I would like to know how people are training here and how your training has improved your goals?

How many people here believe machines and threadmills are just as great at improving fitness and sexual health compared to free weights and dumbells?

What's your experience?

I have read many articles on google which state free weights mimic real life more, create more hormonal response but I don't know whether this is really bullshit... I get just as horny and big with machines. Can you really tell which basketball player has trained with machines and which with free weights on the basketball court?

Age , injuries etc are all factors... Just curious how YOU'RE training?

Other than bicep curls with dumbbells or a curl bar, I stick exclusively with machines and, yes, treadmill. Of course, I'm in my 50's. I can't tell any real difference, other than machines give me support. At my age, it's too easy for even a slight wrong twist to throw you off balance and mess up your back for a week.

(08-28-2018 6:15 PM)WiggleWasser Wrote:  Other than bicep curls with dumbbells or a curl bar, I stick exclusively with machines and, yes, treadmill. Of course, I'm in my 50's. I can't tell any real difference, other than machines give me support. At my age, it's too easy for even a slight wrong twist to throw you off balance and mess up your back for a week.

I would have to agree with this for older people, I'm in my mid 50's and I'm never going to be at the MR Olympia or take steroids.

Machines are somewhat safer than free weights but are slightly less effective.

As for treadmills, it depends on why you use them. If it is to lose weight them simply eat less food, if it is for cardio reasons then rowing machines and stationary bikes put less strain on your knee, hip and ankle joints and give just as good a workout.

Thanks guys.. How do you find your sex life differs now that you stick to machines? Do you find at 50 the hormonal response to machines is not as good as free weights? I see a lot of muscle type articles that keep emphasizing this... does that mean all 50 year old men who don't pump "iron" have weak erections and poor sex lives?

(08-28-2018 6:41 PM)dsouza Wrote:  Thanks guys.. How do you find your sex life differs now that you stick to machines? Do you find at 50 the hormonal response to machines is not as good as free weights? I see a lot of muscle type articles that keep emphasizing this... does that mean all 50 year old men who don't pump "iron" have weak erections and poor sex lives?

I can't believe there's any measurable difference.

Free weights provide free range of motion and are the way to train to prevent injury and is proven superior. Machines are great for some back and triceps development.

Mid 20s , 2 times a week . I do combination of both , small gym so just use what they have . One workout covers chest , back and legs . Another bicep , tricep , shoulders .

I always noticed cardio to give the most libido boost personally . But , since I am far from my cardio days I just do heavy bag and jump rope prior and after my workout to help my heavy lifting . In my humble opinion I get more blood flow throughout my body during cardio workouts ( talking from experience of my few years in kickboxing and regular boxing )

(08-28-2018 6:41 PM)dsouza Wrote:  Thanks guys.. How do you find your sex life differs now that you stick to machines?

The thing is most people will do a mixture of machines and free weights. For example I do free weight OHP because I can just drop it if anything untoward happens, with a bench press I would be dropping it on myself.

Quote:Do you find at 50 the hormonal response to machines is not as good as free weights?

Negligible, in any case machine training is always better than no training.

Quote: I see a lot of muscle type articles that keep emphasizing this...

The vast majority of muscle articles are bollocks and are designed to sell supplements to thickie's.

Quote:does that mean all 50 year old men who don't pump "iron" have weak erections and poor sex lives?

Yes. IMO.

(08-28-2018 8:17 PM)RussianWolf Wrote:  Free weights provide free range of motion and are the way to train to prevent injury and is proven superior. Machines are great for some back and triceps development.

This. Machines isolate muscles so you may get greater pump, but then you also sacrifice functioning and joint health. If you perform the exercises correctly, free weights are safer than machines. Strongmen don't use machines. They perform heavy compound movements. Bodybuilders love using machines because they need to look pumped. It's scientifically proven that compound movements, especially deadlifts and squats, yields the highest testosterone spikes. Doing exercises which incorporates as many muscles as possible makes you the strongest because you force your body to adapt and work in sync. But I agree machines are better than not working out. Depends on your goals. The problem with machines is that they often puts the joints in an awkward position. Smith machines are a disaster with all the injuries associated with it.

I blend free weights and calistenics, also train MMA and boxing. Warming up on a treadmill before a workout makes me perform better. The only machine exercise I enjoy is seated cable rows.

I hurt my lower back vertebrae, cervical spine vertebrae, right kneecap, and shoulder, not to mention TMJ in jaw. All from years of boxing MMA during my 20's. 8 years , 3 hrs a day, 4-5 nights a week, competitive balls to the wall environment, alongside a fulltime job and GF will do it to you.

I'm surprised nothing broke. Bottom line is free weights tend to always aggravate at least one of these areas. This is why I can't go beyond even 25 lbs dumbells. BWE is better but I find builds too much bulk. Machines and cardio FEEL the best. I don't get pain anywhere... I can lift heavier without injury and also go easier on some muscles more prone to connective damaged joints than others. I can lift for 30 min followed by 20 min of cardio. After my workout I feel painfree, more energy, and better mind.

I also have been getting better erections with that workout in terms of staying power. It doesn't increase limp size of penis like BWE does but it increases pumped size and durations of erections... I feel its a better cure for impotence as I already take androgel have high normal test so my problem must be due to circulation.


The only downside.? I have chronic anxiety disorder. I've battled with anxiety and panic attacks since age 27. Cardio seems to make anxiety worse and the reason I believe this is is because of the increased energy. So unfortunately it's a catch 22. I cure everything but my anxiety... I take some prescription meds for anxiety so its not mild... And the day after working out like this I can feel really anxious. I wish there was a way to increase my circulation without causing anxiety but increased blood flow to all extremeties and the brain will speed up everything including meds to the brain, better digestion and metabolism, and meds out of the body faster.

There is a way... Heavier machines and less cardio and taking Viagra or Cialis which only increase blood flow to penis rather than whole body or brain when it's time for sex. But you know how I hate the side effects. I want to cure myself naturally. I don't have low test anymore.

Now that I've written my first book lol, anyone want to throw in their 2 cents?