I started lifting weights (again) and accurately tracking my progress (I bought a “cheap” workout and weight loss plan, which requires a lot of data so you can see your progress (or regress)). When bench pressing and doing squats on the (Cybex) Smith Machine I had assumed that the bar weighed 45 pounds like a free bar does and added it to the total weight. It wasn’t until my most recent session (finished about 30 minutes ago) that I realized that the bar doesn’t in fact weigh 45 pounds…but weighs anywhere from 7 to 30 pounds, according to what I saw from a quick search. I should have realized that it wasn’t 45 pounds because it felt pretty light. Google says that the average weight tends to be about 15 pounds, but I have no idea.
I was also using the (Cybex) overhead should press machine and saw that the plates past 50 pounds went in 15 pound increments. Then I noticed the additional weight at the top, disabled by a pin. When I lowered it down on to the stack there was no number on it. Was it 5 pounds? 7.5 pounds? 10 pounds? Who knows?
How are people supposed to know how much weight they’re lifting if things aren’t numbered properly? They have these huge stickers that say everything, but they can’t put “bar weighs 15 lbs” on it?
Using the same bar every time, it’s the same weight, you don’t need to know what’s on it. Olympic bars (and most bars) are 45, so I just use that. It doesn’t on the smith machine because there’s a counter weight on it (to stabilize it)
But let me give you another idea. WHO CARES? Yeah I know we all like to track progress when weight lifting, but at the end of the day did you lift the weight and bring it back down? Did you do it multiple times? Did you do it to exhaustion? Great, you’ll grow. If you truly care then ask "When I used that same machine could I do it with more weight? Could I do more reps with the same weight? The machine itself doesn’t change so just use that specific type of machine as the metric.
I’ve found weight machines are NOT comparable to Free Weights, Which are not comparable to even smith Machines… So ultimately… Compare apples to apples.
Another example? I would consider a Chest fly to a chest fly from a different manufacturer… THOUGH I’ve seen a few times when this is just bullshit. I also think Calf raise machines are just phony weight at times. (Though remember when doing Calf raises, and Calf Raises sitting, your entire body weight is now missing) … Which can be true for many machines…
So ultimately compare apples to apples… AKA compare a machine (or a machine type) to that same machine type, and try not to confuse “Free weights” with “machine weights” because there is a correlation but it’s not worth figuring out.
Some people do need to track it and it has its own benefits like changing diet,sleep etc. according to it.
True, but as @Klinglink said, unless you are competing, you only really need to know trends. So knowing you lifted 100kg isn’t as important as knowing you lifted 10kg more (or less) than last week.
I’ve definitely noticed that there isn’t a correlation between free weights and the machines. Doing an Overhead Dumbbell Shoulder Press I was struggling at 20 pounds after about 9 reps, but with the Shoulder Press machine I had no problem doing 50 pounds.
A big part is always going to be stabilization, when you’re using the machines you don’t need to focus on those muscles, so I usually recommend people doing free weights. It’s a similar story to doing chest flies. But the big benefit of the machines is they’re designed to conform to the “optimal” range of motion, and somewhat less chance of injury
Yeah, I switched after one arm gave out with the barbells and I tweaked a muscle in my neck.