i go to a localy owned gym and it is obviously machine oriented. some are convenient, all i need to do is flip a switch to adjust the weight. i am not strong enough to do dips so i use a dipping machine. it lets me push down two handles to simulate dipping, not a machine that assists me with real dips.
My question is how long it will take for me to be strong enough to do real dips. the weight i use on the machine is 90 pounds, for five reps. theoreticaly wouldnt it take me a long time to be able to dip my own bodyweight? which is 160.
Sounds like a really goofy machine. I’d try jumping up onto the bars and then working on lowering yourself under control. If that’s not enough of a workout try doing that after the machine.
How many dips can you do without the use of a machine? Can you do three? If so, do sets of three. It might not fit the protocol you’re following (what protocol are you following?), but real dips are infinitely better than the machine you’re talking about for an infinite variety of reasons.
You will find that your strength on the dips will increase quickly and you will be able to do more in no time, at least that has been my experience.
Unless you’re really obese, you should be able to do a dip just because you’re male and have lived in earth’s gravity for some time.
Don’t be afraid of low rep numbers (do singles if you have to, they work great for strength gains) or partials (stop above 90 deg and go back up)
Oh god, I’m having flashbacks to my days of only doing sets of one for dips. However, it’s just one of those things that you have to work all you can and improve steadily. If you want something to help you with dips, do any other upper body exercise that will involve you having complete control over you bodyweight ex. push ups, pull ups, and then work on dips
I’d like to add that there are some horrible dip stations out there. Comfortable width for a person varies a lot. And using real parallel bars is awesome.
My brother actually had this problem. He comes over to my house and screws around on my dip bars. Anywho, when he first started that he could do 1/2 dip. So I says, do half dips then you skinny bastard. Now hes doing 3 dips 2 weeks later. Maybe in a couple weeks he’ll be doing 10. Point is, those machines are ego pumpers, just do as much of a dip as you can. Just a thought.
i do not think i can do one, i have not tried lately. my question though is if the machine says that i can only push 90 pounds then i am nowhere near to lifting my own bodyweight of 160
Dont rely on those machines to give you an accurate measurement of what you are physically capable of. It would prolly be better to just do DB presses.
Your answer is screw the machine. Stop thinking about the mathematical conversion from lbs to weeks to a normal dip. I’m assuming you’re not doing 1 rep of 90lbs on the machine, so you can almost definitely do at least 1 rep unassisted.
JUST TRY DIPPING.
Take the advice of everyone here before you give up on yourself. If you can’t do a real dip yet, then there are a plethora of other exercises that will build your triceps and chest better than the assisted dip bar (close-grip bench press and skull crushers come to mind). Just give it a shot!
[quote]bmitch wrote:
eremesu wrote:
i do not think i can do one, i have not tried lately. my question though is if the machine says that i can only push 90 pounds then i am nowhere near to lifting my own bodyweight of 160
Ditch the machine… just do negatives or do you have a dip assistance machine?[/quote]
No fancy stuff, just dip.
[quote]eremesu wrote:
i go to a localy owned gym and it is obviously machine oriented. some are convenient, all i need to do is flip a switch to adjust the weight. i am not strong enough to do dips so i use a dipping machine. it lets me push down two handles to simulate dipping, not a machine that assists me with real dips.
My question is how long it will take for me to be strong enough to do real dips. the weight i use on the machine is 90 pounds, for five reps. theoreticaly wouldnt it take me a long time to be able to dip my own bodyweight? which is 160.[/quote]
Here are some ideas :
Do some good ol fashioned GTG training (If you can do 3 dips, do sets of 1-2 for awhile for greater amounts of volume to help you body adapt to doing more. If you want to get better at dips, then do dips and dip a lot!
Ditch the machine, and do some real bodyweight dips. Even if you can’t do 1 full dip, it will build you up much faster and better if you keep plugging away.
My dips started at BW for 3 reps, in 2 sets - that was 2 weeks ago. I just got BW x4, BWx3 yesterday. I’m also adding partials at the end of each set (but not counting them).
It’s just one of those things that’s best to just DO (like pull ups), and not worry about HOW MANY you can do. It will come in time.
Good luck!
You will never know what is possible unless you try.
Jump up on the bars and see what you got, I bet you will surprise yourself.
If you still fail, a yielding isometric(lowering your self slowly under control) would be in order. You can also do an isometric hold at varying points of the movement. Then work into singles and doubles and keep progressing.
You need to find the right mind set, don’t think about it, just shut up and do it. I would rather you tried and failed rather then failed to try.
[quote]eremesu wrote:
i do not think i can do one, i have not tried lately. my question though is if the machine says that i can only push 90 pounds then i am nowhere near to lifting my own bodyweight of 160[/quote]
There is really no correspondence to the dip machine numbers and how much bodyweight you can dip. There is actually little correspondence between machine to machine as the arrangement of the pulleys can make a big difference on how much you can “push”.
Haha - So, eremesu, I think you have your answer!! Good luck!
i had the same problem as you. i could never do dips. i tried for three weeks.
1st week - 1dip
2nd week - 3 dips
3rd week (2day) - 4 sets of 7
when you get used to the positioning and movement needed it becomes a lot easier. have some spot you the first few times round by holding ur legs up.
What worked for my brother was doing dips off of a bench with assist from his legs. Once you’re able to do a couple off the bench no sweat, then jump on the bars. Although doing the dips off the bench is a different thing, it’ll at least help you to start getting comfortable with the motion so you can transition to the bars easily.
[quote]bmitch wrote:
Brucelee69 wrote:
bmitch wrote:
eremesu wrote:
i do not think i can do one, i have not tried lately. my question though is if the machine says that i can only push 90 pounds then i am nowhere near to lifting my own bodyweight of 160
Ditch the machine… just do negatives or do you have a dip assistance machine?
No fancy stuff, just dip.
Kinda hard to dips if you can’t do dips.[/quote]
Even if you can’t do dips, I think it’s the most useful to at least try to dip. Wobble around, fall off the bar - whatever. Improve over time.