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Fitness FAQ
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Question:
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Are machines better than FREE WEIGHTS for building muscles?
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Answer:
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No, not exactly. Both approaches are effective for muscle building and each of the two approaches have unique advantages that are mutually exclusive. Lifting weights through machine usage works both FLEXOR and EXTENSOR muscle groups. Free weights, however, not only work those two groups but also challenge the NEUTRALIZERS and STABILIZERS. Strength gains may, as a result, be faster with free weights. Free weights, however, cannot accommodate the STRENGTH CURVE of each muscle group the way machines do. Machines, if designed properly, provide VARIABLE RESISTANCE throughout the range of motion. So therefore, for optimal results, use both methods of weight training.
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Question:
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Wouldn't lifting weights make a woman's body too bulky?
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Answer:
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Absolutely not, particularly if it is approached correctly. First of all, weight training is merely a tool. As with any tool, how you use it is what determines the outcome. WEIGHT TRAINING can be used for the attainment of any health-related goal. Some examples are: burn fat, increase strength, tone or sculpt your body, strengthen your heart, enhance muscular endurance, prevent OSTEOPOROSIS, as well as increase muscle size — if that is what you want. First decide what your goals are. Then design the appropriate style of workout.
there is a second issue at hand, however. Women have lower TESTOSTERONE levels than men. Consequently, it is much more difficult for women to develop muscles as men do. Granted, there is a small percentage of the world's female population who does possess a higher-than-average level of testosterone. But they still would not be able to develop muscles the way the average male does. The only women who develop oversized muscles are generally those who consume MALE GROWTH HORMONES or STEROIDS.
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Question:
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When performing the 90-degree leg press, does the seat height make a difference?
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Answer:
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Yes, the back setting does matter. The higher the seat setting, the more compression on your lower verterbrae, particularly during the lowering (negative) phase. It is safer to lower the seat to its lowest notch; this will help you to maintain the natural curvature of your spine.
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Question:
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As a 63 year old woman, is it safe for me to lift weights?
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Answer:
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An emphatic yes! It is never too late to begin a weight training program. A study done on centenarians showed that, although mostly sedentary all their lives, dramatic gains were experienced after a twelve-week resistance training program. Women, especially, need to challenge their bodies with weight lifting. In addition to gains in strength and muscle tissue, this mode of exercise will help minimize the risk of OSTEOPOROSIS, improve balance and help to restore or sustain an independent lifestyle later in life.
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