I was told by at personal trainer that the machines

maggie4097

I have always liked The Firm videos. They incorporate weights and cardio. The one I do the most is on VHS (!) and uses the "Fanny Lifter". Great total body workout, and great results. I don't go to a gym, but was thinking of joining. This thread definitely made up my mind!

katysmelly

Machines 'work' however they work your muscles in an unnatural and isolated way and often in strange and unnatural ranges of motion. They have their place, but free weight compound exercises are far superior.

This.

Machines can be excellent for some things. They can be a safe way to attempt to lift much heavier. They can safely isolate muscles effectively (like cables for rowing or lat pull-downs).

JustJennie1

I do a combination of both, free weights and machines. Smith press is used for my squats since the gym I go to doesn't have a cage and since I'm squatting 240#'s the machine doesn't make me feel as though my back is torquing. I'll use the leg machines on my non-squat days and have never had any issues with them nor do I feel as though they don't work. They're more for isolating the muscle and as other posters here have said they don't engage the core and other muscles.

It's a person's individual preference as to what they want to use. I try to incorporate everything that I can: free weights, cable, and machines when I do my workouts and it's been working fine.

susannamarie

Machines, for many a beginner, are less intimidating then taking on a full barrage of remembering how to do free weight exercises. Looking at the point of view from a beginner and probably coming into an environment with absolutely no knowledge, machines offer a safe way to start strength training if one can't afford to get a trainer or is still intimidated by going into the free weight section. For some, just showing up in that area of the gym is a big step and to inundate with so much to learn (form, execution, right breathing technique) may scare that person away and could possible lead them to not even trying exercise.
I look at it as an avenue to start with, then eventually transition to similar exercises with free weights once they learn the basic movement.

Yes, this.

Bankman1989

at the gym didn't work. Any thoughts on this? I personally prefer the machines versus free weights well because I really don't know how to put a workout routine together on my own.

GET A NEW TRAINER! LOL. I'm a personal trainer have studied personal training, lifting, bodybuilding for over 25 years. You don't even NEED weights to build muscle.

I put my clients on machines. I personally use machines to maximum efforts. I would suggest checking out his clients and certs.

BigDaddyBRC

Machines are perfectly fine. Pay close attention as to where your body/legs/arms/shoulders are to be lined up (Ask a DIFFERENT trainer to help you). Whether you are a beginner or not matters not. That being said, if you use free weights, you learn better muscle control AND you use other muscles in the process, not just a defined muscle area.

Think of the adds for the BowFlex with that last statement. There's a lot of freedom with that MACHINE, yet takes more muscle control to handle the proper motions.

To each their own on this, pending what you want from lifting. Either way YOU choose, make sure you have the proper form in place. One last note on the form...with the free weights, while you might be able to curl 150 pounds in arm, you are probably doing it wrong.

janegalt37

Two great places to start are the book New Rules of Lifting for Women and the free info on www.nerdfitness.com, specifically this page:

http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/02/15/how-to-build-your-own-workout-routine/

After my PT had me doing all machines and I was extremely disappointed with the results, I quit the gym, bought my own olympic weight set, joined MFP and researched till my eyes bled. That's how I discovered nerdfitness, and put together 3 workouts from the page above. After three weeks the results were jaw-dropping.

New Rules is also one of the most highly recommended routines here, so I bought the book. I think after I complete the Stage 1 workouts, I'm going to return to my NerdFitness routine.

All of these would be great to do at a gym, especially since they usually have great cable machines.

christyd4

what he/she a personal trainer that was RIPPED to SH@#T with a crazy nice body??? cause there are some that are super fit, and some that look like everyone else they just have more fitness knowledge.. as well was this solicited advice or did they just pony up their opinion.. cause if they are basic looking and ponyed up their advice, i would have said... "then why are you still using them!!!" I think anything is better than nothing but yes free weights are the best!!!

I called her to check her prices and in talking with her she asked me what I was doing as far as a workout routine and when I told her my routine she stated that. And I thanked her for her time and decided she was not for me

karendsmith

What are your stabalizer muscles? What does that mean? I am new to this.

christyd4

Thank you for all the advice and comments it has given me a good perspective. And I think I will check out the nerdfitness and see if I can put together a free weight routine

kjensen15

I've been looking into Jamie Eason's livefit program and NROL and they both use a combination of free weights and machines.

NROL does not use machine outside lat pull down and cable row and It is why i will never do Jamie program.

Ummm..... Have you actually seen Jamie Eason? She may know a little bit about what she is doing.

She also may be receiving compensation to associate her likeness with a program that she wouldn't even recognize if you showed it to her.

You obviously have not looked into her program at all. Probably should do that before you make comments like this.

maggie4097

What are your stabalizer muscles? What does that mean? I am new to this.

http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseglossaryterms/g/stabilizers.htm

Yanicka1

I've been looking into Jamie Eason's livefit program and NROL and they both use a combination of free weights and machines.

NROL does not use machine outside lat pull down and cable row and It is why i will never do Jamie program.

Ummm..... Have you actually seen Jamie Eason? She may know a little bit about what she is doing.

She also may be receiving compensation to associate her likeness with a program that she wouldn't even recognize if you showed it to her.

You obviously have not looked into her program at all. Probably should do that before you make comments like this.

Well I looked at it. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/533369-jamie-eason-s-program-kind-of-sucks

rockerbabyy

i do jamie easons burning the fat program - love it so far!

LorinaLynn

Jamie Eason is gorgeous, but I would be willing to bet cold hard cash that she doesn't look like she looks from only doing her LiveFit program, just like I'm sure Jillian Michaels does a lot more than a 20 minute 30 Day Shred workout. Both are good for what they are, but one shouldn't assume that's how the fitness model/ trainer promoting it got to look how they look.

70davis

bump

katysmelly

Jamie Eason is gorgeous, but I would be willing to bet cold hard cash that she doesn't look like she looks from only doing her LiveFit program, just like I'm sure Jillian Michaels does a lot more than a 20 minute 30 Day Shred workout. Both are good for what they are, but one shouldn't assume that's how the fitness model/ trainer promoting it got to look how they look.

This sounds logical to me.

People who do fitness for a living obviously exercise more because that's what they do for a living. These workouts on DVD's have to be tailored to a particular market of people who are working within certain assumed parameters, in a living room, with maybe some small weights or exercise bands and a yoga mat to hand.