are machine weights a wast of time?

[Mindwraith]

Re: Re: yes but what about safety

Machines are LESS safe for two reasons:

1. They force you into an unnatural, single plane of motion.
2. They strengthen the prime movers but not the stabilizing muscles. This leaves you vulnerable to injury.

What he said, and additionally to comment on your post that freeweights cause back problems, on the contrary, if done with good form they get rid of back problems. Back strength is important and it is why many people with a lack thereof have back problems in the first place. Free barbell deadlifts and squats will significantly improve your back strength and reduce the chance of injury in any situation.

I can tell you from first hand experience (I had chronic back problems) that I no longer have back tension and soreness problems from sitting in a chair all day thanks to these two exercises. I used to hurt my back a lot doing the easiest things (picking up trash off the floor), I haven't had any problems like that ever since I started these. Tension head and neck aches are rare and minimal as well.

 

[BOOTSY2002]

I THINK THIS IS A GOOD DISCUSSION

BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS,

WOULD YOU THINK IT WOULD BE WISE FOR ME 16 YEAR OLD TO USE FREE WEIGHTS INSTEAD OF MACHINES?
I CAN ALREADY LIFT QUITE A BIT FOR MY AGE AND SIZE SO IS IT TIME TO SWITCH.
CURRENTLY I DO DO SQUATS BUT ON THIS SPECIALISED MACHINE (IT IS TALL WITH SUPPORTS ON EITHER SIDE? YOU CAN ALSO DO BENCH PRESSES ON IT!) ANY ONE KNOW ITS NAME?

AND ALL THE OTHER EXERCISES I DO ARE ON MACHINES SO WHAT SHOULD I DO?

 

[Rich_S]

Re: I THINK THIS IS A GOOD DISCUSSION

BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS,

WOULD YOU THINK IT WOULD BE WISE FOR ME 16 YEAR OLD TO USE FREE WEIGHTS INSTEAD OF MACHINES?
I CAN ALREADY LIFT QUITE A BIT FOR MY AGE AND SIZE SO IS IT TIME TO SWITCH.
CURRENTLY I DO DO SQUATS BUT ON THIS SPECIALISED MACHINE (IT IS TALL WITH SUPPORTS ON EITHER SIDE? YOU CAN ALSO DO BENCH PRESSES ON IT!) ANY ONE KNOW ITS NAME?

AND ALL THE OTHER EXERCISES I DO ARE ON MACHINES SO WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Turn off your Caps Lock key and slowly step back away from the computer............

It sounds like you're talking about a Smith Machine. They're bad news.

 

[Mindwraith]

Re: I THINK THIS IS A GOOD DISCUSSION

BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS,

WOULD YOU THINK IT WOULD BE WISE FOR ME 16 YEAR OLD TO USE FREE WEIGHTS INSTEAD OF MACHINES?
I CAN ALREADY LIFT QUITE A BIT FOR MY AGE AND SIZE SO IS IT TIME TO SWITCH.
CURRENTLY I DO DO SQUATS BUT ON THIS SPECIALISED MACHINE (IT IS TALL WITH SUPPORTS ON EITHER SIDE? YOU CAN ALSO DO BENCH PRESSES ON IT!) ANY ONE KNOW ITS NAME?

AND ALL THE OTHER EXERCISES I DO ARE ON MACHINES SO WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Yes, would be wise, you're young and able. (lucky bastard) I would stay far away from that smith rack you're speaking of. Stick with free weights, trust me, you will see a vast difference even within a short month's time. Machines are just for emphasis and added fatigue, such as leg extensions before free bar squats. The only thing I use machines for is leg curls after stiff legged dead lifts, and standing calf raises/donkey calf raises. T-bar and sitting calf raise is the only other thing that comes close to machine type weight that I use, and those don't use pulleys.