Strength training is a type of physical exercise that focuses on developing the strength and size of muscles in the body. It involves the use of resistance, such as weights, to build muscle and improve their strength and endurance. Strength training  to build muscle can be done using various techniques and equipment, such as barbells, dumbbells, and machines. 

Can I build muscle with strength training?

Yes, strength training can build muscle. When you perform exercises that are designed to increase strength, such as lifting weights, your muscles are also subjected to a greater amount of tension than they are used to. This causes tiny tears in the muscle fibres, which your body then repairs by building up the muscles, making them stronger and bigger in the process.

Ensuring a solid, varied diet with plenty of protein helps this process, which is why protein and weight training have such a closely linked relationship.

What exercises are typically in a strength training programme that builds muscle?

A strength training program to build muscle includes exercises that target the major muscle groups of the body, such as the chest, back, arms, shoulders, legs, and core. Common strength training exercises include squats, lunges, deadlifts, bench press, rows, and chin up/pull ups. 

It doesn’t matter if you can’t do some of these at first. A decent fitness professional will help you design a strength training program that is tailored to your individual needs and goals; and every single exercise can be adapted into something you CAN do.

What kind of gyms are best for strength training?

In general, the best type of gym for strength training will have a wide range of free weights, selected weight machines, dumbbells and kettlebells. Like our gym here at Real World Fitness, you’ll need a place that has several squat racks, benches and deadlift platforms, and a lot of bars and free weights. You don’t want to be spending half your gym time waiting for someone to finish training so you can get on the gym’s only bench press station!

Ultimately, the best gym for you to build muscle in is the one that has the equipment and facilities that your programme requires – and is easy to get to from your home or your work.

What if you need help to build muscle? What should you look for in a strength training coach?

Realistically, everyone has a different idea of what “strong” means. In the strongman or powerlifting world, “strong” has very different standards to what the general person on the street thinks it means. 

That sometimes leads people to think strength training is only for meatheads or people wanting to deadlift 300kg. That attitude keeps people out of the gym though, and stops people from even starting to try and build muscle. It’s very rare that anyone who is now strong, started out that way. Equally, it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to meet anyone else’s idea of strong.

Clients with us at RWF end up vastly stronger than when they started; and that’s the point. Strength training is about ending up stronger than YOU were before, not necessarily stronger than anyone else. Whatever your strength training goal, you will end up amazing yourself with what you become capable of.

Get in touch with us at Real World Fitness for a free chat, cup of coffee and a tour of the gym – we can’t wait to help more people get into training!

If you’re in Colwick, Netherfield, West Bridgford, or anywhere else in Nottingham and you’re considering personal training, now’s your chance!

Book your FREE personal training session today and turn your fitness dreams and transformation goals into an achievable reality.

Don’t just take our word for it; feel the difference in guidance, expertise, and motivation. Nottingham residents, your journey to the best version of yourself starts with just one session.