Bodyweight vs Free weights

irejb

I want to get into resistance training as I only doing cardio at the moment and really need to tone up.

Problem is I don't know if bodyweight resistance or using free weights better for beginner.

I am also a bit scared of lifting weights as I am bad at form and have a tendency to hurt myself whenever I attempt to lift weights.

Anyway, can you get tone with just bodyweight? And is it better for a beginner to start off with bodyweight or free weights? Thanks.

MT1134

irejb wrote: »

I want to get into resistance training as I only doing cardio at the moment and really need to tone up.

Problem is I don't know if bodyweight resistance or using free weights better for beginner.

I am also a bit scared of lifting weights as I am bad at form and have a tendency to hurt myself whenever I attempt to lift weights.

Anyway, can you get tone with just bodyweight? And is it better for a beginner to start off with bodyweight or free weights? Thanks.

I don't think one is necessarily better than another based on beginner or advanced. I think you go with what you're comfortable with and what you have access to.

Bodyweight and weights can both be used to add muscle to your frame. However, I personally think it's easier to go with using external resistance (free weights/machines) because you can add smaller increments when increasing resistance.

Powerclean2deadlift

irejb wrote: »

I want to get into resistance training as I only doing cardio at the moment and really need to tone up.

Problem is I don't know if bodyweight resistance or using free weights better for beginner.

I am also a bit scared of lifting weights as I am bad at form and have a tendency to hurt myself whenever I attempt to lift weights.

Anyway, can you get tone with just bodyweight? And is it better for a beginner to start off with bodyweight or free weights? Thanks.

If you have bad form it means you don't know how to do the lifts correctly. Learning correct form for squats, deadlift, bench press, shoulder press could pay in dividends in terms of "toning up".

If you can't do them then i cannot stress enough DONT do them. Or learn. In which case a personal trainer who is trained to teach them might be away to go? If not videos, books, asking the people who work at the gym to help you (not ideal and not always better than nothing)

Bodyweight also has its own form but you would be better off going down this route if you don't want to invest in learning correct form for weightlifting.

In my humble opinion powerlifting is amazing and i always encourage people to invest in themselves and learn to moves. Starting Strength is a great beginner program. Good luck!

kimny72

Check out the Beginner programs in this post, a few are just bodyweight:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

maureenseel1984

I'm all about that yogi life.

Using my body weight for me is not only effective but it's more fun than free weights. Weight lifting bores me to tears.

lorrpb

You need correct form for body weight too.

irejb

Thanks for the responses.

I know working on my form is key. Unfortunately, I can't afford a personal trainer.

I try to follow strength training videos, but I still don't think I use the correct form with some of the moves.

I really want to start doing weight resistance. I'm really love cardio, but it does not tone me.

TrishSeren

irejb wrote: »

Thanks for the responses.

I know working on my form is key. Unfortunately, I can't afford a personal trainer.

I try to follow strength training videos, but I still don't think I use the correct form with some of the moves.

I really want to start doing weight resistance. I'm really love cardio, but it does not tone me.

You can up the resistance on cardio machines and that will help a little in terms of using muscle to help "tone".

Some gyms offer free program sessions where they'll give you a program and give you one free session with a trainer to help you start off right.

MikePTY

I train in martial arts, so most of what I do is body weight exercises. I try to supement with weight lifting, but I only lift once every week at most, so it's not my main thing. Ultimately I think weight lifting is the best for muscle definition, but body weight exercises have been plenty effective in building strength, tone, and definition.

Dvdgzz

Dumbbells plus machines are great for any level.

mbaker566

maureenseel1984 wrote: »

I'm all about that yogi life.

Using my body weight for me is not only effective but it's more fun than free weights. Weight lifting bores me to tears.

same. aerial yogi life for me

maureenseel1984

mbaker566 wrote: »

maureenseel1984 wrote: »

I'm all about that yogi life.

Using my body weight for me is not only effective but it's more fun than free weights. Weight lifting bores me to tears.

same. aerial yogi life for me

I still haven't tried aerial yoga! There's a great place here where I could try it out. You've inspired me.

MikePfirrman

Don't forget about considering Resistance Bands. SKLZ, for instance, makes some really nice Handles where you can put up to three resistance bands in them. I also like that they don't use metal grometts -- those are very dangerous if the band breaks.

Resistance bands can be cheaper than Dumbbells. You can have a really great home workout system with Resistance Bands, bodyweight and some dumbbells. I like adjustable dumbbells that I can load/deload. Add in an adjustable Kettlebell, you can do so many things.

irejb

Thank again!

I'm going to try lifting weights again. I've found a couple of weight lifting videos geared towards beginners. 😀

Some of the posts here have peaked my interest in yoga. I've read that certain types of yoga can be strenuous and help build muscles. Im definitely going to look into this as well.

