Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Free weights, do you use them?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 33 posts

Re: Ask HN: Free weights, do you use them?

#21

Post by billswift »

gexla wrote: post #13

This is too big of a subject to be addressed at hacker news. Just do your research on the web. Honestly, you will probably get as much misinformation here as you will get anywhere. It also depends on what your goals are. You are seriously limited by 10kg dumbells and if you lack space then your only option for a real free weight workout is to get a membership to a gym. Even if you could fit in a bench and more weight…

Squat rack isn't all that useful. It is only really necessary for squats, and deadlifts work the same muscles; and they are safer since you never have the bar where you can drop it on yourself.

Re: Ask HN: Free weights, do you use them?

#22

Post by billswift »

philk wrote: post #15

Okay, a few thoughts: 1) Two 10kg dumbbells will be insufficient in even the short term. The idea is to make progress over time; ie being able to lift more weight for the same number of reps. 2) You need an exercise program built around the compound lifts. That is: * Deadlifts * Squats * Bench Press * Overhead Press * Chinups/Pullups There's quite a few of these around; Stronglifts and Starting Strength are two that…

1 is pure BS, you can do a maintenance program, or you can increase reps rather than weights, to increase your stamina.

2 is more, you can do whatever program you want, unless you want to become a competitive bodybuilder, there is no need for conforming to someone else's idea of what you should do. I would suggest reading in a decent book - I like Garhammer's Strength Training - and take what you want.

3 is gross overkill.

4 With free weights and gradually increasing the weight form mostly takes care of itself. If it is actually painful, rather than just hard, then don't do it.

5 is actually general enough that I can't criticize, nice change.

6 is also true. On the other hand, relatively light, but long, maintenance workouts every day are useful in burning excess calories.

7 is good if you are trying to "progress", on the other hand it doesn't help much on a maintenance program. The best advice is to simply try to set up a program you can enjoy, then do it. Working out with someone else is generally the best motivator.

Re: Ask HN: Free weights, do you use them?

#23

Post by starkfist »

billswift wrote: post #21
gexla wrote: post #13

This is too big of a subject to be addressed at hacker news. Just do your research on the web. Honestly, you will probably get as much misinformation here as you will get anywhere. It also depends on what your goals are. You are seriously limited by 10kg dumbells and if you lack space then your only option for a real free weight workout is to get a membership to a gym. Even if you could fit in a bench and more weight…

Squat rack isn't all that useful. It is only really necessary for squats, and deadlifts work the same muscles; and they are safer since you never have the bar where you can drop it on yourself.

Squat rack is actually very versatile. It can be used as the place where you leave the bar for bench press and military press, and barbell curls. This way you can just get a simple flat bench instead of a dedicated bench press bench. Also you can put pull up holds at the top which can be used for pull ups as well as hanging leg lifts. Lastly, you can store the plates on it.

Re: Ask HN: Free weights, do you use them?

#24

Post by freescale »

billswift wrote: post #22
philk wrote: post #15

Okay, a few thoughts: 1) Two 10kg dumbbells will be insufficient in even the short term. The idea is to make progress over time; ie being able to lift more weight for the same number of reps. 2) You need an exercise program built around the compound lifts. That is: * Deadlifts * Squats * Bench Press * Overhead Press * Chinups/Pullups There's quite a few of these around; Stronglifts and Starting Strength are two that…

1 is pure BS, you can do a maintenance program, or you can increase reps rather than weights, to increase your stamina. 2 is more, you can do whatever program you want, unless you want to become a competitive bodybuilder, there is no need for conforming to someone else's idea of what you should do. I would suggest reading in a decent book - I like Garhammer's Strength Training - and take what you want. 3 is gross ove…

On the off chance some people might takes billswift seriously and injure themselves, let me state that 'gradually increasing the weight' does not induce good form. Moreover, much of the benefits of deadlifts and squats will not be had either unless performed correctly.

Get 'Starting Strength' by Rippetoe and buy a few sessions with a (good) personal trainer who knows power lifting. Best money you'll ever spend.

Re: Ask HN: Free weights, do you use them?

