Article: You will get a more total body workout by doing different exercises throughout the week. Remember to give your muscles at least 48 hours of rest after you have worked them according to this strategy. Your muscles become stronger during the rest period, not while you are lifting. Swimming is a great workout for both building upper body strength and cardio. There are also special water exercises like ball training and core workouts. Even doing basic resistance training by walking or running in a pool can be great ways to build muscle in parts of your body neglected by typical strength training exercises. Some people find that joining a gym helps them stick to this schedule. That said, it's certainly possible to strength train at home. While traditional weight equipment such as dumbbells and barbells are a common choice, they are not required. Any form of resistance training will help build muscle. Don't worry about getting too bulky. It is much easier to build muscle with heavier weights. Here's one approach you can use: Choose a weight that you can perform 5 to 6 reps with per set. The exact weight you choose will depend on your strength when starting. Perform the main 3 weight training exercises regularly. These include bench presses, dead lifts and squats. Do 3 sets of 5 to 6 repetitions. You should rest for 2 to 3 minutes between each set. If you're lifting correctly, you should need those 2 to 3 minutes to recuperate. There are many other exercise plans you can follow with weights. Other weight trainers and gym staff are often happy to suggest approaches as well. Keep the length of your workouts to a minimum. Try not to spend 2 hours in the gym doing repetition after repetition. This can increase your endurance, but building muscle mass requires short, hard workouts. Cardio has its benefits, but strength training can often produce better and faster results for fat loss. Add cardiovascular exercise into your workout plan sparingly. Keep it 45 minutes and under, and perform it before you use weights. Go as hard as you can every time. You won't build muscle, lose fat, or achieve many fitness goals if you don't push yourself hard. Consider using a personal trainer, even if it is only to help you make sure that you are doing the right exercises and doing them properly. During sets, your last repetition should be nearly impossible for you to accomplish. You want your muscles to be completely fatigued after a set. If they are not completely fatigued after 5 or 6 reps, you should increase your weight. Consider finding a workout partner who can push you in the gym. Working out as a team can produce greater results than working out alone.
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Diversify your exercises. Consider exercising in the pool. Work out 3 to 5 times a week. Train with heavy weights in the gym. Cut down the time you spend in the gym each day. Keep your focus in the gym mostly on weight training. Push yourself to the limit in the gym.