You have decided to take up resistance training to help you get in shape or for your chosen sport. We already know the benefits of increased lean muscle mass or increased strength. However what type of training should you perform.

Let battle commence. Free weights or Machines. Well machines are good in that it can help you isolate a certain muscle or indeed as a rehabilitation method when coming back for an injury. However there is only one clear winner and that is free weights.

(1). Firstly when performing an exercise with free weights such as dumbells or a barbell you can actually mimic the movement patterns of both sport and daily life. With a strength machine you move in a single plane of motion. What benefit is it to be stronger in one plane of motion and then you move slightly off it you don't have the required strength.

(2). Secondly with strength training machines you work the specific muscles involved in the movement. However with free weights you actually work more than the main muscles. Take the squat for example. Not only do you use the quads, hamstrings, glutes. You back muscles also are used to stabilize the bar on your back. Stabilizing muscle are important also as they help with reduction of injury, balance and coordination. Finally the more muscle you use the more calories burnt or more stimulation involved to increase muscle mass.

(3) Finally one of the main benefits is the fact they are so inexpensive. They can be bought and used at home, that means no more huge gym fees and you can train in the comfort of your own home. Of course you can train in a gym with endless choices of dumbells and barbell weights and perform exercise such as the squat, deadlift even Olympic lifts.

What are you waiting for get training.