Gym machines question

bpeters1989

Ok so this might sound like a stupid question but the machines are confusing at my gym. They have a picture that shows how much weight you are lifting under "actual weight" and "selected weight". So for example on the leg press I have the knob on 6. The selected weight says 145lbs and actual weight shows 188 lbs which one am I tracking? Because if 188 I'm like wow I actually was pushing 188 lbs it seems like a lot!

jemhh

It doesn't really matter. Your goal should be to continue progressing, meaning adding weight or reps or both. The actual number you write down is up to you.

Similar with dumbbells. Some people log according to the per-dumbbell weight, some log the weight of both dumbbells added together (if doing a two-arm exercise.)

DancingMoosie

^agree with above...Also, it is a machine, not the same as lifting the actual weight with a bar or dumbbells.

lorrpb

Can you ask a staff member at the gym for an explanation?

jennybearlv

My guess is whatever the machine part you are lifting plus the "selected weight" equals "actual weight". Like if I added two 45 plates to a 45 lb bar and lifted it the selected weight would be 90 and the actual weight would be 135. I think asking the staff what is up with their crazy machines is a good idea or google the manufacturer and see if there is an explanation on their website. If not you could try emailing them.

subcounter

bpeters1989 wrote: »

Ok so this might sound like a stupid question but the machines are confusing at my gym. They have a picture that shows how much weight you are lifting under "actual weight" and "selected weight". So for example on the leg press I have the knob on 6. The selected weight says 145lbs and actual weight shows 188 lbs which one am I tracking? Because if 188 I'm like wow I actually was pushing 188 lbs it seems like a lot!

I mean I am not sure about the mechanism of the machines at your gym to be honest but it sounds like default weight of the machine if you did not put in any weights is 43 lbs. I mean you can confirm this easily by changing the weight, and seeing if the difference is same (That means its simply the Bar weight, lets call it).

I mean unless you're going to be moving to a different gym that number doesn't really matter so much though. Make sure it is hard enough for you, and perhaps follow a certain plan so you can track your progress.

bpeters1989

lorrpb wrote: »

Can you ask a staff member at the gym for an explanation?

It's a gym at my apartment. The people at the desk don't look too into fitness lol.

ninerbuff

The "selected" weight is 145lbs. The "actual" weight is the 145lbs PLUS the weight of the sled your pushing up. In other words, if you selected "0" on the weight stack, the sled/seat weights 43lbs.

Almost any machine will have weight resistance from arms, handles and moving seats, but the reality is that with all the cams and pulleys, that weight is irrelevant.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Azdak

It sounds like an older multi station piece that used a kind of "leverage" system to apply resistance from the plates to the movement arm. The first number was the actual weight of the plates; the second number is the "equivalent" of what you are supposedly lifting due to the design of the movement arm. I think it was an attempt to increase the resistance load without increasing the actual number of weight plates. It was a crude attempt to introduce "variable resistance" in response to the new machines from Nautilus that were becoming popular about 35 yrs ago.

If it is an old Paramount multigym, that would be the design. Those things were ubiquitous in schools and apartment buildings when I started selling fitness equipment. Can't tell you how many of those things we had to move out.

ninerbuff

Azdak wrote: »

It sounds like an older multi station piece that used a kind of "leverage" system to apply resistance from the plates to the movement arm. The first number was the actual weight of the plates; the second number is the "equivalent" of what you are supposedly lifting due to the design of the movement arm. I think it was an attempt to increase the resistance load without increasing the actual number of weight plates. It was a crude attempt to introduce "variable resistance" in response to the new machines from Nautilus that were becoming popular about 35 yrs ago.

If it is an old Paramount multigym, that would be the design. Those things were ubiquitous in schools and apartment buildings when I started selling fitness equipment. Can't tell you how many of those things we had to move out.

I remember the old "Univeral" gym stacks where you had 2 sets of foot pedals to push on the leg press. And both were numbered for resistance.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Azdak

ninerbuff wrote: »

Azdak wrote: »

It sounds like an older multi station piece that used a kind of "leverage" system to apply resistance from the plates to the movement arm. The first number was the actual weight of the plates; the second number is the "equivalent" of what you are supposedly lifting due to the design of the movement arm. I think it was an attempt to increase the resistance load without increasing the actual number of weight plates. It was a crude attempt to introduce "variable resistance" in response to the new machines from Nautilus that were becoming popular about 35 yrs ago.

If it is an old Paramount multigym, that would be the design. Those things were ubiquitous in schools and apartment buildings when I started selling fitness equipment. Can't tell you how many of those things we had to move out.

I remember the old "Univeral" gym stacks where you had 2 sets of foot pedals to push on the leg press. And both were numbered for resistance.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

whoops--you're right-- it was Universal, not Paramount.

You never really appreciate memory until it's gone.

bpeters1989

ninerbuff wrote: »

The "selected" weight is 145lbs. The "actual" weight is the 145lbs PLUS the weight of the sled your pushing up. In other words, if you selected "0" on the weight stack, the sled/seat weights 43lbs.

Almost any machine will have weight resistance from arms, handles and moving seats, but the reality is that with all the cams and pulleys, that weight is irrelevant.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

That totally make sense. Thank you! Very easy to understand how you explained it.