What machines are good for what?

[SpeedKing9]

This is what I use (Is this good? and i don't know names!):

Back/shoulders: the bar you pull down while sitting down
stomach: The one where you hold yourself up and move your knees up and down
biceps/triceps: just use 15 lb weights

Is it ok to use the same machine for whatever body part? also, what are the best ones for the chest and stomach areas?

[bobby_steeles]

in addition to anything you're doing now, i would recommend using one of those ab wheels from any sporting goods store. the one that looks like a little wheel with a handlebar sticking out on both sides--they cost 10 bucks and are effective as hell...
bally's and ringside sell them too.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Might I suggest you acquire and read a book on weightlifting? For between $10 and $20 dollars you can get a good lesson in terminology, basic exercises, basic routines etc....

Or find a good workout partner who can show you the ropes.


Your full of enthusiasm, which is great. But without proper guidance your probably going to end up hurting yourself.

Remember, the pyramids weren't built in one day, or one week, or even one year. They were built during lifetimes following detailed plans, on a proper foundation.

If you do it the right way, it will last you a lifetime.

[duchman]

Machines are for pussy.

Use Weight Exercises, Like the dealift, Squat, bench, Millitary press.

Machines dont give real stengt, they might give you a good body, but you don't use any stabelizing muscels

[Szczepankiewicz]

Machines don't provide strength? Wow, please elaborate on that one. I have been lifting for 15+ years and I have never heard that one before.

[Atomic]

Dump the machines and stick with free weights.

What Duchman is talking about is the fact working on machines only makes you better at that particular machine. The short end of it being, you do not have to work your stabilizing muscles as you would with free weights, which means when you jump from machines to free weights, you'll see a dramatic decrease in weight used.

Now, ocassionally using machines to add to your free weight program is acceptable, but not necessary.

Stick with the basics and skip the pulldowns. If you can do chins, do them!

Anything else?

[duchman]

Atomic is right, he sad what i was trying to say.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Yes, I agree that free weights are much better than machines, but machines do have a lot of advantages to incorporating them into your workout.


Now if all you did was machines, then you are in for a big let down. But machines are an excellent way of isolating muscle groups to get you over a plateau.

We use the machines to do pushdowns(tris) pulldowns(lats) and a variety of other exercises that would be a big pain in the butt to do with free weights.

I guess it all depends on what your goals are. But when Aaron slapped down the paint brush and said all machines are useless, I can't agree with that....


SZ