another machines vs free weights discussion

MissTattoo

I've tried searching the topic and I'm just not getting the answers I want. I KNOW that a lot of people say free weights are better than machines because they work more muscles. I can accept that. What I want to know is am I not getting an effective workout by staying on the Cybex machines? The free weight room is always crowded even towards closing there are 20 guys in there grunting and sweating all over each other and I feel so tiny (I know right! My big *kitten* feels tiny!) walking through them to get to the Cybex room. I don't want to waste my time either in the Cybex room. Should I just man up and go into the weight room and ditch Cybex?

PinkEarthMama

Good question. I don't have an answer for you. I prefer the machine weights because I have issues with my ankle ( I'm never going to be able to do squats, or deadlifts, or really any standing lifting whatsoever... ) Chances are though, that you'll have to use more machines than you would freeweights to get the same results.

MzMiller1215

You can get an effective workout by using the machines, in fact, it is a safer technique when you aren't properly educated on correct form. I workout with majority free weights (where all the big guys do) and I see many of them using incorrect form, which can cause injury to them. I shared the same anxiety as you did until I started seeing the results that I wanted and then decided to ignore them and do my own thing. Now, I catch myself grunting along with the men. :laugh: I have had several men compliment me on my form and ask about some of my exercises. That makes me feel good about what I am doing in the gym.

Do whatever works for you. Just please, please, please use the correct form. :happy:

mes1119

free weights work on stabilizing muscles, which you miss with the machines. plus the machines make it so that you can lift much heavier than you normally would be able to.

I think some machines are fine, but most aren't. maybe try going to the gym at a different time so you can hang out in the free weights section.

A_New_Horizon

I don't know the answer to your questions but I do both. I was just using the machines (different ones to work different muscles), but someone told me free weights were better - so I got brave and started using them while the guys are present. I just do what I can, but I use both. I can definitely do heavier weights on the machine than free weights. Do what you feel comfortable with - you are still building muscle.

wellbert

I don't want to say that, generally, machines are a waste of time.
But... in the same amount of time, you could be using free weights and getting a much better, more thorough workout.
So.

agbaeb

bump --- I have a BowFlex type machine. Is this similar?

jenilla1

I use the machines because it helps me keep good form. I know I would probably screw up with the free weights and hurt myself. But I do notice that most of the big guys using free weights cross over to some of the machines during their workouts. I can't think of their names, but there are 2 or 3 machines that are very popular with the free weight crowd. So, I'm pretty sure there's a benefit to a mix of machines and free weights.

jasonp_ritzert

Speaking as a guy who told his wife the same thing when she felt a little uneasy about going in the free weight room with the guys, don't feel uneasy about it. You pay your gym membership just as they do, so you have every right to use every piece of equipment in there as much as they do. Mix it up a little, the variety shocks the muscles and I typically use a combination of machines and free weights. No machines for compound exercises though (i.e., squat, bench press, etc.) because those machines typically don't let you use proper form.

MissTattoo

free weights work on stabilizing muscles, which you miss with the machines. plus the machines make it so that you can lift much heavier than you normally would be able to.

I think some machines are fine, but most aren't. maybe try going to the gym at a different time so you can hang out in the free weights section.

I work full time with a child. I can only go after work when they have the child care open or later in the night on nights when she is with her dad or my mom. From 5pm to 10pm it's pretty packed everywhere.

mfpcopine

As people have said, they do different things. I use free weights but I've used stations or machines like:

The lat station. (I've read there's no substitute for it.)
The cable row station.
The cable push down.
The leg press.
The assisted pull up machine.

One reason I haven't used more Cybex, Nautilus, etc., machines is that they were often a little too big for me to use smoothly. They can be effective machines so long as you don't mind staying in one plane of motion. If you're concerned about trying a heavy weight, their safety features can provide some security.

Mercenary1914

[I work full time with a child. I can only go after work when they have the child care open or later in the night on nights when she is with her dad or mom. From 5pm to 10pm it's pretty packed everywhere.

Sacrafice!

I work out with a guy who brings his daugther to the gym with him every day he works out....He comes in Gold's Gym between 530 and 630....When it's the busiest....Dude gets it in...

Push those dudes out the way and get your free weight lifting on!

MissTattoo

[I work full time with a child. I can only go after work when they have the child care open or later in the night on nights when she is with her dad or mom. From 5pm to 10pm it's pretty packed everywhere.

