Thanks to a certain Austrian Oak, films in the 80s, and the 'golden age of bodybuilding', looking after our bodies and building muscle and definition is no longer a fringe endeavour. In fact this couldn't be further from the case, and today working out and getting into shape is something that's incredibly popular and a huge industry. There is a lot of money to be made now in the health industry, and it's for this reason that there are so many different gyms opening up around the world and that there are so many different workout tools and pieces of equipment available.
But while there are all kinds of elaborate torture devices and exciting contraptions, there are nevertheless a few classics when it comes to working out, and only a few pieces of equipment are truly essential. Here we will look at those - so if you only get a few pieces of gym equipment, make sure it's these.
Weights
Of course you should get weights and this means dumbbells and barbells - starting with dumbbells as the most important. As long as you have some weights around, then it's possible to train every single part of the body and to do the vast majority of exercises in existence from curls, to presses, to flies.
The best kinds of weights to get are those that allow you to add on and remove weights plates to make them heavier or lighter, as these allow you to alter the weights depending on what it is that you intend to do and how strong you are without needing to buy lots of pieces of equipment where just one would suffice.
Bench
A bench is the most simple and basic piece of equipment after the weights themselves and will allow you to do a lot more with the weights. This includes things like being able to press the dumbbells, fly them, or do bent over rows. It also has uses without weights such as for dips. The best ones will allow you to alter their angle and will also come with a rack for holding a barbell so you can do real bench press.
Lat Pull Down
If you only get one resistance machine it should be the lat pull down. Why? Because it connects using a cable for starters which means that you will be using all of your smaller supporting muscles in the same way that you would if you were using free weights. At the same time, a lat pull down is highly versatile in that it allows you to add different attachments and to hold onto them in a variety of different angles. This then means you can do everything there from lat pull downs of course to curls to tricep pull overs to rows.
But while there are all kinds of elaborate torture devices and exciting contraptions, there are nevertheless a few classics when it comes to working out, and only a few pieces of equipment are truly essential. Here we will look at those - so if you only get a few pieces of gym equipment, make sure it's these.
Weights
Of course you should get weights and this means dumbbells and barbells - starting with dumbbells as the most important. As long as you have some weights around, then it's possible to train every single part of the body and to do the vast majority of exercises in existence from curls, to presses, to flies.
The best kinds of weights to get are those that allow you to add on and remove weights plates to make them heavier or lighter, as these allow you to alter the weights depending on what it is that you intend to do and how strong you are without needing to buy lots of pieces of equipment where just one would suffice.
Bench
A bench is the most simple and basic piece of equipment after the weights themselves and will allow you to do a lot more with the weights. This includes things like being able to press the dumbbells, fly them, or do bent over rows. It also has uses without weights such as for dips. The best ones will allow you to alter their angle and will also come with a rack for holding a barbell so you can do real bench press.
Lat Pull Down
If you only get one resistance machine it should be the lat pull down. Why? Because it connects using a cable for starters which means that you will be using all of your smaller supporting muscles in the same way that you would if you were using free weights. At the same time, a lat pull down is highly versatile in that it allows you to add different attachments and to hold onto them in a variety of different angles. This then means you can do everything there from lat pull downs of course to curls to tricep pull overs to rows.
Treadmill
When it comes to resistance machines the treadmill is perhaps the most well known and the most basic. Running is a great way to workout that gets your whole body working and that can burn a lot of fat. However if you have damaged joints, then you might want to consider using an elliptical trainer or a rowing machine instead as they cause no impact on the joints.
Wesley Lee works at Sports Kinetics, for more information about their products and services click here
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