Today's Workout Thread

[Phrank]

Weight room opened yesterday! Yeaaaa!!!! Still a car sized hole in it, and much rearranging, but open at last!

Been very interesting, my PT and several buds at the gym, once told me that free weights build muscle and strengthen, whereas machines will only tone and strengthen.

So the last three weeks I've been taking the opportunity to really change things up. 20 minutes hardcore on the elliptical, then various "weight" machines in the front, then long warm down walking the track, which aside from various aerobic classes, was somewhat boring.

Hit the weights yesterday, Biceps and triceps, and wow, felt great, and I could feel that I had lost some strength in the last drop-sets. Really missed the free weights.

Afterwards, I could feel the intensity of the free weight workout far more than what I had been doing, now next day, I feel a little stiff, which on the whole I didn't experience much anymore. Glad to be back at it, Chest and shoulders tomorrow.

Any thought on free weights vs machines? Do free weights in fact actually increase muscle mass, build muscle, as opposed to machines?

[whoever]

I had asked a similar qusrion, in a synical way, but I would say it doesn't matter machine vs free weight. Because all your body knows is resistance applied tare, repair. And machines only tone is an qick easy way to keep someone on the free weights where you are forced to whatch your form and do it correct, or you all know, where a machine seems to protect you from gurtingyoursrlf to some extent.
I hope my rambling made sence.

Weight room opened yesterday! Yeaaaa!!!! Still a car sized hole in it, and much rearranging, but open at last!

Been very interesting, my PT and several buds at the gym, once told me that free weights build muscle and strengthen, whereas machines will only tone and strengthen.

So the last three weeks I've been taking the opportunity to really change things up. 20 minutes hardcore on the elliptical, then various "weight" machines in the front, then long warm down walking the track, which aside from various aerobic classes, was somewhat boring.

Hit the weights yesterday, Biceps and triceps, and wow, felt great, and I could feel that I had lost some strength in the last drop-sets. Really missed the free weights.

Afterwards, I could feel the intensity of the free weight workout far more than what I had been doing, now next day, I feel a little stiff, which on the whole I didn't experience much anymore. Glad to be back at it, Chest and shoulders tomorrow.

Any thought on free weights vs machines? Do free weights in fact actually increase muscle mass, build muscle, as opposed to machines?

[neehooya]

EMOM, 10"_ but what lift? AFAIK EMIM is every minute on the minute.

Yes, it's Every Minute On the Minute. Did it @115lbs.

[whoever]

Ah, bench?squat?curl?

Yes, it's Every Minute On the Minute. Did it @115lbs.

[whoever]

Itvalso feels that machines are for cheating.

I had asked a similar qusrion, in a synical way, but I would say it doesn't matter machine vs free weight. Because all your body knows is resistance applied tare, repair. And machines only tone is an qick easy way to keep someone on the free weights where you are forced to whatch your form and do it correct, or you all know, where a machine seems to protect you from gurtingyoursrlf to some extent.
I hope my rambling made sence.

[neehooya]

Ah, bench?squat?curl?

1 set= hang + full clean + 2 front squats(all with 115bar)
You do each set on the minute.

[Thisisclog]

Nothing today, just physio and needles.

[whoever]

Nice :-) :-)

1 set= hang + full clean + 2 front squats(all with 115bar)
You do each set on the minute.

[Firefighter2]

Any thought on free weights vs machines? Do free weights in fact actually increase muscle mass, build muscle, as opposed to machines?

IMO, free weights are far better for building more muscle, faster. You utilize more muscles in your body with free weight as to keep everything balanced & swing free, similar to when you do compound exercises like squat, deadlifts, cleans, etc. That being said, machines will build muscle too, just not to the same effect. This is coming from personal experience.

[carlmaloschneider]

I had asked a similar qusrion, in a synical way, but I would say it doesn't matter machine vs free weight. Because all your body knows is resistance applied tare, repair. And machines only tone is an qick easy way to keep someone on the free weights where you are forced to whatch your form and do it correct, or you all know, where a machine seems to protect you from gurtingyoursrlf to some extent.
I hope my rambling made sence.

I reckon it depends on the exercise. For instance, I used to like pull downs both wide grip and narrow grip. Other than chin ups, bent over rows (DB and BB) it's difficult to work your back in a similar fashion without a pulldown machine. However, with bench presses as opposed to machine bench presses, you need to balance the weights which works different muscles. Take that to tyhe next level and do DB Bench presses. I bet you can't use the same weight for DB bench presses as you do for bench presses as you do for machine bench presses. Now, a POSITIVE would need to be the ability to apply more resistance with machines. But functional strength requires the intermediary supporting muscles to be worked to. There's a place for both and you should use both machines and free weights in my opinion.