Chest machines

[sopac]

nooooo, not the smith machine! Worst weight training invention ever. The only thing they are good for is stretching and maybe doing chin up's on.

I was just trying to figure out an alternative so he doesnt kill himself under the bar. I guess you dont believe in isolation?

 

[djeclipse]

I was just trying to figure out an alternative so he doesnt kill himself under the bar. I guess you dont believe in isolation?

1. Isolation is a waste of time.

But the main problem with the smith machine is that is does nothing but set you up for injury.

1. It doesn't allow natural movement throughout the lift. It is a fixed line, which is not natural.

2. It removes any stabeliser (sp?) muscles which also need to be developed. You may be strong on the smith machine, but when you go to lift something in real life you will get hurt as the stabelisers aren't strong enough because they haven't been worked.

If your chest is lacking, train heavy flat bench.

heavy does not mean you have to train to failure. Pick a rep range, 5-8 reps. Add weight to the bar every week. You nver have to go to failure, so you don't need a spotter.

 

[sopac]

Hmmmm I take it youre against bodybuilding, I'm pretty positive isolation isnt a waste of time, well for me atleast.....it has brought out a lot more definition. I'm guessing youre a powerlifter?

 

[djeclipse]

Hmmmm I take it youre against bodybuilding, I'm pretty positive isolation isnt a waste of time, well for me atleast.....it has brought out a lot more definition. I'm guessing youre a powerlifter?

More definition has nothing to do with the way you lift. You can't change the shape of your muscles, nor can you "spot" work a muscle. You can make a muscle bigger and the % body fat will determine how much definition you see in your muscles.

I don't classify really. I don't compete in anything, just train for myself.

 

[the_alcatraz]

More definition has nothing to do with the way you lift. You can't change the shape of your muscles, nor can you "spot" work a muscle. You can make a muscle bigger and the % body fat will determine how much definition you see in your muscles.

I don't classify really. I don't compete in anything, just train for myself.

I agree with you to some extent. But the nb. or reps and the range of motion can effect the way your muscles look.

 

[djeclipse]

I agree with you to some extent. But the nb. or reps and the range of motion can effect the way your muscles look.

What is NB?

The number of reps do not change anything. Are you trying to say if you train at 5 reps your muscle will look one way and if you train in the 10 rep range it will take a different shape?

The only way muscles will change is by growing, rep range won't produce different shaped muscles.

 

[thebadguy54]

Try negative dips, dumbell bench, and overhead work as these require no spot.

^^^^^^^^^^^^Yup.

And stay off the machines as others on here have suggested.

...unless you want to be "all show and no go" like many of the machine users in my gym.