Fitness 2012

[11B4V]

Owowowowowowow! Strength training hurts! 

Small problem that I'm kinda' hoping someone can help with. I'm trying to work the ab machines to help with core muscle stuff, but even on zero weights, I can't work the two machines that use the lower ab muscles.    What do I do to work on those muscles so that I can even use the machines?

Don't use those machines, ever. They encourage bad form and can give you bulging belly muscles and strain your back. Don't use resistance machines at all if you can avoid them, use free weights instead.

Wrong, sorry. Maybe if used incorrectly.

Why dont you want to use resistance machines???

[mongers]

Not doing much exercise at the moment, other than the usual utility cycling.

Though this evening, took the bus into my local conurbation, cycled along the 6 mile promenade, which had plenty of sand upon which to play and then up the relatively quite river valley to home; a modest 16-17 mile after 8pm.

[merithyn]

Don't use those machines, ever. They encourage bad form and can give you bulging belly muscles and strain your back. Don't use resistance machines at all if you can avoid them, use free weights instead.

Why dont you want to use resistance machines???

[11B4V]

Don't use those machines, ever. They encourage bad form and can give you bulging belly muscles and strain your back. Don't use resistance machines at all if you can avoid them, use free weights instead.

Why dont you want to use resistance machines???

If you use them wrong..yes. 

If you use a kitchen knife wrong it can be bad for you. Been using machines, bands, bowflex, ellipitcals, free weights, rowing machines for a long time. I use them in combination with free weights You have to know how to use them and when to use them. To just say they are bad is horse crap.

[mongers]

Damn 5% short of my 500 mile monthly target. 

[Iormlund]

Hospital called. I'm scheduled for a dilation of my scar in a week. If they don't find signs of inflammation and all goes well I'll be able to start eating veggies again and get off meds in a couple weeks.

Back from the hospital. Everything went fine. No signs of Crohn's down there.
They were able to almost double the diameter of the scarred tissue. Will go back in a couple months to push further.

[merithyn]

Hospital called. I'm scheduled for a dilation of my scar in a week. If they don't find signs of inflammation and all goes well I'll be able to start eating veggies again and get off meds in a couple weeks.

Back from the hospital. Everything went fine. No signs of Crohn's down there.
They were able to almost double the diameter of the scarred tissue. Will go back in a couple months to push further.

AWESOME!!

[MadImmortalMan]

Don't use those machines, ever. They encourage bad form and can give you bulging belly muscles and strain your back. Don't use resistance machines at all if you can avoid them, use free weights instead.

Why dont you want to use resistance machines???

They can isolate specific muscles too effectively, leaving the others underdeveloped that should be working in tandem. Free weight lifts are more "natural" movements, and work the small in-between muscles too. That's my understanding anyway.

80% of my pants no longer fit me. I had to go shopping this weekend.

[merithyn]

They can isolate specific muscles too effectively, leaving the others underdeveloped that should be working in tandem. Free weight lifts are more "natural" movements, and work the small in-between muscles too. That's my understanding anyway.

80% of my pants no longer fit me. I had to go shopping this weekend.

The smiley was on why he asked the question when Brazen had already answered it, per the bolded, underlined quote.

[Drakken]

They can isolate specific muscles too effectively, leaving the others underdeveloped that should be working in tandem. Free weight lifts are more "natural" movements, and work the small in-between muscles too. That's my understanding anyway.

In other words, machines use mechanics, like torsion and pulleys, to help the lifter lift the weight while working solely the targeted muscles. Free weights, well, don't. Thus the latter work stabilizers as much as the primary and secondary muscles being worked.

I wouldn't go as far as to ban resistance machines, they do serve a purpose, if only for variation. But I would use them for isolation only, and focus more on free weights to do both compounds (presses, squats, rows, etc.) and isolation exercises.

And no, machines do not encourage bad form - too heavy weights, ego, and inexperience encourage bad form.

[mongers]

Cycled 30 miles in the heavy rain a couple of day ago, which was fun, good exercise.

[merithyn]

This heat is sapping my energy. Walking half as much as usual outside, and only managing half as much weight training after I walk to the gym in the heat. Mostly, I just want to curl up and sleep. How long until the heat wave breaks?? 

[mongers]

This heat is sapping my energy. Walking half as much as usual outside, and only managing half as much weight training after I walk to the gym in the heat. Mostly, I just want to curl up and sleep. How long until the heat wave breaks?? 

2076.

[merithyn]

Or... last night.

My exercise routine has been derailed by a foot injury. Damn jump rope. 

Anyway, I'll still be doing upper body and ab work, just staying off the tootsies for the next week or so unless absolutely necessary. This is going to be fun.... 

[11B4V]

They can isolate specific muscles too effectively, leaving the others underdeveloped that should be working in tandem. Free weight lifts are more "natural" movements, and work the small in-between muscles too. That's my understanding anyway.

I wouldn't go as far as to ban resistance machines, they do serve a purpose, if only for variation. But I would use them for isolation only, and focus more on free weights to do both compounds (presses, squats, rows, etc.) and isolation exercises.

And no, machines do not encourage bad form - too heavy weights, ego, and inexperience encourage bad form.