The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we now spend our time, indoors and outside. For the time being, this is our new reality. Some will spend this time vegging out watching their favorite programs on television while stuffing their bodies with unhealthy food choices.
Others will do just the opposite and use this focused indoor time to strengthen, sculpt, and reshape their physiques into a better version of themselves — the image they see in their minds.
And many will use free weights to reach their stated goal.
Dumbbells: A Question of Balance
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Dumbbells help isolate weaker muscle groups.
You won’t have to worry about balancing heavy loads all at once unless you want to. You can ease into an exercise routine at your own level of comfort and bring your weaker muscles up to optimum strength levels.
Similar to how a pianist will practice using only their left hand to build muscle strength and finger dexterity in the naturally weaker hand. In this way, work out will remain a fun and healthy activity you’re more apt to continue. Long enough to reach that next level of fitness faster.
If you’re actively focusing reps on the weaker parts of your body you force them to get stronger. As you increase daily reps and rest for a day in between, your muscles will begin to transform your body.
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Dumbbells (free weights) offer a wider range of exercises.
You’re doing all of the work not a machine with ready-made grips for what the builders think you want to work on. With dumbbells, you have more control over how you want to exercise for your body.
Because you know what it will respond to. This is important for those who are coming to using dumbbells for the first time. It’s also more inclusive for people with minor injuries who need to ease back into a training regimen. For strength training, weightlifters preferred pushing iron. Strength training using dumbbells is old-school but in a good way. Back then, each training session was done using free weights while looking in a mirror to make sure each rep was done correctly.
Free-form weight training will improve your overall musculature faster. Today, many consider this the only way to train in the beginning to build a core base of knowledge about what works before exploring other resistance training methods.
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On the whole dumbbells are a much better option.
When exercising using dumbbells without knowing it you’re actually working the tiny muscles that support the larger ones. The ones everyone can see. Machines won’t allow you to isolate those subsystems of muscle fibers in your body because the equipment will do some of the work for you; again, without you realizing it.
This is why some people who workout using machines look strong but actually have a weak body core. Using free weights you must balance those loads by using your back, butt, and correct form to get complete each rep.
Instead of moving from machine-to-machine (and wasting time socializing at each workout station), you get a real workout because you’re getting those reps in.
Starting with dumbbells offer many benefits. Cost is an important factor for many. Another advantage is turning a little-used space into something fun and healthy for the entire family. That’s one way to defeat this pandemic. Let’s get our workout on and burn those calories to improve our health!