Your experience... Free weights vs. Machines for building tissue

The Dude · Feb 3, 2012

We've all heard over and over that free weights and #1 for building tissue, but machines have their place. I bought into this for years as an accepted truth. It's only been over the last couple of years that I've learned that this simply doesn't apply to me. The most obvious muscle group is chest. Mine is one of my weakest parts, yet at 22 I could do 365 for 9 on the incline.... Now I don't go over 225 if I even bother to do a free weight press which I haven't in 6 months. My chest routine is ALL machines except for free weight flues for extreme stretching at the end.
I'd like to hear from everyone here as to what they think and what their experiences are. Personally I can only think of a few free weight exercises hat I do.

Presser · Feb 3, 2012

I firmly believe when your younger and not there yet, that free weights are a must to grow to be a monster or freaky. But I also believe as you get older (like me) that you must lift smarter, as your more prone to injurys and always have something hurting or injured when ur older. So I think once you have arrived to a certain point, that you can then get away with doing alot of machines, and maintain your size and pack on some size as well.

I have been using smith machines for a long time now, but i think you always have to get back into some free wights here and there for a period of time. Machines dont build up your stabelizer muscles which are essential if u want to be big and freaky. I just dont think anyone can get a good over symetrical yet monster sized if you just do machines from a yound age on to older years, I think free weights are essential

I also believe FREE WEIGHT SQUATS ARE ABSOLUTLY ESSENTIAL IN YOUR EARLY YEARS.

big in vegas · Feb 3, 2012

I don't think you can truly "grow" from machines alone. They do have their place in polishing off the look we all achieve and they are much safer and better to help in the safety aspect of lifting

Jenn · Feb 3, 2012

I use mostly free weights, last exercise may be cables or some type of machine. That being said I am so glad there are such a variety of machines. I have had my share of injuries and have had to work around them and free weights were just not an option. I do know though that I would not have gotten my size from just machines at the beginning.

The Dude · Feb 3, 2012

I guess I can't say that the free weights weren't necessary at the beginning. For legs I think heavy squats are absolutely required as are deads and BO rows for back. For me though, barbells and dumbells just don't hit my pecs and as my worst bodypart, they get more focus than anything.

dorian123 · Feb 3, 2012

i know that ALOT of people will argue with me on this and so be it...but as I've gotten older the more I lean toward machines ABOUT the only free weights that I use are for deadlifts

the reason being that HAMMER STRENGTH are designed to take stress off the joints and put them on the muscles

as we get older the body produces less collagen and that means weaker joints

SO WHAT if I don't have "as big of muscles" as long as the joints are healthy that's the main thing

you can have the biggest muscles in the world if your joints are bad then you can't do anything and the muscles will shrink

JOINTS 1ST MUSCLES 2ND

I look at these guys in the gym that have been hitting nothing but the free weights for decades and they are all wrapped up

all is torn up and worn out-I need my back, shoulders, knees, elbows, all joints YOU NEED THIS FOR MOVEMENT

you can have a hole in the door but if one of the hinges are broke the whole thing is gonna suck and not work

Rep · Feb 3, 2012

I agree 100% with dude except for the irony is that I have never found a chest machine that works for me. I have long arms and broad across the shoulder. Other machines for legs, shoulders, back, arms,... Yes.
I also lift a lot lighter but get better results. Good story. My buddy calls me a Ferrari with a Pinto engine bc I look big but I'm not as strong as he is. I always say to him that his days of big numbers will end soon enough and he to can join the club

Presser · Feb 4, 2012

dorian123 said:
i know that ALOT of people will argue with me on this and so be it...but as I've gotten older the more I lean toward machines ABOUT the only free weights that I use are for deadlifts

the reason being that HAMMER STRENGTH are designed to take stress off the joints and put them on the muscles

as we get older the body produces less collagen and that means weaker joints

SO WHAT if I don't have "as big of muscles" as long as the joints are healthy that's the main thing

you can have the biggest muscles in the world if your joints are bad then you can't do anything and the muscles will shrink

JOINTS 1ST MUSCLES 2ND

I look at these guys in the gym that have been hitting nothing but the free weights for decades and they are all wrapped up

all is torn up and worn out-I need my back, shoulders, knees, elbows, all joints YOU NEED THIS FOR MOVEMENT

you can have a hole in the door but if one of the hinges are broke the whole thing is gonna suck and not work

I agree bro it's what I was trying to say

Your experience... Free weights vs. Machines for building tissue

The Dude

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Presser

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big in vegas

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Jenn

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The Dude

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dorian123

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Rep

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