What Machine is your favourite?
Replies
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I stopped reading the machine vs. free weights argument after the second page...
It's all awful. When you are starting out, do what you feel comfortable doing. If you are comfortable on the machines, and the thought of freeweights scares you to the point of not wanting to go to the gym, then do the machines until you work up the nerve to use the weights!
This is coming from a woman who was making huge improvements over several weeks on the machines, and felt so SHAMED by *kitten* telling me that machines are useless that I couldn't even bring myself to go to that gym anymore. Call me a buttercup or whatever you want, but self-consciousness is real, and no one should ever tell someone that what they are doing at the gym isn't good enough. Even if someone actively searches advice on getting past a plateau, try giving them advice without criticizing what they've done up to that point.
^^this is a very important concept.
When anyone starts out, anything is about a beneficial as the next thing, with one caveat...the most beneficial thing is what you will keep doing. Even as they progress, machines are still beneficial, albeit not optimal from an effectiveness perspective in general.
Some machines are bad as they put you in a fixed trajectory (not a fan of ones for shoulders), but many machines are actually very good.
For anyone starting out, especially those that are uncomfortable, use the machines to get more comfortable with weights. When you are more comfortable, start transitioning to free weights where appropriate.
A good routine can and often does include a mix of barbells, dumbbells, cables and fixed trajectory machines. For example, I use barbells for my main compound lifts, but do assistance lifts using dumbbells, cables and occasionally fixed trajectory machines such as leg extensions. In some cases, machines are superior to free weights, depending on the objectives and the circumstances.0 -
i think the argument was more about the guy saying for women ONLY use the machines first, and if you DO use free weights stick to the five or ten pound dumbbells...it was offensive.I stopped reading the machine vs. free weights argument after the second page...
It's all awful. When you are starting out, do what you feel comfortable doing. If you are comfortable on the machines, and the thought of freeweights scares you to the point of not wanting to go to the gym, then do the machines until you work up the nerve to use the weights!
This is coming from a woman who was making huge improvements over several weeks on the machines, and felt so SHAMED by *kitten* telling me that machines are useless that I couldn't even bring myself to go to that gym anymore. Call me a buttercup or whatever you want, but self-consciousness is real, and no one should ever tell someone that what they are doing at the gym isn't good enough. Even if someone actively searches advice on getting past a plateau, try giving them advice without criticizing what they've done up to that point.
I do love free weights, and I do use some machines for accessory work as well...do whatever makes you happy. There are certain exercises I will say free weights are better for IF you ask my opinion...and certain machine exercises that I really like.0 -
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.
Completely and totally douchey and wrong. The yes no machine (hip abductor adductor) is there only so douchey guys can watch women open their legs. Squats work those muscles in a much more useful way.
Plated barbells are FINE. For most compound lifts, 45# is manageable. Most commercial gyms seem to have lighter ore weighted barbells anyway.
My purse is heavier that 5#. A two month old baby is heavier than 10#. Two boxes of cat litter is 50#. Please don't insult women with your ridiculous assertions about what we can and can't lift, brow.0 -
The squats rack0
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I don't use the weight machines, but I take bodypump classes, which use barbells and free weights, and I work with kettlebells. The only machine I use at the gym anymore is the elliptical.
I can't lift very much yet. The heaviest weight I use now is the 16 kg (35.3 pounds) kettlebell (but I started with 4 kg, so progress!). Would love to move up to lifting heavier weights eventually, but have to start somewhere.0 -
The squats rack
+1
Technology is already ruining most of modern life, why let it mess up your training too?0 -
I am about 90% free weights and ten percent machines...the only machines I use are lat pulldown, low row, leg extension, and iso lateral row....0
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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.
yet, another reason not to use personal trainer...0 -
I stopped reading the machine vs. free weights argument after the second page...
It's all awful. When you are starting out, do what you feel comfortable doing. If you are comfortable on the machines, and the thought of freeweights scares you to the point of not wanting to go to the gym, then do the machines until you work up the nerve to use the weights!
This is coming from a woman who was making huge improvements over several weeks on the machines, and felt so SHAMED by *kitten* telling me that machines are useless that I couldn't even bring myself to go to that gym anymore. Call me a buttercup or whatever you want, but self-consciousness is real, and no one should ever tell someone that what they are doing at the gym isn't good enough. Even if someone actively searches advice on getting past a plateau, try giving them advice without criticizing what they've done up to that point.
are we reading the same thread?0 -
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.
no.0 -
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.
Thank you...I was gonna have to straighten this one out. To be frank I am not te exception any longer I am the rule. I didn't start off with an empty bar it was to light. I started with 60lbs and it's still too light but I will work my way up. I don't use machines at all. As for the 5lb weights..those are added not used indivdually.
SL 5x5 is great and there is a good group here for woman who are interested.0 -
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.
yet, another reason not to use personal trainer...
or fire that one and hire one who helps you where you want to be...not insists on their way.0 -
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.
