Online Class: Weight Training 101

More than 5000 years ago, the ancient Chinese measured the preparedness of their soldiers by how much weight they could lift, and the ancient Greeks, perhaps more than any other culture at any time in history, celebrated the achievement of great strength and muscular development.

Much has certainly changed in the last five millennia.  Weight training has replaced "weight lifting" as the principal goal of many people who are interested in developing their bodies and increasing their success both on and off the playing field.  Lifting weights is a sport, but weight training is a lifestyle.  As we will learn in this course, the difference is not merely semantics.  Weight training is indeed a profession for some people, from physical therapists to professional coaches who advise people on how to use weights to repair and build muscle.

Strength training is an all-encompassing term used to describe all endeavors aimed at increasing one's strength and pushing the body's potential to further heights.  Weight training is a specific type of strength training that specifically uses weights to achieve its goals.  Proper weight training incorporates many cardiovascular benefits, but its chief goal is to build muscle in a healthy, educated, and safe manner. 

This course will provide a comprehensive view of muscular function – how muscles work, how they grow, the nutrition they need to propel growth, how their development can facilitate fat loss, and how to safely exercise using the proper form and technique.

1. Introduction:  Health Benefits of Weight Training and Motivation
2. Genetics and Weight Training
3. Weight Training vs. Weight Lifting
4. Achieving Weight Loss with Weight Training
5. Muscular Function – How Muscles Work
6. Weight Training Foundational Principles
7. Proper Nutrition for Weight Training
8. Proper Order of Exercises
9. Equipment
10. Exercise Program 1:  Chest, Triceps, and Shoulders
11. Exercise Program 2:  Back, Biceps, and Legs
12. Exercise Program 3:  Abdominals
13. Supplements
14. Sport-Specific Weight Training
15. Goals, Expectations, and Safety