Helping out people ?

I was wondering if I you guys say to people when they are not using the proper form on a exercise ?
Usually they thank me for helping out but yesterday a young one...around 18...gave me the honor finger !
He was doing bent over row with back rounded form...

What about you, do you help or tell people at your gym ?

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

I was just thinking about asking this question myself. As of lately i have seen some improper form and i have been letting it go without saying anything. Not sure what to do as i have had some injury due to improper form in the past. I guess it is about how you bring it up to the person, not sure.

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It's running about the following

70% 'you don't know what the hell you're talking about'
10% 'my buddy who's a professional showed me how to do this' professional what? patient?
10% 'I'm not that way' ????? um, neither am I
6.25% 'do you actually work here?' no but it appears that I should
3.75% 'gee thanks, wow, that's MUCH harder' there ya go

So I try not to offer any suggestions anymore. If I'm lifting at the YMCA, I usually go to one of the guys on duty and mention it to him and have THEM approach that person.

Paul

A friend helps you move, a true friend helps you move bodies.

10% 'I'm not that way' ?????

Paul, now what have we told you about picking up guys at the gym? I mean, at least use a better line than "Let me help you with that form..." Next time try something like "Nice guns, cowboy"

I don't dare approach anyone, since I am a minority in the free weights area, and am too busy trying to make sure my own damn form is right. But I can tell you, I would appreciate a comment from a stranger about my form well before I would appreciate a comment from a stranger about my choice of workout (which I have gotten).

I can't believe Paul has gotten 96.25% negative responses - what's wrong with people? I mean, if you don't agree, just say thanks and move on. Why be rude?

Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket?

ORIGINAL: jenng

I can't believe Paul has gotten 96.25% negative responses - what's wrong with people? I mean, if you don't agree, just say thanks and move on. Why be rude?

why be rude...this is simple...we forgot something long time ago...that thing was called...heuu hmmmm I forgot....yes I remember...... RESPECT

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

i only give advice to girls cuz they respond nicely

I've definitely run into the same type of thing. Some are more receptive than others, but I really don't bother going out of my way anymore- There seem to be too many people out there who like lifting weights that are too heavy for them to do with proper form, and I think they generally would feel embarassed to try the same weight with the right form and not be able to move it. It's a big ego boost to be able to say you can bench 300- I know too many people who fail to mention that they have to lift their ass off the bench, perform only half reps, etc. to move that weight. Anyone who tries to show them that they're actually not in the shape to move that weight the right way doesn't seem to be welcome, whether they make sense or not. Now, if I see someone who might end up hurting themselves, I try to feel them out to see if they might be receptive. If they're not, I don't even bother.

What about you, do you help or tell people at your gym ?

I don't.

See, you don't know the mindset of those people.

But when you see them on DB, people are in (mostly) a mindset to learn or debate.

I've seen my fair share of bad form. You might be able to pick out a few to help but overall, you might as well concentrate on your form and then help people out here who are in the mindset to learn and better themselves.

Marc C. David
Support DB! Buy your supplements at Supplements101.com

i only give advice to girls cuz they respond nicely

No...it's because you are a P.I.M.P.

Marc C. David
Support DB! Buy your supplements at Supplements101.com

I usually go to one of the guys on duty and mention it to him and have THEM approach that person.

If I feel compelled, I do exactly as Paul suggests. I've done that once so far. The form was so bad, I just felt that the trainer shouldn't let it go without saying something to the person.

Marc C. David
Support DB! Buy your supplements at Supplements101.com

dang. quite a few times for preseason lifting, people were doing squats like they werecalf raises. very lacking, but we got it straightened out

~no way as way, no limitation as limitation~
Stats
Age:16
Weight:2??
Height:5'7
bf:13%
squat 499.5x 20 bench 411x 9 dead 385x 20

It's much easier to handle it when you're in some sort of group training though- For football, you have a coach, and other teammates who are expected to tell you when you're doing something wrong. If I'm working out with a partner, I actually tend to force them to have proper form, otherwise I won't work out with them. Not that I'm anyone special to work out with, but I feel if I'm spotting someone, I'm responsible for their safety. If they're doing something that could get them hurt, obviously I point it out. If they continue to do it, I tell them I can't spot them anymore. A friend of mine has a strange habit of going up on the balls of his feet whenever he tries to do squats or deadlifts- He doesn't even work out, but when he comes over to my place, he always wants to try deadlifting whatever I happen to have on the bar. I tell him to put his heels on the ground, he tells me he can't, I tell him to leave the weights alone.

Yea, I hear you on the Squats and Deadlifts. I work out with my relatives they describe me as the only one who doesn't "go crazy". We will start squats with 135 with full reps and as the weight gets heavier and heavier their depth gets higher and higher... from full to 3/4 to 1/2 Squats. I try to tell them to move up more gradual and concentrate on getting full reps, but I am the lone voice at the workouts... Lately I have just been concentrating on myself, but sometimes I just feel like screaming out "JUST CONCENTRATE ON YOUR FORM AND A FULL RANGE OF MOTION!!!! NOBODY CARES HOW MUCH WEIGHT IS ON THE BAR!!!!!!"

ORIGINAL: Nic

I was wondering if I you guys say to people when they are not using the proper form on a exercise ?
Usually they thank me for helping out but yesterday a young one...around 18...gave me the honor finger !
He was doing bent over row with the cat back rounded form...

What about you, do you help or tell people at your gym ?

For the most part I do not like to ever give tips to other people at the gym. If I have the feeling they are receptive I would not have a problem helping them out. A lot of times the egos can run wild at the gym though so I just don't even bother.

Most people think:

A) They are stronger than you
B)They have better bodies than you do
C)They know everything about the gym

That's just the way that it is. I personally don't listen to most peoples advice cause most of it is, well, wrong. People telling me not to have alternating grip for deadlift or not to go to parallel for squats because of knee injuries.

For the most part I am stronger/better looking than them and I already know everything about the gym anyway.

So i just figure that if they want to keep doing stuff the wrong way they will never gain any serious muscle and eventually quit(hopefully) or if they really want to get something outta the gym they will eventually either do some research or be told by some1 they will listen to, like a friend/coach ect.