Which Isolation Machines could Pullups/Chinups Replace?

marathonic · 03-12-2010 02:08PM #1

I'm stuck with isolation machines until my current gym contract runs out and will then be switching to a gym with power cages.

My question is, if (when I'm strong enough) I added chinups and/or pullups to my routine, which of the following do you think could be dropped:

Leg Extension
Leg Curl
Lat Pulldown
Shoulder Press
Triceps Push Down
Leg Press
Chest Press
Back Extension
Seated Row
Abs Machine
Machine Fly
Biceps Curl

I'm doing too many machines at the moment and am torn between switching to a split or dropping some. I'm thinking the chinups and/or pullups could replace the Lat Pulldown and Seated Row as well as, possibly, the Biceps Curl and Shoulder Press.

It'll be the new year before I can attempt the chinups (and longer for the pullups I'd say) but I want to have an idea of whether I should aim for a split or, preferrably, a reduction in the number of machines.

d'Oracle · 03-12-2010 02:34PM

Lat pulldown and Bicep Curls.

marathonic · 03-12-2010 02:41PM

d'Oracle wrote: »

Lat pulldown and Bicep Curls.

Thanks d'Oracle... what about the Triceps Pushdown? Suppose it probably depends on whether it's chinups or pullups I'd be doing. I'd think that Chinups could replace the biceps curl whilst pullups may be able to replace the Triceps pushdown (that's just by visualising the movement in my head so I could be way off the mark).

I'd like to eventually be able to alternate between the two but will probably manage the chinups first.

d'Oracle · 03-12-2010 02:56PM

marathonic wrote: »

Thanks d'Oracle... what about the Triceps Pushdown?

Nope.
Tricep pushdowns involve elbow extension. (Bent to straight)
Pullups involve the elbow flexion. (straight to bent)

Pullups and chinups are similar. Its just the Chinups use a bit more bicep.

dartstothesea · 03-12-2010 03:08PM

I presume tricep push-down could be replaced by doing dips on a dip station thing if your new gym has one.

marathonic · 03-12-2010 03:22PM

Hi,

Yeah, I've just been doing a bit of searching on the net. My current gym does have a dipping station (in 3 months, I haven't once seen it used).

I'm basically trying to reduce the number of different excercises that I do. If I can't reduce it enough, I'll consider a split.

So, from above, chinups could replace the Lat Pulldown and Biceps Curl. That's one less excercise to worry about.

It'd be ideal if the dips could replace 2 of the isolation excercises. From what I've read briefly, it appears that Dips may be a good substitute for the Triceps Pushdown AND Fly Machine. What's your thoughts on this?

d'Oracle · 03-12-2010 03:40PM

marathonic wrote: »

It'd be ideal if the dips could replace 2 of the isolation excercises. From what I've read briefly, it appears that Dips may be a good substitute for the Triceps Pushdown AND Fly Machine. What's your thoughts on this?

You could do the Bench Press.

Also you swap the Leg press and Leg extension for Squats.

marathonic · 03-12-2010 03:46PM

d'Oracle wrote: »

You could do the Bench Press.

Also you swap the Leg press and Leg extension for Squats.

Yeah, I'd like to do these when I switch gyms. My current gym doesn't have a power rack and the equipement for bench presses is one of those Hammer Strength Smith machines (may be better than isolation machines).

squod · 03-12-2010 04:15PM

marathonic wrote: »

Yeah, I'd like to do these when I switch gyms. My current gym doesn't have a power rack and the equipement for bench presses is one of those Hammer Strength *Smith machines (may be better than isolation machines).

* Avoid the bluddy smith before you're too injured to enjoy the new gym. On a side note I'd be reading the current gym staff/management the riot act before I leave for not even having such basic equipment as a rack.

dartstothesea · 03-12-2010 04:54PM

Warn everyone about this powercageless pitfall of a gym by naming and shaming. It is pretty bad not to have at least one. Or a rack. Something to hold a bar anyway.

marathonic · 03-12-2010 05:27PM

Don't think you guys have much to worry about - I'm in Donegal and the gym is based in Derry. I'm not sure it'd be ethical to name the gym here. If anyone from the area is looking for a gym, they'll see before they join - weight training wasn't one of my goals when I joined so I wouldn't have known what it was even if I'd have seen it

Which Isolation Machines could Pullups/Chinups Replace?

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