Great article! I’m an old dinousaur barbell/kettlebell man from way back. Some more machines to be added to your “machines that don’t suck list are”: reverse hyperextension machine, belt squat machine and glute-hamstring developer. Why? This equipment builds amazing strength in the posterior chain, which in turn assists in all squatting movements as well as lifts such as the snatch, clean and dead lift. This equipment is not common in the modern commercial gym, but is so in serious strength facilities south of our border. It seems most commercial gyms would rather purchase pretty equipment that serves no purpose in building solid functional strength. Pity. Stay strong and I thank you for your shoulder rehab video on youtube.

Reggie

I work as a personal trainer and volunteer weight training instructor at the local YMCAs, and I couldn’t agree more with the title of this article, and with your overall philosophies (rants and articles)

As more of us age, having real, functional strength, stamina and balance are important but often overlooked in today’s superficial ideas of beauty and health. ‘I don’t want to bulk up’ is a phrase we hear too often. I am a short person (5′3) at 175 lbs, so some folks will think ‘OH NO! He’ll have me working out like a powerlifter!’. But showing someone how to get up off a chair without using their hands will help them understand why a squat may be an essential movement for daily life. No leg press will do this. Push-ups may not seem important or useful, but how would you pick yourself up off the ground if you slip and fall? You may not want to be a bodybuilder, but you may want to carry those groceries up stairs, or shovel your driveway without injuring yourself.

I could go on, but I am sure all of this has been said many times before :-)

I heartily recommend this website to any folks of all stripes who want to get into an exercise program, but are afraid of the chrome-n’-tone gyms.

So I shrug and grunt and go on lifting.

I just sort of stumbled onto this site…

My girlfriend and I have been working on her application of free weights and the results have been incredible for her! When she asked me for training advice, my face lit up like a kid at Christmas :). Within a few months she is already squatting 40 lbs over her body weight!!

I won’t reiterate what you have already stated so well, but free weights rock!

Also, any woman looking for a great training program should head over to Precision Nutrition. They wrote a great routine with video demonstrations a couple months ago. Amanda Graydon does the demonstrations, I believe its the workout she used to get her contest body!

It’s so great to hear women so enthusiastic about sport. Anyone I speak to is always saying oh don’t over do it, god you’re mad, why would you want bigger muscles, you’re a girl! My sister and i are both really into the gym and getting fitter and stronger from using both machines and free weights. I love the fact that the gym is full on men, it’s great not being a stereotypical female and you can suprise men with the fact you are strong and fit and not afraid of a challenge! I haven’t lost much weight since I have been serious about training but my body shape has improved and I’m a lot more toned. The best thing is the strength you have, I feel so much more confident now and have gained a lot of respect from guys at work for drinking protein shakes and discussing work out tips!

Keep up the good work, this is an amazing website!

I wouldn’t have put her on the machines anyway; she’s small and short, so there would be fit problems. Plus, it’s a college gym where the students tend to leave 45lb plates all over the place, and my friend would see significant benefits from an all-soup-can workout — that’s not going to work out.

Oddly enough, though both genders are guilty of the plate-etiquette violation on the machines, it’s almost all guys in the power cages, and they never leave anything on the bars. Makes my life a lot easier.