Sacrafice!

I work out with a guy who brings his daugther to the gym with him every day he works out....He comes in Gold's Gym between 530 and 630....When it's the busiest....Dude gets it in...

Push those dudes out the way and get your free weight lifting on!

lol well she's five and they don't allow children in the weight rooms without someone watching them. I doubt she is going to remain quiet and calm for 30 minutes or whatever. OMG I can see it now. She would seriously try to talk to every single person in there and wonder what they are doing, why they are doing it, how many times they are doing it, when they are going to be done so they can talk to her, if she can try, if she can try with little weights, if she can try with no weights, if she can play with the barbie weights, if she can play on the exercise ball, etc. NOOOOOOO! lol I'm already irritated thinking about taking her into the weight room. That's why they have child care, but it's only open until 8pm. I get off at 6.

AND, there are always so many dudes in the free weight room, there isn't anything open. I suppose I could stand in line and then feel super pressured when it's my turn or hide in the corner with some dumbbells. lol I'm seriously not making excuses to not go in. It's just always full and the Cybex room is always empty.

I have 25 pound weights at home! Can I do something there with them?

MissTattoo

bump ^_^

wareagle8706

Machines are fine. Don't let people worry you. Like most have said, please use correct form, machines can be just a dangerous when using the wrong form as free weights.

The thing with machines is their built to give you greater results faster without as much soreness. One big reason for less soreness if the fact that they don't work those stabilizer muscles (the little tiny muscles that keep you in the right plane of motion. The machines keeps you in the correct plane of motion on its own. Other than that, using the right form and right weight will still get you results. Just may be different results than free weights would. Still treat the machines same as free weights - you should be doing 10-15 reps and the last three reps should be the most difficult for you, otherwise increase your weight that you're lifting.

Bottom line, you aren't wasting your time.

wareagle8706

Also, another thing to try....

Go in the free weight room and grab a set of dumbbells and carry them into another room. You can use them without being with all the nasty sweaty grunting guys haha.

DarkAngellEyes

I agree that something is better than nothing.... but when given the choice, you'd get more "bang for your buck" using free weights over the machines.

I found this to be pretty helpful explaining the differences:

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/05/11/whats-better-free-weights-or-machines/

Bakerchk

A personal trainer once told me that you have stability muscles and mobility muscles. Mobility muscles are the visible ones. And stability muscles are inner muscles that help with posture and form. From what he says, most machines, don't work out the stability muscles, so people often end up having bad form. Not sure if it's correct but it sounds right?
I use machines because I honestly don't know much about free weights. But I also do a lot of exercises using just my body weight (i.e. push ups, crunches, oblique crunches, lunges, squats) which I find those exercises to be the most effective. Have you maybe considered using a different gym? I know in the area I live in, there are probably 10 gyms within a 15 miles radius from my house. I chose to go to 24 hour fitness because sometimes I like to go really early in the morning or really late at night (obviously your schedule isn't that flexible).

meshashesha2012

i've worked out with both but i much prefer free weights. from my experience, machines dont really lead to any real world strength.

if building functional strength that can be used in real world situations is one of your goals (ie being able to do pull ups, handstand pushups, ATG squats, carrying heavy bags up steps, deadlift your SO and throw him on the bed, etc) then definitely go with free weights. also, free weights make it easier to do compound movements that involve multiple muscles, so you dont have to spend as much time in the gym.

if you dont really care about functional strength and dont mind spending more time at the gym then machines are fine. you'll work your muscles about the same in each one just in different ways.

so really whether or not you are wasting your time depends on what your goals are

wellbert

Machines can actually force you into unnatural form, which is really bad, too. This is why squats should be done free weight, and not smith.

contingencyplan

When you work out with machines you're not incorporating stabilizer muscles into it. You'll still see (mostly) the same results as far as how your body LOOKS when all is said and done that way, but it won't equate to real world fitness or applications of strength. You'll gain visible muscle tone and the numbers as far as how much you can lift on those machines will steadily go up, but without incorporating your stabilizers into the workout that newly gained strength will never be able to be applied to anything else. Also, the machines force you to perform exercises with form that does not follow natural body movements which can lead to totally different KINDS of injuries.