#25

Post by freescale »

billswift wrote: post #21
gexla wrote: post #13

This is too big of a subject to be addressed at hacker news. Just do your research on the web. Honestly, you will probably get as much misinformation here as you will get anywhere. It also depends on what your goals are. You are seriously limited by 10kg dumbells and if you lack space then your only option for a real free weight workout is to get a membership to a gym. Even if you could fit in a bench and more weight…

Squat rack isn't all that useful. It is only really necessary for squats, and deadlifts work the same muscles; and they are safer since you never have the bar where you can drop it on yourself.

Deadlifts are great. However, they are not nearly as effective as squats for leg work due to the lack hip depth used in the starting position of the deadlift.

Weight lifters who don't squat (and there are many of them) end up looking like ridiculous middle aged men who have massive torsos and spindly legs. Beyond appearance, one will also have very poor power generation.

Re: Ask HN: Free weights, do you use them?

#26

Post by billswift »

freescale wrote: post #24
billswift wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1 is pure BS, you can do a maintenance program, or you can increase reps rather than weights, to increase your stamina. 2 is more, you can do whatever program you want, unless you want to become a competitive bodybuilder, there is no need for conforming to someone else's idea of what you should do. I would suggest reading in a decent book - I like Garhammer's Strength Training - and take what you want. 3 is gross ove…

On the off chance some people might takes billswift seriously and injure themselves, let me state that 'gradually increasing the weight' does not induce good form. Moreover, much of the benefits of deadlifts and squats will not be had either unless performed correctly. Get 'Starting Strength' by Rippetoe and buy a few sessions with a (good) personal trainer who knows power lifting. Best money you'll ever spend.

More BS. It is nearly impossible to hurt yourself with free weights unless you drop them or try to lift something much too heavy.

Re: Ask HN: Free weights, do you use them?

#28

Post by mattmiller »

billswift wrote: post #26
freescale wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the off chance some people might takes billswift seriously and injure themselves, let me state that 'gradually increasing the weight' does not induce good form. Moreover, much of the benefits of deadlifts and squats will not be had either unless performed correctly. Get 'Starting Strength' by Rippetoe and buy a few sessions with a (good) personal trainer who knows power lifting. Best money you'll ever spend.

More BS. It is nearly impossible to hurt yourself with free weights unless you drop them or try to lift something much too heavy.

I can't tell if you are being serious or not. A lot of people who lift hurt themselves at some point, especially as they get older. It happens, it is usually because of not focusing on form and pushing too hard.

Form is important, and not always intuitive.

Re: Ask HN: Free weights, do you use them?

#29

Post by starkfist »

mattmiller wrote: post #28
billswift wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More BS. It is nearly impossible to hurt yourself with free weights unless you drop them or try to lift something much too heavy.

I can't tell if you are being serious or not. A lot of people who lift hurt themselves at some point, especially as they get older. It happens, it is usually because of not focusing on form and pushing too hard. Form is important, and not always intuitive.

It's easier to hurt yourself on the machines than it is with free weights. Your brain/body won't let you try to squat way more than you can actually squat. If you can override this instinct and actually try to throw up more weight than you can handle, the way olympic weights work make dumping the weight almost automatic. You will embarrass yourself but won't get hurt. You should be using a spotter anyway.

However, you can load up a hip sled machine with way more weight than you should be attempting and destroy your lower back or knees. Personally, I believe leg press machines and their ilk should be banned. I know too many people with fucked up knees and backs from using those (myself included.)

Re: Ask HN: Free weights, do you use them?

#30

Post by jefft »

freescale wrote: post #24
billswift wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1 is pure BS, you can do a maintenance program, or you can increase reps rather than weights, to increase your stamina. 2 is more, you can do whatever program you want, unless you want to become a competitive bodybuilder, there is no need for conforming to someone else's idea of what you should do. I would suggest reading in a decent book - I like Garhammer's Strength Training - and take what you want. 3 is gross ove…

On the off chance some people might takes billswift seriously and injure themselves, let me state that 'gradually increasing the weight' does not induce good form. Moreover, much of the benefits of deadlifts and squats will not be had either unless performed correctly. Get 'Starting Strength' by Rippetoe and buy a few sessions with a (good) personal trainer who knows power lifting. Best money you'll ever spend.

my $.02 ... listen to anyone who recommends Rippetoe's "Starting Strength." oh, and ignore everyone else.
Post reply on HN