As some of you may already know by my recent posts, I'm very new to working out.
In fact, everything I've done in the past two weeks is new to me.
I started out with 100% cardio, thinking that was "obviously" the only way to burn fat. Then I stumbled up on www.fitness.com/forums.
Through that forum I found you fine folks, and have become quite the little board troll. I found Adams Diet and have been on that for a little over a week and a half... I've had great results so far and have already lost about 8lbs.
Anyway, after reading everything I could get my hands on for a while now I realized that lifting is a huge part of fat loss, so the past couple nights I've been hitting the gym and trying some things out.
The first night I was all over the machines, thinking "Damn this is easy." Then last night I read that free weights are where it's at, so I attempted some DB benches. What the hell.
I've always had muscular looking arms... a nice large bicep with a tri to compliment it, and I could barely make the last 3 reps on 3 sets of 8 with 30lb DB's.
I'm guessing this is normal when first starting out at age 19, but my god does it really put things into perspective. Size doesn't mean a damn thing [img]tongue.gif[/img] I bet I look hilarious struggling to push 30lbs up with my build, but hey, gotta start somewhere eh?
I've been taking pictures every week of my progress, I'll have to post them after a month or two and let you guys see what you've done to me! You monsters
Agree with Josh.
Keep in mind that db bench is also a chest dominant exercise too. Triceps only assist as secondary. You may have big arms but they will only help you to a certain point on bench. Something I'm sure you already know.....
Don't let the light weights get you down. They will ABSOLUTELY grow as will your muscles. When you're a newb to lifting you will go through some magnificent gains after only a few short weeks of working out.
You've alread taken the first step toward fat loss. It's all in realizing that lifting weights is such a significant part of losing the lbs. When you're done lifting, your body burns calories for damn near 3 hours afterward. Not so with cardio.
Have you read anything about HIIT yet?
Definitely the way to go with cardio for burning max fat.
Congratulations on your lifestyle change! Welcome to the forums. Read as much as you can. There are some VERY intelligent experts on here. This is THE top notch fitness site on the net.
Welcome to the forum. You've found the perfect place for information, advice and motivation
Start learning some free-weight compound moves (squats, deadlifts, etc), and you'll see some nice changes. Get your form down first, then start upping the weight. You'll be lifting large in no time.
Keep in mind that free weights and machines have little correlation between the actual weight "numbers."
With machines, there's all sorts of pulleys and levers involved, usually lessening the amount of actual weight lifted. In fact, I go to two gyms, the standing calf raise machines are so different that I can use 70lbs more in one gym than I can in the other.
With free weights, you also take stabilization into consideration. With BBs, you have to stabilize the weight, lessening what you can lift. With DBs, even more so. In the bench, most people can BB press more than they can DB press. But, it's a trade off. DBs work more muscles, too (ie., your core and other stabilizers).
The Smith Machine is the worst of both worlds. No stabilizers, fix plane of motion, AND the bar is counterbalanced to weigh only 15lbs. Most people think it's still 45 and are pleased with how much they lift in there. Too bad for them...
Thanks for the replies folks, I'm happy to be here!
With squats and deadlifts, is definitely a wise move to purchase a back belt before I try them?
I've heard lots of bad things about these smith machines. My gym has 3 and they're rarely ever used, pitty... it seems like such a great idea until you really think about it and what your body is doing while following that fixed path.
So basically just start with a decently low weight and work my way up, giving me time to get my form down to a T? Seems reasonable, what's the reason for not using a belt, does it interfere with getting proper form?
LOL.....I think it would. Plus, it would be cool to deadlift with blue hands!
Chalk is only there to reduce slip and moisture so I can't see why it would not work for the short term. You would use too much of it if you used it daily.
Sorry I should have clarified not pool cue chalk but the chalk but the kind you put on your fingers. I guess it is the same thing. Sorry should have thought about it for more than a second before I posted.
Wow I totally thought you were talking about the blue stuff too. I had the coolest visual in my head of you chalking up your hands with the little cube. I should bring those out this weekend for training and see what everyone else says.
Danny
__________________
Limitations are for people who have them.
I don't know if we can sit here and conclude that free weights are always superior to machines.
I love this quote by jeremy (crap his last name eludes me) I'd say asking whether machines or free weights are superior is like asking what is best to clear the sidewalk - a rake or a shovel. It depends on if it is Fall or Winter.
__________________
Fool give wife grand piano,wise man give wife upright organ.
The good thing about machines is that they apply force for the whole lift. Take preacher curl for example, if you are doing a free weight curl once you get past 90 degrees there is no or minimal force on your muscles.
Doing something like that with a machine means that there is still a force once you go past 90 degrees.
Originally posted by mmMatt: In your opinion, when are machines better than free weights?
1. You need (or want) to do a max lift but have no spotter.
2. You're using the machine because it takes all stabilization out of the picture, allowing you to lift your maximum during a specific phase of your program.
3. You want to do "ballistic" lifts. Perhaps the best use for a Smith Machine...
All that being said, if they are available, you may be able to use them within your routine. I would not use them except as a small part of my routine.
I gave the blue chalk (j/k) a go this morning and I have to say it works a hell of a lot better than gloves. The only thing is I have eczema (sp) on my hands between my fingers the worst part is between my thumb and index finger. I hope that it doesn't get irritated to much with the chalk because I definitely do not want to go back to the gloves. I have seen the light!!
Don't have much to add, Matt. The guys (oh sorry TG .... and gal) are giving you some great advice. I would echo Logan's recommendation re HGM. It's a great program for a beginner that exposes you to a lot of different types of lifts. Also a number of us on the board have done the program so there is lots of help available to you if you need it.
Anyway, welcome to the board. You've found a great community here. Nice to see another west coaster as well! [img]smile.gif[/img]
__________________
"Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right." - Henry Ford
"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss
"Life is no brief candle to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." - George Bernard Shaw
:p 
Linear Mode
