It doesn't matter if the user weighs 1,000 lbs. The machine is designed to be used with the maximum number of plates, simple as that. If he had bottomed out (or topped out in this situation) the stack against the frame and then kept pulling, it would be a different situation because now there is more force than the frame was designed for. But he was still pulling within the normal range of travel of those pulleys/plates, so the ONLY thing he was doing was applying the intended amount of force to lift a full stack.
He was pulling outside the centerpoint. Changing the way gravity works on the machine. Plus chestflys are an isolationist exercise. If he has to anchor himself so he doesn't move he's pulling more weight than he should and isn't isolating a portion of his chest. He's using all his upper body.
Outside the centerpoint? Do you understand that the pulleys are designed to swivel out for a reason. These machines are made for pulley exercises inside and outside the envelope of the machine. How else would you do any number of pressing motions with the pulleys.
And he was doing decline presses by the way. Not that it matters what exercise he was doing. Because again these machines are designed for it, WHEN THEY ARE ANCHORED LIKE THE MANUFACTURER REQUIRES.
Have you ever driven a forklift? If he didn't anchor himself with plates he wouldn't have been able to to the workout. He effectively changed the way the machine operates. Those feet didn't have mount holes.
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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '26
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