Post by abrannan on Jul 31, 2005 21:45:00 GMT -5
I'd point you to my favorite site, but he seems to have taken it down (The Weightrainer, www.engr.mun.ca/~butt/main.html ), and archive.org doesn't seem to have any of the interior pages archived.
As for free weights vs machines, it's pretty accepted (from my experience) that free weights give you a better workout whan a machine. A machine locks you into one path for the exercise that you cannot deviate from. The benefit to this is that you isolate only the main muscle you want to work. The downside is that you aren't forced to "keep your balance" and the little muscles that work to keep your arms holding the weight in the right place don't get a workout. So you end up building strength and bulk in your main muscle groups, but aren't really able to bring that strength to bear in a free weight situation. As for free weights, you've got your choice between barbells and dumbells, and I won't repeat the debate mnkeydo82 and I are having in the "what should I buy?" thread.
I'd add lats to your upper body groups.
As far as progression, start with compound exercises that work a whole group of muscles, and work your way into specific muscle isolation. Do a few google searches and you'll be able to get a good idea of the progressions other people are using.
As for free weights vs machines, it's pretty accepted (from my experience) that free weights give you a better workout whan a machine. A machine locks you into one path for the exercise that you cannot deviate from. The benefit to this is that you isolate only the main muscle you want to work. The downside is that you aren't forced to "keep your balance" and the little muscles that work to keep your arms holding the weight in the right place don't get a workout. So you end up building strength and bulk in your main muscle groups, but aren't really able to bring that strength to bear in a free weight situation. As for free weights, you've got your choice between barbells and dumbells, and I won't repeat the debate mnkeydo82 and I are having in the "what should I buy?" thread.
I'd add lats to your upper body groups.
As far as progression, start with compound exercises that work a whole group of muscles, and work your way into specific muscle isolation. Do a few google searches and you'll be able to get a good idea of the progressions other people are using.