The rising temperature means it's time for shorts and t-shirts-- that means there's no more baggy winter clothes to hidebehind.
If you're trying to get in shape for summer, you could startrunning, but if you really want to change your shape andappearance, strength training could be your best bet.
Brian Schilling teaches biomechanics and exercise science at TheUniversity of Memphis and is a certified strength and conditioningspecialist.
He said there is an old adage that aerobic exercise will make apear shape into a smaller pear. If you want to change your shape,you can do it with weight training. Adding muscle mass firms thebody and burns more calories. You can broaden shoulders, whichmeans thinner looking hips.
Keeping fit is all a game of calories taken in and caloriesburned, he said. Both aerobic exercise and strength training burncalories. For those who have never used strength training in yourexercise routine, Schilling said most of the exercises are easy tolearn and there are plenty of options.
Weight machines are the easiest to use and usually instructionsare printed on the machines. However, machines are locked in whatSchilling called a "fixed plane." While the fixed position forcesproper form in a workout, machines don't allow for a full range ofmotion. That doesn't mean machines are bad, but you work moremuscles using free weights, he said.
Not everyone can afford to hire someone to tell them how to workout properly, but it's still safe to figure it out on your own ifyou start with low enough weight .
He warned not to start out with too much weight or to train toohard at first.
"Just take it easy," he said.
Schilling said to use lighter weights and get a full range ofmotion. Often, exercises with free weights work more than onemuscle group at a time.
Auxiliary muscles are also used more often in free weights tostabilize the weight during your movement than in fixedmachines.
One of the benefits of weight training is that no two workoutshave to be the same.
"You can set up your program in 50 ways," said Schilling.Picking a routine is pretty random and you can exercise parts ofthe body in just about any order. You can safely work a each musclegroup every couple of days, he said.
Of course, he suggests aerobic exercise in conjunction withweight lifting for those trying to drop weight.
If you do both Schilling suggested weight lifting first becauseit is hard to do when you're already tired from aerobics.
Protein is important to help build muscle, but many weightlifting fanatics take in more than they need. Creatine is a productthat can help during weight lifting. It increases energy levels,which not only raises strength, but also helps muscles recover morequickly. Schilling did his master's research on creatine. Differenttimes, rumors have circulated that the product can be harmful, butSchilling disagrees.
"There is no evidence that creatine is unhealthy unless you havea kidney disorder," he said.
He said he has used the product for years.
Osman Gursakal is a U of M sophomore. He's been working outsteadily for about a year.
Working out has become society's norm today, he said.
Gursakal said he enjoys working out, but doesn't plan his dayaround getting to the gym.
"No one has a good reason to get that big," he said. "It's notlike you use huge biceps for a daily purpose."
