Welcome to the Get Fit Guys quick and dirty tips to get moving and shape up.

My name is Brock Armstrong and I am the Get Fit Guy.

If you're hitting the gym for the first time, or you're maybe just tempted to venture off of the

cardio equipment, it can be hard to know which piece of strength equipment you should choose.

A dumbbell, a barbell, a machine, or maybe just the mat.

But today we're going to talk about the pros and the cons of each of those.

Now to start with, regardless of your age, your body type, or your gender,

incorporating some strength training into your fitness plan is a great idea.

If you have strong and toned muscles, you'll be better able to move throughout everyday activities

with ease now and in 10, 20, or 50 years from now.

Now before we jump in, let's review the many benefits of strength training, including

improved bone density, improved body composition, improved gene expression, better blood

glucose control, more balanced blood lipids, lower blood pressure, improved cardio-respertory

fitness, greater aerobic capacity, and finally,

looking good in a tight t-shirt. Now, strength training exercises mostly fall into three groups

based on what you're doing and what equipment you're using, and those are body weight,

free weights, or machines. Now, each of those can serve a useful purpose,

so it's handy to know your way around all of them, and there are pros and cons in all three

areas, and some exercises tend to be more effective when using one or the other. For instance,

dumbbells can be inexpensive and somewhat portable and having a set in your living

room near your TV or in your office under your desk can make it easy to quickly grab them

when the mood strikes you.

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