Strength Training at the Gym

hfichter

Hey guys-so my question is: what type of strength training in a gym proves most effective for muscle gain/definition? The reason I ask is because it seems as though a lot of machines at the gym (Cybex, etc) are not very efficient for toning up. Most people I see there hop from one machine to another and barely look like they've exerted any sort of energy on the machine! Not to mention, I've also heard that the machines prove to be a pitfall because the majority of customers using them don't use them appropriately. I'm wondering if regular ol' free weights are the best way to get in shape, or if these weight machines are actually beneficial. Just interested in your thoughts! Thanks!

jasonp_ritzert

Personally, my favorite are free weights. You may want to try the New Rules of Weight Lifting (I think that 's what it's called) and do some research there. You can also try websites like bodybuilding.com that have workouts sorted by sex, age, goal, etc.

ChristyU74

I do think you'll get the best results from free weights, and from compound lifts that work several muscles groups at once. I like the New Rules of Lifting, but you can also look at Starting Strength and Strong Lifts for some basic workouts.