understandable, the feeling safer on a smith. i use it for squats only because i don't have a spotter, and when you are racking two 35 pound plates you kinda want one. lol.

word of wisdom, the smith forces your body into a particular stance which is not entirely good for your back/knees and such. ensure that while you are building strength and confidence you are still using a free weight (with a lighter load) to practice form without the smith.

this is how to naturally graduate to unassisted squats~

i have finally graduated from using the smith to grabbing a pre-racked 40 pound bar for my squats - though ideally we should be in the squat cages.

good work! and while some nay sayers say nay (regarding smith machines), your determination shows and will only make you stronger.

keep it up!

The Smith Machine is one of my favorite ways to work out. Well, was since I don't go to the Gym.  Our Golds Gym closed up shop here. I used the Smith Machine when I was going to do reps to failure. It also makes you use correct form.  Anyway, if I could only have one piece of exercise equiptment it would be the Smith Machine.  Right now I'm using a Bowflex. I'm really happy with it.  But, I wish I could do squats.

Original Post by suseuser:

It also makes you use correct form. 

 What exercise is it possible to do with correct form on a smith machine?

Good work on your lifting success! With that said, the Smith machine is NOT the answer. That thing sucks because it puts you in all kinds of unnatural positions. You might be able to get away with doing front squats on the Smith, but those are really easy to do without that horrible thing anyway.

I never do chest presses with a spotter, mainly because I don't lift enough to kill myself with (about 100lbs). If I fail, I roll the bar down my body and tilt the bar to slide the weights off.

Original Post by spirochete:

Good work on your lifting success! With that said, the Smith machine is NOT the answer. That thing sucks because it puts you in all kinds of unnatural positions. You might be able to get away with doing front squats on the Smith, but those are really easy to do without that horrible thing anyway.

I never do chest presses with a spotter, mainly because I don't lift enough to kill myself with (about 100lbs). If I fail, I roll the bar down my body and tilt the bar to slide the weights off.

 So how do you do challenging enough squats?  Front squats instead of the ones where your bar is rested behind your head?  I don't exactly know what a front squat is, so I'll google that...but is that the answer to my difficulty?

spiro...

ok, so I googled front squat and see this demo - http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BBFrontSquat. html

I still think that, without a spotter, I would feel safer on the smith mahine, but I understand your point that it forces me into a way of doing them that is tied to the position the smith machine puts the bar (not using my own balance, but that of that machine's)....but the thing that makes me feel safer is that the barm should I fail to lift, won't fly onto the ground, maybe hit my toes, and then crash the mirror!!!

So, what, I continue doing the lower weight with many reps until my upper body catches up in strength?

You can do heavy squats without a spotter, if the weight is too heavy to complete the lift, drop the weight off of your shoulder.

Original Post by jojodancer1971:

 So how do you do challenging enough squats?  Front squats instead of the ones where your bar is rested behind your head?  I don't exactly know what a front squat is, so I'll google that...but is that the answer to my difficulty?

 I found a gym with a squat rack which has safety bars if I fail. I squat about 135lbs without a spotter, and I have failed safely.

Original Post by jojodancer1971:

I still think that, without a spotter, I would feel safer on the smith mahine, but I understand your point that it forces me into a way of doing them that is tied to the position the smith machine puts the bar (not using my own balance, but that of that machine's)....but the thing that makes me feel safer is that the barm should I fail to lift, won't fly onto the ground The weight won't fly anywhere, it will drop, maybe hit my toes If you're doing a squat with the weight on your back how is it going to hit your toes? the weight will hit the grould (or saftey bar) and roll backwards, and then crash the mirror!!! if there is a mirror behind you it might roll into it, but it won't be crashing around unless your lifting on a hill.  if you're really worried you can put a 2x4 down a few feet behind you so it doesn't roll away.

So, what, I continue doing the lower weight with many reps until my upper body catches up in strength?

ok, I found this squat rack with safeties and I am sure my gym has it.  I'll check it out -- thanks everyone.

http://stronglifts.com/how-to-squat-safely-when-youre-alone/

I graduated out of the Smith Machine awhile ago too.  I now squat in a cage with safeties.  I like it much better and actually feel safer than in the Smith Machine.  Start with weights you can handle and move up as you get comfortable with form.  It is not as scary as you think.  You can do it!

I like to do Jump squats with that machine....try it with light weight first...it's for explosiveness when running or fighting...very very good for the butt, and over-all legs.

Original Post by spirochete:

Good work on your lifting success! With that said, the Smith machine is NOT the answer. That thing sucks because it puts you in all kinds of unnatural positions. You might be able to get away with doing front squats on the Smith, but those are really easy to do without that horrible thing anyway.

I never do chest presses with a spotter, mainly because I don't lift enough to kill myself with (about 100lbs). If I fail, I roll the bar down my body and tilt the bar to slide the weights off.

 In an ideal world you would always have a spotter.  But sometimes that just doesn't happen. I know we are not talking about hard-core body building here. But, if you are serious about lifting, you will have to find out your limits.  And it allows you to do this in a relatively safe manner. And if you are going to do a little circuit training.  You have the machine to yourself to quickly change between exercises. But, it's not the only equiptment I use. For 90% of my normal workout, I prefer the cable machine.  It forces me to use stablizing muscles and work from unique angles. But, that is what works for me.  I think everyone needs to find what works best for them.  Each persons body responds differently to various exercise equiptment.    

I lift very heavy (for me), I'm not sure what you're on about

I'm just saying you can't always have a spotter.  Or in my case rarely have a spotter. For a solo weight lifter there is nothing that is "safer" than the Smith. The original poster stated that it worked for them. And I don't want to discourage any lifter by making them feel like what they are doing is not as valuable as something else. I agree that free weights are the way to go. Or in my case the Bowflex since it's the only thing that fits in my tiny house! I would say that a large percentage of novice lifters don't use the best of body mechanics when using free weights without some training. And it's easy to get hurt.

  In the end the Smith Machine is just a tool. If it makes someone get excited about training.  I would say go for it!        

The Smith Machine is a very bad tool and not very safe since it puts you in bad positions and promotes terrible form.

I'm 100% on board with encouraging people to get excited about their training, though. I think it's better to steer that encouragement towards effective, safe training however. I might be really excited about losing weight, but what would you say if I said I was going to do it by eating 300 calories a day?