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[Article] Free Weights or Machines? Advantages and disadvantages

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Free Weights or Machines?

Free Weights or Machines,Which should you choose for the best workout?That is a question many new comers to Bodybuilding / fitness training ask. Each one has there oAdvantages and disadvantages which is what we will examine here. Knowing the strength and weakness of each can help you work out which one is right for you. So let dive into it and have a look at the Pros and Cons of each.
Advantages and disadvantages of Weight Machines
If your just stating out in fitness training/bodybuilding/strength training. Many beginner will find that Weight machines can be a good choice.
The advantages for using machines

  • Weight Machines are good for those people who are beginning or are learning new exercises. Also good if you are recovering from injuries or don't have a spotter when you are lifting heavy weights
  • Most machines will have have instructions and diagrams posted so you know what your doing, making them less intimidating. They are easier to use so you use good form.
  • Time Consuming. Normally changing weights on machines is a lot quicker compared to that of free weight exercises.
The disadvantages for using machines

  • Too much support., using fewer muscle groups at the same time, meaning you don't work the body to its full advantage. You also burn up less calories
  • Quite limiting. they do one exercise per a muscle group, for a good workout you need to use multiple machines.
  • Un- natural. Due to the fixed path of machine, you can't work the body in its different planes of motion, your . movement becomes robotic like
Gyms offer a wide variety of functional training machine such as plate-loaded, free motion and cable machines. Normally requiring better skill and coordination compared to that of your average machine.
Advantages and disadvantages of Free Weights
Free weights are the most popular form of strength training they are cheap,effective and time-efficient. Other advantages of Free Weights:

  • Variety of exercises. Free weights can be used to exercises the entire body, and different muscle groups
  • Natural motions. Free weights mimic the movements you do in your day to day tasks like squatting, lifting things over your head and rotating the body.
  • Burn more calories . You can work on specific muscles while at the same time involving the smaller stabilizer muscles
Like everything Free weights also have their Disadvantages:

  • Skill and coordination.is needed when using free weights, instructions needed for good form, a higher learning curve with free weights compared to that of machines.
  • Injuries. a lot easier to injure yourself poor form no fixed path and dropping the weights
  • Confusion. Its easy to get confused with what to do and where to start as using dumbbells and barbells there is a wide range exercises
When choosing your own resistance strength training take look at the pro's and con's above and also consider the following points:

  1. beginner in resistance strength training: learn movements and form using machines .
  2. Time issues : Machine workouts you will find are time-efficient. If the machine is in use chose free weights.Free weights work out for muscle groups
  3. Home work outs: free weights are cheaper, take up less room and allow for a great well rounded workout
  4. Recovering from injuries: before commencing any exercise always consult with your doctor first, machines offer the more support
 
I am still getting confused with the debate between free weights vs machines,i keep on hearing that free weights are better yet when you go to most gyms, they have many more machines then free weights.

Is this so that they have machines for beginners to learn on ? if that’s the case why is the free weights section is so small?
 
draco said:
I am still getting confused with the debate between free weights vs machines,i keep on hearing that free weights are better yet when you go to most gyms, they have many more machines then free weights.

Is this so that they have machines for beginners to learn on ? if that’s the case why is the free weights section is so small?
Click to expand...



Most gyms, are simply not aimed at bodybuilders, but more general fitness, generally.
 
Also, when you're using free weights, all you need is a bar, a set of dumbells and a bench, and you can do over 100 exercises for all over the body.
 
the reason gyms have so many machines is:

the way the human mind thinks "machines are much better at everything, they build our cars etc so they must be damn good for building muscle "

- because it's safer and people have trouble doing exercises correctly.

- they helps sell memberships the more fancy machines you have the better your gym looks that good be a result of point one being machines a better at everything , the shop at home commercials that we see bombarding us with all the latest fitness gadgets

as the others have said above , freeweights have way more advantages
 
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