The Men's Health Gym Bible by Michael Mejia M.S. C.S.C.S. & Myatt Murphy

Author:Michael Mejia, M.S., C.S.C.S. & Myatt Murphy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rodale Inc.
Published: 2006-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

STANDARD MACHINATIONS

Getting to know some of the more common machines in the gym.

UP TO THIS POINT, WE’VE MADE a pretty strong case for the use of free weights. So much so, in fact, that you may be wondering whether strength-training machines are in fact even necessary. After all, given the fact that they have more application to real-world activities and often offer a better stimulus for the development of size, strength, and muscular coordination, free weights are pretty tough to beat. Yet despite their apparent superiority, good old-fashioned barbells and dumbbells will never render machines obsolete for a variety of reasons.

For starters, there’s the intimidation factor. We could tout the benefits of free weights until we’re blue in the face and some of you still wouldn’t go anywhere near them. Whether it’s born out of a bad past experience, or just an uncertainty as to the proper way to use them, some folks just flat out refuse to work with the heavy iron. Another popular reason for avoiding free weights is a fear of becoming “too bulky.” For decades now there’s been a belief that the mere act of touching a loaded barbell will somehow transform people into hulking behemoths almost overnight. Take it from two guys who’ve trained very hard for every ounce of muscle we’ve ever gained—it ain’t that simple!

In addition to fear and preconceived notions, practicality is also another good reason for using machines. Certain exercises like leg curls and calf raises, for instance, are awkward, if not downright impossible to do with free weights. Lat pulldowns are another great example. Not everyone is strong enough to do pullups, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do anything to strengthen your lats. There’s also a lot to be said for the increased training variety machines allow for. We flat out love free weights, but even a couple of hardened gym rats like us can admit that once in a while it’s nice to change things up a little with some machines. It lets us hit our muscles from different angles and can often be just the ticket for breaking through training plateaus.

Last but not least, perhaps the biggest reason to accept machines is that they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Gym owners absolutely love them because they make an impressive statement to prospective members. No one’s going to want to plunk down several hundred dollars for a membership if all they see is a bunch of free weights and assorted benches strewn all over the place. Now show these same people a gym full of state-of-the-art machines with upholstery that matches the gym’s décor, and their eyes will practically glaze over. It’s a fact of life—glitz sells.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.