Gym weights: 2 reasons to train the lower body

When using gym weights to build their upper body many people dismiss the power of training their legs

. However training ones legs is beneficial for at least two reasons.

Very rarely in normal life will an activity isolate movement of the upper body from the lower body or isolate single muscles. When playing sport, doing yard work, lifting and carrying groceries or small children, moving your living room furniture, putting up a tent or helping push start a car you engage your upper and lower body muscles simultaneously. During these activities you also employ your core muscles - your abdominals and lower back muscles - to coordinate and stablise your upper and lower body. So when using gym weights to improve ones health and fitness, it makes sense to perform exercises that simulate real life.

Two of the best compound exercises are squats and deadlifts. Many people dismiss these exercises because they believe they only work the legs. However, when done properly these two exercises simultaneously work all the leg muscles as well as the core muscles, trapezius and forearm muscles. Consequently they are very effective at increasing ones functional strength.

For those who are unfamiliar with the squat and deadlift the following descriptions might explain how they work the entire body.

With a squat, you rest a bar on your shoulders, behind your head and lock it into place with your hands. Your starting position is standing with your knees slightly bent - just enough that the knees are not locked. Keeping your feet flat on the floor you then bend the knees and hips until your thighs pass horizontal. While doing this you keep your back upright as possible - this will improve with flexibility. You also keep your back straight. From the bottom position push up to the standing position without locking your knees.

The deadlift can be done with straight or bent legs. The bent leg option will be explained here. In this case the bar starts resting on the floor. Your starting posture is similar to the squat in that your legs are bent at the knees and hips, your back is upright as possible and straight. You then grip the bar and lift. You finish in the standing position, once again knees not locked.

Sure these exercises may improve ones functional fitness but do they really help people who want larger chest, shoulder and arm muscles? The answer is yes.

The best chest exercise is the bench press. For shoulders its the overhead or shoulder press and for the back its the chin up. When performing the bench press, having a strong leg drive and stable core protecting your lower back will enable you to confidently lift more weight through your chest. While it is the shoulders that lift those gym weights above the head in the overhead press, it is the leg and core muscles that ensure the upper body is stable so that the shoulders can perform properly. During a chin up the back and arm muscles do the most work but it is necessary to engage the leg and core muscles to ensure proper technique and prevent unnecessary swinging. Furthermore, the grip strength required to hold your body during chin ups is the same strength that is being trained when holding the bar during deadlifts.

So, why include your lower body when training with gym weights? To gain functional strength and a bigger, stronger upper body.

Gym weights: 2 reasons to train the lower body

By: James Murrey

POST COMMENT

Aarkstore Enterprise---disease And Therapy Review: Cervical Cancer Liver Cirrhosis | Herbs For Liver Cirrhosis Chronic Fatigue ' Don't Settle For Prescription Drugs Energize You Body Is Your Fat Burning Exercise Routine Keeping You Fat And Unhealthy? Aarkstore Enterprise---disease And Therapy Review: Neuropathic Pain What To Eat During Pregnancy For A Healthy 9 Months Colopure - Natural Colon Cleanse Detox Foot Pain Suffers In Reisterstown Find Relief Through Chiropractic Solutions Regular eye exams are essential for our eye health Maintain the Health of your Eyelashes Cure For Foot Pain The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea: A Rundown The Yeast Infection: Its Causes and Symptoms