I’ve had a few people ask me recently what you need to get when starting strength training.
The answer is pretty simple.
Can you guess what it might be?
Surprisingly, it’s not weights, because you can strength train with bodyweight exercises pretty well. Bodyweight exercises are things like push ups, planks, burpees (ugh – not a fan), lunges, bodyweight squats etc. Weights obviously come in handy, but we’ll get to that.
That one thing you need when you’re starting strength training?
Information. That’s it.
Everything else follows from this. You need to learn how to put together a training routine, and most importantly, how to lift the weights in a way that won’t hurt your back or knees. Strength training is exactly like yoga in that respect – you have to learn a bit of technique, and then you’re good to go. Knowledge is power, after all.
How you power yourself is up to you – get your knowledge from a personal trainer, reading a book, an app, YouTube video etc.
There have never been so many ways to learn about strength training, many of them free. And rest assured that none of this is complicated or difficult to understand. Most of it involves bracing your core, keeping a straight back, sticking your bum out and never being afraid to lift more than you think you can.
What else do I need for starting strength training?
I would say that clothing comes a close second, because you need to be wearing something you can move in easily. You might have seen leggings labelled as ‘squat proof’ – this means that the material won’t stretch too thinly when you’re doing squats. For this reason, regular cotton/lycra leggings probably won’t cut it. My animal print adidas leggings are my current faves – I have them in blue and pink.
A pair of weight training gloves can also be a good investment, because you can easily get callouses on your hands when lifting. They help a lot with grip if you’re deadlifting or swinging a kettlebell.
Strength training shoes
And if you get into deadlifting and squatting, check out these supercute Dropset 3 shoes, which adidas recently added to their strength training range.
If you’re just getting started with strength training then regular womens running trainers are fine, but if you get to the point where you want to up your equipment a notch, then proper weightlifting shoes will do it.
Note that these are shoes rather than trainers. Strength training shoes are all about giving stability when you lift. As such they are particularly good for older exercisers, since balance is one of the things that goes as we age. They’re not bouncy like trainers because you won’t be doing any jumping in them. The fabric is breathable and the fit is wide because feet can swell when we work out.
And what of the weights? Like I said, there’s plenty you can do with bodyweight alone, but if you want to add in some weights then I would invest in two sets of dumbbells (or possibly a couple of kettlebells) – one lighter (for arms) and one heavier (for legs – bigger muscles).
As to what lighter and heavier might be, that’s entirely up to you. Or join a gym, where they will have lots of equipment and machines to play with. Even if you think a gym isn’t for you, a month’s membership might be a good way to try stuff out before deciding what you want to stick with.
Above all, have fun. Strength training is an investment in your own health and wellbeing, but for you to keep doing it, it needs to be enjoyable. Fun things are easier to fit into our weeks. If pink shoes and leggings help make it fun (they do for me), go for it!