If you want to develop your own workout program of weight lifting exercises for toning muscles, you can do so with a few low-cost pieces of equipment right in your own home. Invest in the following inexpensive weight lifting equipment, then build a program around your toning goals. Remember to build in rest days to allow muscles to recover after being pushed to muscles failure; remember to vary your exercise routine such that you continuously challenge your body.
Invest in a set of resistance bands and a set of free weights. Each of the exercises mentioned below should be performed in sets of repetitions until your muscles hit muscle failure or it becomes difficult for you to perform the exercise while maintaining proper form. Use these two key sets of weight lifting equipment to perform the following toning exercises:
Outer/inner thigh toning exercise
Place the resistance band around your ankles. Walk sideways, allowing the band to provide significant resistance so you have to work your outer and inner thighs as you move.
Chest, abdominal and shoulders toning exercise
Stand on the center point of the resistance band and take both ends of the resistance band in your hands. Pull the ends of the resistance band up to your chest, then up to your ears. Release back down. After several repetitions, hook the resistance band over the top of a door, and pull down in the reverse motion, doing lat pulls with the band.
Bicep curls for arms
Use your hand weights to perform bicep curls. Pick up a hand weight in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your knees slightly bent, and curl weights towards you, feeling the pull in your biceps with each repetition.
Butterflies for chest and back muscles
Lay on your back on the ground with your legs straight in front of you and your arms extended out on either side of your body. Pick up a hand weight in each hand and start with hands above your chest, arms fully extended. Let your arms fall out on either side of your body, feeling the pull in your chest as you let the weights almost touch the ground before you pull them back up to center.
Squats for leg muscles
Holding a hand weight in each hand, stand shoulder width apart with your arms hanging loosely at your sides. Bend your knees until you are in sitting position, then stand again.
 | Weight lifting a challenge that often intimidates would-be lifters, but you will see results and feel pride if you follow weight lifting tips. |
 | Upper body strength isn't limited to gym addicts. Upper body weight lifting routines can deliver optimal results in just two to three workouts each week. |
 | If you want to streamline weight lifting into a straightforward program with quick results, consider power lifting. |
If you've been sidelined with an injury, you can learn what went wrong so as to prevent that injury from happening again. |
If you are going to lift weights, be sure you're doing it right. Proper weight lifting techniques will help you see results while preventing injury. |
