Lifting my myself

[Gators]

I have a 'gym' downstairs, it's a bench, bunch of dumbells, bowflex (my wifes idea, what a POS machine), treadmill, and stationary bike. I can't stand the local places to lift, it's a big social thing in this small town, so i prefer to go downstairs and do my own thing. Well, this am i was benching and pushing it really hard, and failed on the last rep. I had to holler for my wife to come help me, and with her bad back and 220#, she wasn't a tremendous help but managed to get out from under it. Damn, i'm spent.

Question is is a Smith machine what i need, as it would be nice to have more exercises available, but primarily for bench work, and squats... It's usually just me by myself, my buddies in the neighborhood can never get up in the am

 

[Chrisco915]

A Smith Machine is invaluable for a home gym if you have the money to purchase a good one. Bench, close grip, squats, front squats, SLDL standing on a box, calves(wood block), upright rows, military press, BB rows, shrugs.....and more. If you are alone and need that type of support for the weights you are lifting.......this is a great buy.

 

[AN3M4L]

Free weights can't be replaced by machines so in my opinion it would be a lot better to just get a a bench with a safety rack (you can make on your own just make sure it's long enough so it doesn't roll). Or a bench with safety catches that will allow you to rack at a lower level.

 

[OuchThatHurts]

I would just use a power rack but hey, everyone's different. I hate smith machines. I just can never get a normal movement in them. Hate that contraption.

 

[BuiltOne]

Hey buddy,
I also have a gym in my house. I never do flat bench with a barbell. I always use dumbbells. I get much more isolation of the chest and I don't need a spotter. As for the squats....I have a bodysolid leverage machine that has a squat machine on it. This and leg extensions work great for my quads.

 

[Gators]

Thanks for the advice! Fitness Pro in Tallahassee has a smith cage w/ lat machine they wanted $1900, but got them down to 1200, so i'm going to go for it. Still will keep my bench and bar, but this will give me some more options, i would rather spend this $ than go to the local gym where there are moderately sized guys acting like the Hulk and the little skinny turds benching 150# and then standing in front of the mirror

 

[mature muscle]

I train the same way get the smith machine you want be sorry try to find one with the lat station peck deck the one i have their isn't much that you cant do i payed a lot less try dicks sporting.or craigslist has a lot of used gym equipment there's allot of gyms that have gone under.its nice to have a nice gym just for the equipment choices but i find the gym to distracting at home its easier to stay focused

 

[Gators]

This is a Body Solid series 7, it retails for $2800, i bought the floor model for $1100, didn't figure i could go wrong for that price

**broken link removed**

 

[mature muscle]

This is a Body Solid series 7, it retails for $2800, i bought the floor model for $1100, didn't figure i could go wrong for that price

**broken link removed**

Really doesn't matter what you payed its better to be safe. your lucky your wife was with you.

 

[Gators]

Really doesn't matter what you payed its better to be safe. your lucky your wife was with you.

I was just saying if i can buy it at a deal, if i don't like it i can likely sell it at close to what i have in it... At my stage, just getting started, and no plans to get really big and cut, just very fit, i think it will work fine, at least hope it will...

 

[Doomed Messiah]

Might want to check out

www.usedgymequipment.com



delete if im violating any rules.

 

[Stupes]

Smith machine for $1,200? Get a power rack for $300! Check Craigslist. Powerack is way more versatile than a Smith - you can do everything in it - and it's way cheaper. I also agree with these other guys - a Smith restricts your movements and doesn't require you to recruit stabalizing muscles - I am a free weight guy all the way.

Powerack it.

 

[King-kong]

Probably not the brightest idea but I leave off the clamps so if I ever run into a problem I can tilt the bar and let the weight slide off the end. Never had to do this yet and I am sure it is gonna not go as smooth as I hope but it sure beats trying to roll the bar down your chest to your waist.

 

[Sal Paradise]

Probably not the brightest idea but I leave off the clamps so if I ever run into a problem I can tilt the bar and let the weight slide off the end. Never had to do this yet and I am sure it is gonna not go as smooth as I hope but it sure beats trying to roll the bar down your chest to your waist.

Smith machine for $1,200? Get a power rack for $300! Check Craigslist. Powerack is way more versatile than a Smith - you can do everything in it - and it's way cheaper. I also agree with these other guys - a Smith restricts your movements and doesn't require you to recruit stabalizing muscles - I am a free weight guy all the way.

Powerack it.

I think these two posts sum it up nicely.

The Smith machine can be a usefull tool but I know people who have had shoulder problems because they try to push and it's not a natural range of motion. Aside from using one that has a 7deg angle on it for bent rows I never touch one.

THe power rack is infinitely more adjustable. You can set the cross pins at a location that keeps you safe and set the staging pins at a level that a good lift off point - for benching, squats, etc. It's just safer and you can dump when and if you have too. A smith can still get you caught if you don't get the hook set just right.

If you're worried about bottoming out on a power rack when you bench - simply put a plate under the end of the bench to give you a very slight incline and you can still touch your chest and dump the weight and not get pinned.

I have to do exactly this as I no longer train with a partner and I like to go to failure.


POWER RACK


Sal

 

[h8tr3d]

Probably not the brightest idea but I leave off the clamps so if I ever run into a problem I can tilt the bar and let the weight slide off the end. Never had to do this yet and I am sure it is gonna not go as smooth as I hope but it sure beats trying to roll the bar down your chest to your waist.

lol, whatever works right?

 

[AN3M4L]

Probably not the brightest idea but I leave off the clamps so if I ever run into a problem I can tilt the bar and let the weight slide off the end. Never had to do this yet and I am sure it is gonna not go as smooth as I hope but it sure beats trying to roll the bar down your chest to your waist.

No man I tried that and your gonna end up fucking yourself in the ass cause you will hurt your rib cage big time trying to roll them of like that.

 

[SVFootball]

Probably not the brightest idea but I leave off the clamps so if I ever run into a problem I can tilt the bar and let the weight slide off the end. Never had to do this yet and I am sure it is gonna not go as smooth as I hope but it sure beats trying to roll the bar down your chest to your waist.

be careful...once you dump the weights from one side that thing will slingshot back the other way. easy way to put a HUGE hole in the wall or injure someone else around.

 

[Wynn]

This is a Body Solid series 7, it retails for $2800, i bought the floor model for $1100, didn't figure i could go wrong for that price

**broken link removed**

If you have this exact model I see the "gun rack" which serves well for free movements like squats, rack deads, and presses. It should have the bar catches to save your @$$. I think all you need is an olympic bar.

 

[full_belly]

smart move = power rack for $300!!!!!!!!!

get too strong on smythe only and with weakened stabilisers injury will come eventually. pluss you say you wanna get fit??? smythe takes away wany agility or balance improvement potential!!\

good 4 lifting weight, but no good in real world!!