, and try to work out for a solid thirty minutes to ensure a healthy routine.
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Make sure you haven't eaten 50 minutes before you start exercising, or you might end up with cramps.^{[2]
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- Do make sure you aren't exercising on an empty stomach either, or you won't have the energy to perform the exercises. Have a meal 1 to 2 hours prior to exercising, and just a little snack of fruit 15 minutes before you start if you are hungry again.
4
Do a warm up routine before you start exercising. This will get more oxygen in your bloodstream and to your muscles. It also prevents -or at least reduces- muscle soreness after your workout.^{[3]
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- A typical warm up will move all of the joints that you plan to work out through their full range of motion. For example, if you are working on your shoulders, you might do shoulder rolls and jumping jacks.
- A warm-up should also elevate your heart rate, so that there is an increase in the blood supply to both the connective tissues and muscles.
5
After your workout, do a cool down routine. This should stretch the muscles you just worked out. The goal is to gradually lower your heart rate again and prepare your body for a rest.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Working on Your Arms

1
Work on your bench press. The bench press is probably the most popular work out move, and it involves lifting weight straight up from your chest while laying on your back, usually on a weightlifting bench. It's a smart idea to use a spotter to help you rack and unrack the weight, especially if you're new to lifting and haven't gotten a good sense of how much you can lift yet.^{[4]
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- Grab the bar firmly, shoulder width apart. You need to hold the bar quite tightly to create tension and flex in your biceps, shoulders, and torso muscles. Take a deep breath, driving your arms upwards and pulling your shoulder blades back and down into the bench.
- Plant your feet. Move the bar directly over your chest and keep your muscles tight.
- Without dropping it, lower the weight in as straight a line as possible, slowly and evenly, until it reaches your chest. Without allowing your chest to collapse or losing any tension, push up with your arms, driving the bar to its "up" position.
- Start with an amount of weight you can easily lift to practice developing your form. Always use a spotter, especially in the beginning as you're just getting started.
2
Do dumbbell presses. Dumbbell presses involve a similar technique to the bench press, but involve lifting a single dumbbell in each hand, rather than lifting one weight with both hands together. This is an excellent way to build muscle balance between your left and right sides. While your strong arm can compensate for the weaker one while doing the bench press, the dumbbells work both arms equally.^{[5]
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- Take a dumbbell of an appropriate weight in each hand and lift them straight up from your chest in a reclined position. Lower them slowly and steadily until each dumbbell touches your chest between your shoulder and nipple. Bring them back up until they touch again, straight up above you.
- For a different but similar work out, do some chest curls by keeping your arms perfectly straight and lowering them out to your sides. The dumbbell press is more like a push-up while the curl is more like you're flapping your wings.
- To work a slightly different muscle group, also consider doing both bench and dumbbell presses on an inclined bench. The technique will be basically the same, but you'll lift at a different angle to your body to make the bar or bells go straight up, which will work different muscles.
3
Work on your bicep curls. To build your biceps, do curls from a standing or seated position. With an appropriate amount of weight, let the dumbbell hand down at your side, one in each hand and bring it up to your chest by flexing your bicep.
- The dumbbell should be parallel to your side. To bring it up to your chest, rotate the dumbbell so your palm faces your chest as you lift it.
- You can either alternate arms or you can do several reps with each arm before switching.
4
Do dumbbell rows. Dumbbell rows are a smart exercise to round out your arm workout. They will work the sides of the back as well as the backs of the shoulders. This exercise involves lifting dumbbells with each arm up from the ground toward your chest in a kneeling position. Work one arm at a time.^{[6]
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- Get onto your hands and knees, either on the ground or kneeling on a weight bench.
- Take a dumbbell of appropriate weight in your hand and lift it from the ground up to your chest before lowering it. Continue for one set of 8 to twelve reps. Switch sides after you finish the set.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Working on Your Legs

