Calisthenics VS Weights, which is better for you ?

by Admin · Published July 30, 2017 · Updated December 27, 2018

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Contents

Introduction

The Calisthenics and weightlifting are the two most common forms of training that athletes and people who live a healthy lifestyle use. But which one should you use? How different or similar are the two? And what are the expected benefits of either? This article takes an in-depth analysis of these factors.

Similarities between Calisthenics and Weights

- The two are efficient ways of increasing your resting metabolic rate

- Both Calisthenics and weights can be used to relieve stress

- By using these forms of physical exercises, you are able to cut down a certain percentage of body fat

- The two are a good way of maintaining your heart’s health

Although they do this in different ways, both strengthen ligaments

Despite these similarities, there is a wide range of differences between the two. There is an ongoing battle between calisthenics Vs weights. As a result, most people find it hard to choose what to go for. The purpose of this article is not to convince you to choose. Rather, it takes an objective point of view, providing you exactly with what you need to make a concise decision.

Calisthenics

These are exercises that entail numerous gross motor movements – pushing, grasping, running standing, etc. They are typically performed in a rhythmical manner, without the use of any equipment. Simply put, they are body-weight training. The main purpose of calisthenics is to strengthen one’s body, maintain flexibility and fitness, through the various movements one is engaged in.

When vigorously performed, the calisthenics has muscular and aerobic conditioning benefits, besides psychomotor skills like coordination, agility and balance.

Nowadays, we have different groups or individuals getting involved in urban calisthenics. They come together to conduct advanced calisthenics such as bar spins, back levers, both front and muscle ups.

Benefits

The most pronounced benefit of calisthenics compared to weights is their ease of practicing and flexibility. The moment you have you’ve mastered the right technique for the different exercises, the requirements are minimal. The only thing that you’ll need is sufficient space to go forth with powerful moves such as lunges, crunches, sit-ups, and push-ups.

Other benefits are as follows:

Increased Muscle, especially for beginners: If you are looking for ways to increase muscles without lifting weights, Calisthenics is the way to go. However, this is not something a hard-core bodybuilder may choose. The essence of muscle-building is progressive resistance. However, beginners will find Calisthenics to be of great help in that it creates a considerable mass of muscles and maintains it. In addition, it creates the muscles without having to undergo tear and trauma common to weights.

Flexibility: The stronger you are, the more flexible you become. The general understanding is that one can’t be flexible if he/she doesn’t build muscle mass. If you have high muscle mass, you get to increase your metabolic rate, which allows more calories to be burnt on a daily basis. Secondly, being consistent with calisthenics boosts your heart rate. The exercises constitute aerobic exercise, a key way to burn more fat.

Endurance: Calisthenics is regarded as beneficial due to endurance. There are some cases when participants are required to repeatedly do the same exercises, with no rest, until fully fatigued. These practices are re-performed daily after the muscles have had enough healing time overnight, thus increasing your endurance. One performs repetitions before the level of fatigue is reached.

Drawbacks

Limited overload: The fact that calisthenics allows you to adjust the difficulty by re-positioning your body implies that you will be subjected to a regulated amount of load. This may be offset by repeated exercises. However, it reaches a point of saturation where the body is no longer able to take in more load.

Dangerous Exercises: There is some calisthenics that lacks sufficient flexibility, conditioning, or coordination, increasing their level of danger. For instance, one-armed push-ups expose you to the danger of twisting your wrinkle because the entire body weight is placed on one hand.

Lack of isolation: Calisthenics can only be done as a compound. That is to say, that multiple muscles are simultaneously impacted.

if you want to get involved here is 22 Most Popular Calisthenics Exercises List

Weights

Weightlifting exercises are more intense to the joints as a result of the increased stress courtesy of extra mass. The rate at which it builds muscles is much faster than that of Calisthenics. You have the liberty to use either weight machines or free weights. The decision depends on what you are comfortable with.

Benefits

- It increases the participants’ physical work capacity, besides improving one’s ability to carry out activities that earn them their daily living. The strength training boosts your ability to work harder and longer.

- The density of your bones is improved. This has proven to be an effective way of controlling bone wear as one ages

- Weights promote fat-free body mass. There is a lean mass of fat called sarcopenia that we all attempt to get rid of as we age. Without weightlifting, this slowly turns into fat.

Increases your body confidence and thus strengthening your quality of life. Through weightlifting, you become stronger in addition to managing your weight

Limitations

The main disadvantage with weightlifting is that you must have specific equipment for you to proceed. For those who decide to use small dumbbells, chances are you may find carrying them in your traveling an inconvenient engagement. And if you were to use weight-training machines, you have to brace yourself for regular visits to the gym or buy a large machine for your home.

Weightlifting is also unable to emulate real-life situations because it isolates individual muscles.

You are faced with the risk of getting poor a posture because different muscles are impacted at different times. Additionally, the risk of getting injured is much higher, especially if you are a beginner. That is why you are encouraged to seek the help of a professional.