Strength Training Anatomy
I recently purchased the book Strength Training Anatomy 3rd Edition by Frederic Delavier. I wanted a book with illustrations that would show what muscles are worked with a specific exercise. T
his book delivered that and so much more.
The book is broken down into sections, arms, shoulders, chest, etc. Each section starts with the anatomy breakdown of the specific body part, and goes on to illustrate the various exercises for that particular body part. There are step by step instructions for each exercise with diagrams showing what muscles are being worked and the names of the specific muscles and bones. The illustrations show proper technique and variations of the exercises. There are even a few pages in each body part section discussing potential injuries and injury prevention.
The selection of exercises for each body part is very good and covers all of the most common exercises. There are over 600 full color illustrations with great detail. Every muscle is named and its function explained in detail. Whether you are a veteran lifter or just starting out, this book is a must have. It is fairly priced and you can get your own copy on Amazon.
Power Block
For quite a while I have used the Power Block Urethane dumbbells in my home gym. They are compact and give you a range of 5lbs to 50lbs. There are expansion kits available from Power Block to take them up to 70lbs, 90lbs and 125lbs.
With space being a consideration in a home gym these are the way to go in my opinion. They do take a bit of getting used to at first but once you are accustomed to the feel they work great. They make switching the weight fast and easy in between sets. When compared to a full set of 5lb to 50lb hex style dumbbells with a rack, they take up significantly less room and in most instances are less expensive.
While I haven’t had much experience with the Bowflex Select Tech dumbbells or the others on the market, the Power Block seem to be very solid and great to use.
They can be purchased online at Power Block or on Amazon. Check them out. They are a great addition to your home gym.