What's your machine routine?

petstorekitty

If you go to the gym and use the machine to do weights and such, what is your routine?
Where did you get it?

I want a machine routine I can write down and take with me to the gym.
I like my areobic exercise but I know I might see more results if I did weights, etc.

Right now I can't do any videos, but I've got a whole gym at my disposal!
The machine area is a bit overwhelming, (the whole gym is, it's huge) but if I have a set plan written out I could focus on that and not worry so much.

Any suggestions on how to proceed? websites? books? printer posters?

I'm not looking to get ripped, I just want to add weights and/or strength training in because I feel it would help my weight loss.

Thanks in advance!

wellbert

I'll skip the part where I tell you how much better and time efficient free weights are.

Look for these:
Lat pull down
leg press (or hack squat machine)
cable bicep curl
cable tricep pushdown
cable crossovers
cable rows
chest press


-->avoid leg extension machines


Take one day and start really light, and figure out what the maximum weight you can do for a single rep is, then times it by .8
Like this:
Lat pull down 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, CANT DO 80
70 x 8 .8 = 56. Round to closest on machine.
Do 3 sets of 8 at 55lbs.
Do this for each excercise.

Next week, do 3 sets of 9
next, 3 sets of 10
Next week, add 5 lbs and do 3 sets of 8 again
3 sets of 9
10...
add 5 lbs... and so on.

petstorekitty

I'm intimidated enough by the huge machine area, the even more huge free weights area filled with people who know what they are doing.... *shudder* One day I'll find a workout buddy or something for free-weights-land.

For now... I'll take these notes you have left for me

JNick77

If you go to the gym and use the machine to do weights and such, what is your routine?
Where did you get it?

I want a machine routine I can write down and take with me to the gym.
I like my areobic exercise but I know I might see more results if I did weights, etc.

Right now I can't do any videos, but I've got a whole gym at my disposal!
The machine area is a bit overwhelming, (the whole gym is, it's huge) but if I have a set plan written out I could focus on that and not worry so much.

Any suggestions on how to proceed? websites? books? printer posters?

I'm not looking to get ripped, I just want to add weights and/or strength training in because I feel it would help my weight loss.

Thanks in advance!

I have a very basic approach to machine routines; it's called "avoidance." LOL. I use very very few machines and one is more of a specialized bench than a machine. Try free weights, it's not as scary as they look or as people will lead you to believe.

sarahrbraun

If you go to the gym and use the machine to do weights and such, what is your routine?
Where did you get it?

I want a machine routine I can write down and take with me to the gym.
I like my areobic exercise but I know I might see more results if I did weights, etc.

Right now I can't do any videos, but I've got a whole gym at my disposal!
The machine area is a bit overwhelming, (the whole gym is, it's huge) but if I have a set plan written out I could focus on that and not worry so much.

Any suggestions on how to proceed? websites? books? printer posters?

I'm not looking to get ripped, I just want to add weights and/or strength training in because I feel it would help my weight loss.

Thanks in advance!

what I did was ask the trainer on duty to show me a few machines...and I watched other people on the machines until I was comfortable trying a new one. Eventually I made time to take a free class lead by the trainer, and learned most of the machines. Every couple weeks or so I will have something that I have heard about here on MFP, so I will youtube it, then ask the trainer to watch me do it and check my form. He's not very busy lately, so he is happy to do so...

I know the trainer LOVES barbells and dumbbells more than machines, so I have sweet talked him into showing me a few things with those too.

Jo2926

-->avoid leg extension machines

Why is that? I've just joined a gym and (unsurprising) my induction focused on the weight machines. Leg extension machines were the only ones that intrigued me because I could think of a free weight alternative - I usually stick to squats.

wellbert

-->avoid leg extension machines

Why is that? I've just joined a gym and (unsurprising) my induction focused on the weight machines. Leg extension machines were the only ones that intrigued me because I could think of a free weight alternative - I usually stick to squats.

They are awful for your knees and useless for useful strength. They can make your quads pretty pumped though.
But a leg press, in the same amount of time, works a lot better.

Jo2926

-->avoid leg extension machines

Why is that? I've just joined a gym and (unsurprising) my induction focused on the weight machines. Leg extension machines were the only ones that intrigued me because I could think of a free weight alternative - I usually stick to squats.

They are awful for your knees and useless for useful strength. They can make your quads pretty pumped though.
But a leg press, in the same amount of time, works a lot better.

Thanks.

trogalicious

Have you looked into free-weight workouts? I've been doing Stronglifts for almost 2 months now and it blows away anything that I could've done on machines.