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tmbg1
Posts: 1,282 Member
Which is better... weight machines or free weights?
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Seems like a vague question just chalk full of opinions & too many ifs & buts to answer even with a generalized statement...2
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Keto_Vampire wrote: »Seems like a vague, highly opinionated question just chalk full of opinions & too many ifs & buts to answer even with a generalized statement...
yep.
short answer (imho) .... it depends.
I think (I know) that I get a much better workout with free weights.1 -
Keto_Vampire wrote: »Seems like a vague, highly opinionated question just chalk full of opinions & too many ifs & buts to answer even with a generalized statement...
I agree too general of a question. Not knowing your goals, experience, equipment available, current fitness, amount of coordination....etc makes that impossible to answer. Not to mention the hundreds of training philosophies, methods, opinions, protocols, and other variables that come with each of those two broad types of resistance training equipment categories0 -
Motorsheen wrote: »Keto_Vampire wrote: »Seems like a vague, highly opinionated question just chalk full of opinions & too many ifs & buts to answer even with a generalized statement...
yep.
short answer (imho) .... it depends.
I think (I know) that I get a much better workout with free weights.
Clearly, cables FTW...trolling1 -
In my home gym, I have free weights (about 800 lbs of cast iron weight plates and pairs of dumbbells from 5 to 70 lbs) and several barbells, and a cable machine. Each has its purpose in my gym.0
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free weight are better most circumstances. One situation when machines are better if injuries or lack of mobility prevent you from using free weights.2
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I just started strength training and my gym has a variety of leg and arm machines, but they also have plenty of free weights. I honestly don't know exactly what my goals are beyond just getting some muscle tone because I am in my 50s and want to get in shape. I see people using both and just wanted some opinions.2
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I will be soon approaching my 50s, and I'd like to share with you some of the youtube channels that I follow and like:
Athlean-X:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe0TLA0EsQbE-MjuHXevj2A
Gravity Transformation:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0CRYvGlWGlsGxBNgvkUbAg
Jeremy Ethier:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCERm5yFZ1SptUEU4wZ2vJvw
Tone and Tighten:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJASBOyF4Fkd26SIwRhLuZw2 -
free weight are better most circumstances. One situation when machines are better if injuries or lack of mobility prevent you from using free weights.
What about leg press, leg extensions and leg curls, lat pulldowns, tricep extensions and seated cable rows? No way to do those with free weights, yet valuable exercises to add to squats, deadlifts and lunges, bench press and military press among others. The best answer so far was ketovampire's first one. Both machines and free weights have their place. It's not an either/ or. It's all about programming for your goals.1 -
Keto_Vampire wrote: »Motorsheen wrote: »Keto_Vampire wrote: »Seems like a vague, highly opinionated question just chalk full of opinions & too many ifs & buts to answer even with a generalized statement...
yep.
short answer (imho) .... it depends.
I think (I know) that I get a much better workout with free weights.
Clearly, cables FTW...trolling
You're not just trolling, I've seen your workouts. You live at the cables.2 -
Spadesheart wrote: »Keto_Vampire wrote: »Motorsheen wrote: »Keto_Vampire wrote: »Seems like a vague, highly opinionated question just chalk full of opinions & too many ifs & buts to answer even with a generalized statement...
yep.
short answer (imho) .... it depends.
I think (I know) that I get a much better workout with free weights.
Clearly, cables FTW...trolling
You're not just trolling, I've seen your workouts. You live at the cables.
True, I do like/prefer cables if possible...good combination of requiring stabilizer muscles, having free range of motion/good ROM, & constant tension. Main disadvantage of cables being lack of support (things tend to fall apart once weights exceed bodyweight) & can't load as much as barbell lifts0 -
Which is better... weight machines or free weights?
It's not really an either or, there are some exercises (like lat pulldowns & cable crosssovers) that can only be done with machines and others where you can perform more-or-less the same exercise on either.
There are those that would tell you that free weights are better inasmuch as you're engaging smaller stabilizer muscles (true) and there are some exercises, like squats, that the machine version imposes unnatural limits to your range of motion.
On the other hand, if you're bench pressing and don't have a spotter you're not going to drop a bar on your throat with a machine.
Long story short, pick what works for you; the important thing is that you're working out.2 -
Keto_Vampire wrote: »Spadesheart wrote: »Keto_Vampire wrote: »Motorsheen wrote: »Keto_Vampire wrote: »Seems like a vague, highly opinionated question just chalk full of opinions & too many ifs & buts to answer even with a generalized statement...
yep.
short answer (imho) .... it depends.
I think (I know) that I get a much better workout with free weights.
Clearly, cables FTW...trolling
You're not just trolling, I've seen your workouts. You live at the cables.
True, I do like/prefer cables if possible...good combination of requiring stabilizer muscles, having free range of motion/good ROM, & constant tension. Main disadvantage of cables being lack of support (things tend to fall apart once weights exceed bodyweight) & can't load as much as barbell lifts
cables may not specifically be free weights..... but I'm sure that they would carpool together.
I'll superset between free weights and cables all the time.
yeah, they're both great.
machines have their place too, for me... it's working around injuries.
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Very helpful thanks! Today I did some of both. I'm so excited to be off the couch!4
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Better for what?0
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Motorsheen wrote: »Keto_Vampire wrote: »Spadesheart wrote: »Keto_Vampire wrote: »Motorsheen wrote: »Keto_Vampire wrote: »Seems like a vague, highly opinionated question just chalk full of opinions & too many ifs & buts to answer even with a generalized statement...
yep.
short answer (imho) .... it depends.
I think (I know) that I get a much better workout with free weights.
Clearly, cables FTW...trolling
You're not just trolling, I've seen your workouts. You live at the cables.
True, I do like/prefer cables if possible...good combination of requiring stabilizer muscles, having free range of motion/good ROM, & constant tension. Main disadvantage of cables being lack of support (things tend to fall apart once weights exceed bodyweight) & can't load as much as barbell lifts
cables may not specifically be free weights..... but I'm sure that they would carpool together.
I'll superset between free weights and cables all the time.
yeah, they're both great.
machines have their place too, for me... it's working around injuries.
Yeah, plenty like free weights requiring stabilizers when using no attachments for cables or doing unilateral movements using a d-handle, rope, etc. Not so much doing bilateral movements0
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