Weight training is becoming an increasingly popular way to keep fit and well, so what exactly is weight training? Weight training can also be referred to as; Strength training, Weight lifting, Resistance training, Bodybuilding, Olympic Weightlifting,  Powerlifting or even simply  ‘going to the gym’ or ‘lifting’.  Confusing right?  So, what ties all these different types of weight training together, and how do you know what’s what when starting out in the gym?  Over the next 4 weeks we will be putting out separate blogs about each different type of strength training. 

All the above are types of strength training.  When you engage in Strength training you are either using your body weight, different weighted objects - such as barbells or dumbbells - or machines.   All of the methods above put your muscles under some form or load, weight or resistance.  For example, you can work the muscles in your legs and chest in a variety of different ways using similar movements. 

Bodyweight:  A bodyweight squat and bodyweight push- up. 

Barbell: A barbell back squat and barbell bench press. 

Machine: A Leg press machine and chest press machine. 

In all three examples, you are working the same muscle groups just using a different resistance. Working against a resistance develops muscular strength and muscular hypertrophy (a posh way of saying your muscles get bigger).  

There are 4 different types of Strength Training: 

1.  General Strength Training – Aka Weight lifting, strength training, resistance training. 

2. Olympic Weightlifting – Aka Oly lifting and Weightlifting.   

3. Powerlifting – Aka “The Big 3” 

4. Bodybuilding – Aka Training for Aesthetics 

Over the next 4 blogs, we will describe what each type of strength training is, how to get into it, and what it involves. We are going to kick start with General Strength Training, please refer to the next blog for more details.