Don’t be tricked into thinking effective weight loss can be achieved by gimmicks found in the gym. Gyms are packed with fancy kit and miracle claims of weight loss and toning, but rarely do they work. So read on to find out what does work and avoid this one simple mistake…
Gym membership teams are trained to sell to the average slimmer who wants to lose weight. Fancy machines make their bonuses easier.
They often don’t care about your results since your gym membership is tied-in for a year, and sadly they’ll get you tied in again, next new years resolution season when you’re feeling guilty about eating too much over the festive period.
One common mistake is relying on machine weights rather than free weights.
Avoid gimmicky gadgets in the gym and ineffective machine weights. In fact while I think about it, my colleague Patrick Dale – the person who trained me to become a personal trainer – said recently ‘the only good thing a smith machine can be used for is hanging up my sweat towel.’
The problem with machine weights, apart from taking up all the space, is the fact they force your body to follow a certain direction – the machines direction which may not be your natural movement.
They also take the stabilising and synergistic muscles, and the fixators out of the exercise so you don’t need to balance, brace and essentially work as hard. Back to mistake number one – less muscles being used equals less fibres being stimulated equals ineffective results.
Not only this, but the range of motion of the exercise is limited to the machines range, not to mention the strain on the joins from the unnatural movement path that they encourage. Machines may well allow you to lift big weights, but that’s because they make the exercise easier.
Really the only machine you really should be seen on is the lat pull down, and unless your goal is rehab of a certain muscle, or hypertrophy around, for example an arthritic knee joint, then keep off the machines. Free weights and body weight exercises are the best for effective weight loss.
Have a go and let me know how you get on below. I’m sure you’ll feel the difference and quickly see the effects on your body.
If you are looking to lose weight, and you’re tired of the fads, you’re confused about the conflicting advice, then this article on how to lose weight without dieting and the accompanying weight loss cheat sheet below are a great place to start.
Have a great day, Nico.