Are weight machines for chumps?

Lyadeia

I personally like to use a variety of exercises in my routines, and some of them do include machines. I prefer compound movements with barbells or dumbbells, but I think people are too quick to say that machines aren't any good. My legs would not be as strong and powerful as they are today if I didn't use the leg press or leg curl machines, and these even helped me with my deadlifts and barbell squats, too.

I wouldn't do an entire routine of machines any more than I would do an entire routine of isolation exercises with dumbbells (seated curls, for example...I see lots of men just sitting there curling and curling trying to get huge arms and nothing else). For all over fitness and physical appearance, I think a decent combo of both works quite well.

alyssamiller77

From my perspective, no they are not for chumps. However, I definitely agree with making your free weights the core of your workout and then use machine based exercises more for focusing on specific muscle groups. I've found there are a few exercises that I really prefer on a machine. For instance, in addition to other body weight exercises I do to focus on obliques, my club has a couple of the ab twist machines. I like to set that up with a heavy weight and really finish off the burn in my abs, and I've had good success. I also really like to do tricep pull-downs in addition to other free-weight tricep exercises. I find the triceps are hard for me to isolate so doing the pull-downs really helps me with that.

MisterDubs303

Call me a chump, but other than dumbell movements, deadlifts, and straight bar curls, I like using the machines at the gym. My gym has SportsArt machines, most of which have independent handles for the upper body exercises, and the angles/movements seem to have been well planned and engineered. I think the reason I like to use these machines is that it allows me to lift to failure, alone and safely. Also, I can't do a single pull up yet, so the machine allows me to still do that movement until I get there. I know I will outgrow the machines eventually, some sooner than others, and will probably move on before I get to that point.

Yes, at the beginning, I was intimidated out of going back to big boys' section for several reasons, some of it just wussing out, and some of it described above. Still, I intend to switch things up at the beginning of the year, and I'm considering building around compounds.

liftingbro

Call me a chump, but other than dumbell movements, deadlifts, and straight bar curls, I like using the machines at the gym. My gym has SportsArt machines, most of which have independent handles for the upper body exercises, and the angles/movements seem to have been well planned and engineered. I think the reason I like to use these machines is that it allows me to lift to failure, alone and safely. Also, I can't do a single pull up yet, so the machine allows me to still do that movement until I get there. I know I will outgrow the machines eventually, some sooner than others, and will probably move on before I get to that point.

Yes, at the beginning, I was intimidated out of going back to big boys' section for several reasons, some of it just wussing out, and some of it described above. Still, I intend to switch things up at the beginning of the year, and I'm considering building around compounds.

Machines are actually pretty decent for total beginners, just for safety reasons and the fact that the can help build some endurance before jumping into free weights. I started out on machines, built up to free weights. My trainer suggests that beginners who are very out of shape and inactive start with machines to build muscle endurance before going into free weights. Soreness and DOMS tend to be worse with free weights because you activate so many muscles at once. For a beginner, soreness and DOMS can be discouraging.

Not that beginners shouldn't use free weights but they should probably mix in more machines to start than someone who has been lifting a while. Eventually people should build up to mostly free weights.

Also, I think the bad rep that machines got from the previous two to three decades isn't quite as valid as it used to be. I think the range of motion on good quality machines is much better than they used to be. Still not as good as free weights but substantially better than they used to be.

FatgutBgone

haha know the feeling, had people approach me and tell me I'm doing it all wrong and I should read the instructions before using the hack squat

LOL. How big are the people approaching you and saying that? Sheesh.

Regarding goofy lifts, I did incline DB rows today, where you're basically face-planted and humping an incline bench. Those tend to get looks.

I do those too and I do reverse flies that way too. It is better than the machine.

FatgutBgone

I prefer free weights myself and train at home. The squat rack is my friend and will be a life saver if I ever had to bail.

I love free weight myself and also use the rack because I have arthritis in my legs and back. I just feel safer that way. I would not do squats otherwise. Feel free to add me as a friend I need all the friends and advice I can get.

_Bro

Depends upon my training and diet.

When I am going for a high volume workout, I like to start off with free weights and then taper down to machines (chump mode).

There's no doubt that machines let you use bad form and I try to not let this happen.However, I view the use of the machines at the end of my workout to be a positive thing as they let me crank out a higher volume with less chance of injury. Furthermore, it speeds up my ability to adjust the weight and target multiple muscle groups.

nikolaim5

Free weights are a tool in the arsenal. I would never center my training around them but they have their uses for accessory movements