Hi everyone, I have only recently begun to do some beginners "real" weight lifting. Right now I am only doing BW squats, low weight DB stiff-legged dumbells, lunges etc. and an UPB workout with Ab workouts each day and HIIT cardio on alternate days.
I am following Krista's beginner program ( adding in a few more sets and also exercises).
Luckily we have a lot of weight training equipment in our basement since my husband bought it all about 10 years ago.
I finally realized by reading 3fatchicks that I needed to get off the leg press and leg extension machines and do the squats, etc.
Sorry for this long ramble to get to my point but I have flu and am a bit light headed and dizzy.
My husband is talking about turning our basment into a full exercise gym.
I have only been using dumbells ( and to be honest I find them kind of scary on the last reps when I am doing things like chest presses and shoulder press and really going for that new extra rep) but I am really scared of the barbell, also because of a recurrent left shoulder weakness.
I tried putting the barbell on my shoulders and felt it hurt ( I know I need to look up Krista's and others' recommendations of how to exactly place it on the shoulders) and so my husband thinks we should ( eventually) get a Smith machine which he feels is a lot safer when you use barbells.
Since I am such a newbie I wanted to ask first if this is a good idea?
And what is the difference between a Smith machine and a squat cage?
He says once we got a Smith machine I could do all my presses on it and feel safe about the weights not crashing down on me.
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks