Hello,

Will I develop muscles more quickly using free weights or machines?

I can bench press 50kg on a leverage bench press and by the 10th rep of second set will be knackered. But I doubt very much i could do anywhere close to that using free weights.

So if muscle growth depends on tearing those fibres, well i won't be tearing as many fibres using free weights as i will using a machine, so what is the correct choice?

Thanks,
Mazaffar.
ps, i have never used free weights.

Hello,

Will I develop muscles more quickly using free weights or machines?

I can bench press 50kg on a leverage bench press and by the 10th rep of second set will be knackered. But I doubt very much i could do anywhere close to that using free weights.

So if muscle growth depends on tearing those fibres, well i won't be tearing as many fibres using free weights as i will using a machine, so what is the correct choice?

Thanks,
Mazaffar.
ps, i have never used free weights.

Personally cant beat free weights in terms of overall development as theyre proven to require more effort from not only the primary muscle/s involved yet the secondary muscles i.e stabaliser muscles correct me if Im wrong here guys:doh:. But yea old skool cant beat it.

Hello,

Will I develop muscles more quickly using free weights or machines?



It all depends on you. Both have their pluses and minuses. Try to use a balance of both. Either can build a body of top quality. :cool:

It all depends on you. Both have their pluses and minuses. Try to use a balance of both. Either can build a body of top quality. :cool:

Agreed. On some exercises I personally feel I can go a lot harder and more intensely as I don't have to worry about balancing the weight or spotting.

Having said that, I think it's important for a beginner to at least get accustomed to free weights.

I vote "both."

I think this is dependent on which muscles groups are involved for example, I wouldnt squat with a smith machine yet rather a free weight barbell and squat rack, Or I would use DB's and free weight barbell and plates over simulated chest press, Down to personall tastes yet In my experience free weights give more gains in LBM and unlike machines you can hit the muscles from greater range of angles.

For the hamstring, calf and forearm isolations, I would guess the machines are more convenient than the freeweight variations.

Will I develop muscles more quickly using free weights or machines?

So if muscle growth depends on tearing those fibres, well i won't be tearing as many fibres using free weights as i will using a machine, so what is the correct choice?

1. When you are a beginner, it doesn't matter that much - both free weights and machines will get you fast progress if you do the workouts and mind your nutrition, rest and sleep.

2. Muscle growth does not depend on tearing fibers; it depends on loading them.

1. When you are a beginner, it doesn't matter that much - both free weights and machines will get you fast progress if you do the workouts and mind your nutrition, rest and sleep.

2. Muscle growth does not depend on tearing fibers; it depends on loading them.

Neither of them are only for beginners. On the bodybuilding side, the biggest pros in the business have always used both machines and weights for both isolation and compound movements.

Weights have been used for strength demonstrations mainly like powerlifting and competitive weight lifting. It depends on the person and their goals. The OP wanted to know about building muscles, he can do it with machines alone if he chooses. If he applies his self he should be able to reach his potential with machines. It is up to him.

I started at a time that gyms weren't readily available as they are now. I used free weights and a variety of equipment, home-made and things like spring sets for resistance. I had to send off for my first barbell, they weren't sold in 200 miles of my home. We had to go to a train station to get them, it was A 140lb set. Most of you can't imagine what the world was like 50 years ago. I wish, I could return to those times. I built a body I was satisfied with. You can build it with body weight exercises if you want to. It isn't what you do, it is how you do it that counts the most. :tucool:

Neither of them are only for beginners. On the bodybuilding side, the biggest pros in the business have always used both machines and weights for both isolation and compound movements.

The point is that the difference doesn't matter much for beginners. For advanced training, there are significant differences, and it depends on goals.

Eventually, as you progress you'll have to switch to free weights.

Machines are good, but its very hard to keep good form if you're squatting 300+ lbs. Or so I've experienced.

Also, is you lift alone, machines are good. No reason to risk a 250lb bar dropping on your chest.

Eventually, as you progress you'll have to switch to free weights.

Machines are good, but its very hard to keep good form if you're squatting 300+ lbs. Or so I've experienced.



Were you using this type of Squat machine?

http://www.numberonetrainer.com/ultimate_squat_machine.php

Were you using this type of Squat machine?

http://www.numberonetrainer.com/ultimate_squat_machine.php

No, it was a Soloflex machine.

Worked pretty good for a while, and I made amazing gains with it, but my form wasn't that great.

IMO, free weights are better for most of the compounds....but I use a machine or two for some stuff (e.g. seated cable rows).

No, it was a Soloflex machine.

Worked pretty good for a while, and I made amazing gains with it, but my form wasn't that great.

