Resistance Training doesn-t mean refusing to exercise or going to the gym against your will, rather it is an extremely beneficial form of exercise proven to help with increasing one-s metabolism and fitness, as well as an aide to weight loss. Resistance training is also known as weight or strength training; it is important in developing physical conditioning and has been positively linked to stress reduction and coping with stress in today's hectic modern lifestyle.

In recent medical studies resistance training has been recommended as an alternative treatment campaign for various ailments. Included is an alternative therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, where medical professionals have stated that together with a holistic exercise program resistance training may help with strength, stamina, flexibility and function, whilst reducing pain and increasing range of motion.

The actual process of resistance training, in terms of how it affects one-s muscles, involves the tearing of muscle fiber and the re-growth thereof - effectively growing stronger or with increased strength. This is why experts always recommend the rest day between training activities, as the strength or muscle growth occurs when one is not training the muscles or muscle groups recently trained.

When deciding on a resistance training program, there are several issues that must be addressed prior to starting. First and foremost, as usual, is always check with your medical practitioner.

Then one is faced with the question of where do you start? Directly in the gym with free weights or is there an already designed resistance training gym machine?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both, and the choice comes down to what suits you the most. Free weights include equipment like dumbbells, barbells and the like and the machines are those that you can adjust a pin to alter the weight or resistance amount.

Techniques involved with the choice of free weights include, amongst others presses, squats and standing raises - each with a specific objective and outcome. It is highly advisable to make use of a spotter, when resistance training with free weights. When utilizing a machine, although one might find it easy and convenient to use, it is however confining in terms of space and limitation of multiple muscle group training.

Resistance training exercises that can be performed utilizing either of the mentioned mediums are: leg press / squats; seated chest press / bar press; triceps press / kickbacks, to mention a few. Any resistance training should be done in slow, rhythmic movements, and resistance should be increased gradually once one is used to the current level or as it becomes easier.

Other forms of resistance training that one can engage in are water aerobics, abs exercises with a ball, using your own body as a tool for resistance training, usage of exercise elastic to add resistance to your current training activities. For optimal results one is encouraged to make use of a trainer to set out in the right direction, which will help with correct utilization of available equipment as well as correct technique.