Derek Manuel is the author of the best-selling, How to Gain Weight and Build Muscle for Hardgainers. If you want to learn how you too can gain 20 to 30 pounds of solid muscle in as short as 8 weeks, or if you just want more quality information on how to gain weight and build muscle, please visit http://www.hardgainers-weight-tips.com
Free-weights vs machines, which is better? Well, machines have their purpose, and free-weights do too. However, if you are interested in building some quality muscle mass, it is almost ALWAYS better to go with free-weights over machines
Why? The main reason is because free-weights require complete strength and coordination of the weight, so your muscles are forced to work harder. If your muscles are working harder, then typically this results in more growth. If the motion of the exercise is supported and guided through its path, such as with machines, then your muscles have much less stress when lifting the weight.
When you workout with free-weights, your muscles are forced to balance the weight through the range of motion without any assistance. This explains why even with what you would consider light weight you may initially find a new type of exercise challenging. The more freedom of motion forces you to use all of your muscles available, whereas most machines eliminate the use of certain muscles, and this obviously will take away from your overall strength and muscle mass.
This is not to say that machines are altogether useless for gaining muscle mass. Many machines do in fact allow you to work out in different angles that free-weights cannot, so in many cases they do have their purpose. However, if you are like most people and want to build muscle mass as fast and efficiently as possible, I'll get right to the point:
STICK TO FREE-WEIGHTS!
Gaining strength in barbell and dumbbell exercises, especially compound exercises such as squats, deadlifts, bench presses, bent-over rows, shoulder presses and a few others will always build much more solid, hard, muscle mass then machines, period. A muscle mass building workout MUST contain mostly free-weights.
If you have been working out on more machines then free-weights and you haven't built a lot of muscle mass lately, this simply switch will work wonders for you. I would suggest that if you wanted to focus on strictly building muscle mass and strength as fast as possible that you stick to using free-weights exclusively.
In a nutshell, machines are good for pumping and isolation exercises, and free-weights are for gaining muscle weight fast and packing on serious pounds of muscle in record time. If you have had a lot of trouble either building muscle mass, gaining weight, or both, then it is even more important for you to focus on training only with free-weights, and to combined this with short and intense workouts, rather then long marathon type training sessions.
With these key factors in mind, you should have no trouble gaining weight and building muscle mass as as fast as naturally possible.
Why? The main reason is because free-weights require complete strength and coordination of the weight, so your muscles are forced to work harder. If your muscles are working harder, then typically this results in more growth. If the motion of the exercise is supported and guided through its path, such as with machines, then your muscles have much less stress when lifting the weight.
When you workout with free-weights, your muscles are forced to balance the weight through the range of motion without any assistance. This explains why even with what you would consider light weight you may initially find a new type of exercise challenging. The more freedom of motion forces you to use all of your muscles available, whereas most machines eliminate the use of certain muscles, and this obviously will take away from your overall strength and muscle mass.
This is not to say that machines are altogether useless for gaining muscle mass. Many machines do in fact allow you to work out in different angles that free-weights cannot, so in many cases they do have their purpose. However, if you are like most people and want to build muscle mass as fast and efficiently as possible, I'll get right to the point:
STICK TO FREE-WEIGHTS!
Gaining strength in barbell and dumbbell exercises, especially compound exercises such as squats, deadlifts, bench presses, bent-over rows, shoulder presses and a few others will always build much more solid, hard, muscle mass then machines, period. A muscle mass building workout MUST contain mostly free-weights.
If you have been working out on more machines then free-weights and you haven't built a lot of muscle mass lately, this simply switch will work wonders for you. I would suggest that if you wanted to focus on strictly building muscle mass and strength as fast as possible that you stick to using free-weights exclusively.
In a nutshell, machines are good for pumping and isolation exercises, and free-weights are for gaining muscle weight fast and packing on serious pounds of muscle in record time. If you have had a lot of trouble either building muscle mass, gaining weight, or both, then it is even more important for you to focus on training only with free-weights, and to combined this with short and intense workouts, rather then long marathon type training sessions.
With these key factors in mind, you should have no trouble gaining weight and building muscle mass as as fast as naturally possible.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- The Truth On Menopause and Weight Gain
- Menopause and Weight Gain
- Unexplained Causes of Weight Gain
- The Dangers of Rapid Weight Gain
- Effective Weight Gain With Supplements
- Are Popular Weight Gain Diet Strategies Harmful To Bodybuilding Results?
- Antidepressants and Weight Gain
- Weight Gain in Adulthood - Slow it Down
Who Wants to Get Old?
