Unleash your best body

When it comes to building a better body image, not all workouts are created equal. While a variety of physical activities -- from walking to dancing to shooting hoops -- may help you feel better about the way you look, some experts and many Shape readers agree that pumping iron is an especially effective way to boost your body confidence.

Unless you're a real beginner, we're not talking about using dainty 3-pound dumbbells or doing a basic circuit of weight machines. Heavier weights and new exercises are the keys to increasing strength and body confidence. With that in mind, we asked former competitive power lifter Jan Todd, Ph.D., for moves that'll best help you build overall body strength and make you feel strong and powerful while doing them.

Part of Todd's strategy includes using free weights (dumbbells and barbells) instead of machines. "Many machines are built so that the weight is hidden within a stack, so you don't get a visual sense of how much you're lifting," says Todd, assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Texas at Austin. "With free-weight training, you can see how much you're lifting, which is a helpful visual cue." Free weights also provide a better workout because more muscles are involved.