Back on the Smith Machine

Before I even go into my excitement for getting on the Smith machine once again, let me explain what a Smith machine is first.

The Smith machine is a large machine that has a bar and slots that you can lock it into for safety. You can do a variety of exercises on it standing, as well as with a bench whether it’s flat or incline. There are four of these at the gym which are place right in front of a mirror as Smith machines usually are.

The Smith machine is not thought to be the most effective way to build muscle but it certainly is a very safe option. They have been accident stead of occurred on it when the bar does not lock and somebody has too much weight on it. If you want to read more about the Smith machine I suggest you go to Wikipedia where they had a very good description of it, as well as references. I had no idea that Jack LaLanne invented it and it was developed by Rudy Smith, who passed away in 2010. The link to his obituary is dead on the Wikipedia article but it was just interesting that I could find some history.

These machines are very popular at the gym. When I am there at 5 AM, a couple of the scenes are usually empty.  By the time I leave though, they are all taken.  

Members kind of camp out there for a bit, as they have claimed a piece of property on the gym floor, whether or not they are using the Smith machine. Sometimes they will drag dumbbells over and include a circuit in their routine, but this Smith machine is something that I have wanted to do again for a long time. It was only since I had my surgery last year that I was able to put both feet flat on the floor again and do a squat safely.

One of the reasons that I love this machine is because it is safe for me to hold onto. Being mobility challenged is tough when you want to work in the freeway area. I have 

Picked up dumbbells on the rack and then said what are you going to do with them now? You certainly can’t carry them there to the bench. Once I rolled it towards the bench that I wanted to get on and almost took out a member like I was in a bowling tournament.  It was a dumb move and I’m lucky nobody got hurt.

For me it’s not only being a danger to myself in this environment, it’s being a danger to anybody else. So I keep my free weights to myself, and look for machines that I can safely place my crutches into, and the Smith machine I knew was possible.

The issue that I have with the Smith machine is that I cannot load and unload plates on the side to change the weight. The bar would be enough for me, but it’s always nice to have the option. So that’s the first problem that I have with the machine is that I can’t manage the plates.

I also have a balance issue where I need to make sure that I am not holding onto crutches while doing an activity. I can safely raise and lower the bar by itself and slide it back to lock in with the notches on the Smith machine (The best feature of the machine in my opinion).

So that’s what I was afraid of knowing how are used in the past, the plates and the balance without crutches.

So moved to present day, I saw a friend of mine, Gabby, who was using a Smith machine. She was actually in between sets. And couldn’t miss me coming as it’s hard to miss me with bright Orange crutches. (By the way my crutches are orange because that is the color of the MS society. In case anybody what does why I’m flashing orange, it’s to raise awarenvess for MS. I thought of bringing my crutches but for now they are pretty bright orange and that’s it.)

I came right up to her and I pretty much wanted to ask her if she would help spot me on the machine. She almost fell on the floor. “Of course,“ she said. I think she was completely surprised, as well as the other members that were in that area, but I was just focusing on the machine so I couldn’t really tell.

When I made my way over I bent down but the bar was a little too low for me. There was padding on it so I just easily stood up and raised it and latched it safely in the notch so I could stand up straight. I held on with a wide grip and also was trying to move my feet in a good position to not have my knees go over my toes. It was good to just set myself up again. Gabby grabbed my camera and wanted to capture the memory for me. I was completely happy that she did and humbled that somebody would even think of that. People say that I inspire them.  There are so many people who inspire me at the gym and keep me moving, feeling like I am really a part of some thing and there is nothing wrong with me. I completely belong there. That’s why I needed the Smith machine in my pocket again.

I did a few squats, I even let go of the bar towards the end.

Would I do it again?

When I was reading up on the Smith machine in the Wikipedia article, I saw a couple of times that the Smith machine is not the best way for you to do an exercise. Particularly because your stabilizing muscles are not an action, they are braced. It reminds me completely of my leg brace. The monstrosity that just held my leg closed up like a sausage. I wonder how much of my leg muscles actually atrophied because of the brace, or due to MS. I will never know until I keep kicking my ass at the gym every day to see if I can get it stronger. It seems to be a slow process but I am not paralyzed.

So I will continue to use the machines at the gym, some machines that I can stand on and grab onto if I should feel like losing my balance, and stay close to the weight rack with the free weights on it. The Smith machine is a bit clunky for me at this time, but with a friend, I could certainly do it. It just matters how much time I actually have to be at the gym that day. I try to fit in for exercises, with four sets each, and a half hour of cardio at least but on weekends 40 minutes. And at least it’s all weight-bearing cardio at this time. so I’m building bone while I’m building muscle, to combat my osteoporosis. But that’s a whole different post isn’t it?

I look at this photo that I shared as the image for the post and I look to see my crutches on my left side waiting for me, I’m holding on like a bad ass and I am just getting stronger every day. If I looked at this picture I would not think that I had MS. I look normal. I guess I really am normal right? And this picture makes me feel larger than life. I am putting it on my vision board today.