Fitness Weights...
What are they really?

Hello, I'm Darin...

These days it seems more and more people are getting into fitness. Some because their health has declined and they need to get more fit in order to either prevent, or reduce the effects of certain diseases, and others simply because they want to look and feel better.

With so many people getting into it, I thought I would put up this page to help explain a few things about getting fit and the tools and equipment that can be used.

Fitness Weights are simply a tool that a person can use while they are exercising. While some exercises only require the weight of your body, you may see better results if you add a little more resistance to your routine.

Fitness Weights

You may not be aware of the benefits fitness weights can bring to your overall health and weight loss goals. When you think of weights, images of large and bulky men may come to your mind. While this may be a reasonable goal for some not everyone is keen on the idea. This is a bit unfair however as results like those are not something that happens naturally. Muscles are made of protein, and as such require massive amounts of it to grow. Unless you’re planning on downing protein shakes for every meal and eating a dozen eggs everyday you won’t have anything to worry about. With a well balanced diet, a regular exercise routine, and light weights you’ll be able to take your body’s ability to burn fat to the next level.

There are many different types of fitness weights you can use to help incorporate them into your exercise program. Some great examples of these are ankle and wrist weights that can be worn during different cardio exercises. Using them to create more resistance will force your body to use more muscle to achieve the same result. When you focus your body’s attention on building lean muscle it’s going to have to use energy to do so. Luckily for many of us looking to lose weight there are more than ample amounts stored on our body’s in the form of fat.

Exercises that use your body’s own mass for resistance such as lunges and squats are a very popular way to burn calories and increase your overall fitness. Weights are a great way to amplify the effects. Start by simply holding a weight in both hands as you go down. If you do not exercise in a gym and have no access to free weights then you can always get creative and use a gallon of water. Again, increasing the amount of effort your muscles work will divert protein into maintaining muscle mass and cause your body to focus on burning fat instead of muscle.

If you really want to turn your body into a fat burning machine however you should dedicate a portion of your exercise routine to weight training. Investing in free weights is a great way to start and can be used anywhere you exercise. Using slow and controlled movements is the key, don’t be afraid to start with the lowest weight that you’re comfortable with. If you find yourself struggling or thrusting the weights in an uneven motion your efforts are going wasted. Watching your progression as your body begins to focus on toning existing muscles and burning fat is a very rewarding experience.

There’s a large misconception surrounding the use of weights in your fitness routine. It’s important to educate yourself on how your body builds and uses muscle. More muscle mass means a higher metabolism, which in turn leads to more calories burned and greater overall fitness. Weights are not only for bodybuilders or men wanting to bulk up. They’re an important part of the weight loss and fitness equation, and one that should not be overlooked.

Fitness Weights

You may find it difficult to maintain and effective fitness program. The simple fact is that losing weight and keeping it off takes more than just subscribing to the latest fad. Making lasting changes to your lifestyle is the only way you’re going to make long standing change to your overall fitness. Weights are a great means for doing so and can be incorporated into your everyday life with great success, but this is only one step in transforming your body into fat burning machine.

When developing a fitness program many people will simply overlook the importance to including weights. It goes without saying that aerobic exercise is important for burning fat and maintaining good overall health. Getting your cardiovascular system going and your heart rate up is a great way to increase your metabolism. Incorporating different fitness weights into your routine is what’s going to take it to the next level.

Many avoid them like the plague, fearing that they’re going to bulk up instead of tone their bodies and burn the fat. This is especially true with many women who are looking to shed those extra pounds. The simple truth however is that when combined with a calorie restricted diet there is nothing to worry about. In fact, using fitness weights is going to aide your body in burning that unsightly fat by replacing it with lean muscle. The benefits of this lean muscle goes beyond a tone physique, it also increases your body’s natural metabolism level. The higher your metabolism the more calories your body will burn throughout the day. Combined with a well balanced calorie restricted diet you’ll see the pounds shed quickly.

Your body will naturally take the protein you give it in your diet and focus on building this lean muscle. This allows the excess fat to be burned in order to make up for the difference in calories. A very common mistake many use when starting an exercise program is restricting protein in the diet which causes your body to lose muscle mass instead of fat. While this may give the appearance of weight loss on the scale, it is not productive to your overall health.

