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4. See the results: Knowing what to do makes all the difference. Many people go to the gym for months -- even years -- and wonder why they're not getting any results. Well, it's because they're doing the same darn workout every time.
This is a critical point: You can either quit out of frustration, or you can become a sponge for knowledge and get some help. Learn what you need to do to make your program successful. Get your hands on fitness magazines and books, talk to the trainers at the gym, ask other successful exercisers or hire a coach. Acquiring the knowledge and getting help is all you need to get hooked.
At first you may question what you're doing: Are you going to get too big, are you wasting your time, how do you know this will work? But then you see other men and women who have been weightlifting for years and they look terrific. Here's the telltale sign that your program is working: You start to see definition and feel firmness in muscles you never thought you had.
5. Avoid boredom: I suspect many people don't lift weights because they think it will be boring. Just remember to change your routine every 3-4 weeks to keep things fresh and to keep your body responding to your training. Change the reps, the sets, the weight, the rest period, the exercise order, etc. Training only gets boring if you let it.
6. Improve everyday, functional strength:
Weight training does wonders to help you with activities of daily living. You'll find yourself doing housework, yard work, moving furniture and carrying bags of groceries without gasping for air and pooping out. If you have a medical condition such as arthritis or multiple sclerosis, lifting weights can be a terrific way to maintain -- even regain -- strength and functioning.
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