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Free weights or the gym? That's my ???

vanadia Posts: 4 Joined: 2001/11/02	2002/07/08, 11:43 PM I've got free weights at home. I like working out at home. Some folks say I should go to the gym to work out because they have machines, but I really like it at home. Does it really make a difference?
roni0906 Posts: 1,008 Joined: 2002/01/24	2002/07/09, 01:29 AM Machines can add a variety to your workout though they are not necessary. -------------- Lisa
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2002/07/09, 07:33 AM I have never really liked machines at all. I feel they limit my range of motion and in the end make you weaker.
mazzgolf Posts: 74 Joined: 2002/05/28	2002/07/09, 10:05 AM However, if you are a beginner, machines help you maintain good form. Free weights are very hard (at least for me) because it is very hard to keep good form when you start increasing the weight (especially if you aren't familiar with the exercise movements and how your muscles react). It gets hard keeping the weights balanced and such. For those advanced BB'ers, this isn't a big deal, you are used to it and your form isn't a problem. For beginners (I am one) keeping good form is a major problem and machines help guide you along the way. Lifting using incorrect form can be very bad - in the best case you end up working out the wrong muscles, worst case is you injure yourself.
skipper1975 Posts: 13 Joined: 2002/06/20	2002/07/09, 11:04 AM i am a beginner to free weights and i find that i enjoy them much more than machines
rpacheco Posts: 3,770 Joined: 2001/12/13	2002/07/09, 11:38 AM I think both will help. I like working with free weights because it helps build stabilizer muscles. However, I find that I can lift heavier with machines, thereby really working the major muscle groups. Everyone will have varying opinions on this and there is no one right answer. It's a matter of preference. Good luck! -------------- **_Robert_** Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
vanadia Posts: 4 Joined: 2001/11/02	2002/07/09, 01:02 PM Thanks for all the opinions. I prefer the free weights myself. Mostly the folks who tell me otherwise are trainers trying to get me as a client and get me to their gym instead of coming to my house. Truth is, now that I found this site I'm not going to go to a trainer. I love this site! Thanks again. ============ Quoting from vanadia: I've got free weights at home. I like working out at home. Some folks say I should go to the gym to work out because they have machines, but I really like it at home. Does it really make a difference? =============
mweisser Posts: 3 Joined: 2002/05/17	2002/07/09, 04:33 PM I think some machines are acceptable alternatives to some excercises traditionally used with free weights, but in general I believe free weights have an edge over machines. Matt
bebo2006 Posts: 1 Joined: 2010/10/21	2010/10/21, 02:02 PM hi
	2011/01/03, 10:29 PM If you can get to a gym. I'd go there. Its like any other thing, if you go for a specific reason you are going to do it...better