Bodybuilding & weight training guide

When you are designing your workout for weight lifting you will have to decide which type of equipment you are going to use, will you be using mostly free weights or will you go for the machines or maybe a bit of both. Both types of equipment have their advantages and disadvantages and these are explained below:

The free weight advantage

* Free weights can be more effective overall for giving you muscle strength and power gain.

* They tend to match patterns of movement for particular sports.

* You can do a wider variety of exercises so they are more versatile.

* You can work muscles in different ways from the same exercise.

* If you are using them at home free weights are less expensive than the machines.

* They take up less room than the machines.

The disadvantage to free weights

* If you are doing exercises with weights over your head then it can be dangerous as you will have to have correct balance.

* You must use precise techniques when targeting specific muscle groups.

* Muscles are worked better when they are lifted slow and steady using free weights you can use them with momentum which isn’t as good.

* If you haven’t got the proper technique you could cause yourself injury.

The machine advantage

* Machines could be better for the beginner to learn specific movements.

* Machines can be better when isolating specific muscle groups.

* The correct form is always there with a machine.

* You can move more easily from machine to machine.

* Changing the resistance is easier on a machine than with free weights.

* Machines can be safer to use for the beginner.

The disadvantage to the machine

* The stabilizer muscles are hard to strengthen on a machine.

* Machines can be limited only allowing one exercise.

* Most machines are targeted at the average size person, someone short or tall could find them difficult to use.

Overall the machines used for weight lifting routines are excellent for the beginner to start off with for a certain number of weeks until they get into things, another advantage to them is when you are recovering from an injury. The experienced weight trainer may want to use more free weights due to their flexibility but incorporate the machine as part of their routine or for certain exercises.