For a long time now, a full-body workout used to be my way of getting back into shape… until I had to deal with a shoulder injury that had knocked me out for almost 20 days or so.
Yet during that time, I was wondering how to get back on the horse again, and came across this article which outlined how Brad Pitt got that perfect body to die for, for his acclaimed role in Fight Club.
(If you ask me, I loved Troy much more… but here's the link , if you want some serious workout ideas.
For the most part of performing a full-body workout, I'd go through the motions when it came to doing compound exercises but it was very different with split workouts, as they're called.
For one, there was no need for a weight bench…
The Weight Training Bench
This is one of the most common forms of equipment you will find in the gym these days, and strangely in my quest to move on to a split workout, I discovered that a weight training bench was required in order to do so.
Of course, these benches not only mimic the flat bench that you will find in the parks and gardens but comes in the incline and decline variety as well. Not only can you use a simple bench to work your chests and arms but other body parts as well…
So, as you can see, the main reason why it is recommended to use one of these weight training benches is so that you can train certain muscle groups differently or even much more easily as well.
(Trust me, using a weight training bench to do your conventional bench presses is a good idea as opposed to doing the earlier floor press. Perhaps, this is because there is more room to move your shoulders when you are executing a rep as opposed to hardly having any when doing the floor press.)
But is it mandatory? No, definitely not… yet using one will tell you where you really are, in terms of working out – as my split workout required me to use a weight bench on specific days when a particular muscle group was being targeted.
But are there any benefits to using a weight training bench? Yes, and let's find out…
Benefits of using a Weight Training Bench
So here are a few benefits of using a weight training bench :
#1: Excellent support for weight lifters
As opposed to using a stability ball when working out with heavy weights, it makes more sense to use a weight bench which is far more stable and allows the user to maintain balance and control the weights easier.
#2: Hyperextension Exercises
Exercises that allow for hyperextension are not possible without a weight bench, and thus is another important benefit.
#3: Targets muscles that are hard to reach
In trying to target the rear deltoid muscle, most experts consider this easier to do when using a bench as opposed to standing.
#4: For Multiple Purposes in a single workout
You won't necessarily only use a bench for one exercise using dumbbell s or barbells but it can also be used for step ups, pushups and so on and so forth.
#5: Save Space
Some of these benches have been designed in such a way that they do not take up much space as opposed to complex gym equipment which do require a lot of space to work the same muscle groups.
In Closing
No matter how you look at it, the benefits in using weight benches are far more than the disadvantages…
For a long time now, a full-body workout used to be my way of getting back into shape… until I had to deal with a shoulder injury that had knocked me out for almost 20 days or so.
Yet during that time, I was wondering how to get back on the horse again, and came across this article which outlined how Brad Pitt got that perfect body to die for, for his acclaimed role in Fight Club.
(If you ask me, I loved Troy much more… but here's the link , if you want some serious workout ideas.
For the most part of performing a full-body workout, I'd go through the motions when it came to doing compound exercises but it was very different with split workouts, as they're called.
For one, there was no need for a weight bench…
The Weight Training Bench
This is one of the most common forms of equipment you will find in the gym these days, and strangely in my quest to move on to a split workout, I discovered that a weight training bench was required in order to do so.
Of course, these benches not only mimic the flat bench that you will find in the parks and gardens but comes in the incline and decline variety as well. Not only can you use a simple bench to work your chests and arms but other body parts as well…
So, as you can see, the main reason why it is recommended to use one of these weight training benches is so that you can train certain muscle groups differently or even much more easily as well.
(Trust me, using a weight training bench to do your conventional bench presses is a good idea as opposed to doing the earlier floor press. Perhaps, this is because there is more room to move your shoulders when you are executing a rep as opposed to hardly having any when doing the floor press.)
But is it mandatory? No, definitely not… yet using one will tell you where you really are, in terms of working out – as my split workout required me to use a weight bench on specific days when a particular muscle group was being targeted.
But are there any benefits to using a weight training bench? Yes, and let's find out…
Benefits of using a Weight Training Bench
So here are a few benefits of using a weight training bench :
#1: Excellent support for weight lifters
As opposed to using a stability ball when working out with heavy weights, it makes more sense to use a weight bench which is far more stable and allows the user to maintain balance and control the weights easier.
#2: Hyperextension Exercises
Exercises that allow for hyperextension are not possible without a weight bench, and thus is another important benefit.
#3: Targets muscles that are hard to reach
In trying to target the rear deltoid muscle, most experts consider this easier to do when using a bench as opposed to standing.
#4: For Multiple Purposes in a single workout
You won't necessarily only use a bench for one exercise using dumbbell s or barbells but it can also be used for step ups, pushups and so on and so forth.
#5: Save Space
Some of these benches have been designed in such a way that they do not take up much space as opposed to complex gym equipment which do require a lot of space to work the same muscle groups.
In Closing
No matter how you look at it, the benefits in using weight benches are far more than the disadvantages…