SEVEN TIPS FOR WEIGHT TRAINING BEGINNERS:

1. STAY HYDRATED
Muscle is 75% water. So weigh yourself on a digital scale before and after your workout. Then drink the difference in ounces of water.

2. BRING TWO TOWELS TO THE GYM
One for your post- workout shower, one for sweat-soaked equipment. (Always wipe your filthy slime off the bench between sets.)

3. BE PREPARED TO SPOT
As a beginner, ask the person exactly what you should do.

4. EMBRACE THE DUMBBELL
You won’t need a spotter, you’ll rarely have to wait for a pair, and they’ll work your muscles harder than machines.

5. CONTROL THE WEIGHT
As a beginner, never use a weight that’s so heavy that you need momentum to lift it. A simple gauge: You should be able to pause for at least one second before lifting aweight.

6. START SLOW
Making minor amendments to your daily routine will fly under the radar of your conscious thought and become positive habits. In other words, if you start so gradually that you barely notice the change, you’ll be more apt to continue it and make more changes without them ever seeming daunting.

7. STAND UP STRAIGHT
Want an easy way to tell if you’re performing your exercises correctly? Check your posture. The correct starting position for most exercises is shoulders back, chest out, standing (or sitting) tall, with your abs tight. Good posture, good form.