Chapter 13
Chapter 13: Demystifying Strength Equipment .........................................................
In This Chapter
Figuring out weight machines
Using dumbbells and barbells: The pros and cons
Mastering cable pulleys
Toning with rubber tubes and bands
Using your body as weight equipment
S
ome weight-lifting contraptions look like the convergence of a gynecolog-
ical examination table, a minimalist sculpture, and an all-terrain vehicle.
It’s only natural to stare at them and think: Where do I sit? What do I push?
Has anyone ever been killed on one of these things?As far as we know, no one has ever exploded on the Butt Blaster or been
mashed into lunchmeat by the leg-press machine. Weight equipment is not
as complicated as it appears. Still, you need to know what the heck you’re
looking at and how to use each machine safely. In this chapter, we cover
the vast array of strength-training equipment that you can use at home or
at health clubs, including the latest developments in gym machines and free
weights. We explain the pros and cons of each type of device and help you
choose the right equipment for your goals. For advice on buying strength
equipment for your home, see Chapter 20.Weight Machines .........................................................................................
If you can unfold a lawn chair, you’re more than qualified to operate a weight
machine. It all comes down to two relatively simple acts: You adjust your seat
and then you either push or pull a bar or a set of handles. These handles are
connected to a cable, chain, or lever, which, in turn, is attached to a stack of
rectangular weight plates. Each plate in the stack weighs between 5 and 20
pounds, depending on the make and model, and has a hole drilled in the center.
If you want to lift 30 pounds, you stick a metal peg, called a pin,into the hole
on the plate marked “30.” When you pull the machine’s handles, the cable picks
up 30 pounds.