What Machine is your favourite?

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Replies

  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    No. Not even the paid and certified trainers at my gym start women with free weights. They all go begin on machines and some bodyweight exercises.

    I have a family the OP will decide for herself and either report back how things went or not.

    But there really have not been an shining examples in the pro-free weight crowd here to emulate.
    JSS
  • Mother_Superior
    Mother_Superior Posts: 1,624 Member
    Dumbbells range from 5lbs to 95lbs at my gym and the women who use free weights are generally looking for 5,10,15lb units. Most tend to be in use. Plate free weights have limited use as any type of chest press-35lb olympic bar Plus weights is too much for most starting females. I would write "all" but there is always an exception.

    Machines are better for women to start on. Even men actually and there are many options to rows, pulldowns and leg work. Most folk with free weights use too much and have poor form.

    Start with machines until you are confident and hard.

    OP, be careful not to step in this bullsh1t.

    Starting Strength, Stronglifts, and YouTube are your friends. If you want to start lifting, do it right.

    ETA: starting with machines does nothing for you when you move on to free weight exercises.

    She's absolutely right. But with one caveat: As a beginner, you will see progress with any progressive loading, resistance program. So you can go quite a long way with machines. However, you can start light enough, (with the bar preferably) with any of the programs listed above, and you will learn better form, and will likely end up developing more strength and balance than you would by using machines. Machines balance the weight load for you, and as such, your overall gains can suffer in the long run. Educate yourself, don't be afraid to try things outside your comfort zone, and progress slowly. Good luck with it!
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member


    OP, be careful not to step in this bullsh1t.

    Starting Strength, Stronglifts, and YouTube are your friends. If you want to start lifting, do it right.

    ETA: starting with machines does nothing for you when you move on to free weight exercises.

    Nope. It is the truth. have been seeing this for years at my gym. It is you folk like you who say to go in hard and heavy when starting that are the problem. Your second comment is entirely contradicted again by experiences with female acquaintainces.

    1950 called. They want you back.
    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________


    Ironic you are all knowing but only lifting since February 2013. Your legs have plenty of fat in your pics. You just do not know what you are talking about.

    ________________

    How long have you been lifting and how strong are you?
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Dumbbells range from 5lbs to 95lbs at my gym and the women who use free weights are generally looking for 5,10,15lb units. Most tend to be in use. Plate free weights have limited use as any type of chest press-35lb olympic bar alone is too much for most starting females. Then add the weights. I would write "all" but there is always an exception.

    Machines are better for women to start on. Even men actually and there are many options to rows, pulldowns and leg work. Most folk with free weights use too much and have poor form. Especially when starting out.

    Start with machines until you are confident and hard.

    Are you for real?

    You do not learn right form by using machine, you learn right form by doing right form.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    No. Not even the paid and certified trainers at my gym start women with free weights. They all go begin on machines and some bodyweight exercises.

    *makes note to never hire the sexist trainers at your gym*
  • angel79202
    angel79202 Posts: 1,012 Member
    I love the elliptical for cardio..
    For weights..I like the leg press machine, and the one to do the assited chin ups..then again right now I am recovering from surgery and am a bit limited..

    Good luck!!!
  • helpfit101
    helpfit101 Posts: 347 Member


    OP, be careful not to step in this bullsh1t.

    Starting Strength, Stronglifts, and YouTube are your friends. If you want to start lifting, do it right.

    ETA: starting with machines does nothing for you when you move on to free weight exercises.

    Nope. It is the truth. have been seeing this for years at my gym. It is you folk like you who say to go in hard and heavy when starting that are the problem. Your second comment is entirely contradicted again by experiences with female acquaintainces.

    1950 called. They want you back.
    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________


    Ironic you are all knowing but only lifting since February 2013. Your legs have plenty of fat in your pics. You just do not know what you are talking about.

    ________________

    What's with you putting words into my mouth? Where did I ever say I was "all-knowing?" You're spewing nonsense about women and lifting. I (and probably a lot of others) disagree.

    No need to get your panties in a bunch.

    Your attitude stinks though.

    I think his advice start with machines is a lot safer, for girls or guys.