Motorsheen

Dvdgzz wrote: »

Dumbbells plus machines are great for any level.

yep.

also... focus on your form with light weight as you begin training.

When I train to failure, it's either that I can't manage the weight of the last rep in terms of strength, or I can't maintain proper form. Either way, the set is over and done.

We see too many folks struggling with that last rep or two when their form is way off; it's a recipe for injury.

Best of Luck!

MohsenSALAH

There is no difference between beginners and advanced, once u get to know how to perform exercises in appropriate form the rest depends on strength which u will get overtime.

I personally like bodyweight exercises like pull ups, dips, pushups...etc. but as a beginner i recommend using machines because it is adjusted and you can progress from using lighter weights to heavier weights as u progress.

If u wanna do an exercise but u r not sure either u r doing it wrong or right there is no shame to ask anyone in gym or coaches.
Use YouTube also its good

rainbow198

While losing 80 pounds from home I lifted light to heavy weights. I got great results and didn't have to deal with much loose skin or sagging breasts when I got to my goal.

I used Youtube workouts/fitness DVD's and read books such as The New Rules of Lifting for Women which all helped me to learn the proper forms.

I'm maintaining now, but bodyweight work, using resistance bands, TRX and Pilates helps to keep my body tight and I still have strength.

Good luck!

mbaker566

maureenseel1984 wrote: »

mbaker566 wrote: »

maureenseel1984 wrote: »

I'm all about that yogi life.

Using my body weight for me is not only effective but it's more fun than free weights. Weight lifting bores me to tears.

same. aerial yogi life for me

I still haven't tried aerial yoga! There's a great place here where I could try it out. You've inspired me.

doooo iiiiiit @maureenseel1984

irejb

rainbow198 wrote: »

While losing 80 pounds from home I lifted light to heavy weights. I got great results and didn't have to deal with much loose skin or sagging breasts when I got to my goal.

I used Youtube workouts/fitness DVD's and read books such as The New Rules of Lifting for Women which all helped me to learn the proper forms.

I'm maintaining now, but bodyweight work, using resistance bands, TRX and Pilates helps to keep my body tight and I still have strength.

Good luck!

Thanks! I found some YouTube videos for weight lifting that looks great.

TheAssyrian

irejb wrote: »

Thanks for the responses.

I know working on my form is key. Unfortunately, I can't afford a personal trainer.

I try to follow strength training videos, but I still don't think I use the correct form with some of the moves.

I really want to start doing weight resistance. I'm really love cardio, but it does not tone me.

A bit of advice, record yourself performing the lift you are trying to perfect. Then compare to a tutorial video or one of a pro doing the same lift. This will teach you a multitude of things. Definitely hit the weights though. It's a must for mass.

joey32411

I think most people here hit on kind of the same sorts of comments that I was going to make. For me personally, free weights make more sense than bodyweight simply because I don't have the strength yet to crank out, say, a whole bunch of pushups, for example. In that sort of scenario, it makes sense for me to do bench presses instead. I will say I made massive strength gains when I was doing yoga consistently with only my own bodyweight. As everyone will agree, there's no right answer for everyone. It's all about finding what works for you. As they say, the workout that works is the one that you stick with, and it's very true. I got great results with Stronglifts, for example, but the volume got to be too much with my running and I wasn't able to rest and recover the way I should have been.

Movemoreguy22

I prefer bodyweights as it's more fun, i feel the mucles working together more and feel the movements working the muscles I also felt it kept me more flexible than when I was doing free weights..
with free weights i become bored really quick and everyone was doing the same excerises and also felt really stiff after

kshama2001

irejb wrote: »

Thank again!

I'm going to try lifting weights again. I've found a couple of weight lifting videos geared towards beginners. 😀

Some of the posts here have peaked my interest in yoga. I've read that certain types of yoga can be strenuous and help build muscles. Im definitely going to look into this as well.

While you would be better served to have a teacher for either activity, you are far more likely to seriously injure yourself teaching yourself strenuous yoga than teaching yourself lifting.

Briohny didn't get here from watching videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loszrEZvS_k

See also: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/magazine/how-yoga-can-wreck-your-body.html

(I'm not saying to not do yoga - I love yoga - just don't try to teach yourself strenuous yoga.)

If you are near a YMCA, they offer a sliding scale and you'd get some personal training for free when you join. I also took a small group class at the Y called Women on Weights that was really cheap and very helpful.

irejb

Thank you all for your responses.

I found a good weight lifting video on utube and have been using it. I must say that I felt great lifting weights. I started off slowly to make sure my form was correct. However, some of the moves were simple although I'm somewhat sore.

I'm aiming to do some sort of resistance training 3x's a week.