Pick workouts based on equipment I have?

[Slapshot]

Hi there. I am trying to figure out how I can select workout plans that don't require cables but that make use of free weights. I've been browsing through plans and going through the excercises one at a time to find plans that will work with what I have.

I'm hoping there's an easier way and I'm just missing it. Am I right? Is this possible, and if so how?

Thanks!

[Team FitSync]

Great question.  The best way to find a workout with specific characteristics is to use the search options to refine your search but first, some background. 

Exercises are classified by modality (free weights, machines, tubes/bands, etc.) and workouts and programs are classified by type (cross training, weight loss, sport specific, etc.).  That's because workouts and multi-week programs will often use a combination of modalities so it's tough to pin one down as one modality only.

However, there are workouts that are designed for little or no equipment like a "home" or "travel" workout but are also classified by type such as strength or toning.  There are also workouts designed for a specific type of equipment such as "kettlebell" or "tubes/bands." 

Here's what you can do:

1 - Go into Workouts and then Workout Libraries
2 - Set library filter to All Libraries and All Types
3 - Enter Free Weights into the free text search field

Do this and you'll get about 31 workouts with "Free Weights" in the name but of course this won't catch every single free weight workout because not all of them have Free Weights in the name.

I'd suggest first searching on Free Weights in workouts and seeing if there's something there that fits.  If not, try searching by type (strength, weight loss, cross training, etc.) to narrow down your results and then use the View option to eyeball the workout's exercises (like you've been doing already).

If you find something close it's real easy to go in and edit the workout and swap in a free weight exercise in place of a cable or machine version.  When you edit your workouts you get the exercise library search filters so you can search by modality, muscle group, and a free text name so you can find a replacement.  If you can't find an exercise to swap in then you can create your own.

Hope this helps.  Happy New Year!

John Morgan