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Re: Let me know if you think it makes a dramatic improvement by NDD 07/20/2011, 10:33pm PDT
WITTGENSTEIN wrote:

The whole free weights/machine weights debate interests me a lot. I use both, depending on my mood and whether I'm going alone or with my wife. (to spot each other) And it's absolutely true that no machine weight can replicate the squat. But for most stuff I'm not really sold on the free-weights-are-superior schtick. Machine weights provide objective measurement (aside from pull-downs/cables) and clear progression. I think that's important for beginners. As the man himself says, free weights can lie. I can never tell whether the shiny, stainless steel barbell that's racked on the bench is 5-10 pounds lighter than the rusty iron one I was using last time.


Are machine plates really any better? There are three different lat pulldown machines at my gym and I cap out at a different weight on all of them, same with leg press, same with leg curl. Worst of all are the (admittedly comfortable) machines where your bodyweight makes up part of the equation. How the fuck much am I lifting? There's a big black "9" on the plate where the pin is but the listed weight is based on a 150-lb user. In lieu of calibration all anyone can do is stick with the same barbell, weights, machine, etc. and improve based on that single marker.

But the thing I found compelling about Rippetoe's argument wasn't the part about machine weights being contrived or free weights being spiritually pure or whatever. It was the part about accessory muscles and managing coordination. Someone like me, who will tear the shit out of this or that machine but who struggles to maintain a grip or, as it turns out, keep steady through a single squat, can't help but notice a certain unevenness in development.

With that in mind, I was at the gym tonight and wtf is there any other woman in the world who ever does a bench press in public? I got stared at hardcore and it wasn't because of any kind of meaningfully huge lift either.
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NZB: like being back in the shadowy world of gopher downloads for all I know by NDD 07/12/2011, 4:01pm PDT NEW
    btw all the torrents for this (and red chapel) are fakes, do not even bother. NT by NDD 07/12/2011, 4:02pm PDT NEW
    NZB FILES and YOU by Orange Devil Bat 07/12/2011, 4:52pm PDT NEW
        Thanks that was helpful by NDD 07/12/2011, 5:59pm PDT NEW
            btw the giganews trial was just eough to cover what i needed by NDD 07/13/2011, 1:55am PDT NEW
                Re: btw the giganews trial was just eough to cover what i needed by ZDC 07/13/2011, 10:00am PDT NEW
                Leg Press is for the Pat Robertsons of the world. Why not do squats? NT by WITTGENSTEIN 07/13/2011, 3:38pm PDT NEW
                    I'm scared of getting into pissing contests with the free weights guys. by NDD 07/13/2011, 3:41pm PDT NEW
                        I've seen maybe 5 other people in six months do squats/use a smith machine by WITTGENSTEIN 07/13/2011, 6:52pm PDT NEW
                            IT WAS A LOT HARDER THAN I REMEMBER IT BEING by NDD 07/13/2011, 9:30pm PDT NEW
                                Re: IT WAS A LOT HARDER THAN I REMEMBER IT BEING by Lizard_King 07/17/2011, 8:16pm PDT NEW
                                    btw I hated stairs for the next three days by NDD 07/17/2011, 11:00pm PDT NEW
                                        I'm not sure if you'll get much out of Rippetoe by WITTGENSTEIN 07/19/2011, 3:46pm PDT NEW
                                            Re: I'm not sure if you'll get much out of Rippetoe by NDD 07/20/2011, 1:53am PDT NEW
                                                Let me know if you think it makes a dramatic improvement by WITTGENSTEIN 07/20/2011, 4:29pm PDT NEW
                                                    Re: Let me know if you think it makes a dramatic improvement by NDD 07/20/2011, 10:33pm PDT NEW
                                                        This post changed my life and I miss talking about lifting with Zseni by WITTGENSTEIN 08/07/2014, 7:09pm PDT NEW
                                                            I kind of want to sit on your shoulders and go on a rampage through the city. NT by Jerry Whorebach 08/08/2014, 2:11am PDT NEW
                                        asagfhg space russian moms. <3 <3 <3 NT by up with pod people 07/22/2011, 1:28pm PDT NEW
                                    I watched that video three times. Every time, I learned something. NT by Jerry Whorebach 08/26/2011, 8:11pm PDT NEW
                What group was this in? by Last 07/14/2011, 5:10pm PDT NEW
                    Russian torrent site. Hang on and I'll upload it for you. Plus subs. by NDD 07/14/2011, 5:40pm PDT NEW
                        Peculiarities of the national hunt by NDD 07/14/2011, 7:40pm PDT NEW
                            Re: Peculiarities of the national hunt by Last 07/15/2011, 3:23am PDT NEW
                    Howto by Last 07/15/2011, 3:37am PDT NEW
                        Re: Howto by Last 07/31/2011, 7:13am PDT NEW
            You're welcome. And... by Orange Devil Bat 07/13/2011, 7:54pm PDT NEW
        I love Giganews. NT by Gutsby 07/12/2011, 6:19pm PDT NEW
            And I have had good experiences with Newshosting. by col.schickn 07/12/2011, 8:20pm PDT NEW
        Re: NZB FILES and YOU by Motherhead 07/17/2011, 12:21pm PDT NEW
    You might like Siberian Education by Nikolai Lilin. by Gutsby 07/12/2011, 5:54pm PDT NEW
        I'd like to read it but I'm having a hard time tracking down a pdf by NDD 07/12/2011, 9:53pm PDT NEW
    Are you a Jonathan Rosenbaum fan by Vested Id 07/12/2011, 7:43pm PDT NEW
        No. I saw the movie in the local arty theater totally blind by NDD 07/12/2011, 9:54pm PDT NEW
    Why is Best of the Best 2 so good? It shouldn't be possible! by Entropy Stew 07/12/2011, 8:53pm PDT NEW
        Because it's full of stupid joy and steely-eyed earnestness. by NDD 07/12/2011, 10:05pm PDT NEW
    my perestroika.mp4 by NDD 07/13/2011, 4:34pm PDT NEW
        I'm pretty sure my computer just got AIDS from that download site by Fullofkittens 07/13/2011, 6:48pm PDT NEW
            ...and you're still pining after it, aren't you by NDD 07/13/2011, 9:28pm PDT NEW
            I believe that's called the "Double Pinback". NT by Flack 07/14/2011, 8:01am PDT NEW
 
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