I get the aerobic exercise stuff, running, rowing, skiing machines etc. At a total loss with where to start with weight machines, and what they all do and shit. I know Corpsey's been going gym, help me out here.
almost without exception, don't bother with the machines, cos their movements are so unnatural
Both - to my shame I know more about this than I should. Basically the machines isolate larger muscles without using the surrounding smaller stabilising muscles, hence their unnaturalness - so for example the pull-down machines are pretty useless compared to doing pull-ups, although they'd be working the same larger muscle(s) in your back. it's not just machines though - bench press doesn't allow your arms to move in a natural arc either.
I could be wrong in this, but I think overuse of unnatural movements might account for the difference between that 'gym look' some people have, and a more 'natural' athletic look.
I won't go into the details but the isolation machines are not even good for building muscle, even particular muscles you want to focus on. They are not good for increasing your strength (because you need to work the whole body for this), and they certainly don't stabilise.
I'm not convinced by this. I mean, if you're worried about having weedy legs, let's say, surely doing leg exercises will work on those muscles, even if your chest, back and arms aren't being exercised?
And if using a single machine isn't 'balanced' exercise, isn't that why there are loads of different machines, so you can use several/all of them? Or do the different muscle groups have to be worked at the same time to get the benefit? I don't mean to sound unduly skeptical, just thinking aloud here.
Yeah it's weird sometimes with stuff like that...where it feels almost like you could do it but can't get started. Just started doing pushups recently ang can't even do one. Doing them from the knee like a weakling. Got to start somewhere.
Never knew how good pullups are meant to be until recently. Should really start them too.
Also running outside which I can only do about 10 minutes stop start before i sack it. From never doing any exercise (and feeling it) it's an improvement.