Category Archives: How To Use Gym Machines

Gym Machines Intro – Lower Body/Core

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Many people make the mistake of focusing solely on their upper body when working out, but starting with a strong core and powerful legs can do wonders for your body.  Here are some of the most popular gym machines to help you get started.

Lower Body:

Leg Press Machine

The lower body gym machines guide wouldn’t be complete without The Leg Press Machine.  It is a fantastic exercise for the full lower body.  The one pictured above is a horizontal version, but you may see variations where you are seated at an upward angle.


Leg Extension Machine


Leg Curl Machine

Besides the Leg Press, the best exercises for your legs are the Leg Extension Machine and the Leg Curl Machine.  Sometimes they are combined into one piece of equipment.  The Extensions are good for focusing on the quadriceps (the front of the thigh) and warming up your knees while the Curls are great at working your hamstrings.

Hip Adduction / Abduction Machine

Hip Adduction / Abduction Machine

To improve your outer and inner thighs, Hip Adduction and Abduction Machine will do the trick.  Depending on your gym it could be in one machine or separated into two.  While the name sounds confusing, the exercise couldn’t be easier.  You simply squeeze your legs inward or outward.

Standing Calf Machine

Seated Calf Machine

Finally, the last part of your leg to work on is the calves.  Pictured above are two of the most popular styles: seated and standing.  Both work your calf muscles equally and also help with a phenomenal stretch after running on the treadmill or doing other kinds of cardio.

Abdomen/Core:

Sit Up Machine

For the abdominal muscles, there are dozens of workouts that you can do that don’t involve machines at all, but to get results quicker a gym machine such as the Sit Up Machine pictured above can be a great help.  There are other variations that perform more of a crunch exercise and some will use stacked weights instead of manual plates.

Torso Twist Machine

One of my favorite of all the gym machines at my gym is definitely the Torso Twist Machine.  It works the abdomen while also exercising your obliques to help get rid of those pesky love handles.  Its a killer exercise and an excellent stretch for your lower back.

Now, to work on the upper body gym machine guide!

Gym Machines Intro – Upper Body

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While different gyms will have a variety of machines, there are some gym machines that are fairly consistent amongst most gyms and health clubs.  Get acquainted with these and you will have a jump start when you begin your exercise program.  Don’t forget to also check out the Lower Body Gym Machines Guide.

Arms:

Bicep Curl Machine

Bicep Curl Machines come in many varieties.  Pictured above are the two most common.  The machine above mimics traditional preacher curls while the gym machine below is a seated version that works your biceps in a slightly different manner, which makes both types important to incorporate into your gym workouts.

Seated Bicep Curl Machine

Tricep Press Machine

Tricep Extension Machine

While most arm exercises are eventually more effective with the use of free weights and dumbbells so that the stabilizer muscles can be better worked, the gym machines geared towards your arms are a great way to get started and incorporate along with the free weight exercises.

The gym machine on the left is a seated Tricep Press Machine.  There are variations on the incline of the seat, but the exercise remains the same.  On the right is a Tricep Extension Machine.  You will occasionally find this machine combined with a bicep curl machine since they are reciprocal of one another.  The triceps are often neglected in favor of being able to show off a big bicep, but doing these exercises in tandem can result in a more even looking arm build.

Back/Chest/Shoulders:

Chest Press Machine

Bench presses can be dangerous to do on your own, but a perfect alternative is the Chest Press Machine.  Be sure to focus on your pectoral muscles while doing your reps.  A common mistake people make is to use other muscles such as their biceps instead of using the muscles in their chest.

Chest Fly Machine

Another common gym machine that helps build your pecs is the Chest Fly Machine.  This exercise focuses more on the perimeter of the chest area to aid in better sculpting and toning of the chest.

Shoulder Press Machine

The Shoulder Press Machine is the single most effective machine for building the muscles in your shoulder.

Lat Pulldown Machine

The Lat Pulldown Machine is extremely effective and my favorite of the upper body gym machine guide.  It targets the shoulders, your upper back and your lats (the area below your armpits).  Sculpting this area can help to make sure you look your best.

Back Row Machine

One of the best exercises for your upper back is rowing a boat.  The Back Row Machine mimics that movement and creates a terrific workout for your upper back.

Back Extension Machine

To work that lower back, there is the Back Extension Machine.  The movement is essentially the opposite of a sit up.  I usually do this exercise last in my gym workout s because it is also a great stretch for the entire spine which feels wonderful at the end of a hard workout session.

Don’t forget to work your lower body as well!

Proper Use Of Gym Machines

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For beginners, going to the gym can sometimes be intimidating. You see people performing exercises on complicated machines that it can be daunting to newbies. They are often confused and hesitant in asking trainers on how to get started. When you’re starting out, you should be equipped with the proper sports attire. Wear something that is comfortable and appropriate. There are plenty of exercise outfits that you can have your pick.

How to use Gym Machines

There are so many gym machines that you really need to ask for some help. You should also inform your trainer on what exercises you plan on doing. If you have no idea on gym machines and what they do then you can start on simple gym machines. If you’re targeting a specific area in your body then you can ask the trainer how to use gym machines for that area. You should always ask for assistance because improper use of machines can cause injuries.

