If you are serious about meeting your fitness goals, you will take your time spent training seriously. That means you have already arrived at the conclusion that in order to meet your goals, you must leave behind simply “exercising.” “Exercising” involves doing random workouts based largely on what you “felt” like doing, which may or may not have moved the ball forward, getting you closer to your goals. You may have done a little of this, or a little of that without a sound reason as to why, other than that it seemed like the right thing to do. Or maybe you’ve seen other people take the same approach. Instead, you have now chosen to follow an intelligently designed plan. We call this planned approach “training.” This likely means you have placed a higher priority on your time spent trying to achieve something through working out. Welcome to this new world. You have just become “my people.” Allow me to offer you some advice on investing now in the proper equipment to get the most out of your training.
Professional Fitness Training in Greensboro
Legitimate training does not require fancy equipment to be done properly or profitably. It does however require some specific equipment that is often not recognized as being essential by the uninitiated. Many people train for years without investing in some of the basic personal items I’ll be discussing in this series. It does not mean they are not making progress. It may, however, mean they could be having a much better experience if they would invest a little cash. This would increase their enjoyment while training if not also increasing their progress, either of which may significantly increase the likelihood they will train more consistently which, in turn, leads to greater results.
Benefits of Wearing Shoes During Fitness Training
Let’s begin the basic equipment series with footwear. While training for strength in particular, there are two vital points of contact to consider. One is your grip – the contact point between you and the barbell or other implement (which we will discuss in more detail at another time). The other vital point of contact is your feet – the point where you and the weight, once lifted, make contact with the ground. Since you will be lifting substantially heavier weights than you would in the normal course of daily life, it is more important to have a stable surface on which to exert force. This is where it is beneficial to have a firm if not hard-soled shoe specifically designed to provide an optimal platform and support for lifting. It just so happens, there are shoes designed specifically for lifting. Many even come with slightly elevated heels of varying heights in order to help achieve certain positions where limitations to a person’s range of motion may be otherwise limited. At the least, it is preferable to have a shoe, however basic, that will have a stable, non-compressible sole. This will improve balance as well as efficiency, which will provide safety and enable you to perform optimally. Think of a good lifting shoe much like a pair of soccer cleats. Could you play soccer on a grass field without the cleats? Of course you could. Could you perform optimally though? Not likely. While you could still enjoy the game with nothing more than a pair of running shoes, you would be subject to slipping and getting injured as well as being somewhat limited in your ability to perform as well as you could if you had a pair of shoes specifically designed to meet the demands of the sport. Strength training is no different. The proper shoes will decrease the chances of injury and help optimize your efforts.
Purchasing Weightlifting Shoes
When it comes to purchasing a pair of lifting shoes, there are a few things you should know up front. First, they will not likely be found in a store where you can try them on. They are, however, often able to be returned easily if they need to be exchanged. When trying them on, you generally want them to fit tighter than a normal shoe. Be sure to put both shoes on and lace them properly. Then kick your heel firmly into the back of the shoe and securely fasten the tarsal strap across the top of the laces. Remain standing in them for 5-10 minutes before deciding whether they are too snug at the toe for your comfort. Few things are as inconvenient as a lifting shoe that has too much room at the toe. Next, be prepared to spend a few bucks for decent shoes. I advise strongly against bargain shopping for an off- brand lifting shoe. There are about 5 or 6 popular brands on the market, but my top two choices remain Adidas and Nikes. There are others, of course, but after trying them, I found they offered less support or durability than I want. Adidas shoes tend to fit narrower feet better and Nikes have typically been a little wider and more stiff but supportive. If you are looking for an all-around general lifting shoe, I would stick to something with about a half-inch heel elevation. If you are specifically looking for a shoe in order to do Olympic weightlifting, then I would go for a three-quarter inch heel elevation. Only if you know you truly need a one-inch heel due to limited range of motion would I buy a shoe that high. Half-inch to three-quarters is perfect for most people.
Many people flinch at paying the $100 -$200 price for these shoes and I understand. In closing, allow me to make one final point. If you have decided you are committed to your training, the money spent for quality shoes will be a sound investment. Over the years I have trained 4 to 5 times per week and have gotten at least 3 years out of my Adidas or Nike lifters. If we break down what I’m paying for these shoes on a monthly basis over three years’ time, I’m paying just over $5.50 per month for these shoes. When you look at it that way, over its lifetime, a good lifting shoe is actually one of the cheapest shoes you’ll ever buy. I think you and your training progress are worth it.