Free weights vs. exercise machines

Gym workout and home workout have many similarities, but also a few differences. The biggest difference and advantage that a gym has is the numberof exercise machines it contains. This is something which, in most cases, is not possibleto have at home, so the choice for those who prefer domestic environment forexercises is not so wide. Usually, set of dumbbells and one barbell withweights is what most of the people will purchase for a home workout.

Exercises

So, which option is more viable? In a free weight vs.exercise machines duel, which one will prevail? Obviously, the answer cannot bea simple yes or no, and it is a bit more complicated. Basically, it all depends onwhat a person really wants. When it comes to exercises, truthfully, there is notmuch that a gym can offer which cannot be performed at home. Only for competitivebodybuilding, some muscle toning can use the help of gym machines. Other thanthat, especially if you have a friend to work out with, there is no bigdifference between a gym and home.

Example

Let’s take for an example one of the most commonly used exercises and thatis a bicep curl. It is done from a starting position, which requires holding twodumbbells or a barbell in hands which are relaxed and held next to torso. Exerciseis done by elbow Flexing, with moving forearms up, while elbows and upper armare stable and should not be moving. But the biceps is affected like this andits mass is increasing. In the gym, this exercise requires sitting from the practitionerand putting arms across the pad. So, what is the difference? First thing, athome workout, with no machine, a practitioner needs to stand, and since there isadditional weight involved, bicep curl in this case will affect several moremuscle groups. Those are core (abdominal and corresponding back muscles),entire torso and legs – actually the entire body. With increasing weight, theeffect is becoming more intensive. While doing this same exercise with the helpof the machine, since a practitioner is sitting, legs and core are excluded,and only several muscles of arms are working, including biceps. So, it seemsthat in this duel, a workout machine proves not to be so important.Unfortunately, this goes for the most of the machines, since there are but fewexercises that cannot be done outside the gym and its equipment. And if aperson is not looking into competitive bodybuilding, then few of those machinesare not making a difference at all.