May 12, 2011

It's been almost two years of Make Dan Sweat, and in that time, Dan has done some interesting things. This week, he went to "The Gym" and lifted weights using equipment he's never seen before.

Trainer Sherrie Ramsey took Dan through several exercises, including a belt squat machine. It's a machine that works your legs, back, and hips. "A lot of people are unable to do squats or are concerned about squats because of the loading to the spine," says Ramsey.

Next up, a bamboo bar bench press. It's similar to a regular bench press, but the bar is flexible, and the weights hang off the end of the bar. It means you have to use more than just your pectoral muscles.
Ramsey says "Those plates are oscillating, which means your body has to do a lot more work just to stabilize the bar while you're benching and more muscles are getting involved."

Finally, the reverse hyper machine. You lay down, and use your legs to move the weight. "All those muscles are working and then as you release the weight and it comes back down, you are working through a greater range of motion that really you've ever worked through," says Ramsey.

Dan found out, at "The Gym" they know how to Make Dan Sweat.

The Gym is on Viola Way which is off Avon Street in Charlottesville.