For those who like to workout, deciding what kind of workout you want to do isn’t usually too difficult. You stick with what you know, what works for you, or what is most convenient. But if you haven’t quite hit your workout groove yet, deciding what types of workouts you want to do or what you will need to do them takes some consideration.

For example, should you buy a workout program? Should you purchase a weight set? Or do you just need a good pair of sneakers and some music to get you going? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using free weights vs. bodyweight exercises and find out what works best for you!

Free Weights

Pros

Using free weights is great. It’s one of my favorite ways to work out. Not only are there tons of exercises to choose from, but you can target and tone every inch of your body. In other words, you aren’t limited by how well you can contort your body to work this one specific side muscle you really need to tone.

With free weights, all you have to do is pick up 5-10 pounds and go. The benefit to this is that with certain moves, you may not be able to handle lifting your bodyweight or even a fraction of your body weight when you’re first starting out. Using weights is a great way to get your body used to performing the move without straining your muscles prematurely.

Free weights are also much more versatile than most machines because as long as you can figure out different moves to target specific muscle groups, you aren’t limited by what a machine could do. Essentially, free weights are as “free” as they sound.

Cons

There are a few negatives to using free weights, and the biggest downside is that they do require weights. Meaning that they can be heavy, especially if you typically use a few different weights (5lbs., 8lbs., 10lbs.) per workout.

If you’re traveling, this can add a lot to your suitcase that you won’t want to lug around.

Bodyweight Exercises

Pros

Using your bodyweight as resistance for exercising is a great way to get a functional workout in. What I mean is that when you do bodyweight exercises (think push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, planks, etc.) these are exercises that don’t require extra weights (or any equipment) to complete. You simply use your own bodyweight as resistance.

Because of their versatility, you can do bodyweight exercises anywhere, anytime. This makes them great for traveling. You use what you have and get a great workout in no matter what. It really takes away your excuse to not workout. For example, if you are staying away in a hotel, you could do crunches, pushups, lunges, dips, and more just in the space around your bed.

Another great benefit of bodyweight exercises is that you are using your own body weight as resistance, so basically, you are learning different ways to carry your body weight. That can really help you with functional movements, especially as you get older. For example, if you can do even one push-up, then you know you can push yourself up off the floor if you needed to. Another example is if you can do one sit-up, you can sit up from laying down.

A lot of people lose this functionality as they get older, so maintaining these exercises is going to help you stay active in the long run.

Finally, bodyweight exercises are a great way to work more than one muscle group at a time. Yes, you can also do this with free weights, but with bodyweight exercises, you are typically using your whole body and simply targeting a specific group. Hence, all of your muscles get a great workout without added effort.

You can also add cardio to the mix with bodyweight exercises. Running in place, mountain climbers, and jumping jacks are all great examples.

Cons

On the negative side, bodyweight exercises aren’t as specific as using free weights. You have to be able to put yourself in a position where you’re working a muscle by resisting your bodyweight. It’s not as simple as picking up a 5lb. dumbbell and curling it. Therefore, some muscle groups may be harder to target and tone because there just isn’t a good way to get at the muscle.

What’s the Verdict?

The answer is….both! Both free weights and bodyweight exercises are great for you and if you want my opinion for which is best, I say both. Both can offer great functionality and keep you feeling healthy and strong and mixing it up between the two is the best way to get the most out of your workouts.

A great compromise if you do have to travel, or can’t lug heavy weights around with you all the time is to use resistance bands. You may have to modify how you complete certain free weight moves, but it’s so much easier than packing dumbbells and you still have the versatility to do what you need to do and keep up with your workout routine.

What do you think? Leave a comment below on whether you prefer free weights or bodyweight exercises and why. I’d love to hear from you!