weights

Dorian Yates was known for his brutal workouts and landing 6 consecutive Olympia titles between 1992 and 1997, but despite his love of free weights, “The Shadow” also knew when it was time to turn his attentions to a machine, as he explained in a recent Instagram post. Using footage from his...

To get better, question the rules, just like great coaches do. Here's how one coach did it. I’ve become less of a “tribal” thinker over the years. Earlier in my career, I believed that resistance-training machines were inferior to free weights. I’d argue that machines only required you to...

Personal trainers frequently hear women express a desire to “tone up” while at the same time having fear of getting “bulky” or looking “manly.” The common misconception is that lifting heavy weights for women will make their muscles big and beefy, and instead, they often opt for light weights...

Strength training has a host of benefits for both adults and children ranging from stronger bones and muscles to better mental and emotional health. So, it makes sense that many parents look to get their kids involved in some sort of exercise program, including lighting weights. “It’s important...

Good question. Context is key in answering this. To make it simple. Yes, you can get pretty ripped up without the use of gym weights. It’s totally possible. Getting ripped is a product of a low body fat percentage. A low body fat percentage can be attained without the use of dumbbells and...

If you’ve been interested in health and fitness for any length of time, this is a question that you’ll almost certainly have come across. You’ve maybe even asked it yourself. You probably recognise the need for both, but may not fully appreciate the benefits of them in a fat loss context, or...

by Andreas Abelsson Lifting weights is the best way to get strong and build an impressive physique. However, those are not the only benefits of strength training. Whether you’re a general fitness enthusiast, bodybuilder, or new to exercise, the advantages of strength training extend to everyone...

BY BRET CONTRERAS, PHD, CSCS Ever since I started consuming fitness information over two decades ago, there’s been a myth that won’t ever seem to die. The myth states that lifting light weights for high reps will tone the muscles, whereas lifting heavy weights for lower reps will bulk the...

FREE WEIGHTS VS. MACHINES I've become less of a "tribal" thinker over the years. Earlier in my career, I believed that resistance-training machines were inferior to free weights. I'd argue that machines only required you to overcome the resistance, not control it. Put another way, I believed...

Free weights and machines are both good to use while working out. As is the case with many "this or that" concerns pertaining to fitness, the answer ultimately depends on your current level of fitness and your desired end result. In general, weight machines are an excellent tool for novices...

If you want to sport a powerful, thick, and full chest, then you have to start at the top. In other words, make your upper pecs the top priority. If you like the volume of this workout by itself, use it as your chest day plan. If you'd prefer to do more work, then start with this workout and...

Cardiorespiratory exercise, known simply as cardio, is used to describe exercise that works your heart, since your heart is a (smooth) muscle after all. Simply put, cardio is movement that makes your circulatory system work harder. Performing exercises like brisk walking, running, swimming, and...

Picking a gym is a big decision. That might even be an understatement for MPA readers, because not having an adequate place to workout can make or break your results. For dedicated fitness enthusiasts and bodybuilders alike, the gym is like a second home. You’re serious about your diet, your...

Sometimes small things pack a surprising punch. And that pretty much sums up resistance band workouts. The color-coded, portable equipment used to be the most undervalued tool in the gym, often reserved for a physical therapist or the older crowd. That is not the case today. Resistance bands...

Don't let the lack of weights hinder your gains! Here's a list of the absolute best bodyweight exercises that pack on the muscle without the use of dumbbells, barbells, or machines. Don’t have access to a fully stocked gym replete with every machine and contraption imaginable? Bodyweight...

The cardio then weights vs. weights then cardio debate is hotly debated. Recent research continues to examine the topic, but results have been a mixed bag—one study says loading order doesn’t matter in the long-term, while another says save aerobic training for after a lifting session. But when...

The number of articles online reassuring women that upping their dumbbell weight will not morph their feminine physique into a She-Hulk speaks volumes. Although over the years more women have gravitated to the weightroom, the misconceptions surrounding women and weights continues to make its...

Why You Need Weight Training To Lose Fat By Conray Knox There've so many misunderstanding in weight training. People often think that weight training is just for weight lifting and bodybuilding exercise. Now, the weightlifters and bodybuilders do train with weights. However, a certified...

I am going to share with you how I got started lifting weights. The first workout routine I ever did was the “125 routine”. I call it the “125 routine” because most of the lifts are done in sets of 25. First, I would do 5 sets of 25 push-ups (so 125 push-ups total). I knew how to do push-ups...

For several years I had trouble getting my quads to match my upper body in terms of development and separation. It wasn’t that my legs weren’t strong and it wasn’t that they weren’t growing quickly; they just never felt the same as when I would train my other muscle groups. I wasn’t getting...