Body Building: Equipment

Body building truly became a craze from 1970, mostly due to the movie Pumping Iron featuring, no prizes for guessing, Arnold Schwarzenegger. While trying body building, it‟s important that you consider your goals first. Is it to build muscle mass, to lose weight or to tone up?

The equipment you choose to use whether at home or gym, depends upon these factors. The most basic need served by body building, as the name suggests, is to develop muscles mass. For this you need a pair of free weights which, apart from being the most effective body building equipment, are also the least expensive. Add to this the fact that they are portable, come in a variety of designs and you know why they sell like hot cakes. Free weights are the most useful fitness equipment as they can be adapted to your workout by increasing the weight as you get used to your current program.

Body building is also a sport now and for those interested in training for the profession, a proper routine in consultation with a specialist and a doctor would be advisable. As far as the fitness regimen goes, a weight bench with a set of barbells from ten to forty pounds is ideal for building large muscles. Just work your way up gradually to the heavier weights.

For those who don‟t want the definition of the professionals, dumbbells are the way to go. Easy and portable, one can even get a pair of aquatic dumbbells to practice in the pool. This is especially for those with back problems and arthritis. Pull- up bars and push up stands are great for toning your upper body and arm sculpting, as they take it through all its paces. Focus on frequent but less number of reps for toning and intense reps twice or thrice a week if you want bulk. Dip stands on the other hand, give your wrist that extra support and help in strengthening your arms and hands.

Whether a professional or otherwise, keep in mind that you need to alternate and supplement your exercise routine with the adequate nutrition and rest. Body building is tremendously taxing and you need to take care if you don‟t want to end up hurting yourself. Even though you might want to work out everyday, remember that your body needs to recuperate between workouts.

Depending on your fitness level, aim for one to five serious workouts per week and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts.

Finally, be patient. If you have never exercised in your life till date, chances are you will take some time getting used to it. Make a routine, consult a doctor and a specialist, get proper nutrition and stick to your regimen. Your efforts will be rewarded in due time.