SOONERborn80

You are NOT "wasting your time" using the machines because you can still get a good workout. Just mix it up by going in there once a week for a workout. You will eventually get more comfortable being in there.

renwicker

A personal trainer once told me that you have stability muscles and mobility muscles. Mobility muscles are the visible ones. And stability muscles are inner muscles that help with posture and form. From what he says, most machines, don't work out the stability muscles, so people often end up having bad form. Not sure if it's correct but it sounds right?
I use machines because I honestly don't know much about free weights. But I also do a lot of exercises using just my body weight (i.e. push ups, crunches, oblique crunches, lunges, squats) which I find those exercises to be the most effective.

This is good advice if you arent comfortable going in the weight room with a bunch of people watching you. There are an insane amount of variations to each of those body weight exercises too....so you can always mix it up and find what works the best for you. Push ups, lunges, and squats will work your entire body and you will feel the burn. Do them in succesion and quickly (be sure to use proper form too) and you will gain strength and burn tons of fat. Just google "body weight circuit training" or something like that, and I'm sure you will find a workout that will fit for you. Also what's nice about it, is you WILL get stronger so maybe after a while you wont feel so pressured to get in the weight room with the big boys.

And like a few other people said. Just push them out of the way....you pay for that equipment too!

renwicker

Also like some others have stated...it is just as easy to use bad form on machines as is it free weights. If the machine seat, bars, handles...whatever, are not adjusted properly, you can very easily be forced to use poor form and end up really hurting yourself. Machines are not bad tho. You will still build muscle by using them. I use a couple of them mixed in my free weight training as many people do. Nothing wrong with using machines if you use them the way you're supposed to

rml_16

I see a lot of very in-shape people (and men with MASSIVE muscles) using machines in my gym all the time.

ilovedeadlifts

You're still getting a workout and will still see some progress.


But free weights are just so much better. I progressed faster, was able to address some injuries, and got stronger than ever with free weights.
The machines don't work the stabilizer muscles correctly, and allow you to use awful form.

collinj8

Here is my thought. I personally like free weights better, but that is what I started on years ago. I have used a few machines and I can push/pull more weight than with a free weight. Here is the kicker, if you are using free weights, or machines, you are ahead of most people. Because you are actually exercising. Use what is comfortable you. Are you going to get a better workout on on or the other. Maybe, might depend on the muscle group that you are focusing on at the time. As time has moved on, I have incorporated both into my workout. If it is form you are looking for, get a trainer, they are going to be your best bet for making sure you are getting the correct form.

Jacwhite22

I do machines 1 day a week....I do free weights the other 2.

ashreynolds09

I don't really have an opinion to your original question but I wanted to say --- who cares about the boys??? --- its scary the first few times, but once you really get going in it they will respect you for being in there lifting! So many girls are afraid of it in the first place. It took me a few days to feel comfortable around the 'big boys'. Now...a few months into working out in the free weight area they will share weights with me and give me the space I need.

MissTattoo

Here is my thought. I personally like free weights better, but that is what I started on years ago. I have used a few machines and I can push/pull more weight than with a free weight. Here is the kicker, if you are using free weights, or machines, you are ahead of most people. Because you are actually exercising. Use what is comfortable you. Are you going to get a better workout on on or the other. Maybe, might depend on the muscle group that you are focusing on at the time. As time has moved on, I have incorporated both into my workout. If it is form you are looking for, get a trainer, they are going to be your best bet for making sure you are getting the correct form.

I was looking into a trainer and I'm going to wait until one of the others gets back from vacation. Not to make it sound offensive, but the women trainers were just trying to put me on the elliptical for 60 minutes and the other guy trainer wanted me to lift 5 pound dumbbells 200 times. When I told him I wanted to lift heavy, he said "Well...you have here on your profile that you want to lose 100 pounds. You should lose that first with cardio and then start to lift heavy after you get to goal weight." O_O

I would switch gyms but I like the YMCA because they have programs for my daughter too. So on Thursdays I'm doing Zumba while she is in karate or tennis or in the child watch play area. On Saturday mornings I can go workout while they are outside warming up for soccer. So I would switch gyms if other gyms in the area offered more stuff for children.

I did tour LA Fitness and my goodness! I don't know how anyone goes and actually gets in a workout! It was so overcrowded and people seemed like they were rushing off of machines so that the next person in line got one.

AngelAura777

I use a bit of both I go to the gym at midday when its pretty much empty or I do free weights on sundays when no one is there