    It let's you hang around in the free weights area without too much risk of injuring yourself. Then you should watch and watch and watch and watch some more. Then the first time you try something you'll likely still do it wrong, but then watch some more and be corrected maybe.

    Of course if you have the luxury to start off with a private trainer by all means go for the free weights, but make sure the trainer is taking it slow and letting you get used to free weights and teaching you proper form.


    Oh and my favorite machine: lat pull-down because it's the only step up you need to doing normal pull ups.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    But there really have not been an shining examples in the pro-free weight crowd here to emulate.

    :huh: :explode: :grumble: :noway: :yawn:
  • manda1978
    manda1978 Posts: 525 Member
    try to ignore the banter :|

    Machine wise I like he Smith Machine and Leg Press. I am a fan of free weights and kettle bells too. Enjoy!
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    What is your ultimate favourite weight machine?
    this one
    OxePaVd.jpg
    ^this
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    What is your ultimate favourite weight machine?
    this one
    OxePaVd.jpg
    ^this

    So pretty
  • ZoeLifts
    ZoeLifts Posts: 10,347 Member
    What is your ultimate favourite weight machine?
    this one
    OxePaVd.jpg
    ^this

    ^QFT - I love this
  • Mother_Superior
    Mother_Superior Posts: 1,624 Member
    If you're carefully following a well-structured program, designed for beginners, and are honest with yourself on your form development and weight increases, the risk of hurting yourself isn't really any higher than that using machines. You can also hurt yourself on machines if you don't know what you're doing.

    I'm guessing some of you guys had to wear a safety hat and knee/elbow pads before you went out to play while growing up? Did you have to wear water wings while eating soup?
  • IronCakes
    IronCakes Posts: 317 Member
    If you're carefully following a well-structured program, designed for beginners, and are honest with yourself on your form development and weight increases, the risk of hurting yourself isn't really any higher than that using machines. You can also hurt yourself on machines if you don't know what you're doing.

    I'm guessing some of you guys had to wear a safety hat and knee/elbow pads before you went out to play while growing up? Did you have to wear water wings while eating soup?

    Dying! :laugh:
  • ZoeLifts
    ZoeLifts Posts: 10,347 Member


    OP, be careful not to step in this bullsh1t.

    Starting Strength, Stronglifts, and YouTube are your friends. If you want to start lifting, do it right.

    ETA: starting with machines does nothing for you when you move on to free weight exercises.

    Nope. It is the truth. have been seeing this for years at my gym. It is you folk like you who say to go in hard and heavy when starting that are the problem. Your second comment is entirely contradicted again by experiences with female acquaintainces.

    1950 called. They want you back.

    Ironic you are all knowing but only lifting since February 2013. Your legs have plenty of fat in your pics. You just do not know what you are talking about.

    Learn how to use quotes, Mr. big talk.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    Squatting with the bar is something the majority of women are able to do the first workout.Start with that and workup from there...no machine necessary:smile:

    Machines have their uses of course...but not intstead of free weights, as an accessory.
    squat_zps65835ba2.gif
  • MercenaryNoetic26
    MercenaryNoetic26 Posts: 2,747 Member
    Fave machines are leg machines. I even like that Smith machine! Oh, No's!!!! I iZ gonna get hurt.... :glasses:

    I do it ALL, OP. Have to say that before I get busted on the head with a bottle cap for saying (Smith Machine) taboo.

    Eta: gawd really love lat pulldowns, too!
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    The only times I've ever been injured in a gym were all because of machines, because they were forcing my body to move in ways it doesn't want to go.
  • cstoney2013
    cstoney2013 Posts: 167 Member
    Squatting with the bar is something the majority of women are able to do the first workout.Start with that and workup from there...no machine necessary:smile:

    Machines have their uses of course...but not intstead of free weights, as an accessory.
    squat_zps65835ba2.gif

    Exactly! My gym at work has no machines at all, so when I go to the 'regular gym I use the machine to superset...
  • Hauntinglyfit
    Hauntinglyfit Posts: 5,537 Member
    No. Not even the paid and certified trainers at my gym start women with free weights. They all go begin on machines and some bodyweight exercises.

    I have a family the OP will decide for herself and either report back how things went or not.

    But there really have not been an shining examples in the pro-free weight crowd here to emulate.