As you see, not even the same animal. I try to always say a well designed machine is often best for an exercise. There are many machines I wouldn't touch. It is often a matter of brand.

Machines can be a useful tool, but your logic on the notion you won't be providing as significant of a stimulus for potentiating hypertrophy ("tearing as many fibers" is how you put it) with free weights based solely on the fact you can use a higher number on the weight stack with machines is pretty flawed.

I'd probably recommend you start learning some basic barbell exercises based simply on the fact you currently don't know how to perform them, and it appears training on machines has been your primary/only exposure to resistance work thus far.

Machines have a time and place, but you can do 90 percent of what you'll need (and better) with free weights.

Machines are like your protein shakes. Free weights are that plate of chicken, brown rice, and broccoli. The shakes are a nice supplement, but they aren't your meat and potatoes (pun fully intended).

Thanks for all your advice.
I am interested in having both FW and M's, and the only way i would be able to in the limited space i have is if i modify my Powertec Multipress by cutting off the bench section (I am planning on doing this regardless because the bench is not aligned preoperly) and using a standalone bench.

For FW i could use either a squat rack (http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/...ey/8760_p.html) or this (http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/...ey/8862_p.html)

I would prefer to use the second one because the bar would be closer to the wall, allowing me more space to plant my feet on the floor when i am lying on the bench. But obviously i would not be using the bench that comes with it but a standalone bench which i could turn 90 degrees so that i can then use the Multipress.

My question is, would the bench press become unstable if i did not assemble the bench but used a standalone bench? (I am worried it might fall on me when i return the bar to the hooks)

Thanks,
Mazaffar.

From my point of view you have to use both in a balanced training programme.

Things like seated rows, lat pulldowns etc can only be done on machines.

Some machines like chest press, shoulder press etc restrict you into using a particular 'groove'. that groove may or may not work for you depending on your biomechanics. Don't risk injury to joints in later life for convenience now.

Bench press with suitable safety bars in a powerack are just as safe to do unsupervised.

Presonally I think free weights and particularly dumbbell exercises are better than machines as they require you to balance the load and recruit more muscles doing so. They also give you freedom to choose you own groove although you have to be careful with your form.

Fine physiques can be built from both though, although for a home gym a power rack and some weights is likely to be much cheaper than buying a few machines.

Were you using this type of Squat machine?

http://www.numberonetrainer.com/ultimate_squat_machine.php

My gym has a variation of that machine. I have had some incredible squat workouts on that, and have gone harder than I would have been able to go with a barbell on my back.

There's that old saying:- "it's not what you've got...it's how you use it'.

So true.

for instance:- a lot of people want to know how to get bigger calves and quads.

The pat answer around here is:- squat with a free bar and do calf raises. This works....but it isn't the only way.

Most of the industrial-strength cyclists I see around my area have huge calves and quads.

Although there are scores of pictures and videos showing people totally ripped doing bodyweight ex's, around here it's looked down upon. You must have a barbell in your hand to qualify.

I use both machines and freeweights.

The Smith is extremely good for doing Bench partials ( 4"' drop).

This where you can go as max as you want for a lift that lasts maybe 8 seconds.

It can be done on power racks and the like too.

The Smith is an extremely usefull piece of equipment in and of itself.

Most of the negative stuff you hear being parroted around about it is complete and utter,I repeat utter, bunk.

But...I would not use the Smith to the exclusion of everything else.

If you want to powerlift then go powerlift...nothing wrong with that.

If you are a body sculpturist, the tools all exist to do it. This includes Machines,Dumbells,Smiths, Cages, Racks, cable devices, bodyweight ex's etc. etc .etc. etc. and.....etc.

Machines are not just for beginners...anymore than a pair of pliers is for a beginner handyman. All the tools have their place and use.

Some people...no matter what the recipe you give them will be unable to bake the cake. Others will achieve incredible success using the barest of essentials and working from memory.

Rtestes is right. The pros use machines along with free weights and have been doing so
since day one.

A machine does not totally cut out the use of stabilizers. Since muscle groups are inter connected, it's hard to isolate a muscle 100%.

Even when you do a Dumbell Bicep curl, you are not isolating the Biceps exclusively.

Free weights may force greater involvement of stabilizers though.

If you forced me to use a Smith machine exclusively, with a gun to my head every session....I would still get results... because I know how to use this machine to do exactly that.

I could also get results combining bodyweight ex's plus Smith use ( or just about any cable or stack machine )

If you gave me a Total Gym I could get results on it, combining it with other bodyweight ex's and some quickly-improvised stuff i would find around the house.

It's not what you've got...it's how you use it.

It's not what you've got...it's how you use it.

:claphigh::claphigh::claphigh::claphigh::claphigh: :claphigh::claphigh::tucool: