Feeling like it’s about time you whipped your body into shape? We’d love to help you get there. The best way for you to get started is to evaluate what type of workouts you might like the best, so that your fitness routine can be perfectly tailored to what you’re looking to achieve. Some trainers argue that bodyweight workouts are the best option, while others throw their support behind lifting weights and using weight machines. Here’s a helpful breakdown so you can decide which is the right fit for you.

What is a bodyweight workout?

Bodyweight workouts are strength training exercises that use your own weight to provide resistance. They can help you enhance a wide variety of abilities, including strength, power, endurance, speed and flexibility. You also might see improvements with your coordination and balance. This type of training uses simple exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups to get the body moving. Basically, any activity that allows you to push, pull, squat, bend, twist or balance would fall under the category of bodyweight exercises.

Pros of bodyweight workouts:

They’re popular with many fitness enthusiasts and professional athletes.
They don’t typically require any kind of equipment – which means they can be done anywhere!
The kind of equipment you might need can be substituted for simple items you have around the house, such as bath towels or using a tree branch to do pull-ups on.
You don’t need an expensive gym pass to try them out – so you can save money even while getting fit.
They’re convenient to do on the go, whether you’re travelling for work, on holidays or just away from home
They can be super beneficial for older folks, since they can help increase muscle mass and mobility.
Since a lot of the exercises mimic actions you do throughout the day, they can be easier to see results than using weight machines.
Bottom line: they’re easy to do and won’t cost you a penny – plus, there are plenty of bodyweight workout ideas out there, so you won’t get bored!

Cons of bodyweight workouts:

Because bodyweight exercises use your own weight to provide the resistance, you’re only ever using the weight of your own body, so you can’t really get the same strengthening effect that lifting weights would give you.
Some novices might think that bodyweight workouts look too difficult to try out – conversely, more experienced fitness lovers might think these exercises are too easy for them.
Some of the exercises can be more challenging for women, since they don’t typically have as much upper-body strength as men.

If you’re interested in trying out bodyweight workouts, you can try some of these exercises on your own. Or you can sign up for personal training through Saint Fitness, and we can help you get started with some ideal bodyweight workout ideas.

There are plenty of bodyweight workout ideas out there to help keep your fitness routine interesting.

What are weights and machines?

Free weights are items such as barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells, while weight machines work with leg curl and extension, cable rows, lat pull-downs, etc. Both weights and machines work to help you increase your strength. If you’re deciding whether to use free weights or a weight machine, you should first think about your current physical fitness level and what your fitness goals are.

Pros of weights and weight machines:

Free weights are safe to use, as long as you’re using the proper techniques.
Free weights are inexpensive, since they can be on the cheap side to purchase and you can often use items around the house as substitutes.
Free weights can work to simulate real-life lifting situations, which helps to improve the stabilisation of your whole body.
Machine weights are also safe with the proper technique (like if you’re using machines that adjust to your body type and allow your joints to move through their natural motion paths).
You can learn to use both free weights and machine weights very quickly (especially with the help of a personal trainer).
Both weights options offer multiple physical benefits, including increased bone density, improved body composition and easier weight maintenance (or faster weight loss).

Cons of weights and weight machines:

Using free weights can sometimes be time-consuming, since you have to change weights on barbells and dumbbells (plus, this can be dangerous if they’re not secure).
Free weights and weight machines typically mean you need more space to do your workout (not ideal in a small apartment or cramped gym).
Weights and weight machines are not very portable, so it can be more challenging to use these options when you’re on holidays or travelling.
For weight machines, you’re not able to do totally natural movements as you can with free weights.
Machines don’t completely accommodate people who are shorter or taller than average.
Repetitive motions during working out with weights can lead to injuries.
To get a full workout, you might need multiple machines or lots of different equipment.
Weight machines can be expensive if you have to buy one for your home or pay for a pricey gym pass.
Weight machines don’t allow you to do high-speed weight training for power.

Whether you use free weights or weight machines, this type of training should be done at least two days a week for best results. You can even sign up for a group workout session, since using a partner’s bodyweight can also be effective in building strength.

When it comes to bodyweight workouts vs. weights and machines, it all depends on the individual.

Overall, if you’re wondering ‘are bodyweight workouts better than using weights and machines?’, you should keep in mind that it totally depends on your personal preferences and what you’re looking to accomplish. Bodyweight workouts do tend to be less expensive and are more accessible. You can also do cardio and strength training with bodyweight exercises by increasing speed. These types of exercises are functional movements, which means you can also work on improving your core strength.

Weighing up the pros and cons between bodyweight workouts vs. weights and machines, your decision comes down to a lot of different factors – most importantly, deciding which will help you reach your personal goals. If you’re not sure how to get yourself there, we can definitely help you determine the perfect fitness routine for you.

Bodyweight Workouts Vs. Weights and Machines: Which is Better?