Using a workout machine everyday for weightlifting?

[Iwantittoend]

I do 3 separate workouts on my machine everyday. I have 7, 10 pound weights set on the machine. I push forward on the bars, pull down the bars, and pull the bars in towards my chest. I do this 30 times for each thing. It takes me maybe 20 minutes a day to do. Is it okay to do this everyday? I really want to make my muscles bigger and make them more toned before I see my gf in a month...but I also want to go about it the right way. My muscles really killed when I lifted today.

 

Opinions?

[Russ]

I use free weights. I've got a strange build, and Im 6'1, so many machines simply make me underlift, and lift improperly.

 

Hence, I tend not to lift as much with machines.

[Iwantittoend]

I use free weights. I've got a strange build, and Im 6'1, so many machines simply make me underlift, and lift improperly.

 

Hence, I tend not to lift as much with machines.

 

What do you mean underlift?

 

So the workout machines don't help at all? I think that might be the same in my case. I've been using this workout machine for about a month now and I haven't noticed any results. It's either that or it's just the fact that I can't gain any weight.

[sti_2004]

bro just join the gym.

 

if you use the machine too much your other muscle groups wont get any attention and you'll look uneven.

depends on how serious you are about getting big. are you just doing it till u see your gf? or will you keep going?

 

Are you over weight?

and its not ok to do it everyday. you can work out everyday but you gotta mix it up. and 30 reps is too much. ( i've even heard it has a reverse affect??)

aim for 12 reps.

the lower the rep the more mass you'll put on . im no pro but i've been working out since i was a kid (imitating older bro)

 

make sure your form is correct, focused and slow to medium paced.

 

if you don't wanna join the gym just run, do situps and press ups to.

 

do one muscle group one day then a different one the next.

 

do some work researching on the net all the different stuff you can do with your machine..theres quite a bit if you improvise.

[Iwantittoend]

bro just join the gym.

 

if you use the machine too much your other muscle groups wont get any attention and you'll look uneven.

depends on how serious you are about getting big. are you just doing it till u see your gf? or will you keep going?

Are you over weight?

 

I'm going to keep going. I want to get big.

 

I'm very skinny. I can't put on any weight. That's a big problem of mine. I've been eating 4-6 meals a day, but it hasn't really helped.

 

and its not ok to do it everyday. you can work out everyday but you gotta mix it up. and 30 reps is too much. the lower the rep the more mass you'll put on . im no pro but i've been working out since i was a kid (imitating older bro)

 

What's a good rep amount?

 

So 30 reps for each workout with 70 pounds on the machine is too much? I didn't think it would be because I'm not lifting a ton as it is.

[Censored]

Get an exercise guide for eating and bulking.

 

What you are doing is going to actually send you backwards.

 

There are free weight programs on the net.

 

Seriously, stop what you are doing and start doing it right.

[Russ]

First of all, you'll have to join a gym. I know, I was skeptical 2 years ago myself, but it was the best decision I ever made. I found out I love bodybuilding through that, personally.

 

Do stop with what you're doing. For one thing, you're not building size right now. You're building endurance.

 

A gym session does take about 1 to 1.5 hours, so be ready to commit the time.

 

The do's of bulking

- Eat 4-6 meals. Eat plenty of carbs and protein.

- Cover the full body. Each component is important to bulking. You might think legs are useless, but if you dont lift for your legs, they wont get stronger, and you wont be able to life MORE in order to keep progressing. The same with your back. Those are the groups I see neglected most. You NEED them to lift more and more.

- Break it down and go 3-4 times a week. If you lift heavy enough, 3-4 a week is enough. Focus on 2-3 groups of muscle per day. Cover the entire body within a matter of the week.

- Lift 80-85% of 1RM. [This means figure out what you can lift for one rep, and not more, and that's your 1RM. Called the 1 Rep Maximum]

- Lift 3-5 sets of 6-8 reps. It'll be plenty.

 

The dont's of bulking

- Dont do cardio.

- Dont start eating processed foods just because you know you're going to gain fat. Theres a fine line between healthy fats and processed, more common fats, and that line just keeps getting thinner.