1
Do some squats. Most gyms will have squat stations available for you to work out your quadriceps, the large muscle group in your legs. This is another exercise that's important to have a spotter on hand for, especially when you're first starting out. Using the same kind of free weight involved in the bench press, take the weight onto your shoulders in a standing position.^{[7]
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- While the weight is still racked, put your hands in the same positioning as you would for a bench press, and duck under it, putting the bar across your shoulders and behind your head. The bar should rest on the fleshy trapezius muscles immediately below the back of your neck and between the shoulders.
- Lift the weight from off the rack and take a steady step backward. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and keep your head forward. It's important to keep your back very straight during this exercise or you can risk straining it.
- To perform the squat, bend your knees and hips, taking your thighs parallel to the ground. Pause for a second before pushing yourself back up into a standing position.
- When doing the squat, make sure you can always see the tops of your shoes. If you can't, your knees are moving too far forward. Your ankles and knees must line up vertically.
2
Step up. Start this exercise with a lighter weight than you used for the squat. Using a similar technique to the squat, take the bar on your back, in front of a box, sturdy bench, or a raised platform.^{[8]
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- With your feet hip-width apart, raise one knee up and plant your foot down onto the box. Your thigh should be parallel to the floor. Step up and bring your other foot onto the box or the raised surface.
- Reverse the motion by bending your leading knee and hip and carefully stepping back with your leg.
3
Lunge with dumbbells. Doing a basic lunge exercise while holding dumbbells as if you were about to do a bicep curl can be a great exercise for your whole leg. Keep your back straight, your torso flexed, and your head and feet forward to do a lunge with the proper form.
- To perform the lunge, step forward with one foot, heel first.
- Lower yourself slowly, until your legs are bent at 90 degrees.
- Push back with your lead foot and straighten your legs. Stand up straight to complete the rep. Do the same number of reps on both sides.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Developing a Routine

1
Highlight the groups of muscles you'd like to work out. Try to make a routine that you will be able to follow, and that you'll be excited to work on. For example, you might structure your week this way:
- Monday: Concentrate on Back and Triceps.
- Tuesday: Concentrate on Legs.
- Wednesday: Concentrate on Chest and Biceps.
- Thursday: Concentrate on Abs.
- Friday: Concentrate on Shoulders.
- Saturday: Rest.
- Sunday: Rest.
EXPERT TIP

Laila Ajani
Fitness Trainer
Laila Ajani is a Fitness Trainer and founder of Push Personal Fitness, a personal training organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Laila has expertise in competitive athletics (gymnastics, powerlifting, and tennis), personal training, distance running, and Olympic lifting. Laila is certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), USA Powerlifting (USAPL), and she is a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES).

Laila Ajani
Fitness Trainer

Consider doing a full-body workout instead of isolating different muscle groups. A lot of people, especially beginners, exclusively do upper body lifts one day, leg lifts on another day, pushing exercises on a separate day, and so on. Keep in mind, even if you try to isolate different muscle groups, you'll likely be working more than one area at a time. To keep your workout balanced, the most effective way to get strong is to do full-body workouts on non-consecutive days.
2
Add weight progressively. After about a week of lifting, you will notice that it has become easier to do the same exercises with the same weights. Continue with these exercises and weights until the end of the week, making sure you are doing it with the right form. After this week, add some weights to what you were already using. It shouldn't be too much, just enough to make it just as tough as your first week.^{[9]
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- You will want to use weights which are still comfortable to use, but heavy enough to 'only' let you do three or four sets of 8-12 reps each.
- You use the same weights for a total of two weeks, doing the same exercises.
- Add some more weights, and use these for the next two weeks, doing the same exercises.
3
Do pyramid sets. Get the weight heavy enough to do a maximum of 12-15 reps. Then, do pyramid sets with the weights, doing a set of 5, then 1 set of 10, 1 set of 15, before working your way down again. Rest between your sets for 30 seconds to a minute.
- After the minute of rest between sets, do another pyramid set that trains the same muscle groups with the same amount of reps and rest. After these three sets, move on to another muscle group.
4
Take a cold shower and/or bath when you're done. This will help you relax and will also make your arteries in and around your muscles expand, which allows oxygen to flow in more easily and let the acids that developed in your muscles flow out easier.^{[10]
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Weight Lifting Form and Moves

Maintaining Proper Form when Weight Lifting

Basic Weight Lifting Moves for Beginners

Intermediate Weight Lifting Moves

Expert Q&A

Question

My left hand is not good in lifting weights. What should I do?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a BCRPA certified Personal Trainer in British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

Use dumbbells instead of a barbell. Use the same weights on both sides, gradually building up your left side to keep pace with the right, You should never use heavier weights on one side. Build your weaker side up to meet that of the stronger side.
Question

Should I use whey protein when lifting weights?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a BCRPA certified Personal Trainer in British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

If you are really having trouble gaining weight and you are working out enough that you experience muscle fatigue, protein supplements can help put on some muscle. Chocolate milk is recommended by some lifters as an easily available alternative to protein powder because it has the proper macronutrient (proteins, carbs, fat) balance for post workout recovery.
Question

What is the 5x5 routine?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a BCRPA certified Personal Trainer in British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

The 5x5 routine refers to the number of sets (5) and repetitions (5) of an exercise. For example, to do 5x5 bicep curls, start by doing 5 bicep curls, then rest. Repeat 4 more times for a total of 5 times. The total number of bicep curls would be 5x5 which equals 25 repetitions.