15 good reasons to bodyweight exercise!

The last two days have seen a little series on bodyweight exercise training and I have tried to outline some of the key benefits and features of bodyweight training as part of your own programme for a number of reasons that have been previously raised and are done so again below. In wrapping up, here are a host of reasons why you should give this ever increasingly popular exercise regime a go or at least combine it in some small way with what you might already be doing. Found at 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/8849681) and written by John Rivers (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Rivers) it make s a lot of sense and is hard to refute. Take note therefore, and get into it!



When looking to increase strength and build muscle, most individuals turn to traditional weights. While these weights can be effective, they can also cause problems on your joints, tendons, and other body parts due to the strain your body undergoes when lifting.

Fortunately, there is a way to get weight training without the drawbacks of weights. Bodyweight training uses the body to help build muscle and increase strength with nothing, but, the weight of ones own body.

By using exercises that rely solely on bodily strength such as push-ups, squats and lunges, you can build amazing muscles, improve your endurance, and increase your strength.

Not entirely convinced?

Here are 15 reasons why you should train with bodyweight instead of weights.

• It Saves You Money: Traditional weights and free weights cost money and may require extra equipment that could be very expensive. When using your own bodyweight for weight training and conditioning, you cut out the middle man, which keeps you from spending lots of money.

• It's Gentler on Your Joints: Bodyweight exercises are kinder on the joints and they don't get battered as much as with traditional weight training. Because you're using your own body, you have a much more natural range of motion that cuts back on strain and stress.

• It Increases Your Resistance: When you know how to properly perform bodyweight training exercises, you can increase your resistance and build stronger muscles. Exercises that really challenge your muscles like one arm push-ups, steep incline jumps and inverted rows can work wonders on your resistance.

• It Builds Character: Bodyweight training requires a lot of patience and discipline, which are traits that translate well into your everyday life. When you teach yourself to wait patiently and maintain focus, you can do well in your relationships, jobs, and other aspects of your life.

• You Can Gain (Good) Weight: As you progress with bodyweight exercises, you'll begin to gain muscle. As you gain muscle, the amount of weight you're lifting increases, giving you a gradual increase in difficulty which builds your endurance.

• You Can Learn New Skills: Bodyweight training exercises are done using only the body. Many people don't have enough or any knowledge about these exercises. When you try bodyweight training, you're adding a new skill to your repertoire.

• Lower Risk of Injuries: Bodyweight exercises are simpler than traditional weight training exercises, which means the risk of injury is much lower. If you're new to weight training of any kind, bodyweight training is the best kind to start with.

• It's Customisable: Most weight and strength training have specific steps that you must follow. When doing bodyweight training, you can modify the exercises to your skill and ability level, making them the right exercises for you personally.

• You Learn To Develop Better Control: Bodily control is a great skill to have as you move through your strength training. Bodyweight training allows you to build better awareness of your body and control over your actions.

• All You Need Is Yourself: Bodyweight training is incredibly low maintenance, meaning it requires nothing, but, you to work and work well. You can add free weights or dumbbells if you like, but the best bodyweight training is done using only your body and the proper exercises.

• It Can Be Done Anywhere: With bodyweight training, you don't have to be confined to the gym or to your home. You have the freedom to practise these exercises wherever you like, whether at the beach or at the park; it's all up to you.

• It Builds a Great Physique: If you want a sculpted body there's no better way to achieve one than with bodyweight training. These exercises can actively work your abs, as well as the muscles in your back and upper chest, legs and butt to create a healthy, sculpted body.

• You Really Can Get Stronger: Most people have trouble lifting their own bodyweight which makes bodyweight training an excellent exercise. As you learn to lift your own weight, you have the potential to gain muscle quickly, making you stronger all the time.

• Anyone Can Do It: Not everyone can lift weights, but, they can learn to modify exercises used for bodyweight training. Sine this training type is customisable, it can be done by people of all ages.

• It's Good For You: It may seem cliché, but, any type of exercise is good for you and your body. While you can enjoy the aesthetic benefits, such as, muscles and a lean physique, you can also enjoy a healthy heart, lungs, and other vital systems.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

The difference between using machines and free-weights in your workout routine.

Many people ask, especially when starting out on an exercise regime for the first time, and when joining a gym, what the difference is, or what the benefit is, in using free weights compared to exercise machines. This articles I came across at ezinearticles.com and provides a clear concise short answer to that question, and is worth a read when considering either/or. Written by Christopher R. Lowndes (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_R_Lowndes and sourced at http://EzineArticles.com/8801399) it is worth a few minutes of your reading time.

Machines are built to facilitate your ability to lift the weight at the point where your joints and ligaments need the most assistance. Starting out, it is important to strengthen these joints and ligaments before overloading them with force and machines are wonderful at achieving this, whilst also allowing you to build ample muscular hypertrophy. (Hypertrophy is defined as: "Enlargement of a part of the body due to the increased size of the constituent cells." In other words, muscular hypertrophy is the growth of muscle due to consistent contraction under a resistant force like weights or machines).

For an intermediate to seasoned lifter I would advise free weights as a necessary entity in your workout. Free weights require your stabilizer muscles to come into play a lot more because unlike machines the weights represent a true reflection of your strength and so a lot more muscles come into play when performing exercises with them.

Compound exercises such as squats, bench press and dead lifts are exercises that are performed with free weights and are essential when it comes to functional strength and athleticism. Whilst machines can mimic the primary muscles worked in these exercises, they cannot mimic the other stabilizing muscles being used secondarily and will not have the same effect on the neurological system which is one of the main factors in building strength, muscle, speed and overall athleticism.

So there you have it, the difference between machines and free weights. When it comes down to it, in an ideal world both play a part when it comes to health and fitness.
If someone has issues with their knees from a past injury I would obviously advise them to use a machine leg press versus doing a barbell back squat and on the other hand if I have a healthy college graduate wanting to play professional football then you can bet I will have them barbell squatting on a regular basis.

What I'm trying to say is that current settings and circumstances play a huge role in whether you should use machines or free weights and each has a place in your workouts regardless of age, gender, goals or past injuries and experience in the gym.

Start out using machines until your body is conditioned and then mix it up and incorporate both machines and free weights into your routine for an optimal workout and remember you can do ANYTHING you put your mind to as long as you believe in yourself and the direction you are going.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-