    Y'know what. You are definitely right. Free weights are dangerous for women. I broke a nail re-racking my damn plates yesterday. I should've listened to all the nice men on MFP who have warned me about it.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Squatting with the bar is something the majority of women are able to do the first workout.Start with that and workup from there...no machine necessary:smile:

    Machines have their uses of course...but not intstead of free weights, as an accessory.

    This is all good information. I had to quit lifting a little over a year ago due to illness. Got a diagnosis in January of this year. Had brain surgery in February. Started lifting again about 8 weeks post op. I started with dumbbells just to get a feel for things, but initially I considered joining the gym again so I could use the machines. I decided it wasn't worth it to spend the money since we already had weights at home. So this summer I started working with the barbell again for some lifts. Not squats or over head press yet though because when I tried it was uncomfortable for me due to current physical limitations. That said, I use 30 pound dumbbells for my squats, not 5, 10, or 15 as one poster suggested.

    Ladies, you are stronger than you think. :flowerforyou:
  • SpeSHul_SnoflEHk
    SpeSHul_SnoflEHk Posts: 6,256 Member
    Dumbbells range from 5lbs to 95lbs at my gym and the women who use free weights are generally looking for 5,10,15lb units. Most tend to be in use. Plate free weights have limited use as any type of chest press-35lb olympic bar alone is too much for most starting females. Then add the weights. I would write "all" but there is always an exception.

    Machines are better for women to start on. Even men actually and there are many options to rows, pulldowns and leg work. Most folk with free weights use too much and have poor form. Especially when starting out.

    Start with machines until you are confident and hard.

    What a crock of poop! OP. Don't listen to this malarkey. I see plenty of women in my gym who lift and do all the exercises using barbells whether they are novices or have been doing it for awhile. If lifting interests you, you can go straight to the bar. Take a day to find out what your weight range is and do it. I suggest you do a little research before starting a lifting program to find out what works best for you. There are a horde of different programs out there. Around these parts, New Rules of Lifting for Women (NROLFW) seems to be popular, but I know plenty of women who use 5:3:1, and positive and negative failure programs as well.

    As for my answer, my favorite machine to use is my body coupled with an olympic bar, or a curling bar. I do use some machines, but only as I am still nursing a couple of injuries, and don't want to overstrain.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Either the assisted pullup machine or the Seated Machine Row.
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    No. Not even the paid and certified trainers at my gym start women with free weights. They all go begin on machines and some bodyweight exercises.

    I have a family the OP will decide for herself and either report back how things went or not.

    But there really have not been an shining examples in the pro-free weight crowd here to emulate.

    Y'know what. You are definitely right. Free weights are dangerous for women. I broke a nail re-racking my damn plates yesterday. I should've listened to all the nice men on MFP who have warned me about it.

    I had a 're-racking' incident after my bench warm-up and dropped the bar and weights on my head.

    From now on, I'm going to wear a hardhat at the gym.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    Bench is good too. This is me benching a hundred pounds. I am forty two and have been lifting for about a year and a half.
    3n779.gif
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Bench is good too. This is me benching a hundred pounds. I am forty two and have been lifting for about a year and a half.
    3n779.gif

    Mmm... *right click, save*
  • SpeSHul_SnoflEHk
    SpeSHul_SnoflEHk Posts: 6,256 Member
    Bench is good too. This is me benching a hundred pounds. I am forty two and have been lifting for about a year and a half.
    3n779.gif

    Quit cheating with your legs and back!
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    Bench is good too. This is me benching a hundred pounds. I am forty two and have been lifting for about a year and a half.
    Mmm... *right click, save*
    LOL...i dont even like that video of me, but I want women to see that ANYONE can lift free weights.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    Bench is good too. This is me benching a hundred pounds. I am forty two and have been lifting for about a year and a half.

    Quit cheating with your legs and back!
    NO:angry:
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Bench is good too. This is me benching a hundred pounds. I am forty two and have been lifting for about a year and a half.
    3n779.gif

    Quit cheating with your legs and back!

    It's a compound lift brah!!! Her butt didn't leave the bench so it counts!! Plus you're supposed to arch your back like that. Her only fault was lowering it back down.