Marc Fitt

The great exercise debate: what’s the better method for working out? Bodyweight, or free weight exercises? The fact of the matter is, there isn’t such thing as a “better” method, because both bodyweight and free weight exercises can (and should) have a place in your workout routines. For example, bodyweight exercises allow you to follow through a completely natural movement,therefore reducing your risk of injury, and increasing your benefits from the exercise. A lot of bodyweight exercises utilize several muscles at once, too. For instance, if you perform a push-up, you’re not just working your chest; the secondary and tertiary muscles worked are your triceps and shoulders. You’ll also find that, since bodyweight exercises are utilizing a different type of load than free weights, you’ll most likely perform higher reps, which also make them effective at toning muscle. One con with bodyweight exercises can be that they’re too tough from the get-go for someone who might be a beginner, or someone with a little extra weight on them. Push-ups, dips, and most definitely, pull-ups, can be extremely difficult for someone without a solid foundation of strength. On the other hand, free weights can be ideal for beginners, since you can…

When you consider all of the things that are involved in living a fitness lifestyle — the training, the diet, etc. — there are many, many facets that are involved. Everything from the way you work out, to the timing of the foods you eat, to how many hours of sleep you get, and so much more can all affect the kinds of gains you make. However, something that falls short on a lot of individuals are the very hormones that are involved in your body, and the way they can help (or hinder) your progress.You may already be familiar with testosterone, and how it can help increase protein synthesis, which can lead to further development of lean muscle mass. Conversely, the hormone cortisol is catabolic, in that it essentially breaks down tissue. It literally reduces protein synthesis and the growth of tissue. The control of your cortisol levels really can play a large role in your development of muscle. While there isn’t a lot you can do in the way of completely shutting out this hormone (nor would you want to), you can take measures into your hands by adhering to a few basic ideas. Keep your workouts under…