| Free weights are among the best tools available for | | | | sometimes do stupid things with their money and end |
| sculpting your perfect body and have been around for | | | | up as penniless as they were to begin with. But is that |
| a very long time. The ancient Greeks, famous for | | | | the money's fault? Does that mean winning the lottery |
| having the most perfect physiques in history, used | | | | made them broke? Imagine someone saying, "I don't |
| weights. Ancient paintings depict their athletes doing | | | | want to be rich because if I lose my money one day |
| early versions of weight lifting exercises using rocks | | | | then I'll be poor!" If that sounds stupid, that's because it |
| and other rudimentary weights. | | | | is. The idea that muscles turn into fat is the same kind |
| Despite such an impressive pedigree, free weight | | | | of faulty logic. |
| training still suffers from a couple of misconceptions | | | | Let's talk now about the amazing versatility of weights. |
| today, and this article will try to put them to rest. | | | | Many people don't realise this, but weights have a |
| The first myth that persists is that using weights will | | | | variety of applications, only one of which is "getting big." |
| turn one into a huge bodybuilder or the Incredible Hulk. "I | | | | I like to think of weights as an artist's tools. You can |
| don't use weights because I don't want to get too | | | | use them in several ways, depending on the effect |
| bulky," is a line I hear frequently. | | | | you want to achieve. Just like a sculptor uses a whole |
| The truth is that developing a bodybuilding physique | | | | spectrum of mallets, chisels, rasps and sandpaper |
| doesn't just happen by accident. That kind of body | | | | during his work, you should employ the right kind of |
| takes years and years to develop. You'd need to train | | | | weight training at the right time. |
| with heavy weights for hours every day, and consume | | | | One type of weight training is excellent for burning off |
| enormous amounts of food and supplements to look | | | | fat. These exercises have a powerful effect on the |
| like that. Maybe even steroids too. So if you still have | | | | metabolism, helping you shed inches off the waist and |
| any fears (or illusions) about looking like a bodybuilder | | | | become leaner. Another kind is excellent for adding |
| instantly, put them away. | | | | some size strategically. This kind of training is best for |
| The second idea that never seems to die is that if you | | | | when you want to make a particular body part bigger |
| train with weights, your muscles will turn to fat when | | | | so that your body as a whole is perfectly proportioned. |
| you get older. Again, this is untrue. Muscle and fat are | | | | And there's a third kind of weight training which is great |
| completely different types of tissue. One cannot turn | | | | for polishing the muscles, putting the finishing touches |
| into the other any more than lead can turn into gold. | | | | on your look. |
| Yes, some people who were in good shape lose | | | | I really suggest you start to think of your body as a |
| muscle and gain fat as they get older, but this is | | | | work of art, and free weights as the tools you use to |
| invariably because they stopped exercising and | | | | create it. When you get into that sort of mindset, you'll |
| started eating badly. Those bad habits would have | | | | realise how silly some of these myths are. You'll also |
| made them fat anyway; it has nothing to do with | | | | come to appreciate that no single type of weight |
| whether they once lifted weights! | | | | training will be perfect forever. It depends what your |
| Look at it this way: People who win the lottery | | | | specific aims are, and what stage your "sculpture" is in. |