Meet Sarah.About a year ago, Sarah saw an infomercial about a "multi-unit" workout machine. The announcer called it a "revolutionary" piece of equipment, claiming that people would see results in "just 2-4 weeks". It exercised all major body parts and
female model shown using machine said it "was safer and more effective than free weights."
Intimidated by gyms her whole life, Sarah knew having her own home gym would be key to her finally getting into shape. She had heard that machines were safer than free weights. Besides, machine came with "easy to follow video instructions". The price was steep, but as Sarah imagined changing her body, she got her credit called and grabbed phone.
On day of delivery, Sarah was surprised to see it took up twice space she was told it would, limiting space in her already cramped den. Excited to get started, she popped in video, and hopped on machine. Sarah soon found that she, at 5’3", was too small to fit on machine for some of exercises. She continued on anyway, trying to ignore fact that her lower back and knees were starting to hurt a little.
Sarah used her new revolutionary machine exactly three more times. For last six months, it has been her unofficial clothes hanger.
What happened? Sarah thought she was buying a machine that would be very easy to operate and be a safe alternative to free-weights. Unfortunately, Sarah and many others are misguided by heavily marketed hype by machine developers. When it comes to effectiveness, particularly for beginning exerciser, free-weights (i.e., dumbbells) rate much higher than expensive machines in terms of:
1. Cost. Three or four sets of dumbbells would have cost Sarah less than 10 times amount she spent on her machine. As she gets stronger, she would have to buy more, though even a full set would not set her back nearly as much as machine did.
2. Space. Dumbbells take up far less space than most of exercise equipment sold on infomercials. You can easily place them in a closet, out of sight under bed, or in a corner. There are even dumbbells you can adjust (i.e., PowerBlock) that allow you to adjust poundage on one set, eliminating need for single-poundage dumbbells.
3. Variety. Most machines are designed as one-dimensional. Even most extensive multi-unit machines will allow exercisers to perform only a limited number of movements in a restricted range of motion. Free-weights can be used in ranges of motion based on exerciser, not a machine. Use free weights along with benches or Swiss Balls and you have multitude of exercise options.
