Dumbbells

    Dumbbell workouts have always been an easy, inexpensive way to get in shape, strengthen muscles, burn calories and raise your heart rate. One of the secrets to losing weight is lifting weights. With just two workouts a week you'll notice a significant difference in your overall shape and size in just four weeks. Surprisingly, working out with dumbbells takes more muscle power over other types of fitness equipment that work on the same theory of resistance training. The movement of each individual dumbbell must be stabilized by the hand in which it is being held, which requires significant balance and control from the surrounding arm muscles. Ironically, barbells are easier to lift and balance than dumbbells because a barbell allows the strong side of your body to compensate for the weak side.

    In addition, using free weights exercises the whole muscular system, not just the specific muscle you're targeting, because muscles elsewhere in the body have to balance the weights and keep them moving smoothly on the intended exercise path. This, in turn, burns more calories and increases your overall strength, balance and posture. Fortunately for those lacking coordination abilities, dumbbell exercises use many of the body's natural movement patterns so you don't have to get used to awkward movements or positions and the flexibility of dumbbell workouts means that you can target specific areas of the body very effectively.