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Say Something or Not?

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Say Something or Not? - 5/30/2003 7:54:50 PM

Marc David

Posts: 9184
Joined: 4/6/2003
From: Bay Area -CA
Status: offline

We' ve all be in this situation. You' re in a gym (any gym) and you see somebody doing an exercise. Cardio or anything fitness related that' s so incorrect it' s funny yet sad.

For example, I saw in my corporate gym in the last two days:

A: An older employee doing lat pulldowns (front) to her lap. Maybe she thought somebody say " lap-pulldowns" It was horribly incorrect.

B: Person comes in.. Fully dressed in khakis and a button up shirt. Gets their chest press on.. bicep curl on.. back and forth.. leaves. Hope I' m not in a meeting with this guy.

C: A middle-aged woman using the cybex bicep curl machine to do some sort of modified rowing action. I believe that she was attempting to do biceps but was not using the grip and was actually doing some type of odd rowing movement with the bicep machine.

I know that most of you here probably don' t do things like this. I' m not saying our form is perfect. But I' m pretty sure if you are on a bodybuilding forum, you would not use the bicep machine as a row. I' m only asking about things you see in the gym that are so extreme that it' s a no-brainer it' s totally incorrect.

Question

If somebody is doing something so obviously wrong and you are in a gym that is full of newbies, do you say anything?

Post #: 1

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RE: Say Something or Not? - 6/7/2003 8:20:18 PM

zebrahead

Posts: 26
Joined: 4/29/2003
Status: offline

I wouldn' t. Not unless it was something really dangerous to themselves..

(in reply to Marc David)

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RE: Say Something or Not? - 6/10/2003 2:34:09 PM

cpl

Posts: 5667
Joined: 5/26/2003
From: New York City
Status: offline

Yeah, I really should have posted the whole Bob story here...
In another thread, I related how I work with someone just like this- I have tried saying something to them, but they refuse to listen. When dealing with this kind of situation, I think it' s important not to come across as the know it all- I don' t enough about bodybuilding to be considered any kind of expert anyway- So, I tactfully tried to let the guy know he was in for an injury, but he continues to do dangerous workouts. Sloppy form, jerky movements, made up exercises (I think he would do rows on the bicep curl machine if he had access to one.) Kris pointed out a good idea- If the person doesn' t want to be helped, use them as your own motivation. I think I' m going to do just that.

(in reply to Marc David)

Post #: 3

RE: Say Something or Not? - 6/10/2003 2:44:06 PM

Posts: 25
Joined: 4/29/2003
Status: offline

We all know somebody like that.. it was me a few years ago.. It' s very difficult to listen to somebody who tells you that whatever you' re doing is incorrect.

My thought is.. the trainers at the gym who are the " pros" should be going around and giving advice if they see something way way off. It gets business for them, and it could possibly keep an injury from occurring.

Look at it this way.. maybe he' s looking at you.. thinking.. damn that CPL is gonna screw himself someday. I might just have to go over there and talk to him and tell him he' s wasting his time doing those single exercises with all that weight.

Maybe he' s thinking the same thing?

If people aren' t open to listen to other' s ideas (I' ve seen Kris post this) then screw them.

It' s your time in the gym. I assume you aren' t getting paid. So why waste your 20 minutes on a guy who' s gonna just argue with you anyway.

If he asks for advice (sees your progress booming) great. If not, keep out of it until his jerking around and swinging infringes on your safety. Let the trainers do their job..

One time I told a trainer that that' s not the way to do a row.. he agreed and I closed with.. you really should tell them as you are the trainer in the gym. Out of guilt or whatever, he went over and talked to this woman and showed her the correct form.

Use a liaison if you feel you MUST say something but don' t want the associated hassles. Make the trainer work for it. Heck, he might even get business from this guy and you should ask for a referral fee!! Smile