legs - FreeTrainers.com Forums

Group: General Fitness & Exercise

General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 382, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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legs

bigman101 Posts: 70 Joined: 2005/01/07	2006/02/08, 12:49 AM got a question regarding legs. My gym has a lot of squat machines. Are those just as good as using freeweights. thanks

wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2006/02/08, 01:06 AM Not quite. I am not a fan at all of the smith machine. It creates an unnatural path of motion which results in a lot of extra stress being placed on the patellar tendons. I have had more than a few people come up to me complaining of knee pain, and in many cases, this or "wall" squats were the problem. Also, freeweights exhibit many other qualities that a machine can not posess. A free range of motion allows for a more natural bar path, the 3 dimensional movement forces the recruitment of stabilizer muscles and better teaches nuero-muscular coordination, and it just plain feels better. -------------- Iron and chalk. Pain is only temporary, it is in your mind. If you can still walk, then you can still run.
bigman101 Posts: 70 Joined: 2005/01/07	2006/02/08, 01:12 AM yup im with u too - but its kinda weird how my gym has only 1 smith machine and like 6 of the other machines.. hah
	2006/02/08, 08:28 AM Smith Machine does not constitute free weights Bigman....it's a poorman's version ....slightly better than machine squats..... The best choice is a regular squat rack .....with a barbell and weights....
Mojo_67 Posts: 1,299 Joined: 2003/09/23	2006/02/08, 08:40 AM Smith is the one that almost feels as if your being assisted right? Feels like your cheating? Or am I wrong? -------------- Seize the day!
bigman101 Posts: 70 Joined: 2005/01/07	2006/02/08, 11:29 AM yuppp so the best is 1st- regular squat rack with freeweights 2nd- Smith machine (the 1 that doesnt move off the rack Mojo) 3rd - is the hack squat machine hmm interesting - k thanx
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2006/02/08, 11:43 AM The hack squat can be a nice addition to regular barbell squats. For instance, if you want to be carried out of the gym, superset squats and hacks. For contest training, they can be good also. Depending on foot placement, they can have a nice addtional effect. -------------- Strength and Honor!
bigman101 Posts: 70 Joined: 2005/01/07	2006/02/08, 04:39 PM if your trying to burn fat and gain muscle - how much cardio should be done after an intense leg workout????? for instance - chest workout - then 40 mins cardio now when diong leg workout - then ?? mins cardio
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2006/02/08, 08:55 PM Directly after: none. Doing a one hour upper body workout and following it up with 40 minutes of cardio will shoot your cortisol levels through the roof. Bad idea. -------------- Iron and chalk. Pain is only temporary, it is in your mind. If you can still walk, then you can still run.