Smith vs Reg

[automaticj5]

with a spotter of course ill use reg everytime -- but I want to push myself each and every set and I feel that I dont if I dont have a spotter -- which is why I asked if smith would be more benefitial cause I could go til failure..

 

[silver_shadow]

94k for Oly meets
198lbs for PL

5'11

- Yellow Dump Truck

where are you at now al (weightwise)? if i remember correctly, you were at nearly 240 a few mths ago.

 

[al420]

where are you at now al (weightwise)? if i remember correctly, you were at nearly 240 a few mths ago.

197 @ about 12%

 

[automaticj5]

Damn -- I wish I could see 215 and under 15%

 

[corto]

I like using the smith machine at the end of my workout to isolate my chest mucles...I use the incline only.

 

[al420]

Damn -- I wish I could see 215 and under 15%

Clean diet is all I needed.

Try this for 1 week and weigh yourself daily. Weight train AM and do cardio PM. Cardio 4x per week. 2 llow intensity sessions that last 60 min and 2 HIIT session that last 20-30 min.

AM: During Work Out shake. 2 scoops whey 16oz gatorade
meal 2: 1hr after training - 6oz chik, 1/2 cup brown rice, 1 cup spinach
meal 3: same as 2
meal 4: same as 2 but kill the rice and add a hanful of almonds
meal 5: same as 5
meal 6: 2 tbsp all naturaql peanut butter.

if you have HEART it is easily done. If you lack HEART i feel sorry for you.

 

[silver_shadow]

Clean diet is all I needed.

Try this for 1 week and weigh yourself daily. Weight train AM and do cardio PM. Cardio 4x per week. 2 llow intensity sessions that last 60 min and 2 HIIT session that last 20-30 min.

AM: During Work Out shake. 2 scoops whey 16oz gatorade
meal 2: 1hr after training - 6oz chik, 1/2 cup brown rice, 1 cup spinach
meal 3: same as 2
meal 4: same as 2 but kill the rice and add a hanful of almonds
meal 5: same as 5
meal 6: 2 tbsp all naturaql peanut butter.

if you have HEART it is easily done. If you lack HEART i feel sorry for you.

how many???!

 

[al420]

how many???!

I'm all about the love SS - you know that.

 

[tropo]

If the spotter touches the bar the rep is a waste. Lighten the load and finish all your reps alone.

Smith Machine = Towel Rack

It the spotter touches the bar too much you could be on fast track to injuries too.

If your form is good you should be able to do bench pretty good alone. I train late at night without anyone around and I still get a good bench workout. I don't use collars so if I failed I can just slide the weights off (haven't needed to yet).

It surprising how you can get those last reps when there's no one around to help you if you fail.

 

[thebadguy54]

Ok -- Smith Machine vs Regular Bench....

Advantages and Disadvantages to both?

I wouldn't hang my coat on a Smith Machine.

Machines (in general) have set the fitness industry back. People like them since they are easy. People think they are specialized, safe and user-friendly. BUT, no matter how well it is designed, a machine can’t duplicate human movement.

Free weight and body weight exercises promote neuromuscular development since you have to balance the weight and keep it steady in a free range of motion.

Free weight exercises are FAR more functional! Lying on your back to perform a leg press does nothing in terms of carry-over into daily life, work, sports etc. Trust me, I know since I spent years doing the leg press as my bread and butter exercise for quads. I built some great LOOKING quads, but the leg press wasn’t making me better at sports, improving overall strength/power, explosiveness, agility and core strength. The abs and obliques, as well as the deeper muscles get worked hard from a free bar squat were weak.

On a machine, you are conforming to the movement of the machine, not vice versa. Free weights allow for the subtle but necessary changes in joint positioning. That is why machines can actually INCREASE the risk of injury. By continually moving a weight in a fixed motion, you can potentially risk overloading joints. Yes, this can also happen with free weights but a machine is worse.

Gym owners need machines to fill up their big box gyms. I don't know how many square feet my gym is but I know I don't use anything often except the barbells, dumbbells, power cage, pull-up bars, dip station. Some guys on here value form over function and that is cool. I just don’t see the point in having deltoids like watermelons if you can’t put 300 lbs. over-head. Form is nice but function is what matters to me. I’m sure most military personnel, firefighters, swat cops and REAL athletes would agree with me.