By exercising on a regular basis and incorporating fitness weights into the mix you’re telling your body that your muscles are important and needed. Putting your body in this mode will force it to preserve and build lean muscle mass, while burning the excess fat for energy. Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake of being afraid of weights. Knowing how they can affect your overall fitness is the first step in making lasting change. The next step is up to you.

Fitness Weights

The Bowflex has been a staple of home gyms for over 20 years. Using resistance technology you’re able to control the level of your workout based on your needs and fitness level. Their compact size and ease of use make them a popular choice for anyone with the desire to get a great workout in their home without dedicating large amounts of space to exercise equipment. Its ability to offer a full range of exercises means you’re able to get a total body workout and maintain a level of high level of fitness. Combined with a healthy diet the Bowflex is the perfect accessory to any healthy lifestyle.

Getting the most of your Bowflex comes down to discipline. Luckily it’s effective enough that using it as little as 2-3 times a week can sufficiently maintain your muscular fitness. Its ease of use makes it great for those who like to work out alone without the need for spotting. One of the most effective areas the Bowflex works is the upper body. By working your muscles against both the resistance of the flexible rod along with stabilizing the pulley and cable system you’re able to get an intensely focused workout. The most effective of these upper body exercises for the chest are Presses and Fly’s.

The Bowflex is also very effective at working the back muscles. Exercises such as a seated row and lateral pulls also benefit from the varying levels of resistance and the stabilizing of the cables and pulleys. The level of focus needed is greater than a traditional free weight gym system, but you’re able to start out with as little resistance as you need to get the hang of it.

The Bowflex system also offers many effective lower body workouts. One of the most effective of these is the seated leg extension where you use your leg muscle to extend the cable. The further the extension the more resistance you will receive. It’s a good idea to alternate between upper body and lower body in order to get the best result from your fitness routine. When working a specific muscle group you direct blood flow to it. The alternating pattern increases blood flow throughout the body and maximizes the calories burned in the same amount of time.

Your Bowflex home gym is an incredible piece of modern technology that gives you a full range of exercises in such a small package. This is why so many people choose this over a traditional free weight exercise machine. The space you save alone is worth it to most, not to mention the money you would need to spend on traditional equipment to get the same range of exercises. Getting the most out of your Bowflex takes a little dedication on your part, but the results speak for themselves.

Fitness Weights

We’ve all seen the commercials on television and display in the stores, but you may have always wondered how does the Bowflex actually stack up against a traditional gym free weight setup? The Bowflex itself is a resistance based exercise system that uses a series of pulleys and cables against long flexible rods. The further you pull the higher the resistance and greater the work out you achieve. We first saw the Bowflex exercise machine introduced way back in 1986, and since then it has gone through several advancements in technology. The basic resistance concept, along with its compact size and ease of use has stayed the same however.

The classic Bowflex machines used a technology known as Power Rod while advancements over the years have lead to the development of the more efficient Spiraflex system. In addition to the base set-up the Bowflex can include a number of attachments that increase its functionality and maximum resistance. Because the machine uses a pulley and cable attached the long rods which flex and bow the amount of resistance offered is uneven. This is one area traditional free weights may offer a more balanced work out for the same movement. As a result you may have to do more repetitions to achieve the same work out with a Bowflex.

The Bowflex was not designed with heavy body building in mind however. If your goal is to maintain a level of muscle fitness over the long term then this system is a great alternative to traditional exercise machines and free weights. While it’s said that using a resistance exercise machine like this can be an effective replacement for traditional cardio workout, you’ll get the best results using resistance training in conjunction with cardio and a calorie controlled diet.

Bowflex is also highly recommended for those just starting a workout routine. Often time’s people are put off by bulky and hard to control free weights and often end up with a lot of discomfort and soreness. This is due largely in part to the amount of negative work free weights produce, that is the stress placed on the muscle when returning from its extended position. Resistance training greatly decreases this negative and as such beginners are more inclined to continue an exercise routine while using the Bowflex.

Overall the Bowflex system is a great alternative for those looking for a home gym that does not require you have a separate room dedicated to it. You’re able to work both upper and lower body with a wide range of exercises that are both effective and easy to achieve. The varying levels of resistance ensures that no matter what level you are at, you’ll be able to jump right in and get started. While traditional home gyms have their advantages for more serious body builders, for the average person the Bowflex can hold its own any day.