Great! So you have made the decision to do some weight training. Now the dilemma -which is best? Those big machine weight stack things at the gym, or the ‘free weights’ – dumb bells and the like?

Well, it really depends on what your goal is. If you just want to ‘look good’ then machine weights will do that for you. If you want functional strength and stability in your day to day living – then free weights is the way to go. How come?

Machine Weights

Well, those machines are bolted to the floor. Then you get on them and you are pretty much ‘seat-belted’ in one position- the machine takes most of the postural stability requirements – your postural muscles don’t have much of a job left to do, so they  more or less go on holiday while the big muscles get on with it in tandem with the weight machine you happen to be working on.

Free Weights

As I get older, I want to have good posture! I want to be sure I am fully stable on my own two feet! I don’t go around with a machine by my side, so I choose to workout with free weights – ones that force my postural muscles to come to the party and develop alongside my big muscles. Free weight exercises make my body stabilise in all planes of movement – now that’s good for daily life!

Work Out at Home

Another great thing about free weights is that with just a few dumb bells and perhaps a stability ball, you can do a pretty good workout at home so why not have a ‘workout party” with a couple of friends to keep you motivated?

Big Note:

If you have never tried strength training before, first make sure you have a full medical check-up – NEVER embark on a fitness programme without your doctor’s approval.

Second, get hold of a certified registered trainer who can show you how to do the exercises with good posture so that you keep safe all the time.