Weight Lifting vs. resistance training

November 24, 2007 by Robby Ryan

Before modern invention, the ability to build muscle or strength train for sport or fun, was dependant on the clever use of what ever nature made available, as seen on Egyptian tombs, with displays of men exercising with make-shift techniques of swinging rock or sand. According to the earliest records, the Greeks began the Olympics in 776 B.C. and bodybuilding wasn’t a competitive sport ( the art of displaying the muscles) until Eugene Sandow popularized it in September, 1901 with the first bodybuilding contest held in London, U.K.

Well, the Olympics are back and have been entering weightlifting events since 1896, and women have been entering since 2000.

It wasn’t until Alvin Calvert designed the Milo adjustable barbell set in 1910 that allowed exercisers to conveniently adjust the weight by simply adding or removing weighted plates, did strength training become popular. This encouraged a whole new wave of interest in bodybuilding and strength training, not only for use at home but athletic departments and physical ed classes began using the new equipment, and this gave the industry another boost.

The industry really got a boost in the early 1970’s when the Nautilus machine was introduced, that was an upgrade from the earlier Universal machines. These weighted cable and pully variable resistance machines enabled the user to get the natural human movement and precise easily adjustable resistance necessary for a quality full body workout.

Aerobics also became popular about this time and women were now joining the men at gyms for both weight control and strength training. Also, most if not all athletic sports training facilities utilize both free weights and resistance equipment.

In 1973 I graduated from high school and immediatly two friends and I joined The Chicago Health Club ( Bally’s ). After I used the Nautilus machines I never looked back and very seldom used free weights anymore for my strenghth training and bodybuilding and to this day use the same techniques to maintain a lean cut physique and only need 40 minutes, three days a week to keep myself in excellent shape.

Today, there are so many resistance types of equipment out there, it is difficult to choose the device that is right for you. Some work as claim but they are also big and expensive.

The simple fact that you are dealing with weight controlled by your own strength in a free weight regimen, gravity can be a dangerous undertaking, with the chance of dropping the weights or weights falling off. It is much easier to get injured with free weights than a resistance type program.

Resistance bands have also become a part of many peoples fitness program, including myself. With the careful and clever use of bands or tubes you can adjust the resistance by simply adding or removing bands or use color coated bands for different ranges of resistance.

For almost fifteen years now, I have been using a resistance band workout routine I formulated that imitates the same methods and gets the same total body results I recieved when using the Nautilus equipment.

A quality resistance band workout routine depends on a properly anchored band, to enable the most natural movement, with the proper amount of resistance to the isolated muscle group that is being exercised, 10 to 12 times comfortably.

Compared to other workout and bodybuilding equipment, resistance bands are an inexpensive effective alternative and if done regularly and properly, the same fitness goals can be accomplished.

Free weight workouts and resistance workouts benefical results, depend on the correct, easy accurate movement and resistance.

Resistance bands can be safely used by kids and teenagers, men and women, boomers and seniors, and can be used for bodybuilding and strength training, weight management and flexibility, physical therapy and fitness conditioning, or to enhance athleticism.

Resistance Exercise (RE) studies, have given researchers conclusions of positive end results in the changes that take place when an exerciser performs RE. Not only does the exerciser experience positive physical changes and cardiovascular improvement but positive phsycological changes as well.

Resistance bands can be an inexpensive productive way of weight-control or getting and staying in shape. Everyone should deploy some sort of strength training or regular physical activity into their lifestyles.

My own personal version of a resistance fat burning, muscle building training kit, that I use still today, will be available soon, so keep checking back.

About the Author: Robby Ryan

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