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I was searching for something online today when I came across an article that I found interesting:
[url]http://www.realsolutionsmag.com/ezine/98/issue98b.asp[/url]
It's an article written by Nick Nilsson where he gives a few examples of exercises which can be done using equipment in ways which are different then the purpose it was originally intended for.
So I was just curious, who else has found alternate or creative uses for gym equipment which may be different then it's original purpose?
A kind of GHR 'substitute' off the the seat on my Lat Machine.
When I was looking at the article I immediately though back to when I discovered that I could to use the padded top of my home bench’s leg extension to do preacher curls before I had access to an actual preacher curl bench.
[QUOTE=terman1;972773393]
So I was just curious, who else has found alternate or creative uses for gym equipment which may be different then it's original purpose?[/QUOTE]
Shrugs on the seated shoulder press machine; just stand on the seat facing the backrest. No plates to lug around.
Its kinda like the video I came accross of someone using the Smith Machine for leg press...
I'll occasionally use the back of an Incline bench to do One-Arm Dumbbell Preacher Curls.
Doesn't really comply with the thread topic, but something you rarely see, and can be useful:
A low pulley on a cable machine attached to an ankle cuff with a D-ring can be used to work adductors and abductors.
[QUOTE=tsoden;972788173]Its kinda like the video I came accross of someone using the Smith Machine for leg press...[/QUOTE]I remember coming across a website at one time when the were talking about how people who did the leg press before the invent of the leg press. Sure enough, there was a picture of Eugen Sandow on his back with a barbell absolutely filled with weights balanced right on top of his feet! :eek:
Along with the ones in the article....
I use the leg extension machine for standing leg curls.
I use the Hack Squat machine to do calf raises. I have gotten the most out of thise in my calves than the regular machine or seated machine.
There are other ones that I have come up with as well over the years. I have always felt that being creative along with regular bench, squat and deadlifing exercises help create larger and stronger muscles all around.
[QUOTE=ironwill2008;972795753]
Doesn't really comply with the thread topic, but something you rarely see, and can be useful:
A low pulley on a cable machine attached to an ankle cuff with a D-ring can be used to work adductors and abductors.[/QUOTE]Actually that does sound like a good idea that you don't see people do very often. Sounds like it would might also hit the muscles in a slightly different way then those abductor machines that people seem to be so fond of.
[QUOTE=-=FLEX=-;972787213]Shrugs on the seated shoulder press machine; just stand on the seat facing the backrest. No plates to lug around.[/QUOTE]
I use the bench press machine for shrugs sometimes I've done calve raises the same way except I stand on a 2X4
[QUOTE=tsoden;972788173]Its kinda like the video I came accross of someone using the Smith Machine for leg press...[/QUOTE]
I do Leg Presses on the Smith. It is better than the Hoist Leg Press that my gym has. The only thing that sucks about it is that you are really only pressing with a small percentage of your foot.
[QUOTE=frozensparky;972802853]I use the bench press machine for shrugs sometimes I've done calve raises the same way except I stand on a 2X4[/QUOTE]
Yep; the Hammer Strength plate loaded bench press is good for shrugs too; forgot about that one.
I also use the standing calf machien for shurgs too. It's an odd movement, but it's amazing how much more trap work you get when you take arms and grip out of the equation. Just stand on either the floor or the platform and instead of lifting with your feet, shrug away.
[QUOTE=llahhsoj;972805913]I do Leg Presses on the Smith. It is better than the Hoist Leg Press that my gym has. The only thing that sucks about it is that you are really only pressing with a small percentage of your foot.[/QUOTE]
It's all good brah, so does Jason Genova
I spent a month this summer lifting with a full arm cast. My left elbow was stuck at a 90 degree angle, and I couldn't use my left hand to hold anything heavy. I had to come up with new ways to work chest, back, and shoulders.
modified "bench press" in the chest fly machine using upper arms to push
modified rows sitting backwards in the chest fly machine using upper arms to pull
modified overhead press in the lat raise machine using upper arms to push
shrugs in the standing calf raise machine
Lately I've been doing standing good mornings and squats in the bench press area if the squat rack is occupied. Load up the weights, sit on the bench facing the bar, bend over and put neck under the bar, do a seated good morning, stand up, step over the bench, and proceed to do squats or good mornings. Reverse the procedure to put the bar back in place.
