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machine vs. free weights
- Thread starter 2smallsa
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fallingeggs
New member
from a powerlifting view point... i have not touched a machine in over a year yet I have progressed nicely.
You should at least not use them for the big compound lifts like bench and squat, but i can see someone using the cables or the leg curl machines.
You should at least not use them for the big compound lifts like bench and squat, but i can see someone using the cables or the leg curl machines.
fallingeggs
New member
you should not think of it like that. you would want to use some mix of both each week. For example, always free weight bench then add some cable flies at the end. I would take a look at the training sticky (http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/w...xercises-articles-more-start-here-484815.html) for some ideas on fixed programs to follow. I personally would go with the beginner 3x5, but any of them will work better then what it seems you are doing now.
Omega and I are from very different schools of thought, that is why we differ a bit. Both will get you bigger and stronger, just two different ways of getting there.
Omega and I are from very different schools of thought, that is why we differ a bit. Both will get you bigger and stronger, just two different ways of getting there.
solarclimax
New member
fallingeggs said:
Who could you see using the leg curl machine ? leg curl machines restrict and control your range of motion yet over the past million years or whatever humans have adapted to using their muscles freeley and in their own range of motion, that's why we have stabilizer muscles.
solarclimax
New member
fallingeggs said:
Yes maybe, only 1 will get you their whilst risking having weak injury prone muscles and joints and the outher will get you there without risking injury prone muscles and joint.
fallingeggs
New member
The leg curl was just a bad example... i have not attempted to learn which machines would be best.
I will also say that it is true that powerlifting can mess with your joints later on. It is partly this reason why i will most likely move into Olympic style lifting after college.
I was not saying 2smallsa should pick up powerlifting, just giving an answer from a different view point (i suppose, in my case, a style of lifting that does not use machines).
I will also say that it is true that powerlifting can mess with your joints later on. It is partly this reason why i will most likely move into Olympic style lifting after college.
I was not saying 2smallsa should pick up powerlifting, just giving an answer from a different view point (i suppose, in my case, a style of lifting that does not use machines).
Yeah, both have their time and place. Machines are good for rehab or if you can't do the regular exercises for some reason, but free weights are better for stabilizing and overall usable strength gain.
Right now my routine doesn't include any machines, but thats cool cause I don't need any right now, I'm currently at the strongest I've ever been before and only getting stronger.
Right now my routine doesn't include any machines, but thats cool cause I don't need any right now, I'm currently at the strongest I've ever been before and only getting stronger.
I typically use a mix, pretty much 50/50. As others have said you shouldn't really think of it in terms of one being better than the other. They both have their purposes and applications.
For bodybuilding purposes both combined can help a lot. Obviously the free weights are going to be most beneficial for strengthing your stabilizers, while machines can help really focus on a specific area. For the basic gym member who just wants to go in and blow through a quick full body workout, or for people who are rehabing from an injury of some sort, a mostly- or all-machine routine is probably best.
For bodybuilding purposes both combined can help a lot. Obviously the free weights are going to be most beneficial for strengthing your stabilizers, while machines can help really focus on a specific area. For the basic gym member who just wants to go in and blow through a quick full body workout, or for people who are rehabing from an injury of some sort, a mostly- or all-machine routine is probably best.
s8nlilhlpr2
New member
I am very anti-machine myself, but I can admit they do have their purposes for SOME people. I personally feel they should be used the same as most isolation exercises. At the END of the workout AFTER the compound free-weight movements. Its cool to use them occasionally, but don't design a "leg day" around hitting every machine that says "leg xxxx."
For some reason, my height and leg/arm angles feel very odd in most machines at my gym. Don't know if they were designed for someone taller or what, but I am not comfortable using most. A few of the hammer strength machines are cool, but if I'm going to be loading plates anyways, I'd rather just use a bar.
Nothing can replace the free-weight squat, deadlift, or press, IMO.
For some reason, my height and leg/arm angles feel very odd in most machines at my gym. Don't know if they were designed for someone taller or what, but I am not comfortable using most. A few of the hammer strength machines are cool, but if I'm going to be loading plates anyways, I'd rather just use a bar.
Nothing can replace the free-weight squat, deadlift, or press, IMO.
solarclimax
New member
OMEGA said:
Yes really
solarclimax
New member
Yes, infinity + 1 no returns
