What's up with that scary weight room?

You see people going to the gym to do cardio, yoga classes, zumba and all those machines!!! Then there's that separate room. You know the one. Yep, the one with all those BIG guys and an occasional girl that everyone whispers, "she must take steroids too!"

 

You may have peeked into the room and were intimidated by all those bulky, sweaty guys grunting away lifting hundreds of pounds. You said in your head, "no way...I'm not going in there!"

 

....so what's up with those free weights anyway?

 

The Fountain of Youth! That's what's up with them!

 

Lifting heavy weights can actually make you stay young. It acts as  anti-gravity for your body; keeping your body parts where they belong (no sagging) and tightening your skin.

 

Free weights vs. machines

 

Ladies...those machines were made with a model of a man's body. Ever sit down at one and think, "how am I supposed to reach that?" or "this doesn't adjust 

right". That's because they were designed with a male body in mind.

 

Keeping that in mind, if you are restricted in movement from the machine, or can't do it properly because the machine won't adjust to your body, you may as well not do it.

 

Free weights offer more...

 

The advantages are:
 

• Range of Motion (ROM) You can do the moves properly because you're not restricted by a machine. The similarity with everyday activities makes it seem natural.
• Limitless alternatives: You do a bicep curl on a machine...and you do one particular bicep curl. With free weights you can do multiple variations of that same curl.
• You can work your weaker arm better with free weights. Everyone has one arm or leg that isn't as strong as the other. Using free weights you can train that one arm better as your other arm is not always helping (as in the machines)
• Free weights require more balance. So you're working on balance AND strength instead of strength alone. You may not be able to lift as much weight due to this issue, but that tells you what you need to work on. This also means you have to FOCUS more than being on a machine. So you're using your brain too.
• You have to use your core more. If you're using a machine to do a curl, you're generally sitting and relaxed. Doing bicep curls while standing makes you engage your core.

 

In conclusion, machines have their advantages too. However, I limit my usage on machines to a few that target areas and are in alignment with my body.

 

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