The Evolution of Fitness Equipment According to Tom Platz

If you've ever paid attention to the professional world of bodybuilding there's no doubt you've heard the name Tom Platz. Tom gained an interest in the sport from a young age, and by the end of high school had numerous accomplishments at a competitive level. During the 1980's he was a household name when it came to bodybuilding, frequently showing up on the cover of magazines and during high level competitions. Tom isn't a professional bodybuilder anymore, but he's using his knowledge, experience and connections to the sport to help Fit4Sale with its top of the line new and used fitness equipment.

One of the things Tom Platz likes to mention when he talks about fitness equipment is about how much it has evolved over the years. When he first moved to California in the late 1970's to make it big, Gold's Gym at Venice Beach was the mecca of bodybuilding. Back then there weren't any businesses manufacturing fitness equipment. Everything was custom made and designed to help the lifters at the gym achieve maximum results. Instead of ellipticals and stair climbers there were tons of free weights, squat racks, benches and barbells. As the popularity of bodybuilding rose, however, industry began to see the potential of the fitness market and started to manufacture fitness equipment.

According to Tom, a lot of advancements were made during the following decades, both in cardio and strength equipment. New or used treadmills are now in every gym and provide an excellent way to get a great cardio workout indoors. Some people say ellipticals are even better, as they help mimic a running motion with way less impact. The biggest advancements have probably been made in strength machines. It took a long time to convince the public, especially women, of the importance of strength training, but now there are strength circuits, strength machines and free weights in nearly every gym.

The last few years has seen a drastic improvement in the quality of strength training equipment. Tom says that most older strength machines don't account for the importance of strengthening the core. When lifting with free weights, your body needs to keep the weight you're lifting in balance. This works muscles in your core that aren't normally accessible with older strength machines, as the weights are kept in balance by the machine itself. Thankfully, newer strength machines have accounted for this factor. Exercise experts like Tom know that strengthening the core isn't just important for bodybuilders. It's essential for everyone looking to stay fit and healthy.