ArticlesBase.com - Free Articles Directory
Free Online Articles Directory
25.07.2008 Sign In Register Hello Guest
Email:
Password:
Remember Me 
forgot your password?


Free Weights Are Best For Building Muscle

Author: Shawn Lebrun Author Ranking Silver | Posted: 23-12-2005 | Comments: 0 | Views: 172 | Rating:  (55) Article Popularity - Blue (?) Got a Question? Ask.

Free weights are the simplest and most cost effective pieces of equipment for the beginning muscle builder.

Free weights consist of barbells, dumbbells and weight plates. They are called free weights because they have no cables, pins or pulleys.

Available as normal weights or Olympic weights, be advised that Olympic weights are generally much more costly. The Olympic bar is also thicker at the ends to accommodate the larger hole present in Olympic weight plates.

Barbells come in all shapes and sizes. They consist of a bar that is usually 4' to 7' in length and can weigh from 20 to 45 pounds.

The Olympic bar that you find in most gyms is 45 pounds. This is the one you find on the squat rack and bench press. So, if you use this bar and add a 45-pound plate to each side, you're bench pressing 135 pounds.

Varying weights are attached to the ends of the bar. The weights are attached using collars or sleeves. You can find barbells in a fixed collar design.

This prevents the weights from sliding off the end of the bar, but they are limiting as the weights cannot be removed. With adjustable collars you can add and remove weights to suit your own purposes.

The longer 7' bar that is generally referred to as an Olympic bar can hold 500 to 1500 pounds. As mentioned, these are usually more costly. There are also other Olympic specialty bars available that are designed for specific purposes such as biceps and triceps.

The weight plates that fit the ends of the bar come in standard increments of:

2 1/2 pounds 5 pounds 10 pounds 25 pounds 50 pounds

If you stick with cast iron weights you are pretty much guaranteed that the weights will remain constant over time as opposed to those that are plastic encased or other metals that could warp over time.

If planning to go with the home gym, sticking with standard weights is probably best for you. One of the advantages is that you can find standard weights available as a package that will include your bars, weights and collars. Most standard weight packages also come with dumbbells.

You will also need to have a weight bench. There are varying types of benches. You can find adjustable types that you can set for different inclines. This is a good buy because by adjusting the incline or decline, you can create a number of different exercises to work out different muscle groups.

If you are lacking the money to join a gym, you can set yourself up with everything you need, just by getting some dumbbells, barbells, and a bench. Total cost can be less than $200.

Or, if it's more convenient to work out at home, it's simple to set up an effective gym right in your basement.

Free weights are also effective than machines when it comes to building muscle and increasing your strengh. That's because you have to do all the work and balance all the weight yourself when using free weights.

With machines, much of the work is being done for you. You just have to lift it up and down. As a result, you use less intensity and less overload than with free weights.

Less overload and intensity means less muscle building possibilities.

So don't worry if you can't make it to a gym or if you don't have the money to get certain machines for your home.

When it comes to building muscle, nothing beats a good set of free weights.

Rate this Article: Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/free-weights-are-best-for-building-muscle-9500.html

Print this Article Print article   Email to a Friend Send to friend   Publish this Article on your Website Publish this Article   Send Author Feedback Author feedback  
About the Author:
Learn how to set up your weight training, cardio, and nutrition to get the most muscle and definition possible. Check out Shawn Lebrun's "Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded" training program: Simple Steps To Get Huge And Shredded"
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Comment on this article Comment on this article
Your Name
Your Email:
Comment Body
Enter Validation Code: Captcha


Related Articles

Technique in Weight Training
By: Isabel Curini | 01/04/2006 | Fitness
Technique in weight training is very important for achieving the expected progress, but also for protecting the body of the sportsman. The first important thing is to learn correctly the basic movements.

Good Tool for Weight Training
By: Raymond Lee | 20/09/2007 | Fitness
You may not know that free weights can rev up your metabolism and help you burn off more calories around the clock. You will realize the difference once you try it out.

10 "Superfoods" For Bodybuilders
By: Keishon Martin | 07/01/2008 | Muscle Building
Tired of the same old foods? Remember to consume a wide variety of healthful foods. Because a healthy bodybuilder can be a better bodybuilder.

13 Ways for Maximizing your Exercise Workout!
By: Neelima Reddy | 10/01/2008 | Health
The first step in improving your health is finding the time to exercise. Every one run short on time these days but by following some of these ways, you can maximize your workout time.

Positive Thinking is Powerful
By: Tom Ambrozewicz | 21/10/2006 | Non-Fiction
Bodybuilding Tips

Shoulder Injury the Cause
By: Troy Pearsall | 26/04/2007 | Bodybuilding
This article addresses the causes of shoulder injury a common problem to athletes that participate in bodybuilding weightlifting and other weight assisted sports.

How To Get Motivated For Exercise
By: Rob Ryan | 25/03/2008 | Muscle Building
People that are overweight are going to have a more difficult time to get motivated since you are probably use to living an inactive lifestyle and exercise is only an after thought.

Treadmills: you Get What you Pay for
By: Lance Davidson | 29/01/2008 | Equipment
Why some of the bargains for workout equipment aren't such bargains after all.

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Frequently Asked Questions

I would like to know more about gorgojos to cure ...
By: martha mastorakis | 04-07-2008
i would like to know more about gorgojos to cure cancer, and i would like to know if its for all cancers, also where can i get the centeno flour

Ear tube drainage
By: tygerlily75 | 04-07-2008
my son has ear tubes in both ears. a few dyas ago he was swimming in the pool and lost one of his ear plugs. we had a back up one and put it in. but now he has drainage coming out of his right ear. The color is yellow with a tinge of red. Should i get him to the doctor's?

