Many are people are surprised to realise how useful and versatile a good workout bench can be. The fitness industry has conned many of us into thinking that we need a wide array of gym equipment in order to get fit, lose weight or put on muscle. In reality, that notion is just clever marketing at its finest. Many of the exercise machines you see in gyms have been introduced only relatively recently. Before that, people had no trouble in achieving their fitness goals, even with just a workout bench and few weights.
If you are going to buy a workout weight bench, you have a few options. Some benches allow you to adjust the angle of part of the bench. This allows you to do barbell and dumbbell exercises such as incline bench press. It also makes it easier to perform certain exercises that require you to lean on the bench, particular if you are tall. The one-arm row is an example of an exercise that is aided by the inclined bench.
Many workout benches also come with additional features that increase the range of exercises you do. My own workout bench can be easily adjusted into a squat rack. It also comes equipped with parts for preacher curls, hamstring curls, and leg extensions.
Even without these additions, a plain and simple workout bench is still sufficient for almost everybody’s needs. Unless you are planning on being the next Ron Coleman, there is little need for you to turn your home into a fully equipped gym. You can still get big and bulky, if that is what you want to do, with a workout bench and enough weights. Think about all the exercises you can do with this equipment: chest presses, shoulder presses, curls, ab exercises, rows and dead-lifts. Really, the only things you are missing out on are squats and pull-ups, but as mentioned before, you can find a bench with an attached squat rack. And, you really only need to find a good overhead bar to do pull-ups.
This discussion may seem like it has been focused on muscle building workouts, but the truth is, these workouts will help you lose weight as well. Some women in particular are worried that, if they do weights, they will get big and bulky. The reality is that most women lack the hormones to put on big muscles. When they do weight training, they rapidly acquire a slim, toned look.
In summary, unless you are planning on being the next Ron Coleman, there is no reason for you to get anything more than a good workout bench and a few weights. Whether you want to bulk up, trim down, or just improve your health, a workout bench, together with the right exercises, will help you achieve your goals.
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