People telling to "just use free weights" forgot how it's like to be a beginner. I am a beginner, free weights are SCARY idk what to do with them and I probably will screw up my form. Most of the time I have no clue what am I doing wrong. Deadlift is the only thing that I understand, but my form is likely horrible. Machines are much less intimidating and therefore - much more beginner friendly.
It’s scary because it’s new and unknown. Spending some time on RU-vid watching respectable channels explain proper technique is all you need to get going with them
For beginners machines are great, they are in a fixed position and always travel in line. They track your form for you. All you need to do is lock your body into the machine with good posture and control your tempo. Free weights can be unstable to set up in and require a little bit more skill to build the stabilizing muscles. Start light with free weights and concentrate on good form. Above all be confident in your movements.
Aaah same bro. Today is my 4th day at gym and i only do machines, i have social anxiety, it's so awkward to lift weights specifically that i don't even know what to do with them , machines are better
Are you joking 💀? If you want your core to be active during exercise just freaking isolate and train it too Plus the gym owner told me to start using free weights after the first month of training
Start with free weights. Literally start with the bar (it is only 20kg. It will not crush you and you could leave it on your neck if you wanted and be fine [dont don’t do that though, my point is you won’t die or get seriously injured from such light weight unless your form is ludicrous]). It removes the fear factor, is safer in the long run as you develop stabilisers with your lifts, and movements are all very simple (1-2 planes of movement topps [second tends to be slight shifts that naturally will happen] and 1 RU-vid video can teach you safe practice). Now don’t do machines until you want to combo them with free weights as well :D
I'll also start in a few days and I didn't know what machines to use, now that I know I'll just have to search how to use them properly 😂😭 too scared to ask questions or ask for guidance, so I'll have to do my research 😣
better machines for beginners: -lat pulldowns (works lats, traps, and biceps) -leg curls (hamstrings and calves) -smith machine (do you wanna die?) -pull up machine -save the rest for dumbbells and barbells bozo.
