Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

[USF11]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

I see a "rage against the machines" as far as working out is concerned.......

For you guys, are machines not at all beneficial for your abs exercises? For some reason, when I do situps, I'm finding more strain on my back/neck than I do in my abdominal area, and I think that's a problem.

Is there a way to avoid the machine AND avoid massive strain on the neck area when working out abdominals?

Get a yoga ball and a medicine ball. That should eliminate neck and back problems.

[rpac44]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

Get a yoga ball and a medicine ball. That should eliminate neck and back problems.

the only ab exercise i do with added weight is rope crunches on a high pulley http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/...ingCrunch.html
otherwise just leg raises, decline crunches and high rep regular crunches get the job done

meant to quote playahata's post...

[Altimus]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

Totally! Today I actually saw a woman eat a snickers on the bike! I couldn't believe it.

I found that hilarious for so many reasons... I mean why even work out.

The greatest part of having an IPOD is you dont have to talk to people.

Exactly... "So you work out here often?" Same person asking the question as last week...

[oakfan162]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

I found that hilarious for so many reasons... I mean why even work out.



Exactly... "So you work out here often?" Same person asking the question as last week...

I live in suburbia, so I see women eating food, talking on cell phones, drinking Starbucks... its ridiculous.


I love having my IPod. Total excuse to be a antisocial at the gym.

[ehh]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

Last week while I was lifting some old guy kept trying to talk to me but I guess I was ignoring him because I always have my mp3 player on full volume. So finally he taps me on the shoulder and says, "Are you listening to something really loud?" And then he tries to start up a conversation about the Yanks with me.

Yes Father Time, and for a good reason - so people like you don't bug me to death. I'm here to lift, not socialize.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

Last week while I was lifting some old guy kept trying to talk to me but I guess I was ignoring him because I always have my mp3 player on full volume. So finally he taps me on the shoulder and says, "Are you listening to something really loud?" And then he tries to start up a conversation about the Yanks with me.

Yes Father Time, and for a good reason - so people like you don't bug me to death. I'm here to lift, not socialize.

I've had some experiences like that. because I lift at a high school I see a lot of kids messing around in ways that they probably don't even realize could hurt them. Just yesterday a group of them were all hanging around the shoulder press machine and one kid kept sticking his fingers in the stack of weights when they were lifted and then pulling them out right before the 70 pounds landed on them.

The good thing about being a non-high schooler in a high school is that only the ones you know actually talk to you, so there's not much to worry about there.

[stewaat]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

I am telling you the smith machine works just as good as the regular squat rack.

This is one of the worst statements I think I have ever heard.

Smith-machine squats: Works your legs...cool

Real squats: Legs, back, core

It's all about balancing the weight while going down using good form. I squat twice a week, love it. Smith machine is good for your legs, but nowhere near as valuable as real squats.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

ehh is right. It's all about the form and muscles used. I used to squat with terrible form, hunching my back over to get lower, and it showed because I didn't see any improvement. Once I improved my form by keeping the weight back, eyes to the sky, and puffing my chest out - in other words, using the muscles the lift is designed to work - I saw rapid improvement.

The Smith machine doesn't allow for proper form and you'll never get the kind of results you would with a barbell.

[stewaat]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

Last week while I was lifting some old guy kept trying to talk to me but I guess I was ignoring him because I always have my mp3 player on full volume. So finally he taps me on the shoulder and says, "Are you listening to something really loud?" And then he tries to start up a conversation about the Yanks with me.

Yes Father Time, and for a good reason - so people like you don't bug me to death. I'm here to lift, not socialize.

Yea, I can't stand it when people try and talk to me! I feel like I lose my train of motivation. I got my juices going and ready to do work, then they stop it!

[Cusefan]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

As a member of the the armed forces community in a combat arms job i do a great deal of PT. Honestly the best Machine for working out is your own body. Yea ill hit the gym from time to time but run a minimum of 3 miles, 70 pushups and 70 situps every morning . I am in great shape and i get the girls so it works.

[USF11]

Re: Workout questions...time between workouts & machines

This is one of the worst statements I think I have ever heard.

Smith-machine squats: Works your legs...cool

Real squats: Legs, back, core

It's all about balancing the weight while going down using good form. I squat twice a week, love it. Smith machine is good for your legs, but nowhere near as valuable as real squats.

Alright, Alright regular squats are much better for overall body building then any other exercise.

When I made that statement, heres how I meant it. Since most people dont do squats right in the first place they would be better off using the smith machine.

What is everyones opinion on the Hack squat machine? I never see anyone use them at my gym, but I might start using that instead of leg press. I just never seem to get anything out of leg press.

My leg days consist of

12-10-8-6 Squats
2x10 2x8 Leg Press
4x10 Lunges using the smith machine
2x25 Step ups
2x25 Abductor
2x25 Adductor
3x25 Leg curls

Then ab and cardio stuff.