Why Weight Machines Are Worthless & Pegan Updates {Video}
By admin
Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Too fast I’m sure.
Ours was great, the perfect combination of friends, fun and fitness. You can see the recap here incase you missed it. Otherwise, let’s roll right into today’s show!
In this week’s episode:
Nutrition: A quick update on the Pegan Project. What it is, why I’m doing it and how it’s going so far. Is it possible to be vegan and paleo simultaneously?
Fitness: We go into the gym so I can demonstrate the cons of using weight machines. More specifically, the squat press and the chest press machines.
That’s enough chit-chat, I’ll let you watch it!
Pegan Update:
It’s only been 1 full day so far since I started the Pegan Project so I don’t have much to update. It’s been pretty simple so far, and quite delicious. I found this “Creamed Coconut” at Whole Foods on Friday and tossed about a teaspoon into my lunch time smoothie.
OMG, it was so good. Give this stuff a try. It comes hard (because coconut oil is hard at room temperature) but after running it under warm water for a few minutes, it liquified perfectly.
Because this is a whole new experience, if you have ANY resources, recipes, recommendations, etc for me please share. I love doing research and there will be a ton of research done through out this 4-week challenge.
To keep up with how it’s going, check out my social info below!
In The Gym: 80% Of The Gym Stinks
Take a look around the gym, 80% of the floor is probably covered with exercise machines… am I right? The rest is left for cardio and free weights.
It’s so sad too because out of the three sections, the machines are the least worthy of your time for results.
I’ve written about machines in the past and I think it’s important to reiterate fro time to time that they suck.
Really. Well, maybe not if you’re rehabbing or something but for the 97% of gym goers… they suck.
-Set range of motion.
They are set on a track so there is only one way to move the weight: in the direction they want you to. This means that you won’t have to make use of your smaller stabilizer muscles, which in turn means you won’t get to improve your neuromuscular pathways… or the ability of your brain and muscles to communicate. Important for day to day living!
-Isolated moves.
Taking from the issue above, there is the problem that by using just one muscle at a time that it is isolating them. So for example, if you’re working on your legs you will have to spend far too much time moving from machine to machine… all the leg machines to get a decent workout. No thanks, just do free weight moves like squats and you target all the muscles!
-Good Bye Core.
Free moving exercises like lunges, squats, push-ups and bench press have one major thing in common: they activate your core. A strong core means you’re more likely to face injuries and have back pain; have improved posture; enjoy a boost in overall physical performance; and of course… who doesn’t love having a strong stomach? Machines don’t activate the core (are you suppose to be sitting down during EVERY exercise of a workout?) and therefore less results.
And that is a wrap for the day! I hope your Monday is awesome, make it your goal to do something that will set the rest of the week to be positive. Instead of looking at it as the dreaded Monday, look at it as a day to be freakin’ awesome! Deal?
What’s in your favorite smoothie/shake?
What’s your favorite exercise machine?
My killer lunch shake included: coconut cream, ½ avocado, ¼ cup frozen pineapple, spinach and vanilla SunWarrior protein. Holy YUM!
As for machines, clearly I am not a big fan of them however there are a few that actually serve a purpose. My favorite being the assisted pull-up machine. Because you truly are doing a pull-up (with a boost) it’s a great tool to help get stronger and perhaps doing pull-ups without the machine!
Let’s Be Friends:
– Instagram — FitnessTaylor
– Twitter — @femininemuscle
– Facebook — Facebook.com/theartofweightlifting
Image source:
http://www.eightsandweights.com/2011/08/gym-machines-you-should-probably-avoid.html
http://www.cybexintl.com/vr3-chest-press.aspx
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