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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Is that so? I haven't heard that before. Why are dumbbells better? More compound movements (engaging core etc)?[/quote]

I think after I started working out, so when I started to figure out how to do things but was still starting out, started out with dumbbells.

Some things I liked about what I understood about dumbbells is that it required extra stabilizer muscles, allowed more motion, and right depending on how you do it it can engage your core too.  ie if you decide to do exercises standing up, like should presses, maybe curls too.

What I later found out was that being able to lift a certain amount of weight does not translate directly to the same weight using a barbell.

So based on my goals at the time, switched over to a primarily barbell only workout.  A lot of what is done on barbell can be subbed with dumbbells but are not exactly the same.

What I dislike the most are machines.  Doesn't matter if they're the traditional weight stack machines, smith machine or the hammer strength type of machines that you stack plates on.

Like transitioning between dumbbells and barbells, the weights you can lift don't translate between free weights and machines.  And it's easy to get a false sense of confidence in what you can lift.  Do you see those people doing the leg press machine fully loaded?

Most of the machines provide a bit of mechanical advantage and makes lifting the weight somewhat easier.

Also it limits the natural range of motion.  So if you don't have the settings set correctly you can either be working out inefficiently and/or risk hurting yourself.

Some body builders I used to know liked to incorporate machines in their workouts, for something like burning out with 100 reps.

But unless you're resting, recovering or rehabbing, I'd say free weights are the way to go, which in your case sounds like dumbbells.[/quote]

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