A little confused

fungie

Ive recently joined a gym (last two months) and have been doing machine weights having never done any weights before. Im happy with the program they gave me and have made some good progress.

my initial program came to end and I wanted to start doing compound lifts with my new one. maybe try stronglifts or something similar for a beginner but the instructor was extremely dismissive of this saying that I wouldn't be able to do proper squats yet (which is total crap) and after me insisting I do some he set me up with the smith machine, I think thats what its called. with this it only moves in one dimension, he says it will teach me technique but I can lean back on this and it supports my weight so I'm not really balancing it. I want to get the most workouts. It was the same story with benchpress and then he gave me some random other exercises, biceps and triceps machine weights etc

Am I right to try free weights and not the machines? I told the gym manager I wasnt happy and was set up with another instructor but I'm afraid I just might get the same thing.

COH

The unfortunate side of some commercial gyms is that instructors often cant perform, demonstrate or teach fundamental movements. Other times they often don't have time to spend an hour or more going through it all.

Just ask for someone with specific knowledge of what you are looking for to show you, failing that you may need go go elsewhere to find someone to guide you

Brian?

Squatting and benching in a smith
machine will not teach how to do them. They are not a stepping stone to learning to squat or bench not are they a
substitute.

Did he even go through a body weight squat with you? If he didn't he has absolutely no idea if you capable of barbell squatting now. Anyway, whatever the issue is a smith machine is not the answer.

Sounds like you have something set up
with a different instructor. Challenge them to do what you want, they work for you. If they don't, change gyms.

Systemic Risk

I joined my first gym back in 2005 and I recall my first day with an instructor being shown how to squat, deadlift, bench and do other compounds (no smith machine). and these exercises being included in my first programme. The instructor is filling you full of crap and if they cant provide you with instruction then I would ask for my membership to be cancelled/refunded and find a better gym. Good luck with it.

RidleyRider

fungie wrote: »

Ive recently joined a gym (last two months) and have been doing machine weights having never done any weights before. Im happy with the program they gave me and have made some good progress.

my initial program came to end and I wanted to start doing compound lifts with my new one. maybe try stronglifts or something similar for a beginner but the instructor was extremely dismissive of this saying that I wouldn't be able to do proper squats yet (which is total crap) and after me insisting I do some he set me up with the smith machine, I think thats what its called. with this it only moves in one dimension, he says it will teach me technique but I can lean back on this and it supports my weight so I'm not really balancing it. I want to get the most workouts. It was the same story with benchpress and then he gave me some random other exercises, biceps and triceps machine weights etc

Am I right to try free weights and not the machines? I told the gym manager I wasnt happy and was set up with another instructor but I'm afraid I just might get the same thing.

OP, if you can afford a session with a PT, go for one to teach you how to do all the compounds. You won't look back.

Go out on your own and you'll risk serious injury. Look into my log, 180kg deadlift with horrible form. I got lucky, you may not. I should have got someone to show me from day one. I started wrong, continued to do so and now am back sorting my sh!t out.

Moral being- don't be stupid and don't be afraid to ask for help.

fungie

I may just have to book an appointment with a trainer, Ill see how it goes with the other instructor. Might get more help as he set my previous programs, just annoying that ive to wait another week. Was looking forward to doing something new. I dont want to start until I get help with form etc, not worth a potential injury.

thegreatiam

fungie wrote: »

my initial program came to end and I wanted to start doing compound lifts with my new one. maybe try stronglifts or something similar for a beginner but the instructor was extremely dismissive of this saying that I wouldn't be able to do proper squats yet (which is total crap) and after me insisting I do some he set me up with the smith machine, I think thats what its called. with this it only moves in one dimension, he says it will teach me technique but I can lean back on this and it supports my weight so I'm not really balancing it. I want to get the most workouts. It was the same story with benchpress and then he gave me some random other exercises, biceps and triceps machine weights etc

Am I right to try free weights and not the machines? I told the gym manager I wasnt happy and was set up with another instructor but I'm afraid I just might get the same thing.

Yes, you are right to want free weights and not machines. Machines are great for a gym because they can show you how it works then leave you unsupervised for months with little or no risk to their business.
You are also correct to suspect that you shouldn't be using smith machines to squat. They do force your body into unnatural movements, they also limit the use of muscle groups so your movement doesn't engage as it should.

Machines are not better or worse. nor, as mentioned, are they a stepping stone or a learning tool to free weights.
They are a separate tool with a separate function.

In the same way you don't learn to use a sledgehammer by practicing with a tack hammer. They are two (similar) tool but have entirely different reasons for being.

But if I owned a business where people could pay to come and hammer stuff then of course I will be pushing the tack hammers rather than letting everyone use the sledge hammers. (*note to self, open a business where people can come and hammer stuff, work out details later*)

So you have an idea what you should do, you just need to pay someone to help get you there. If your gym has the requisite equipment then you dont need to move (barbells, squat rack, benches possibly pull up and dip station later)

I took 2 sessions with a trainer to show me the basics, asked him to help me with the lifts I wanted, then I took a follow up session a few weeks later, Now I am confident on my own.
So for an initial expense (€40-€80 a session) I got myself setup and feel comfortable progressing.

You can always post videos online for people to laugh at and help you with your form, i did this and got some great advice.

thegreatiam

fungie wrote: »

I may just have to book an appointment with a trainer, Ill see how it goes with the other instructor. Might get more help as he set my previous programs, just annoying that ive to wait another week. Was looking forward to doing something new. I dont want to start until I get help with form etc, not worth a potential injury.

this may also be of use:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Capital-Strength-Weightlifting-Club/529299550455027?fref=ts
they are doing a beginners course. It wont 100% cover strong lifts as its Olympic lifting, but you will cover most of what you need.

I'm sure other gyms of this type will cater to beginners. If I was starting from scratch with my current knowledge I would join a club like this rather than just take a trainer. You get more "bang for your buck"