Why is using your Body Weight Better??

[Gladiola]

I understand why free weights are better than machines.**

But why is it that using your body weight is better than a bar? By that I mean - decline push ups w/ weight on your back instead of incline press with a bar bell? Tricep reverse dips with weight in your lap instead of supine extensions with a bar bell?

I've heard that using your body weight will "put more mass on you"' & I've found that to be true myself. Nothing gets me to FATIGUE like those types of moves (and I'm always pushing myself).


**If I got this right... basically your muscles are also working to STABILIZE the bar on a bench press rather than just pushing forward on a chest press machine - & that recruits more musculature to work.

 

[Gladiola]

Good thoughts indeed!

Thanks for the insight... sounds right-on to me.

"Power house" - that's the pilates term for the core musculature.

Nothing against Pilates - it has it's positive attributes, but UGH is it trendy!!!! It's what everyone wants to take in group exercise.
Move around, get my Heart Rate up & burn calories? Nah! I don't want to sweat - lets hold challenging poses & think it'll make us lean & TALLER!

SHEW - it WAS time for a sabbatical from Group Fitness for me

 

[Gladiola]

Very interesting!

I just don't think it's a be-all end-all to fitness. So many people are looking for some magic solution to be slim, lean, toned, etc. & this program is hugely touted as THAT solution.

In reality, it's great, but will it improve cardio vascular fitness? Will it increase muscular strength in the long run? Will it make people TALLER? (we had it at my club, and yes, I actually heard a woman who was taking it say she heard that it can) I've also heard claims that it'll make your muscles longer.

And can it lead to flexibility and/or strength gains that couldt NOT be gained through traditional yoga or basic stretching?

 

[Gladiola]

Oh good.. cuz I was worrying that I was gonna open pie-hold, insert foot

I honestly wasn't sure that it wasn't intense enough to get HR up - although I did know that strength gains would be more muscular endurance type - than traditional strength gains.

Aaanyway... why is that that ppl are looking for all these absolutes??? People seem to want to point to THE BEST type of cardio, THE BEST exercise, THE BEST source ofr protein. Even I was looking for THE BEST carb rotation split!

When in reality it is best for us to change things up - pilates AND yoga AND cardio & lifting light & heavy - different types of cardio, different moves lifting......

 

[sysopt]

the pilates mentality pisses me off

They think it's the answer to fitness and the perfect body... ha! what bullshit! Like Gladiola said, it'll lengthen your muscles, right it sounds just as bad as those worthless bodybuilding magazines. They also bash weightlifting by saying it'll create imbalances which is bull if you lift correctly and work all muscles; I know my overall posture has improved. Like it's the only way to correct posture You don't want to get those bulky worthless unattractive muscles do you?!? wtf? And it's sooooooo awesome at improving core strength....go deadlift you skinny fucks! makes me sick, gladiola let's bring it on to those whores no offense spatts, I still love you and you have gorgeous legggsss, *licks*

 

[Gladiola]

what bullshit!

So glad you get where I'm comin' from!
Working as an aerobics instructor... we are at the whim of trends & the general moronic gym goer. I've been at my wits end with the myths, the whining, etc. Hence my current sabbatical from teaching.

I love being on the board where people already know the truth!

 

[Gladiola]

Re: I'm going to play devil's advocate here:

Oh - what I actually meant was that aerobics instructors are being asked to teach Pilates classes & members are requesting it & also not caring about taking step aerobics or regular hi-lo floor aerobics as much. (Hence what I wrote, "Move around, get my Heart Rate up & burn calories? Nah! I don't want to sweat ")

Pilates certifications are VERY expensive in comparison to being certified to teach resist-a-ball classes, step, cardio kick boxing, etc. Not only that, but most instructors, like myself, have other full-time jobs & teach part time. We only have so much time & money to put into it (and we do put a lot of money INTO it - have to buy your own music, etc.).

Plus, I think since yoga & pilates are so trendy & in the spotlight- media, people are starting to believe they are a "be-all end-all to fitness" and they don't need the cardio or strength training. (Already the average female gym-goer thinks cardio is the only thing that's important & they don't need strength training... now many are thinking they don't even need anything BUT the yoga or pilates). ----> Actually this kind of upsets me... it seems that body builders often don't do yoga or take aerobics, yoginas don't lift or do cardio, aerobics instructors don't lift either. We ALL know that flexibility AND strength AND cardiovascular fitness are good for us!

If only more people would start to make connections among these disciplines! I suppose it also doesn't help that at my gym the pilates instructor is very thin & I've NEVER seen her lift or take an aerobics class. She is also *stunningly* beautiful - looks like a fashion model. I don't doubt that many women taking the classes think pilates is the way to look like her. In reality, her long lean body couldn't be achieved by most women with ANY means.


I like being devil's advocate too. I agree with you that it is great exercise - but we both agree it shouldn't be the ONLY exercise a person does if they truely want to be fit & strong.

Sorry so long, but Spatts, I had a feeling you wouldn't mind reading

 

[BatZgirl]

Interesting

Well I just got my copy of Muscle Media and started reading an article on US Marines and how they use their body weight to train and it helps heaps. Ive only read the first paragraph (not coz i was bored but i was in a hurry ) so when Im finished Ill tell you what the benifits of using your body weight are