Weight Plates

Most of you know that there are two types of weight plates the constantly-touted Olympic plate and the good old standard weight plate. The basic difference is that Olympics the ones typically found in gyms have a 2-inch center hole, while standard plates the ones typically used in home gyms have slightly smaller middle holes at 1-inch.

Weight lifting forums and fitness magazines are ever-debating about the pros of purchasing Olympic weights versus standard weights for your home gym. I personally don't want to start WWIII especially with a bunch of power lifters but I purchased standard weights because they were all I could afford and they do the trick. If you weight train simply to strengthen and tone muscles like I do, and even if you want to add mass then standard weight plates are just as good. On the other hand, if you want to train as a professional weight lifter then you'll probably fork out the extra money for Olympic plates regardless. However, before you buy, keep in mind that Olympic and standard plates and bars don't mix, so if you commit to an Olympic bar for your home gym then you're forced to put out the extra cash for complimentary Olympic plates.

If you're a clammy-handed weightlifter like I am, then you'll be impressed with the solid handle and loading you'll get with rubber-encased plates. These also keep your gym floor and weight plates protected from cracking and becoming dented.

For a little variety I've added some information on a Russian weight apparatus called a kettlebell. If you've never heard of a kettlebell then you're not alone (I hadn't heard of them myself). Kettlebells kind of resemble bowling balls with handles, but they open your body to a whole new range of motion and increase your flexibility, stamina and reaction time which is of particular use to competitive athletes who wish find a training routine that transfers into their sporting activities.