If you want to understand and evaluate the exercise options available to improve your wellness, or to lose weight, you need to start with a few brief definitions. You can throw around words like weight training, and not realise what it actually means for you, as you associate it with scarily bulky bodybuilders. However, both men and women can train with weights and not end up looking like the Incredible Hulk’s paler cousin.
Weight training, resistance training, bodybuilding and weight lifting are sometimes used interchangeably but that’s not always helpful. Weight training refers to any use of weights to train and strengthen the muscles of the body. Though you may think of it as the classic moustached-man lifting a barbell above his head, it is often done today with machines and can be used for a sport, event or general fitness or strength wellness.
Next, resistance training means that you’re essentially doing weight training, but using some resisting force. Sometimes that resisting force is simply gravity, but other machines may use other means of resistance. Depending on the method of resistance, you can focus on different muscle groups, but the cause-and-effect of effort against any resisting force is basically the same.
Bodybuilding is the type of training that strives towards some sort of classic ideal of form. Resistance training, commonly with free weights and weight machines, comes as a large part of this training, because muscle growth is such an important part of body building. However, the two aren’t synonymous as bodybuilders also cardio workouts such as running, swimming, or other aerobic activities to help burn the fat away from, and thus define, muscles. Bodybuilders often try to ‘bulk up’ as much as possible, and may take vitamin supplements to do so.
Weight lifting and body building are not the same thing, as weight lifting is a specific activity where you try to lift heavier and heavier weights, and there are specific ‘lifts’ you do to accomplish this. If you’re a weight lifter, you’ll be bulkier but less defined that a body builder, because your focus is on performance rather than appearance.
In conclusion, then, weight training and resistance training are very flexible and can be used for a wide range of fitness goals, from looking after your wellbeing to weight loss, whereas bodybuilding and weight lifting are specific areas within those wider topics, and may not be for you specifically. Consult a fitness trainer, or look online for more information as to which exercises could help you reach your goals.
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