 

That being said, this is really a commitment you have to make. It's a big part of anyones life to start lifting at a gym.

[ghost69]

the first line is the best line here. you won't get enough on some little dinky machine. not for everything. once you are able to handle that weight, you will just end up toning yourself out and not really gaining any size.

 

if you want lean muscle, stay away from calories. carbs? ehh. i don't watch those as much. but i don't eat tons of potatoes and things with starchy carbs either.

 

-when he says cover the body, he doesn't mean do your whole body in one workout. at least not like you have been. break the muscle groups down. do back on day. you can toss biceps in there if you want. do chest one day. this can go with triceps. do legs one day. technically body builders and power lifters break up the front of the leg and the back of the leg in different days of the week. you can do abs every other day and calves every other day. do biceps hard one day. i dedicate a whole workout to those bad boys. and one day for shoulders. lots of shrugs and presses.

 

-the back and the legs are very important as stated. thinks of a tree. once at full growth it looks huge. but the biggest part is the trunk to the roots. it's the base. you get that, you look bigger. and it's true. the back helps a lot. helps with chest workouts, some shoulders, and some bicep exercises (usually one arm curls)

 

-get at least 3 sets for each exercise. i do sets of 10. i do push myself sometimes when i feel stagnant and stuck at one particular weight. i will go the 7-8 route. i will do a weight that i can't quite rip out 10 on. you do want to try and increase your bench press 5lbs every two weeks at least. i haven't stuck by this rule in a long time actually. lol.

 

but 3-4 times a week as suggested? mmm, i'd say 5 at minimum. especially if you have a month to get anywhere. good luck.

[Iwantittoend]

I'm actually with a gym right now but all I go there for is running and to play basketball. I have no one I know to lift with. Isn't it important to have someone there with you to spot you? Or can I just do it on my own without any problems?

[ghost69]

I'm actually with a gym right now but all I go there for is running and to play basketball. I have no one I know to lift with. Isn't it important to have someone there with you to spot you? Or can I just do it on my own without any problems?

 

i go alone. i used to work out with body builders and power lifters. now, i like the solo thing and work on my body myself. one of my old partners injured his shoulder and pretty much quit heavy lifting. another dude pretty much got married. he's prolly fat right now. lol i heard he still goes, but not extreme like we used to.

 

but i will ask someone for a spot. they ask me too and i'm willing to spot them. you have to know your limits if you are going to do heavy stuff with no spot.

[Russ]

5 days a week could be excessive. New studies have been showing that depending on the body, its not 24-48 hours between workouts, but 48-72. Ofcourse, if you're putting more groups in one day, then you can still do it every 3rd day. That's a very intense program, and you dont seem to be experienced enough, meaning you'll give up from the mental stress it causes at first.

 

As for going to the gym, I personally like to go alone as well. Use free weights to reduce risk of injury. Dumbbells are my favourite, personally. I put in as much compound dumbbell exercises as I can, since I can just drop them when it's too much.

[sti_2004]

the hardest part of this process is motivating yourself.

 

See if one of the trainers/ staff can set you up a program so you dont just waste your time and energy doing everything wrong (or worse hurting urself) . you wont see great gains in a month but you will notice decent changes.

goto gnc or your local nutrition store and tell the employee what ur upto and they'll hook you up some supplements that'll really give you a boost if used as directed.

 

have fun with it.

[RedBranchKnight]

Hey thought I give a bit of advice.

 

If youre looking to bulk up Id aim at using weights that you can get about 8-10 reps per set, 30 is way too high. I do each muscle group once a week, so divide your workouts along those lines. For example, if you go 4 days a week maybe something like this

 

Day1- Chest and triceps

Day2- Back and biceps

Day3- Rest

Day4- Legs

Day5- Shoulders and abs

Day6 and 7- Rest

 

Something like that. Eat 4-6 times a day, and get plenty of protein and sugar into you right after a session of lifting weights (40-50 grams of protein and ~80-100 grams of sugar, bottle of lucozade would be grand). Sorry I dont have enough time to say any more, ask the instructors at the gym, they should be able to help out too. Best of luck!

[Russ]

Protein should always be 1.5 grams per body lb daily when bulking.