In the Sessions at RISE we use a variety of equipment.
Dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, TRXs, bands and much more.
I wouldn’t call it “weight-lifting” personally.
Sure, it involves lifting something of weight.
But so does pretty much everything we do on a day to day basis.
To me, at least, “weight-lifting” is particularly where you’re working primarily on maximising the weight you can lift, usually on specific exercises like the bench press, squat and deadlift.
But I appreciate that’s a relatively subtle distinction that most wouldn’t make.
We’re lifting weights, so it’s weight lifting.
That’s cool.
People sometimes express concerns about this.
Before they start with us, usually.
And I get that.
“Weights” have a certain connotation in our society.
They can easily be connected to images of large, muscular body builder types.
Or powerlifters or strongmen (and women – I don’t know how to do the opposite gender, or gender natural for that and people still know what I mean).
“I don’t want to get bulky” is a common concern we hear.
And, as I say to them, “That’s cool – it’s not going to happen”.
“The bodybuilder type photos you’re thinking of, are people who take steroids and train and eat very specifically for that result. Unless we’re doing that, it ain’t gonna happen”.
“It’s actually really hard to gain muscle mass, especially as you get older. And the rate is so slow, we could easily level off the training once you’ve got to that ‘toned physique’ that you’re after”.
In 20 years in the fitness industry I don’t think I’ve ever trained anyone who has ended up with more “bulk” overall.
Those who’ve lost some body fat and gained some lean mass have ended up smaller.
Less “bulky”.
If we’re losing a stone or three of body fat, there’s not a chance we’re going to be gaining the same volume of muscle.
For the average person who’s attracted to our message and joins us, they are definitely going to end up “less bulky”.
There are, of course, people who’ve gained overall bulk through their increased muscle size.
They just don’t come to somewhere like RISE.
So, don’t worry about “lifting weights”.
Don’t worry about making them progressively heavier over time (we need to, to stop it getting less effective).
Don’t worry about “getting bulky”.
The exact opposite will happen (check www.myrise.co.uk/apply) if that’s what you’re after!
Much love,
Jon ‘and Big Dave’ Hall
P.S. That middle name is so specific, I genuinely don’t know if anyone will get it.
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RISE in Macclesfield was established in 2012 and specialise in Group Personal Training weight loss programmes for those that don’t like the gym and find diets boring and restrictive!