Gym Machines and What They Do

Different gym machines have different uses. You first need to be familiar on the different machines. Read on the safety rules of the machine before using it. Ask an expert to show you how the machine works. Don’t attempt to use the machine if you’re unsure on how it works. If you’re on a machine keep your head in the exercise. Focus yourself and make sure that you are doing the exercise correctly. The machines are there to help you exercise. Use them correctly and safely.

Examples of gym machines are upper body weight machines. The exercise is focused on your upper body. Rowing machines and chess press machines help you achieve a great upper body. If you want to have a bigger and nice looking upper body then you should try resistance exercise machines for that area. Don’t expect to lose a lot of weight from these exercises. You need to have a complete workout on top of a healthy diet to start losing weight.

Best Exercise Machines

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Exercise is an important part of life. Walking, jogging, running, biking… all of these are fantastic ways to make your body move as well as burn calories. Unfortunately, weather and location don’t always permit you to exercise outdoors. Luckily, we have many styles of exercise machines that can be used indoors any time you want. You can find most of these at the majority of gyms and health clubs, but you can also purchase an exercise machine for home use if you have the space.

A treadmill is probably the most popular piece of cardio exercise equipment.  They are ideal of most people of any experience level or age.  If you can walk, you can use a treadmill.  Expensive treadmills that you will find at gyms will usually have many options to assist in your workout.  Setting the incline to a steeper degree will allow you to burn more calories in a shorter time to help make your workouts more efficient.  You may also be able to program the treadmill to create a workout using different inclines to emulate walking up a large hill or a variety of hills.

Smooth Fitness 5.65 Folding Treadmill

For home purposes, space is the key thing to think about with any exercise machine purchase.  Will it fit where you need it to?  Its amazing how many people do not properly take this fact or into consideration and end up having to return their equipment.  Treadmills do come in a fold-able variety to take up less space when not in use.  Some folding treadmills end up being cheaper than others, so you have to be careful to find one that is built well.  The Smooth Fitness 5.65 Folding Treadmill is a wonderful example of a space saving treadmill, but one that is still sturdy and high tech.

Some say that treadmills are bad on your knees from all of the running.  The best exercise machine to avoid knee injuries is an elliptical exercise machine.  Their unique design allows for smooth movements that will save your knees from having to absorb a lot of shock.  Elliptical exercise machines are very popular so all gyms will have several dozen of them.

Stamina 55-1610 InMotion E1000 Elliptical Trainer

They are also fantastic for home use.  Space can be a huge issue with elliptical exercise machines due to their moving parts.  Be sure to leave extra room so as to not scuff up your walls.  A brilliant variety is the Stamina InMotion Elliptical Trainer.  It is tiny and compact and can even be used from a seated position.  My favorite use is to bring it to work and use it while you are sitting at your desk.  Not only will you be burning calories while you would normally be sedentary, you will find that getting your blood pumping a bit more will enable you to think better, be more focused and more productive.

Horizon Fitness EX-59 Elliptical Trainer

For a person who has space to spare and are looking for a traditional elliptical exercise machine, look no further than the Horizon Fitness EX-59 Elliptical Trainer.  The features it offers are top of the line, while the price is amazingly affordable.  Along with standard features such as using set workouts or creating custom workouts and setting different resistance levels, it has some creature comforts that make it better than others.  You can input music directly into the machine to play your music through its two speakers.  It also has a multi speed fan to cool you while exercising, an amazing addition that anyone would appreciate.

The main thing to focus on is what you are most likely to use.  Whichever one of the exercise machines you end up purchasing, be sure it is something that you will use often.  The best exercise machine isn’t the same for every single person.  Take the time to think about exactly what you are looking for.

Popular Weight Machines At The Gym

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Walking in to a gym or health club for the first time can be a bit harrowing with all of the weight machines as far as the eye can see.  With so many weight machines at the gym, you may not know which is best for you.  While each person may function better with a different weight machine, taking a look at which is popular with a lot of people can clue you in as to which is best for you.

Arms:

There are two main muscle groups to focus on for developing the arms: biceps and triceps.  The most popular bicep gym machine is the curl machine.  It replicates the classic bicep curl exercise but in a smoother manner using the aide of a machine.  You shouldn’t neglect the triceps, otherwise your arms will look unbalanced.  Popular weight machine exercises for the triceps include the tricep press, which has you seated and pressing down on the handles.  It is sort of like a reverse dip.  Use both of these to work toward better arms.

Shoulder/Back:

Of all weight machine workouts for the shoulders, the shoulder press is by far the most popular. It helps you avoid the risk of injury that can result from using free weights or a barbell.  To work the area between our shoulders and back, the lateral pull-down weight machine is a must.  To exercise your back extension machine. While seated, you lean back on a roller which exercises your lower back.  Using this weight machine with lower weights at the beginning or end of a workout if a phenomenal way to stretch.

Chest:

For the chest, there are two amazing weight machine workouts that are hard to chose between.  Both are amazing and work different parts of the chest.  The first is the chest press which takes the traditional barbell chest press exercise and transform it into seated weight machine exercises.

The important thing is find what works for you.  Your first day at the gym, take your time exploring and trying out all of the weight machines at the gym and see how they work.  Weight machine workouts are quite helpful, especially for beginners, but it is important to remember that using dumbbells will work the stabilizing muscles that weight machines don’t.  For a more complete looking build, it is vital to also integrate free weight and dumbbells into your repertoire.  And always remember that the trainers at the gym are there to help you and answer any question that you may have.