[QUOTE=terman1;972773393]who else has found alternate or creative uses for gym equipment which may be different then it's original purpose?[/QUOTE]
I use my biggest atlas stone to stretch out my psoas.
As for using fitness machines for something other than what they're designed for, I'll pass, this...
[img]http://www.realsolutionsmag.com/images/ezine/ShoulderPressonMachineBench.jpg[/img]
does not look safe to me, and it makes me wonder "why not just press real weight over your head?" Pressing real weight seems infinitely easier, safer, and more effective, than wedging your body into a machine that isn't made to be used that way, and you get the added benefit that you can also pick the weight off the floor before "shoulder pressing" it.
[QUOTE=bigtallox;972861193]I use my biggest atlas stone to stretch out my psoas.
As for using fitness machines for something other than what they're designed for, I'll pass, this...
[img]http://www.realsolutionsmag.com/images/ezine/ShoulderPressonMachineBench.jpg[img]
does not look safe to me, and it makes me wonder "why not just press real weight over your head?" Pressing real weight seems infinitely easier, safer, and more effective, than wedging your body into a machine that isn't made to be used that way, and you get the added benefit that you can also pick the weight off the floor before "shoulder pressing" it.[/QUOTE]
I agree about lifting real weight instead of using a machine in most cases. Sometimes machine lifts are all you can do after an injury, so the choices are using a machine or not lifting at all. I'll go with the machines in that case.
Best Ab exercise IMO is cable crunches using the lat pull down. I put both my cable-crossover handles in place of the bar, pull down to next, then crunch away. Love them.
Hammer Strength incline press machine can also be used in reverse for lat pulls.
Cable row station can be used for weighted hypers, shrugs and cable curls.
Lat pulldown station can be used for weighted hypers.
I also like DB hamstring curls when I can get somebody to place the DB.
[img]http://www.failking.com/img1/1943-treadmill-fail_o.gif[/img]
[img]http://freakyfail.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/epic-fail-gifs-exercise-ball-fail.gif[/img]
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BIwXJopAgxY/TvpXJGMrS1I/AAAAAAAAAK8/Fz0xVphVTko/s1600/workout+accident.gif[/img]
Be careful with using machines in ways they weren't intended for. 1 day I was using the seated shoulder press and got an idea that I could also use it for a standing shoulder press and it actually worked..until I upped the weight and almost tipped the entire fukkin machine over! Got the weight stack about halfway up and the center of gravity changed since there wasn't any bodyweight on the seat and the machine started to go over on it's side. I dropped the weight real damn quick and the machine settled down safely but it was real close to being ugly. Won't try that one again.
[QUOTE=IronCharles;972884973][img]http://www.failking.com/img1/1943-treadmill-fail_o.gif[/img]
[img]http://freakyfail.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/epic-fail-gifs-exercise-ball-fail.gif[/img]
[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BIwXJopAgxY/TvpXJGMrS1I/AAAAAAAAAK8/Fz0xVphVTko/s1600/workout+accident.gif[/img][/QUOTE]That last one looked painful.
[QUOTE=drudixon;972875653]Best Ab exercise IMO is cable crunches using the lat pull down. I put both my cable-crossover handles in place of the bar, pull down to next, then crunch away. Love them.[/QUOTE]Great exercise! I just started incorporating these into my workout this month using the rope attachment. I neglected direct ab work for a while but since adding these in I look forward to doing them every week.
used to do these at my first gym. don't think they had any ab machines, guys got inventive.
[img]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5038803&d=1351872743[/img]