Machine equivalencies

[BuddhaSMASH]

Alright guys, I'm planning my 3 day workout, and I need a hand. I'm using the basic outline given by Warboss Alex, but unfortunately I have no workout partner, nobody to spot me on the free weights. So I'm going to be using the machine equivalencies for the workouts outlined by Alex. I need some help determining what the best machine equivalencies would be, and if doing them instead of free weights would be detrimental to the routine. So here are the recommended workouts, and in parentheses is the workout I will be substituting.

Standing Barbell Curl (Standing Dumbell curl)
Hammer Curl (Keeping this one)
Lat Pulldown (Keeping this one)
Deadlift (Considering Rows. Would that be appropriate?)

Chest, Triceps
Flat Db Press (Sitting bench press machine)
Incline Barbell Press (No ****ing clue)
Close Grip Bench or Skullcrushers (Not sure)
You can do some abs here too if you like.

Legs, Shoulders
Military Press or DB press (Military press machine)
Sumo Leg Press or Hamstring Curl (Not sure what to do about this one. I have bowed knees and my feet point slightly out, so the hamstring curl machines horribly **** up my knees.)
Calf Raise (Keeping this one)
Barbell Squats (standard leg press machine)

 

[mrRuckus]

You don't need a spotter for any of those really except barbell presses... and maybe squats. And yes using machines is detrimental but better than nothing.

Hit yourself with a dumbbell for thinking you can get rid of deadlifts

I don't know why you'd want to replace barbell curl with a dumbbell curl. You definitely don't need a spotter for curls and if you do then i'd just get into fetal position now.

So do sumo leg press instead of hamstring curl?! Don't screw up your joints anymore.

Sorry if i come off as mean or anything.

 

[Kerpal]

The only thing you really need a spotter for is barbell bench press, and you can substitute dumbbells instead. That's what I do because I don't have a spotter either plus I want to become more symmetrical.

The downside to the dumbbells is that you have to be more careful not to drop them on yourself, it takes a lot of energy to lift them into position, and you can't increase the weight as incrementally as you can with the barbell.

 

[BuddhaSMASH]

You don't need a spotter for any of those really except barbell presses... and maybe squats. And yes using machines is detrimental but better than nothing.

Hit yourself with a dumbbell for thinking you can get rid of deadlifts

I don't know why you'd want to replace barbell curl with a dumbbell curl. You definitely don't need a spotter for curls and if you do then i'd just get into fetal position now.

So do sumo leg press instead of hamstring curl?! Don't screw up your joints anymore.

Sorry if i come off as mean or anything.

Are you actually suggesting that I do deadlifts and squats without a spotter?! Are you insane? Screw that. I've seen one too many people rack themselves trying to pull off idiot maneuvers like that. Unless you're a pro and you've been doing this for 20 effing years, you never squat without a spotter. Think about that for a minute. Just use your brain for one second. Think about all the various body parts you can break, maim, and/or paralyze if you **** up one squat and have nobody there to catch it. You could break your neck for christ's sake.

 

[mrRuckus]

Are you actually suggesting that I do deadlifts and squats without a spotter?! Are you insane? Screw that. I've seen one too many people rack themselves trying to pull off idiot maneuvers like that. Unless you're a pro and you've been doing this for 20 effing years, you never squat without a spotter. Think about that for a minute. Just use your brain for one second. Think about all the various body parts you can break, maim, and/or paralyze if you **** up one squat and have nobody there to catch it. You could break your neck for christ's sake.

Hmm. I hope you stay a fat mess. It complements your personality.

I said maybe use a spotter for squats. And wtf is a spotter supposed to do for deadlifts? Maybe they can do something. I don't know.

Nobody there to catch it? Nobody there to catch what? The bar? Who is going to 'catch' 300 pounds? Don't you have those little rack bars you could try?

I doubt those people you saw "rack themselves" (whatever that is) did it because of a lack of a spotter. Probably more like horrible form and/or lifting weight they shouldn't have been.

Now excuse me while i go back to using my brain FOR ONE SECOND while you keep spinning your wheels not losing weight by doing the same thing repetitively for 3 years before finally trying something new.

 

[simon]

Are you sure you know what a deadlift is? Thankfully I've never seen anyone spotting a deadlifter. Maybe commenting on their form, but not spotting.

I've never squatted with a spotter, and never once injured myself. If I know I can't make another rep with perfect form, I don't attempt the rep, it's not worth it.
One time though, when I was starting out with squats, I lost my footing and dropped the weight at the bottom of the rep. Thing is, I always position the safety bars just below where bar reaches the bottom of my rep, so the weight just fell away safely. I reracked the weight and did 15 more reps. Yes, I could've been injured, but it was my bad form that was the problem.

It's all about knowing your limits and not taking stupid risks. If possible, I'd use a spotter, but I don't, only for benches.

I don't really understand the need for a spotter with the military press, either.

 

[djtdot]

Why are you lifting so much damn weight in the military press or wtever that you need a spotter? Start with extremely light weights and then build up. Don't add the next incriment till you can do 10reps of the exercise with perfect form. Start with an empty bar for squats and deadlifts and benches.

 

[manuva]

I've gone to failure whilst squatting many times. I've never injured myself squatting.

There's no such thing as spotting for a deadlift. I don't think you really know what you're talking about - you should really listen to what these guys are telling you.