>> |
Anonymous
ehhh. free weights are really better than machines, but if you're just starting the machines do give you a direction if you don't really know what you're doing. plus you don't have to worry about flailing around with weights and looking like a tard if you're self conscious and just starting out. but yeah, free weights with the proper exercises are better for the reasons everyone's given.
that being said. it's easy to have bad form doing either. most machines have some basic instructions, but sometimes they're vague. for chest exercises really the key is, make sure the seat and handles are at the right height for you, and sit up straight. when I was first using various chest machines I kept working out the wrong muscles and being weirdly sore because I was doing things like leaning into the weight, arching my back, bracing my feet against the floor, all bad.
my advice, if you do wanna use a machine. take the time to sit down, grab the handles and kinda feel it out, and you should be able to tell when you're pulling with your chest instead of your arms. it helps if you kind of set your shoulders back and try to push your shoulder blades towards each other on the pull back and stick out your chest without arching your back on the push. that's kind of a bad way to describe it, but it's something you have to feel for yourself. the hardest part really is when you start to reach fatigue, your body automatically wants to start using other muscles to take over, and you have to resist that.
|