• FreeTrainers.com Forums
• General Fitness & Exercise
• Free weights vs machines

Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Free weights vs machines

zach134 Posts: 3 Joined: 2005/06/09	2005/08/27, 10:08 AM hi, i just need some opinions... i am 17 years old and i weigh about 135 right now, due to the fact i got very sick last year and lost a lot of weight. I want to pretty much gain weight back and workout, which i have been doing with the help of this site since july. i have been doing free weights and machines, but i want to know what builds muscles more faster and you see results quicker. free weights or machines
bropie Posts: 1,084 Joined: 2004/12/04	2005/08/27, 10:21 AM both can be used effectively to build muscle. the main difference b/t the 2 is the use of stabilizer muscles. machines are better for sculpting, whereas free weights can be carried over to normal activities. in my opinion, stick with free weights if you are looking to build muscle, but sub in some inevitable machine training (ie leg extensions, leg curls, etc.)
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2005/08/27, 12:15 PM And so why are machines better for "scultping"??? -------------- Your two most important minerals: Iron and Chalk. If you smoke or don’t wear your seatbelt, please don’t tell me the deadlift is dangerous.
bropie Posts: 1,084 Joined: 2004/12/04	2005/08/27, 01:19 PM if you want to train one specific muscle group, machines aid in focus. it is difficult to do certain exercises (like a leg curl) with free weights, and a machine will hone right in on your desired goal. machines also don't give you much variation. most machines create a forced or guided two-dimensional movement pattern, so you are limited in how your muscles develop. therefore, you can essentially "sculpt" your body.
DeadOnArrival Posts: 95 Joined: 2005/05/22	2005/08/28, 04:06 AM You can do most movements that machines create using free weights. I believe that bodybuilders of the 70's had better bodies than now andd they used mainly free weights. Why would anyone want to train in a 2 dimentional environment when we are required to function in 3 planes of movement? You may get faster muscle growth using isolated machines, but you do it at the expense of function.
gangstershoes Posts: 641 Joined: 2005/05/27	2005/08/29, 03:02 PM As I'm a big supporter of free weights, I include machines to help me bust through plateaus. Machines enhance form for the inexperienced lifter, therefore they sculpt. Experienced lifters use free weights to sculpt because they use strict form. Unfortunately, many lifters claim to have good form and actually in all reality do not. Both freeweights and machines have their place though and should be mixed up from time to time within your routines.
DeadOnArrival Posts: 95 Joined: 2005/05/22	2005/08/30, 07:03 AM I believe free weights should be avoided if your goals are performance or function oriented.
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2005/08/30, 07:36 AM ============ Quoting from deadonarrival: I believe free weights should be avoided if your goals are performance or function oriented. ============= WTF? -------------- Less Talk, More Chalk! 7707mutt@freetrainers.com
gangstershoes Posts: 641 Joined: 2005/05/27	2005/08/30, 09:00 AM I couldn't have said it better mutt.