Guest guest Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 Hi! I'm a beginner, I'm going to be working out at home with a universal machine and a set of free weights and I have a couple of questions. I wanted to do back extensions but don't have the equipment for it. Can anyone recommend a comparable exercise (would squats suffice?)? Also, as far as calf raises go, would it be better to do them with dumbbells or with a bar? The bar's bolted into my universal machine so I guess it's kind of a machine. Thanks! Best, - Sherrick West Nanticoke, PA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 I can think of more effective exercises than calf raises and back extensions, but if you want to do them you can with a bench and a smith machine. Just find a bench that will allow you to hang your torso over it with your head touching the ground, set up te bar on the smith machine to the desired height, place your feet under the bar, your pelvis on the bench (you should be facing down) and hey presto! A back extension machine :-) You may want to experiment with the height of the bar and the distance between the smith machine and the bench to find out what best suits you. Squats also work very well, as do variations of the clean and deadlift. Cleans, squats, snatches es, push press and split jerks and similar exercises also work your calves. Dave Yorkshire UK > > Hi! I'm a beginner, I'm going to be working out at home with a universal machine and a set of free weights and I have a couple of questions. I wanted to do back extensions but don't have the equipment for it. Can anyone recommend a comparable exercise (would squats suffice?)? Also, as far as calf raises go, would it be better to do them with dumbbells or with a bar? The bar's bolted into my universal machine so I guess it's kind of a machine. Thanks! > > Best, > > - Sherrick > West Nanticoke, PA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Have you ever used a stability ball? I know that a lot of people view them as " sissy " , but I feel you can get a really good workout with one. You mentioned wanting to do back extensions. One exercise would be where you start in a prone with trunk support position. Your arms are at your sides, or wrapped around the back of the ball. Let your spine flex slightly so your trunk is rounded over the ball. Then slowly extend the spine, lifting your chest slightly off the ball until the spine is straight or slightly extended. Return slowly to starting position. Something like this can also be done on a mat on the floor if you don't have a ball available. Michele LeGrand Kennett Square, PA > > Hi! I'm a beginner, I'm going to be working out at home with a universal machine and a set of free weights and I have a couple of questions. I wanted to do back extensions but don't have the equipment for it. Can anyone recommend a comparable exercise (would squats suffice?)? Also, as far as calf raises go, would it be better to do them with dumbbells or with a bar? The bar's bolted into my universal machine so I guess it's kind of a machine. Thanks! > > Best, > > - Sherrick > West Nanticoke, PA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 I assume fitness stores carry stability balls? Best, - Sherrick West Nanticoke, PA > > > > Hi! I'm a beginner, I'm going to be working out at home with a > universal machine and a set of free weights and I have a couple of > questions. I wanted to do back extensions but don't have the > equipment for it. Can anyone recommend a comparable exercise (would > squats suffice?)? Also, as far as calf raises go, would it be > better to do them with dumbbells or with a bar? The bar's bolted > into my universal machine so I guess it's kind of a machine. > Thanks! > > > > Best, > > > > - Sherrick > > West Nanticoke, PA > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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