Is Lifting Weights Everyday Bad for You

Weight lifting has now become an important part of our daily workout routines, and people all around the world now head to their gyms or do weights at home. Weight training does have a lot of advantages including better developed muscles and bones, well toned and shaped bodies, improved stamina, strength, and endurance. Now how could this habit of lifting weights everyday be bad for us? Should there be intervals of rest between our weight lifting routines everyday? Or should you lift weights everyday for best results? Read on to learn more.

As stated above, the benefits of weight training are numerous, and as weight lifting is being recommended for everyone from obese teens to women, everyone seems to be doing some form of weight training and reaping its rich rewards. Now "why not me?", you say, and get on to the gym or at home, lifting weights everyday of the week, pushing yourself, working hard, toiling away, till your body starts to ache. "There's no gain without pain", you might think - and continue your workout, only to give up after a few days, totally exhausted and with aches in every possible corner of your body. Does this story sound familiar? Well, this is what usually happens when you overexercise. Although exercising is definitely good for you, intense exercises like lifting weights have to be done more carefully and with sound knowledge. More on benefits of weight lifting.

When Does Lifting Weights Everyday Become Bad For You?

When you overdo it: Lifting weights everyday is bad for you when you start pushing too hard and using more weights than you can carry. Always follow the weightlifting routine determined by your personal trainer or use only whatever weight capacity you can carry until you have successfully completed all your sets without straining yourself. If you sense pain towards the end of the sets, you should probably go a little lighter and then move back up. This will help you to slowly develop your strength without any serious injury, thus actually helping you work out more. Here's a weight lifting workout plan for you.

When you use bad technique: Weightlifting routines everyday, should help you get into shape, but if you are using wrong weightlifting techniques, then you are not going to be getting good results any time soon. On the contrary, you might be at a risk of developing an injury. Most often it is the back that can be injured if your technique is wrong although other body parts can also be at risk.

When you do not have adequate rest: This is especially true when you are doing heavy weight lifting or have progressed to slightly heavier weights. For such cases, a day of rest, in between the day of workout, is recommended as this helps in muscle building. If you are working out on alternate body parts over the week, this may not necessarily apply, provided, you do not exercise one body part more than three times in one week. If you are older, this should be two times a week. Read more on weightlifting for seniors. If you are looking to lose weight, then the best thing to do would be to do some cardiovascular exercises every alternate day to help burn fat more easily.

When you do not eat properly: This is the most basic mistake we can make when we start working out. When you lift weights everyday, your body needs added energy for all the hard work along with body building materials and nutrients for repairing all the wear and tear that happens while exercising. So all the necessary nutrients must be consumed and all the unnecessary food items avoided, especially junk food.

When you have not visited the doctor: Anyone who begins a heavy weight training program is recommended to, first undergo a complete check up for any health related problems, which could cause complications later. This does not mean they can never weight train but it does call for a more cautioned or specialized approach. Some health problems that might call for a different approach to weight lifting include high blood pressure, aneurysms or an enlarged aorta, any other heart diseases, bone or joint problems, asthma and pregnancy. Obtain expert advice from a doctor or certified trainer on this issue before you begin.

When you are younger than 13: Weight training can cause stunted growth if and only if it is done wrong and without proper supervision. It is generally recommended to avoid heavy weight lifting before puberty is reached and full growth has taken place. Teenagers could lift light weights everyday and do more reps to increase endurance. Such stamina and endurance building exercises are definitely safe for adolescents or teens and can be safely done, but again, only after proper knowledge and under expert supervision. More on weightlifting for kids.

So, we have seen all the possible cases in which lifting weights everyday can be bad for you. We must remember that lifting weights everyday without proper knowledge can be quite detrimental, and that overdoing it can actually do more harm than good. Do continue working out and if you haven't started, please do, but remember to always be informed.