Well your trainers suck. Bodyweight exercises are fine for newbies but I have never started anyone (man or woman) on machines. In fact, I rarely use them at all unless there's a good reason to. Why, if there's not a good reason, would I have a client be stuck in a position on a machine which moves your muscles & joints in an unnatural way when I can have them standing up, stabilizing themselves, and using weights with a natural range of motion?
Honestly most people who use machines are uneducated, feel machines are "safe" and easy to use, or in the case of a lot of women they are too intimidated to go over to the free weight area of the gym either because they don't know what to do or are afraid that everyone is the gym is there to stare at them.0 -
Still waiting for lifting stats...
Anyhow, my favorite machines are the pec deck and the leg press.0 -
Lifting stats from me? Why? This is about the OP, a female, asking for favorite machine. I responded to someone who criticized free weights. After that it turned into a furball as folks input their biases, neurosis,etc.
I am visibly fit. Not some porker with prison/circus tats.
And I'm stronger than you, and know more about lifting than you do.0 -
I do not care about the first part if true and doubt the second part.0
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I do not care.
JSW0 -
Lifting stats from me? Why? This is about the OP, a female, asking for favorite machine. I responded to someone who criticized free weights. After that it turned into a furball as folks input their biases, neurosis,etc.
I am visibly fit. Not some porker with prison/circus tats.
No....lots of people disagreed with you and you decided to make personal attacks, as you have here. It is the sign of someone who cannot debate, use critical thinking or come up with a reasonable argument to their stance....or of someone who is compensating for something.0 -
I do not care about the first part if true and doubt the second part.
lolol - with the comments you made, my grandmother probably knows more about lifting than you.0 -
Acutally I only criticized those who made it personal. Otherwise I provided examples. Read through the mess above again and you will see I am correct.0
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Acutally I only criticized those who made it personal. Otherwise I provided examples. Read through the mess above again and you will see I am correct.
Personal attacks are personal attacks. Defend your stance with what you think to be the merits of your opinion, not with insults to people's physiques.
ETA: *waits for post calling me fat*0 -
Generally I prefer free weights but I prefer to use these at home, in the gym I like the Lat puldown best followed by Leg Press x0
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My body0
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Acutally I only criticized those who made it personal. Otherwise I provided examples. Read through the mess above again and you will see I am correct.
Personal attacks are personal attacks. Defend your stance with what you think to be the merits of your opinion, not with insults to people's physiques.
I did since the first instance.
I see on average 50 males in the weight room on a normal 530-715pm workout. Maybe 1 female; then Hammer equipment is all male; Life-fitness machines, of which there are two-three redundancies are 70% female, 30%male.(latter primarily pulldowns or rows) This is my regular gym I have been attending for years. I take the young females from work there, appear similar to the OP as stated, and they unanimously prefer machines and abs related exercises. Easier to start on.
This has been the pattern for years. There is a reason for the consistency.
NB: You have taken a few shots at me, but I do note you earned your body. No complaints on my part.0 -
Acutally I only criticized those who made it personal. Otherwise I provided examples. Read through the mess above again and you will see I am correct.
You referenced 6 months as not being enough to know much about lifting, so I asked how long you've been lifting and how strong you are to see if you what you're saying is worth any attention by the same argument.
Call it a personal attack and just stay ignorant if you want, makes no difference to me.0 -
For all of you strong ladies suggesting there is no use for machines, your first day at the gym did you head straight for the squat rack? Did you never use any machines when you started? If you did that is awesome.
I only use a select few machines these days as I found found love for free weights and the barbell. However, when I first started a year ago I would never have considered jumping into the squat rack or free weight area of the gym the day I joined. It was scary, indimidating. I stalked women from a far that were doing weights (not creepy i swear, just observing:)), did a lot of research online searching bodybuilding.com for workouts, correct form and started with a generic base of machines and dumbells.
OP, IMO machines are not useless but once you start to work with free weights you will likely never go back! If there is a trainer at your gym who gives free fitness consultations (mine offered that) they may be able to get you started. Stong Lifts and other programs alike are great but if you are anything like me it was hard to start there.
ETA - to answer your question my fav machines now are lat pull down, seated low row and assisted chin up/dip. Those are the only ones I still use.0 -
I use all free weights, but I do like the leg press.0
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I used all free weights, but I do like the leg press.0
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*sigh*
I am my very own favourite machine.
I'd suggest you start off with free weights rather than machines. Start light, get your form right and move up.
ditto0 -
Lifting stats from me? Why? This is about the OP, a female, asking for favorite machine. {b}I responded to someone who criticized free weights{/b}. After that it turned into a furball as folks input their biases, neurosis,etc.
I am visibly fit. Not some porker with prison/circus tats.
Actually, no you didn't respond to anyone because you don't seem to know how to use the quote feature. And your responses were sexist and demeaning in tone, and your constant insults to other poster's bodies pretty much take away any and all credibility you may think you have with anyone here. So I believe that you need to provide some sort of lifting stats to somehow back up your smack talk.0
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