Skipping warm ups is one common mistake made by weight lifters, both beginners and experienced lifters make this mistake. Ten minute warm- ups of stretching or any form of aerobic activity should be done before attempting to lift weights. Warm ups help to decrease the risk of injuries and should not be left off.

Lifting the appropriate weight is one of the most essential things you should do when weight lifting. You should make sure that the weight you lift is comfortable when you do it at least 15 times. Doing a basic set of 15 repetitions at the correct weight amount will help you quickly build up your strength. The surefire way to hurt yourself is by trying to lift the wrong amount of weight.

It is also important that weight lifters maintain a proper form while lifting weights. For example, during weight lifting your back should not be rounded. When performing upper chest workouts your incline should not be very steep, your body should be at a thirty degree angle. Your movements during lifting should be slow, smooth and continuous as oppose to fast and uneven movements. Fast and uneven movements during lifting can place unnecessary strain on your muscles and cause unwanted injuries.

If you have pain, don't attempt to work through it. Pain is a sign that something is going awry. As you progress in your workout, pain should not be a part of your practice. It usually means you are not dong something properly, and you should stop the lift, lower the weight value, wait for later or seek out someone more experienced for advice.

Do not overwhelm your muscles by working the same muscles every day. If you intend to lift weights everyday you should balance your workouts whereby, the different muscle groups will be worked out each day or you can work the same muscle groups every other day. Allow your muscles at least twenty four to forty eight hours rest and recovery time, in this way you reduce muscle fatigue.

Slow down. Learning to use weight lifting methods can be exciting. It is important to remember, however, that rushing only results in poor form and possible injury. When doing repetitions, it is important to take it slow, isolate the muscles and work with your body and not against it.

By adhering to these simple tips on how to lift weights safely, you will reduce the risks of common injuries such as fractures, sprains, joint dislocations and long term injuries such nerve damage, bone stress, muscle overload and rotator cuff damage.