Weight Lifting Equipments for workout sessions
Weight Lifting is a sport dependent upon the coordination and balance of the mind and body. That it is the best way to get rid of excess body fact and develop robust muscle mass. It involves a series of rigorous exercises aimed at burning more calories and developing muscle mass. It strengthens the bones of the individual and increases confidence and self esteem. It is one of the most dynamic sports in the field of athletics and optimizes the human capacity of endurance and will power.
Weight lifting equipment is the back bone of the exercise sessions involved in training the athletes. You can choose to workout in a well equipped commercial gym or perform your exercise routine at home depending on your choice. It is important for you to know about the equipment used during training sessions and its functions. Training equipment helps enhance the overall output of the workout sessions and increases the intensity of the exercises.
Types of weight lifting equipment
There are two types of equipment available for weight lifters:
Free weights
Machines
Free weights are the most elementary form of weight training equipment. They are not attached to any sort of cables, wires, pulleys or weights stacks, hence the name. They consist of barbells, dumbbells and weight plates.
Barbells: A barbell is a long iron bar measuring between 4 to 7 feet in length on which weight plates are placed. Exercises on the barbell are performed by holding it with both hands and lifting the weights. There are various types of barbells.
Olympic barbells: They are above 7 feet long and weigh 45 lbs. These are hard core heavy duty bars that are capable of handling huge weight loads of over 800 lbs. Some of them even have the capacity to handle weights of over thousand lbs. They are used for heavy weight lifting exercises of the advanced level including squats, dead, lifts, bench press etc. Smaller versions of Olympic barbells measure between 4 to 6 feet in length and are used for primary level exercises such as curls, bents, rows, shoulder press etc.
Standard barbells: They are the most commonly available exercise equipment. They are one inch thick and approximately 5 to 6 feet long. They are great for home gyms.
Dumbbells: Various types of dumbbells are available in the market such as hex style dumbbells, prostyle dumbbells, adjustable dumbbells etc. These are short barbells which measure about 5 to 10 inches in length and help boost the performance of weight lifters. Dumbbell exercises are performed by carrying them in each hand. Adjustable dumbbells have small collars and might not be as convenient as a fixed rack.
Weight plates: They are usually made of iron and range from 2.5 lbs. to 100 lbs. They are of two types - Olympic plates that are used with Olympic barbells and standard weight plates that are used with standard barbells.
Benches: These are the most commonly available equipment in any commercial gym. They are of various types such as:
Adjustable benches: They can be adjusted to flat, declined or inclined positions depending on your requirement.
Preacher benches: These are designed for working the biceps.
Abdominal benches: They are used for doing abdominal exercises.
Bars: They are great for working out the chest, shoulders, forearms and the back.
Weight lifting requires enthusiasts to lift heavy weights mounted on steel bars, opposite to the gravitational force. It is a test of power, flexibility, strength, focus, accuracy and consistency. The strength of a weight lifter comes from the muscles of legs, quadriceps, posterior chain, back and shoulder muscles. It requires enthusiasts to be extremely focused and regular in attending their exercise sessions.