Should you work out on weight machines or not?

A lot of goes into planning a home gym. You must determine what sort of working out you’ll be doing and what machines will be required. You’re sure to want home gym equipment, especially a fitness treadmill like a True M30 Home Treadmill, a stationary bike like a True ES700 Home Recumbent Bike and/or a home elliptical machine like a True M50 Home Elliptical Trainer, depending on what sort of cardio is most enjoyable for you.

Cardio equipment is convenient and necessary for when you get can’t get outside to run or bike, or if you want to mix up your visuals and train on various surfaces.

Body weight versus weight machines for strength training
Home gyms are convenient and effective, but they can be expensive. You may be asking, is it necessary to also include a whole set of weight-lifting machines? It turns out that the answer may be no.

According to fitness experts, what people really need to build stronger muscles is to lift, pull and push their own body weight. Often people don’t know or realize they can get a high-quality workout lifting the weight of their own body as they can lifting the weight of a machine.

With weight machines, you need on to work each muscle group in the body, including biceps, triceps, shoulders, abs, back, hamstrings, quads and calves. With bodyweight exercises, people can do compound movements that target not just one muscle but many, making the activity more efficient. This could reduce the amount of time required for the workout, freeing up extra minutes or hours in the day, which is important for individuals with busy schedules.

Body weight exercises are easy to perform
Body weight exercises as simple as push-ups, sit-ups, squats and lunges are a great foundation for creating a body weight workout plan.

To work the triceps, sit on the edge of a chair. Place one hand on either side of your hips, gripping the edge. Move your butt forward so it’s hovering in front of the seat. Slowly lower your butt down until your elbows are bent to 90 degrees, then return to the starting position. Repeat this exercise eight to 10 reps.

If you want an exercise that can work many muscles, try a walking plank. Start in a plank position with your hands under your shoulders. Lower each hand so you’re resting on your elbows, then push yourself back up to the starting position. Repeat moving from your hands to your elbows for 30 to 60 seconds. You’ll feel resistance in your core and upper body muscles.

A lot of body weight exercises allow people to move in a more natural way. It’s human nature to crawl, lunge, reach and squat, so it makes sense to use these movements in a workout. This sort of training is excellent for mobility and stability because it helps build a strong foundation.

You can even add in some free weights to make exercises more challenging. Use dumbbells for a shoulder press or hold weights in your hands when squatting, for example, to increase your resistance. Free weights allow you more range of motion and are more costefficient than full weight machines.

Keep in mind, there’s nothing wrong with weight machines, so if that’s what you like, then certainly continue. But if you’re looking to mix up your strength training routine or want to opt for the most cost effective ways to furnish a home gym, body weight exercises are an effective, cheaper alternative to get strong and toned between workouts on your cardio fitness equipment.