By: James Jolie | 18/12/2009Today no one wants to get old. Everyone wants to remain young. You can see more and more people spending vast amounts of money on creams, surgery, foods and food supplements to make them look and feel younger.If you really want to be young, if you really want to stay young, you need to understand that you need to improve your energy and your timing. When you start to train to get more energy in your life, you enter a different time paradigm.
Comment bien choisir un Coach Personnel ou un club de sport qui vous comblera ?
By: Uliana Vinogradova | 18/12/2009les alternatives entre plusiers services de coachning proposés, rapport qualité/prix
Stunning Fat Loss Secret Revealed And Why It Works So Easily!
By: Jason Clemens | 18/12/2009Need To Lose Belly Fat? In this article I'm going to share with you a stunning fat loss secret so you can. A secret that works like gangbusters.
Major Reasons Why Back Pain Hurts Us So Badly!
By: Jimmy Woodall | 18/12/2009It is not easy to deal with back pains and we are wondering what are the causes of back pains that hurt us so badly. This article will help you through in dealing your back pains.
Stress Management
By: Michael Logan | 18/12/2009Stress management to me means learning that the inside of my body is mine to control no matter what is happening outside of it.
Muscle Ache Stops When You Learn How To Do Pilates
By: Michael Tasker | 18/12/2009As the human body ages there is a greater tendency for discomfort and pain for the muscles and joints to the point where the body feels like it has stiffened up. This can make routine movements such as bending over or reaching uncomfortable at best and almost impossible at worst. By learning how to do Pilates, the greater flexibility and movement achieved will certainly alleviate these problems.
Weight control Clubs
By: Tiggy Max | 18/12/2009Every town has at least a few weight loss centres. Many people have looked to them for the added support to try and lose unwanted weight. Think about how many people you know that have been to them. How many of these people have actually lost the weight they wanted to lose?
Workplace Stress Management
By: Michael Logan | 18/12/2009Managing workplace stress is the same as managing driving stress or parenting stress or marital stress, since stress is a physiology which happens inside me after my Central Nervous System responds to a perception/thought I have about the external world.
How To Gain Weight For A Teen
By: Derek Manuel | 22/02/2009 | BodybuildingLearning how to gain weight for a teen means discipline in all areas, weight training, dieting, getting enough rest, and supplementation. In the teenage years, if you find yourself having a hard time gaining weight, there are a few special things you have to pay attention to that older and more physically mature people don't have to.
How To Gain Weight The Healthy Way
By: Derek Manuel | 22/02/2009 | BodybuildingAssuming you want to learn how to gain weight the healthy way, there is a fairly simple formula you can use to gain a good amount of weight at a reasonable amount of time. Follow these three elements in conjunction with each other and you will have no problem gaining weight
What are the Most Effective Muscle Building Supplements?
By: Derek Manuel | 06/09/2008 | FitnessWith the exception of the occasional meal replacement, supplements are meant to supplement, not substitute. As far as the fasted way to build muscle, supplements should be the last thing you add to your program, if you add it at all. Supplements alone are completely worthless. They can add to the value of your progress only after you FIRST apply a proper workout and diet.
Workout Program for Hardgainers- How to Create Your Own
By: Derek Manuel | 26/08/2008 | FitnessIf you are a hardgainer focused on how to gain weight without getting overweight and building some serious muscle mass, there are some essential factors to consider. Below I have listed the main keys you can't leave out for a workout program for hardgainers that are designed specially for those who wish to gain weight.
Building Muscle Without Emptying Your Wallet
By: Derek Manuel | 13/08/2008 | FitnessIt's actually a lot easier then most people think to gain muscle and lose fat without losing your money. As long as you understand the basics of building muscle and you ignore all the marketing hype about the latest and greatest supplement or workout equipment, then you can expect to add working out to your lifestyle without subtracting much from your bank account.
Build a Mass of Muscle by Specializing on These Key Muscle Groups
By: Derek Manuel | 06/08/2008 | FitnessIf you are a hardgainer, or you just haven't been gaining the muscle mass that you are striving to achieve, you may be leaving out some key exercises. If you look at any successful bodybuilder or weight trainer who trains to build a mass of muscle, you may notice that they spend a lot of time and effort in two main areas of their workouts: leg and back exercises.
Muscle Mass Building Workout - the Key Exercises
By: Derek Manuel | 02/08/2008 | FitnessIf you're interested in fast ways to build muscle and gain weight in record time, naturally you should ask yourself: "What are the best muscle mass building exercises to accomplish this?"