No matter your workout goals, strength training is an important part of any workout plan. Most people choose to strength train three times per week, which is generally enough to see a benefit. However, if you are new to strength training or if you are interested and seeing more gains, you may be wondering what the best way to select lifts for your workout is.
3 Tips for Deciding which lifts to do during your workout
Check to see if you’re sore. The first step to deciding what muscle group you should work out is checking and seeing if you’re sore. For example, if you had a long day working in the yard and your shoulders and back are already sore, you may want to skip them and do leg day instead.
Work out one muscle group a day. Next, it’s best to work out one muscle group a day. Of course, this all depends on your workout goals, but if you are trying to build muscle, then focusing on one muscle group per workout will get you there faster.
Pair certain muscle groups together. Finally, very few exercises truly isolate one muscle group. Even a bicep curl targets more than just your biceps. For this reason, it may be more beneficial to pair groups together for your workout plan. Some common muscles to pair together are chest and shoulders, all the leg muscles, and back, abs, and arms.
When planning your workout routine, it’s important to check in with yourself. Even if you have a plan for the day, don’t hesitate to change if your body isn’t feeling up to it. You also need to make sure that you fuel yourself after your workout to ensure your body has all the nutrients to start repairing sore muscles. A quality postworkout snack, such as Jawbox Jerky, can help your muscles get the nutrition they need. Jawbox Jerky contains 16 grams of protein with only a handful of carbs, is made in small batches from whole muscle cuts, and has no artificial flavors or preservatives. With a travel-friendly design, Starbucks jerky can be the perfect postworkout snack.