Posted: 3/2/2009 6:06:58 AM EDT
Ok - I found this for 425 bucks - how did I do?
Some of the attachments were still in the orignal bags! 205 lbs of Plates, and a very nice bench. Any one else here has one of these? 
Red |
| I hate to be the one to crap in your thread, but a smith machine really isn't good for full ROM exercises (ie: squat, deadlift, bench press). Using it for full ROM can screw with your joints. They were originally meant for narrow ROM exercises, like for getting through a sticking point. |
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Quoted:
I hate to be the one to crap in your thread, but a smith machine really isn't good for full ROM exercises (ie: squat, deadlift, bench press). Using it for full ROM can screw with your joints. They were originally meant for narrow ROM exercises, like for getting through a sticking point. They're still good to have if you're working out alone in your house and want to lift heavier weights without a spotter, that is actually the reason my dad got one because of my mom's nagging....that said....I prefer free weights just because I also hit the stabilizer muscles. For a home gym that you don't want to throw a lot of money into a Smith Machine and Free weights set will do a lot...not everything but a good bit of things <ETA> now that you have the bench if you wanted to get a press stand or power rack (I think that's what they're called) you could....and you could use it for free standing squats/ overhead military press, ect. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I hate to be the one to crap in your thread, but a smith machine really isn't good for full ROM exercises (ie: squat, deadlift, bench press). Using it for full ROM can screw with your joints. They were originally meant for narrow ROM exercises, like for getting through a sticking point. They're still good to have if you're working out alone in your house and want to lift heavier weights without a spotter, that is actually the reason my dad got one because of my mom's nagging... That's what a power rack is for. Doing full ROM bench press with a smith machine, especially with heavy weights, is asking to screw up your rotator cuff. |
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I think you did good but as mentioned in the prior posts, machines typically shouldn't be your staple for lifting. They are great for the times you don't have a spotter since you can simply latch it when struggling on your last rep.
I worked out on a smith machine for a good year before I realized I was short changing myself since I wasn't developing my stabilizer muscles. If I were you, I'd also purchase some dumbbells since they can be used for nearly any type of upper body workout. You could alternate benching with dumbbells and using your machine so that your muscles don't adapt to one type of workout. I personally throw in smith machine benching few times a month just to add variety to my chest/shoulder workout. There's a lot of weight lifters who will hate on using machines but they do have their place in a combination routine. Smith machines have helped me break my plateau several times. |