Fitness: ''Being able to comfortably meet the demands of the environment''
- Thread starter Slig
- Start date
Ah! Here's me playing the devil's advocate -- but not just for the sake of being one. Slig's question has a lot of merit.
When you train athletes (as a personal trainer) you want to give them exercises that mimic the action they will be performing as much as possible. It is better to use free weights for this purpose because it trains stabilization and synergist muscles far better than machines do.
On the flipside, certain exercises (like weighted plyo-jumps for jumpers) are only safe when done on a machine, but still work out stabilizer muscles.
So it IS better to do workouts that mimic real life activity, if you're an athlete. For regular people, it will mean more practical fitness results.
HOWEVER - most non-experienced lifters, or people who have never worked with a trainer, tend to fail in the FORM department. Machines compensate for bad form by putting you on a track. People who never developed their form run the risk of injuring themselves on free weights or more "real life" exercises. Usually these exercises are best done with spotters, but not everyone has a gym-buddy to work out with.
Slig I really don't see what your problem is weight lifting. Some people take it too far, but at the end of the day, it's just a fun activity. And i understand what you mean by WW3 at the end of the world. Someone who just lift weights and is huge is gonna have trouble chasing after prey cause the f.u.c.k.e.r. cant even move. but then by your logic, everyone should eat 2 minimalist meals a day and run 5 miles a day so they're in shape for the "apocalypse."
Here's the way I look at it: if WW3 is gonna happen, and the world's f.u.c.k.e.d. So each person on the planet should do what he or she wants to do, cause you only got so much time left. If you have fun weight lifting, weight lift. If you have fun reading books and watching movies, hit that up. If you love composing music, etc.
Slig, I'm all ears. Lemme know what you think.
Here's the way I look at it: if WW3 is gonna happen, and the world's f.u.c.k.e.d. So each person on the planet should do what he or she wants to do, cause you only got so much time left. If you have fun weight lifting, weight lift. If you have fun reading books and watching movies, hit that up. If you love composing music, etc.
Slig, I'm all ears. Lemme know what you think.
lol @ mreik 
I think it's a little silly to care why other people do the things they do. If they're somehow interfering with your life by going to the gym, then that's one thing. But I doubt that other people using weightlifting machines somehow encroaches on your way of life.
Can't we all just get along?
I think it's a little silly to care why other people do the things they do. If they're somehow interfering with your life by going to the gym, then that's one thing. But I doubt that other people using weightlifting machines somehow encroaches on your way of life.Can't we all just get along?
I disagree with the premise of this thread, but I must admit that when people do stupid things, it does me mental harmBoomdoggin said:lol @ mreik
Can't we all just get along?
aevans410 said:
- !ditto! -
Try doing jammer with free weights. You do know those machines isolate specific muscle groups for maximum efficiency, right? That way you can work out specific muscles directly, instead of several more than you want with free weights. And by saying people quit their memberships 6 months in, which sounds long to me, what are you trying to prove? Because they're to lazy to workout somewhere else they'll work out home? I know i'm a lot lazier at home than when i workout elsewhere. By the way, you do learn form by using machines. I did. When i was younger i had to get a little stronger by benching with a barbell attached to the machie before i used a free one.
I'm a single mother who has a scholarship to the YMCA. I chose a gym for MORALE! It's a lot easier to stay motivated when 30 other people are choosing health too. My peers still smoke cigs and eat fast food. I am alone but for the gym. Also, we live in a crappy part of town where you'll break your ankle running on the sidewalk and you have to carry pepper spray. Finally, I have no air conditioner and it's 95 degrees here with smog alerts and high humidity. The gym is my fitness savior. Enough said.