Use a light to moderate weight on the bar and a light
weight on the cable machine - you'll know why you need to start light after doing a few reps of this!
A typical functional training routine may include
exercises on cable machines, push - ups, lunges, side and front planks, hip thrusts, and Russian twists.
Well, not unless they are done in a certain way, in which they can engage the entire abdominal wall and fully stretch it, thus putting a great deal of tension on the lower abs with weighted reps.. This exercise is a variation on the standard rope crunches, this time using a D - handle instead of the
rope on the cable machine.
I used a straight bar and started with 60
pounds on the cable machine and did an easy 10 reps. I went up to 70 pounds for the second set and did another 10 reps. I finished with 80 pounds for 10 reps on the third set.
Just last night, I couldn't reach the
pin on the cable machine to lower it, so I swallowed my pride and asked someone for help.
Free weights challenge the arms in a way that machines do not - they require stabilizing muscles to keep good form and to perform the movement (think of a bicep
curl on a cable machine versus with free weights).