Free Weights vs Machines
Often times when entering a gym, it is separated with machines on one side and the free weights on the other. The free weight side can come across as overwhelming with vein popping beasts and grunting behemoths roaming the floor, but despite these sometimes frightening creatures: the free weight section is the place to be. So while machines can offer a sense of comfort, as they have instructions and clearly show which muscles you're working out to avoid confusion- they are limiting your workouts and therefore limiting your results. If you have absolutely no idea what to do in the free weight section other than avoid heavy flying objects, I invite you to follow us to help get you started.
There are many benefits to free weight training opposed to training on machines. One such benefit is that when training with free weights you are working the stabilizing and secondary muscles instead of just one isolated muscle. Take a smith machine squat versus a barbell squat. When you squat on the smith machine- no balance is required and no strength is required to hold the weight up as you enter the eccentric phase of the movement. All one must do is simply lower their legs and push the weight back up. When squatting with a barbell, one must engage the core to keep a nice tight lower back, the stabilizing muscles in the core and hips will automatically engage as you controllably lower the weight down (eccentric phase) before exploding back up (concentric phase). The amount of work the body must do to perform a barbell squat makes it an exercise that has stood the test of time and it still one of the most effective full body exercises.
This doesn't just apply to free weights, but also to body weight exercises. When we workout under these conditions we are placing the body under more stress and therefore making it work harder. This is our goal when exercising. These harder exercises translate to more calories burned in the same amount of time while also increasing muscle definition. Next time you’re exercising: consider making your workouts a bit harder to be sure you are pushing your limits.