Lupron users out there??? did it mess you up??
By: mommyto8 | 04-07-2008
Lupron users out there??? did it mess you up??

Whaleman
By: Lina | 04-07-2008
Hi everyone, Someone told me that "whaleman" isn't a word! Please, would you be so kind to tell me more about the origin of this word? Thanks, Lina

Health issue
By: darlyne60 | 04-07-2008
intching and swelling of feet and hands

Having problems getting the Hallmark Card Studio 2008 to work...
By: Cammie | 04-07-2008
Help!!  I am trying install Hallmark Card Studio 2008 and keep getting an error message that reads "This Application has failed because the application configuration is incorrect.  Reinstalling the application may fix this problem."  I did try reinstalling, but to no avail.  The information does say you can use it with WindowsXP.  I have read many comments regarding this program when I googled the problem....As I go through the installation process it tells me that the program has installed successfully, but when I try to open the program to use it I get the error message.

Q&A Powered by:
Powered by Yedda 

Latest Fitness Articles

Lower Body Exercise Secrets of the Stars
By: Lyla Feldman | 25/07/2008
There are many celebrities who are famous for their body parts and even get them insured for pricey amounts of money. For example, when you think of Jennifer Lopez or Kim Kardashian what comes to mind? Besides the fact that they are extremely talented and wealthy what do they have in common? Everyone wishes they had their behinds. The million dollar question is how do you get a nice, round attractive bottom without resorting to implants or butt pads?

Strength Training Exercise
By: prabakar | 25/07/2008
Take your time when toning your body. You can maximize the benefit of a biceps strength training exercise, a back strength training exercise, a chest strength training exercise, and so on, by doing them in small blocks of time every day. Don't be discouraged from your fitness walking regimen.

Best Workouts for Your Health
By: prabakar | 25/07/2008
Workouts For You custom designs each program based on individual needs, lifestyle and goals to ensure that each client is working out using exercises that are most efficient for them. Plus, if you ever have any questions about any part of your WFY training program, you can e-mail your trainer and you'll receive a quick response. Many workplaces now have showers, so you can freshen up afterwards.

Using Information From Testing
By: Alien | 25/07/2008
Perhaps clearer explanations of management methods are needed. There are several methods of managing insulin, as follows: Method 1: Complete Management by the Physician. The physician mayor may not have the patient do self-blood-sugar monitoring.

Diabetes - Gaining Their Support
By: Alien | 25/07/2008
You can help your family in many ways, some of which may be quite subtle. One way is to see that your family receives diabetes education. This gives them some understanding of how they can be of assistance.

How is Diabetes Monitored?
By: Alien | 25/07/2008
Diabetes is known to cause high blood-glucose levels, but how do you know to what extent this has occurred to you? When insulin is too low and glucose levels are too high, glucose is not getting into the cells.

Diabetes - Self Esteem and Family Support
By: Alien | 25/07/2008
Your self-esteem involves who you think you are, what strengths you feel you have, and what you feel you have achieved. Your level of self-esteem will have a great deal to do with how you react to having diabetes.

Motivational Strategies for Your Workouts so You Finish Every Time
By: Derek Manuel | 24/07/2008
Staying motivated is a key factor to having success in the gym. As they say, most people are good starters but poor finishers. This is because it is easy to get fired up and excited about a future goal you want to attain, such as trying to get in shape and build muscle fast, especially when you flip through a bodybuilding magazine or see a role model with a body like the one you want.

More from Shawn Lebrun

How To Get In The Best Shape of Your Life
By: Shawn Lebrun | 14/03/2008 | Muscle Building
Learn what you have to do, each and every day, in order to get the body you've always wanted.

8 Simple Ways To Lose Fat
By: Shawn Lebrun | 14/03/2008 | Muscle Building
This article shows you 8 simple, proven ways you can lose more body fat in less time.

To Build Muscle, Get A Tan!
By: Shawn Lebrun | 14/03/2008 | Muscle Building
This article by Shawn Lebrun shows you how overtraining with your lifting routine is similar to getting a sunburn when trying to tan.

How Overtraining Kills Your Chances Of Building Muscle
By: Shawn Lebrun | 15/01/2006 | Fitness
If you're not gaining the muscle mass you want from your workouts, chances are, you could be overtraining. This article from personal trainer and natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun shows you what overtraining is and how it leads to problems in and out of th

The Only Way To Gain Muscle
By: Shawn Lebrun | 15/01/2006 | Fitness
If you're looking to gain muscle mass, this article by fitness trainer Shawn Lebrun reveals the only way possible to gain muscle. Start using the principle that's in this article and you'll begin to build muscle a lot faster.

More Rest Means More Gains
By: Shawn Lebrun | 14/01/2006 | Health
If you're feeling tired and sluggish, that can negatively impact your muscle and strength gains. This article by fitness author and bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun shows you why resting is important in making muscle gains.

How To Start A Muscle Building Program
By: Shawn Lebrun | 14/01/2006 | Fitness
If you're just beginning to work out, this article by fitness author and natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun will show you how to start your workout program. Skip the learning curve and cut out all the trial and error that most beginners go through.

5 Tools To Help You Gain More Muscle
By: Shawn Lebrun | 13/01/2006 | Fitness
If you're looking to gain muscle mass, this article by natural bodybuilder Shawn Lebrun shows you 5 effective tools you can use in your workouts.

Article Categories






Give Feedback

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below