Strength Training at Our Albuquerque Gym
It is a long-debated argument in gyms across the country. Is a free weight routine more effective for overall conditioning and weight loss than a machine-based program?
While there really is no clear-cut answer, we can weigh the pros and cons to determine which is the most advantageous No matter how you design your workout, our gyms in Albuquerque offer members plenty of free weights and selectorized machines. You’re sure to achieve results!
Free weight movements, whether isolation or compound in nature, typically require more coordination, effort, and muscular endurance to complete – the most effective for burning the most calories in the least amount of time.
Since there are so many options regarding exercise selection, we can definitely fatigue the muscle effectively. Many free weight exercises (especially those utilizing dumbbells) involve movements through space. This means we can perform exercises such as walking lunges, dumbbell deadlifts and cleans, and other combination movements that fatigue multiple body parts at the same time. Not only is there the potential to complete your workout faster (more calories burned) but we also achieve full muscle fatigue with an elevated heart rate.
These factors make free weight movements a solid choice for weight loss and overall conditioning.
The downside to free weight movements for some people is their complexity. Beginners sometimes have difficulty with exercises that require muscular balance and coordination. Also, free weight exercises typically lead to more potential for injury, as many exercisers will add too much weight too quickly or try to perform explosive movements with improper form.
Machine based exercises seem to be the safest, most effective way to simultaneously complete a movement and fatigue the muscle.
Both beginners and experienced lifters alike can benefit from performing a particular exercise in one plane of motion with minimal focus on balance and coordination. Often this is a great way for beginners to learn the basic movement and function of the muscle being trained.
For the experienced lifter, machine-based exercises may be used to complete the muscle fatigue process after finishing a heavier free weight exercise or by performing higher rep sets at the end of a workout.
The downside to machine-only exercises is the fixed range of motion during a set as well as the typical inability to substantially elevate the heart rate. It is obviously more difficult and taxing on the entire body to perform a barbell walking lunge as opposed to a seated leg press. While both exercises work similar muscle groups, only one promotes a much higher heart rate and with full body fatigue.
Our Albuquerque gyms feature a full line of Hammer Strength plate loaded equipment at each location. These machines provide users with a similar range of motion most often found in a free weight exercise and combine the best of both worlds in one safe and stable movement.
To get the best results and the maximum benefit from your exercise program it is a good idea to combine exercises from both methods. Remember, the body is constantly trying to adapt to your workouts. If you keep it guessing by always changing what you do in the gym, the results will follow.
Are you ready to take your workouts to the next level? Stop by any of the four Powerflex Gym locations to get started. You can even try us out with a free pass. See you soon!
