How do machines differ from free-weights?

[fridayeyes]

Hiya folks!

Another questions from she-of-too-many-words :D

My gym has lots of Cybex machines, which I like very much, LifeCircuit machines which set your weights electronically - I love those! - and free-weights.

The question is: Can I just transfer the weight amount I do on one type of machine to another or to free-weights?

Example: On the LifeCircuit, it says I'm doing a 300 lb (pos) leg press (320 or 340 neg). Then I went to the cybex machine and 120 is the max I can do and survive my reps. I did make sure I was talking about lbs to lbs, and not kilos to lbs, so what's up with the diff? I'd like to know before I do something like go into the free weight room, set up 300 lbs and find my little girly self stuck under a barbell and begging the guys to save me! :) :)

Thanks!

Karen

[fridayeyes]

:::bump:::

[Natrushka]

Sorry, Toots, I can't help you with the machines - I use all free weights. I do know that when it comes to bench pressing I can press in excess of 100lbs (6 times) with a machine, I tested this out the last time I was in a hotel with a nautilus setup, and yet at home with my barbell 85lbs has been my maxium.

Many of our members use various machines - I'm sure you'll get some more responses :)

Nat

[judy130]

Wow, Nat. 85 lbs!!! and I'm struggling with 5lbs. Will I ever get even halfway as strong as you are?? Living in hope
Judy

[Natrushka]

*lol* Judy, that's ONE 85 lb barbell, not two 85 lb dumb bells. Back when I started I struggled with the 20lb ers - so my answer would have to be yes :) It's about building muscle and strength - and bettering your best.

Nat

[razzle]

I've had the same experience, Karen. I can bench 130 on this machine in the gym, but 80 is my max with a bar. The difference with overhead tricep extensions is more extreme--120 both arms on machine, 20 per arm free.

The important thing is that you lift a weight (whatever weight that is on free or machine) where you are reaching "failure" (the inability to do another rep with good form) in 4-10 reps. (okay, its a bit more complicated than that, but 4-10 is a good starting point!)

Free weights are better in a sense--they force you to work all sorts of tinier muscles in controlling the weight and keeping balance. But the cost is, they're also more dangerous. Something like 50 men per year die in the US when they drop an over- loaded bar onto their chests in the bench press. More common is dropping a heavy weight on your foot and breaking a toe...to my knowledge, no one has ever dropped a whole machine on her toe! ;)

HTH

[Steve A]

the weights don't compare between free and machine, just use each corresponding weight # as your guide, keep a separate record of the weights used for machine or free. Free weights do work more muscles which is good, machines tend to isolate certain ones which is good if that is something you want to work on. personally i have better results with free weights but like others have said, keep lifting!

[fridayeyes]

Thanks folks!

I'd like to try some free weights, even just for little stuff. My gym has about 7 or 8 tricep machines and I had to ditch that part of my workout last time I was there because I could never get on one. It would be nice just to go into the free weight room and do them because the size dumbells I'd be using don't get used much. I'll just have to get a "Bite Me" shirt to deal with looks I'll get for going in there. :::grin:: I like the equipment the gym has, but the free-weight room isn't a friendly place for women in general, especially women who don't already look like Barbie dolls.

Cheers!

Friday