Home Gyms – Free Weights or Machines?

Home gyms can be as individualized as you like them to be. Are you the type of person who likes the routine of a machine that exercises various parts of your body? Or are you a person who likes the feel of a weight in your hand and the total focus of lifting it in various ways to tone and work your body?

Free weights will work your muscle to its fullest extent. The force of the weight will require total strength from you. Not only does your body require you to lift the weight, often over your head, but you will need to balance it as well. It is important to maintain good posture throughout your weight lifting workout with stomach in, shoulders back, no slouching and structured movements in order to be fully effective. Not only will this help you to achieve a better workout result, but it will also prevent you from sustaining any injuries. The use of a workout bench is optional, but helpful, and will allow for more of a variety in your workout sessions. The most popular free weights are dumbbells, but when using a weight bench you will want to have a weightlifting bar with additional weights for the bar.

Free weights on their own without the use of a workout bench offer versatility in the workout. You are building your total body with the use of free weights. Working out with free weights also requires a lesser amount of time and builds faster. This muscle build up will help to burn more calories as well. However good working out with free weights is, there is more of a risk for injury. Working out with free weights requires balance and it takes a while to build up to having the optimal edge on that, as well as your posture while working out. Good form is necessary. Free weights, in the other hand, take up less space than does a machine and they are less expensive.

Machines usually work a certain area of the body and you will know just what to do with a machine in order for it to be effective. There is no mistaking it. You hop on and go to it. They are essentially much easier to use than are free weights. However, they take up space. Machines are also more costly than are free weights. The machines, in a sense, actually move you. They are in control of how you move your body as there is a path that they follow. Free weights allow you to move and be the one in control of just how you will do it. They are less supportive than a machine would be.

Free weights or machines? You decide. Some people do not enjoy working out with weights and prefer the monotony and structure of a machine. Some people prefer the focus that free weights offer you. It is all a matter of personal preference.