Bodyweight exercises vs. lifting weights

Question: Can at-home bodyweight exercises be as effective as lifting weights?

Answer: It depends. If you’re looking to improve general fitness, then absolutely! Have you noticed people before and then after two months of performing Insanity — or fill in your DVD or online high intensity interval training program? They look great! (Sure, there’s more than meets the eye; they are disciplined and most likely have watched what they ate, too.) Why? They are intertwining anaerobic and aerobic activities; in other words, they’re pushing their muscles “lifting” capacity and their body’s cardiovascular capability. This is a great combination for fat burning, and, thus, sculpting a meaner, leaner frame!

Now, here are the problems: (1) If you want to improve absolute strength. You’re out of luck. To improve strength, you need to lift heavy weight. Period. Performing 150 Push-ups might help increase your Bench Press slightly, but it doesn’t hold a candle to getting under the bar and pressing real weight. (2) If you want to increase muscle mass. You’re somewhat out of luck. Can you increase muscle mass with bodyweight movements? Heck yes you can! (The famous Herschel Walker is a fantastic example! His genetics were different than almost every person’s on the plant, though.) But there’s a limit. There are only so many weightless Lunge combinations and reps you can do before it turns solely into an aerobic activity. As some point, you must add weight to exercises. (3) (You asked about lifting, not running or the like — I know.) If you want to perform an endurance event. In this instance, supplemental bodyweight exercises are a great combination to endurance training, but hitting the pavement, pool, or path are your ultimate keys to success in this realm.

So whats’s the best way to maximize results: Mixing bodyweight exercises *with* weights is the best way to go. Get that intensity up! Use bodyweight movements at the right time; use various weighted exercises — light, medium, and heavy — at the right time. Incorporate a program to maximize your potential. I’m guessing you’re now thinking: “Coach, how do we do that?!” Well, we can’t give away ALL our secrets. 🙂 That’s why we have HOMEGROWN, and at-home, go-anywhere workout program! If you have questions, just shoot us a line!

#dowork 💪🏽