Machines vs Free Weights

[koruptified]

I know the debate and am familiar with how some will view one as greater than the other. I'm just curious what people would suggest for a beginner that wants to do machines. My workout is free weights, so I'm not familiar with machines at all. When I first got into this and hired a personal trainer for a little bit, a good majority of my workouts were machines, such as leg extensions, a squatting machine, pull downs, etc...

If you were going to suggest a mass building beginner workout using machines, what would you suggest? Split or full body? What days would work what? Circuit training recommended? Mass building. Not strength training. When I focus on strength I'm going to be doing free weights and something like Starr's 5x5.

The more debate the better.

[sfgiantsfan79]

Everything in bodybuilding has it's place.

Which kind of machines are you talking about? I've only recently (six months) been working out and greatly like the hammer strength line.

[USMARINE8152]

For beginners. I would stick with free weights work on form and dont worry about weight.....me I use both I've got 10 plus years of lifting and I use machines because my joints and body are already falling apart from injuries and stuff from sports, my time in the Marines, and now as a cop my body takes a beating outside the gym as well.

[polarmike76]

Problem with machines is that you don't build the stability as you would with free weights, most of them are isolation machines..

As a beginner I'd definitely recommend you stick to freeweights to help condition your body and keep good form for the future...

The only exception I would say is if you had an injury in which you cannot use free weights and machine is the only alternative

[koruptified]

I have noticed that I hate SLDL. I don't know why, but I just do. And I hate barbell rows. Ideally, I'd love to just find another excersize to replace those.

[thebigmrclean]

In my experience free weights are usually pretty superior to machines. When you use machines you typically cut out other muscles that would normally benefit from the lift. This isn't to say that machines don't have their place, but I can't see a reason why you would want to focus on machines more than free weights.

[Orlando1234977]

I know the debate and am familiar with how some will view one as greater than the other. I'm just curious what people would suggest for a beginner that wants to do machines. My workout is free weights, so I'm not familiar with machines at all. When I first got into this and hired a personal trainer for a little bit, a good majority of my workouts were machines, such as leg extensions, a squatting machine, pull downs, etc...

If you were going to suggest a mass building beginner workout using machines, what would you suggest? Split or full body? What days would work what? Circuit training recommended? Mass building. Not strength training. When I focus on strength I'm going to be doing free weights and something like Starr's 5x5.

The more debate the better.

Why the need to do only machines or only free weights?

A beginner would be better to doing majority free weights, and add exercises as you progress over time, typically adding both free weight exercises and machines.

[koruptified]

Then... what could I use to replace SLDLs and barbell rows?

[AusPower]

Then... what could I use to replace SLDLs and barbell rows?

I'm going to guess your lower back is weak as piss and this is the issue with both of those lifts.

For SLDL find another hamstring exercise.
For Barbell rows why not seated cable rows.

There, that ought to do it until you injure your back one day picking up something in the garden.

[koruptified]

I'm going to guess your lower back is weak as piss and this is the issue with both of those lifts.

For SLDL find another hamstring exercise.
For Barbell rows why not seated cable rows.

There, that ought to do it until you injure your back one day picking up something in the garden.

How about you be less of a prick or don't respond.

With SLDL I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I don't feel any strain on my hamstrings unless I do a full deadlift and hit the floor. And I can't bend my knees. It's everything that the SLDL isn't.

On the barbell rows, I feel like there's some weird strain on my back. Form is there because I can see myself in the mirror and it mimics what I was taught. But there's some weird sensation and it doesn't feel like any of the other ways my muscles have felt when I have worked them out. Doesn't feel like muscle strain.

[sfgiantsfan79]

Problem with machines is that you don't build the stability as you would with free weights, most of them are isolation machines..

As a beginner I'd definitely recommend you stick to freeweights to help condition your body and keep good form for the future...

The only exception I would say is if you had an injury in which you cannot use free weights and machine is the only alternative

I don't get the isolation comment.

A chest press is a chest press whether it be on an incline using db's or on a hammerstrength line.

It's still an exercise where you are using your chest but also your delts and tri's.

