You exercise for a better quality of life.
But when you spend an hour at the gym, you still have another 23 hours when your muscles must work properly without the help of fancy equipment.
No matter what type of exercise you're doing, the movement of your body is called the "range of motion.
" The more difficult that range is, the more effective the exercise.
Whether you're ready to start strength training for the first time or returning to a familiar routine, you may have questions about the best way to achieve your goals.
Novices may be more comfortable using machine weights, but they may not get the results they'd expected.
Old pros who want to focus on a specific muscle group may find machines more effective.
But free weights are a time-honored proven method, and they are effective no matter what size you are.
You may get more bang for your buck with free weights, but you may also run a greater risk of injury.
Take the example of the classic dumbbell bicep curl.
This exercise involves standing up straight, palms forward, and holding a dumbbell by your side in each hand.
You contract the bicep to raise the dumbbell to shoulder height, and then repeat the motion as much as you can.
With a bicep curling machine, you sit and brace your arms on a pad, grab a pair of handles before you, and repeat the same type of motion as you did with the dumbbells, moving upward.
The actions are essentially the same for both exercises.
You're contracting your biceps.
However, sitting down at the bicep curl machine limits how shoulder motion.
You use several muscles in the machine exercise that you don't use with dumbbells - muscles in your forearms and fingers.
When doing weight training, you get much the same exercise using free weights or a weight machine.
You follow similar procedures with the same goals.
But unlike free weights, machine weights offer resistance, adding a bit to your exercise routine.
At the same time, you don't have as much flexibility using a machine, as it forces a standard routine with few deviations.
Using free weights, you have more flexibility, but you also have more work to change the settings.
Using a weight machine, you can change adjust your weights by flipping a switch! You'll find people on both sides of the debate.
Many believe free weights rule, and others think you get more out of machine weights.
While both have advantages and disadvantages, free weights have a longer track record and, time after time, have shown dramatic results.
Body builders use free weights for years with impressive, competitive results.
Ask most any body builder about machine weights, and they'll most likely think you're joking.
Those that favor free weights say you use more muscles than you do with machine weights, making them more effective.
But that doesn't mean machine weights waste both time and money.
Machine weights help stabilize the body and reduce possible injuries.
Your decision on which type of weights to use will depend on what you want to achieve by lifting weights and where you will be doing your work outs.
Both methods are effective and improve your body and your health.
Free weights take up less space and allow you to vary your exercises but, for that very reason, may be more dangerous in terms of injuries.
Machine weights are less flexible and more expensive, but they are more limiting and consume more space.
Professional physical therapists suggest that a combination of free and machine weights may be the best solution.
The bottom line is that you must do the research and make your decision based on your unique goals and circumstances.
Considering your available time, goals for your body, your budget, facility availability, and personal considerations will help you make the best decision that meets your specific needs.
But when you spend an hour at the gym, you still have another 23 hours when your muscles must work properly without the help of fancy equipment.
No matter what type of exercise you're doing, the movement of your body is called the "range of motion.
" The more difficult that range is, the more effective the exercise.
Whether you're ready to start strength training for the first time or returning to a familiar routine, you may have questions about the best way to achieve your goals.
Novices may be more comfortable using machine weights, but they may not get the results they'd expected.
Old pros who want to focus on a specific muscle group may find machines more effective.
But free weights are a time-honored proven method, and they are effective no matter what size you are.
You may get more bang for your buck with free weights, but you may also run a greater risk of injury.
Take the example of the classic dumbbell bicep curl.
This exercise involves standing up straight, palms forward, and holding a dumbbell by your side in each hand.
You contract the bicep to raise the dumbbell to shoulder height, and then repeat the motion as much as you can.
With a bicep curling machine, you sit and brace your arms on a pad, grab a pair of handles before you, and repeat the same type of motion as you did with the dumbbells, moving upward.
The actions are essentially the same for both exercises.
You're contracting your biceps.
However, sitting down at the bicep curl machine limits how shoulder motion.
You use several muscles in the machine exercise that you don't use with dumbbells - muscles in your forearms and fingers.
When doing weight training, you get much the same exercise using free weights or a weight machine.
You follow similar procedures with the same goals.
But unlike free weights, machine weights offer resistance, adding a bit to your exercise routine.
At the same time, you don't have as much flexibility using a machine, as it forces a standard routine with few deviations.
Using free weights, you have more flexibility, but you also have more work to change the settings.
Using a weight machine, you can change adjust your weights by flipping a switch! You'll find people on both sides of the debate.
Many believe free weights rule, and others think you get more out of machine weights.
While both have advantages and disadvantages, free weights have a longer track record and, time after time, have shown dramatic results.
Body builders use free weights for years with impressive, competitive results.
Ask most any body builder about machine weights, and they'll most likely think you're joking.
Those that favor free weights say you use more muscles than you do with machine weights, making them more effective.
But that doesn't mean machine weights waste both time and money.
Machine weights help stabilize the body and reduce possible injuries.
Your decision on which type of weights to use will depend on what you want to achieve by lifting weights and where you will be doing your work outs.
Both methods are effective and improve your body and your health.
Free weights take up less space and allow you to vary your exercises but, for that very reason, may be more dangerous in terms of injuries.
Machine weights are less flexible and more expensive, but they are more limiting and consume more space.
Professional physical therapists suggest that a combination of free and machine weights may be the best solution.
The bottom line is that you must do the research and make your decision based on your unique goals and circumstances.
Considering your available time, goals for your body, your budget, facility availability, and personal considerations will help you make the best decision that meets your specific needs.
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