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TheGuardian · 06-07-2011, 11:49 AM

This thread is weird.

I know LOTS of bodybuilders who live on machines. The fact is if you are just after hypertrophy your muscles only know tension, and that can come from free weights, machines, bands, chains, strongman implements, or anything else.

I have a friend who is pretty advanced and put on 20 pounds of lean mass over the last two years, which is insane for an advanced guy, and he gave up all free weights. He focused on squeezing the muscle against the resistance more than just moving weight.

The fact is, this is far better than just moving weight in terms of gaining muscular size. And that's coming from a big "move more weight" guy in myself who uses free weights almost exclusively. I know some guys that can move some tremendous weight that don't look like much. And I know some guys like look unreal that can't move that kind of weight (this doesn't mean those guys aren't strong, I've never met a heavyweight bodybuilder that couldn't move some weight if he wanted to).

I like the smith machine for front squats because my left shoulder has permanent AC joint separation. So if I use a barbell the weight leans and my left leg does more work, plus the balance is all off. Great way to get an IT band irritated. With the smith I can get it in a perfect spot and not worry about it.

I can generally knock out 18-20 perfect chins even at 260 pounds but I do use the pulldown machine about every other week or so. Why? Because too much chinning gets boring for me. And the fact is, mental stimulation is just as much a part of lifting as anything else. No motivation? Shitty workouts.

I love that hammer strength row machine better than any other row. I hate that my gym doesn't have one because I have to load up like 6 or 7 plates on the t-bar row.

I don't buy that pulldowns to the rear are harmful either. Even in this article it reads "unless you have very flexible shoulders". Here is the deal, if you can't do press behind the neck or pulldowns to the rear without pain, then you have some serious flexibility issues in your shoulders that need to be corrected. Those movements aren't dangerous if your RC's and shoulders are in good health. In fact those are two movements you can use to build shoulder flexibility. I routinely do 225 for medium to high reps (10-15) with a full deep ROM on press behind the neck with no problems. Again, this is with permenant AC joint sep.

The hyperextension is also a great machine and I use it all the time. In 22 years of this shit I've never met anyone who ****ed themselves up from doing hypers.

Machines have a place in training. In fact, if you aren't competing in anything you can use machines to reach about any goal. Bodybuilders have used machines forever and have done so with great success.

I could easily list off 5 or 6 shitty ass barbell/dumbbell movements that suck major ass. This isn't a black or white issue.

06-07-2011, 11:49 AM	#102
TheGuardian MVP Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $8245299	This thread is weird. I know LOTS of bodybuilders who live on machines. The fact is if you are just after hypertrophy your muscles only know tension, and that can come from free weights, machines, bands, chains, strongman implements, or anything else. I have a friend who is pretty advanced and put on 20 pounds of lean mass over the last two years, which is insane for an advanced guy, and he gave up all free weights. He focused on squeezing the muscle against the resistance more than just moving weight. The fact is, this is far better than just moving weight in terms of gaining muscular size. And that's coming from a big "move more weight" guy in myself who uses free weights almost exclusively. I know some guys that can move some tremendous weight that don't look like much. And I know some guys like look unreal that can't move that kind of weight (this doesn't mean those guys aren't strong, I've never met a heavyweight bodybuilder that couldn't move some weight if he wanted to). I like the smith machine for front squats because my left shoulder has permanent AC joint separation. So if I use a barbell the weight leans and my left leg does more work, plus the balance is all off. Great way to get an IT band irritated. With the smith I can get it in a perfect spot and not worry about it. I can generally knock out 18-20 perfect chins even at 260 pounds but I do use the pulldown machine about every other week or so. Why? Because too much chinning gets boring for me. And the fact is, mental stimulation is just as much a part of lifting as anything else. No motivation? Shitty workouts. I love that hammer strength row machine better than any other row. I hate that my gym doesn't have one because I have to load up like 6 or 7 plates on the t-bar row. I don't buy that pulldowns to the rear are harmful either. Even in this article it reads "unless you have very flexible shoulders". Here is the deal, if you can't do press behind the neck or pulldowns to the rear without pain, then you have some serious flexibility issues in your shoulders that need to be corrected. Those movements aren't dangerous if your RC's and shoulders are in good health. In fact those are two movements you can use to build shoulder flexibility. I routinely do 225 for medium to high reps (10-15) with a full deep ROM on press behind the neck with no problems. Again, this is with permenant AC joint sep. The hyperextension is also a great machine and I use it all the time. In 22 years of this shit I've never met anyone who ****ed themselves up from doing hypers. Machines have a place in training. In fact, if you aren't competing in anything you can use machines to reach about any goal. Bodybuilders have used machines forever and have done so with great success. I could easily list off 5 or 6 shitty ass barbell/dumbbell movements that suck major ass. This isn't a black or white issue.
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