[sfgiantsfan79]

I have noticed that I hate SLDL. I don't know why, but I just do. And I hate barbell rows. Ideally, I'd love to just find another excersize to replace those.

Glute ham raise, leg curls, pull throughs

Db rows, tbar rows

[Kirra]

****ing hell... Not this again.

[Engineer_Guy]

If you can use free weights you should be. There are a few instances where you may want to include machines in your routine but for the most part free weights are far superior.

[ilanmp4]

If you can use free weights you should be. There are a few instances where you may want to include machines in your routine but for the most part free weights are far superior.

i'm agree.

[jgreystoke]

Simple:

A novice only needs barbell movements. Will develop coordinated strength by training progressively in the big basic barbell movements.

An advanced guy will likely do a lot of assistance movements, which can be barbells, dumbells, and machines.

Machines have one advantage. Leg press allows an advanced guy to add a ton of volume when another set of squats would be dangerous, due to form breakdown from fatigue. Similarly machine presses after military presses, cable rows after barbell rows etc.

If you were going to suggest a mass building beginner workout using machines, what would you suggest? Split or full body? What days would work what? Circuit training recommended? Mass building. Not strength training. When I focus on strength I'm going to be doing free weights and something like Starr's 5x5.

I'd suggest Rippetoe's Starting Strength. That is a low volume, high frequency, fullbody, 3 x 5 sets across(after low rep, decreasing rep warmups), three day a week program. Usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Strength Training = Mass Building for novices.

Buy the SS book even if you don't run the program. Best barbell primer, even for advanced guys.

I have Starrs Strongest Shall Survive. Pure gold. He likes 5 x 5 ramping sets in the big basics. That would be a viable alternative.

WS4SB, Westside For Skinny Bastards, is well recommended. You'd only do heavy squats once a week, unlike SS.

[koruptified]

****ing hell... Not this again.

What was the point of your comment?

If you don't like the topic then don't respond. Your life can't be that boring, can it?

[koruptified]

Simple:

A novice only needs barbell movements. Will develop coordinated strength by training progressively in the big basic barbell movements.

An advanced guy will likely do a lot of assistance movements, which can be barbells, dumbells, and machines.

Machines have one advantage. Leg press allows an advanced guy to add a ton of volume when another set of squats would be dangerous, due to form breakdown from fatigue. Similarly machine presses after military presses, cable rows after barbell rows etc.



I'd suggest Rippetoe's Starting Strength. That is a low volume, high frequency, fullbody, 3 x 5 sets across(after low rep, decreasing rep warmups), three day a week program. Usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Strength Training = Mass Building for novices.

Buy the SS book even if you don't run the program. Best barbell primer, even for advanced guys.

I have Starrs Strongest Shall Survive. Pure gold. He likes 5 x 5 ramping sets in the big basics. That would be a viable alternative.

WS4SB, Westside For Skinny Bastards, is well recommended. You'd only do heavy squats once a week, unlike SS.

I definitely plan to do a 5x5 type workout soon, but right now I'm trying to actually get some aesthetics done. I'm skinny and I want to add mass, but I want to add clean mass. Most every workout journal I've seen for SS has increased their body fat % to a very high number. I'm not looking to get to 20% and then have to cut. I want to stay around 12-14% max and then cut. I figure doing a mass builder first, like the workout that all pro posted, would be what I'll do before I get the 5x5.

I will be checking out WS4SB though.

[BG5150]

I have noticed that I hate SLDL. I don't know why, but I just do. And I hate barbell rows. Ideally, I'd love to just find another excersize to replace those.

Good mornings for SLDL

T-bar rows
DB rows
Seated rows for BB Row

[bigtallox]

A chest press is a chest press whether it be on an incline using db's or on a hammerstrength line.

I guess if you define "chest press" accordingly then OK they're both "chest press", BUT that in no way means they're equivalent in terms of effectiveness.

It's still an exercise where you are using your chest but also your delts and tri's.

But the thing is there are different types of "using your muscles", and not all of them build muscle or strength, that also depends on HOW you "use" your muscles, ie HOW you train.