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Whether you're hoping to trim down for the beach this summer, beef up for your ex-girlfriend's wedding, or get your heart in shape so your grandchildren have at least one grandmother at their high school graduation, weight training can be an effective vehicle for your self-improvement. Most likely, your best option is going to be a local gym, and for a lot of people that's intimidating, but don't worry, no one has ever skipped the experience of going to the gym for the first time to find people there in much better shape (even the dude in the mesh tank top who could show an IMAX movie on his back). In order to make the most of your weight training program, you should familiarize yourself with the basics. This little treatise will let you know what to expect and what to do to make your regiment as effective as possible.

If you live in a decent sized city you probably have a few different gym options, ranging in price from around $20 a month (which is a good deal) up to over $100. The bigger guys will have more to offer you, and they may have some attractive sales, but they usually have hidden costs in the contract. Don't be afraid to haggle with them, though. They want your membership, and you can sometimes get them to skip enrollment fees. Look over the contract thoroughly and make take note of the cancellation policy. After you sign a one or two year contract with someone you may not be able to get out of it without some hefty fees if you suddenly start dating someone with a home gym. Unfortunately, cancellation fees are usually unavoidable. Before you sign, make sure you get a good look around and find out what's going to be available. You will definitely want to incorporate aerobic exercise into your weight training, so if you don't want to jog near your home, make sure they've got a setup that can accommodate you. If you don't already know whether you prefer free weights or machines, talk with a trainer at the gym about your goals and they should be able to point you in the right direction. (Different states have different requirements for becoming a personal trainer, though. Make sure the person you talk to has some education.) Most likely they'll recommend a little of both. Be specific about what you want to achieve. If you want to say to be able to say to somebody, "Do you have any tape? Because I'm ripped," you gotta let your trainer know.

You'll want to understand a little about the physiology involved in weight training as well. You're going

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