Marc
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Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
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How does everyone else do this?
For years I have face the machine, with my legs under the supports and pull dow the bar behind my head down to my neck. Last night one of the gym workers came over and said we should be pulling it down in fron of our heads as we were straining our necks the way we were doing it. Said if we wanted to do it this way to face face away from the machine. He also said the guy who lean back when pulling the weight couldn't probably lift it if the remained sat up right. Which makes sense. Concluded by saying, but do it whatever way you want, none of you listen anyway!
I still think the way I've being doing it is right! How does everyone else do it!
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chris-sri
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Registered: 3rd Apr 05
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I always do it with the bar in front and I'm pretty sure he's right about the leaning back bit. If you're leaning back you're using momentum to lift the weight rather than doing it properly.
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Marc
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Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
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I agree totally with the leaning back. I've seen people doing it myself and I've thought they're wasting their time.
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chris-sri
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Registered: 3rd Apr 05
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Yeah I always got told to pull the bar down to the front and I find it awkward doing it the other way in any case. I've seen plenty of people do it the way you describe though.
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Hammer
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Registered: 11th Feb 04
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Always done it to the back of my neck as that's the way i was taught in p.e. for years, having been at the gym for a couple months i've noticed people pulling it to their front though.
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AdZ9
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Registered: 14th Apr 06
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Pulling it behind your head is a sure fure way to injure yourself. Its the wrong way.
Sit as you do with legs under, and grab the handle at a wide grip, pull it down and only go level with your chin. Don't lean back to lift the weight, if you have to do that then lower the weight. Do the movement slowly as well so you don't get into a momentum.
http://www.coopersguns.com/videos/exercise-encyclopedia/lats/lat-pull-down/
Wide grip pull ups are better though! Even if you can only do a couple, keep at it for a month and you'll be doing a full set by the end of it
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Marc
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Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
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I always hold the bar out as wide as I can. And never lean back like others do, was just a comment!
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AdZ9
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Registered: 14th Apr 06
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I wasn't having a go, just making sure that you are doing it the right way and not breaking your neck doing it behind it
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Marc
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Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
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Yeah, I know. Didn't mean it to sound like I was being snappy! That was just an additional comment about the leaning back!
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AdZ9
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Registered: 14th Apr 06
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If i ever use the lat pull down (i prefer pull ups, more of a compound movement) i make sure i really squeeze/contract my lats when i've pulled it down, that way i feel it better as sometimes you can't really feel it working the muscle as well as pull ups
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johnhara1
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Registered: 19th Oct 06
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
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quote: Originally posted by AdZ9
If i ever use the lat pull down (i prefer pull ups, more of a compound movement) i make sure i really squeeze/contract my lats when i've pulled it down, that way i feel it better as sometimes you can't really feel it working the muscle as well as pull ups
Agreed, i do that too as i dont tend to feel it working my back.
I didnt know that about the lat pulls behind your neck being wrong, its demonstrated behind your neck on the actual machine diagram but i tend to do both anyway.
That encyclopedia site is excellent, thankyou.
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Marc
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Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
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Diagram on this machine actually shows infront but I ignored and did it my way!
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Rebecca
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Registered: 8th Jun 07
Location: Penwortham, Lancashire Drives: Integra Type R
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I do it infront of my head.
But thats how I was taught...
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AdZ9
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Registered: 14th Apr 06
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People used to think it was alright to do so they were put on some machines illustrating they were ok. Studies were done and it was proven it was bad for you, it exerts more pressure on something like the 4/5/6th verterbrae of your back resulting in possible back/neck injuries. New machines wouldn't illustrate behind the neck now.
Most exercises behind the neck are bad for you due to the non natural movement and pressure on the spine, such as behind the neck shoulder pressing.
Coopers guns is a very good site, as is http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html
*edit* editted the link to take it to the muscle directory and exercise directory.
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/LatissimusDorsi/CBFrontPulldown.html
[Edited on 08-01-2008 by AdZ9]
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Rebecca
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Registered: 8th Jun 07
Location: Penwortham, Lancashire Drives: Integra Type R
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Thats a good site that...
I'm getting marks on my hands from doin weights I need to buy some gloves but dont have a clue where to get them from?
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AdZ9
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Registered: 14th Apr 06
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Do you mean callouses? I personally don't use gloves as they make it harder to grip the weights and i never feel i have enough of a grip, but they maybe a good idea for you as i imagine most girls wouldn't want callouses
You can get some for argos.co.uk which would be fine for you. Just checked argos, scroll down the page and you'll see some which would be fine for you
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&langId=-1&q=GLOVES&pp=20&c_1=1|cat_8962689|Home%20gym%20equipment|8962770
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Rebecca
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Registered: 8th Jun 07
Location: Penwortham, Lancashire Drives: Integra Type R
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Yeah thats what they are called!
Not pretty when I spend like £60 quid on my nails a month then having rank hands!
The problem is they are usually made for men so they are too big as I only have dinky hands!
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AdZ9
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Registered: 14th Apr 06
User status: Offline
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Ok bex try http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk and on the left search gloves, will bring up loads. Have a flick through, they should have womans ones.
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Rebecca
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Registered: 8th Jun 07
Location: Penwortham, Lancashire Drives: Integra Type R
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by AdZ9
Ok bex try http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk and on the left search gloves, will bring up loads. Have a flick through, they should have womans ones.
Thank you.
Think I might order some tonight.
x
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corsa_godfather
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Registered: 6th May 03
Location: Greenock,Scotland
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i get a better burn pulling it down at the front,feels a tad uncomfortable pulling it down behind my back
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csweatherston
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Registered: 16th Jan 06
Location: Devon
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i have about 4 movements i do with the lateral pulldown machine, mixing them up throughout my weeks workout.
*2 x small d grips(one for either hand) seated on bench leaning back, pulling towards lower chest.
*close grip on small straight bar, underhand chin position seated on bench. straight back pulling towards upper chest.
*mid length bar with a d at either end, seated on bench, straight back, pulling toward upper chest.
.*knees under the support bench wide grip (longbar) pulling behind the neck.
- this is the best way if you use good form, as the knees under the bench keep your back straighter, as does the bar behing the neck...
IMO
[Edited on 11-01-2008 by csweatherston]
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AdZ9
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Registered: 14th Apr 06
User status: Offline
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i keep my knees under the supports... but i pull it down infront of you like your meant to. Think of a wide grip chin up, youy don't pull yourself upwards to your neck do you!
csweatherston do you do proper chin ups? You'd benefit more from doing real chin ups instead of ones on a lat pull down machine, they may see mthe same movement but they are different in many ways
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csweatherston
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Registered: 16th Jan 06
Location: Devon
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can you do unassisted chins with nearly 200lb of weight?...
no... neither can i
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AdZ9
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Registered: 14th Apr 06
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I can actually, and I do every week, overhand wide grip pull ups, then if i feel like it, underhand close grip pull ups!
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csweatherston
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Registered: 16th Jan 06
Location: Devon
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this makes me sad.....
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