Helping out people ?

RE: Helping out people ? (olav)

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 08:46:49 GMT

I only give advise when asked for. Otherwise I stand back and cringe.

RE: Helping out people ? (The Sheep Man)

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 21:56:37 GMT

HAHAHHA, I told my friend of a way to do curls, and it involved better form... and he found it easier... go figure

RE: Helping out people ? (ronnie_jackson)

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 21:40:24 GMT

I think its best to not offer any advice unless someone specifically asks for it. The only other sport I can think of thats like this is golf. Everyone you play with is an expert and they always know exactly what you need to do in order to fix your game. LOL, ya riiiiiight...

I have only helped someone 1 time. I was approached by what appeared to be a high school student. He had his workout routine printed out and was following it. He came over to me and asked me if I knew what a preacher curl was. I said sure and proceeded over to the hammer station. I sat down and showed him how to do it with an empty bar.....Nice and slow..... reduce the wieght from what you normally use, concentrate on a full extension with a squeeze at the top, etc. I told him to start out at 35 pounds until he get his form down, etc. He said thanks and proceeded to add some weight. I went on with my workout. As I watched him, he tried it for 3 reps and stopped. He then gets up and removes the small weights and puts on a couple of 25's for a total of 65 pounds. Im thinking to myself, there is now way this little guy is gonna do that. Well, he didnt sit down and do preachers. He stands up and starts to curl. At least thats what I think it was. His body was flailing violently back and forth trying to swing the weight up and down with momentum. Im thinking to myself again.....wtf?...... After a few sets of this behavior, he racks the weights and walks off feeling all pumped. On the way to the waterfountain I ask him what he thinks of the preachers. Anyone wanna guess his response?

He says "Man, they are too hard and I cant lift as much"........

Well, at least I tried to help.

Ronnie

RE: Helping out people ? (No Quarter)

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 17:02:34 GMT

Too many egos in the gym (mine included). I generally keep to myself and let others figure it out as I have.

RE: Helping out people ? (ironraider52)

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 16:40:11 GMT

MOst cases when I give advice they say ok and nod there head like they care...then when I walk away they talk crap.

RE: Helping out people ? (bodybuilding is life)

Wed, 23 Nov 2005 21:33:52 GMT

ya i would have to go with 8pack. when i tell other guys they sort of get offended and argue. on the other hand sometimes they listen.

RE: Helping out people ? (Nic)

Sun, 02 Oct 2005 13:21:49 GMT

Since we have lots of new members...just wanted to give a new life to this topic.

RE: Helping out people ? (Weapon X)

Fri, 27 Aug 2004 04:52:24 GMT

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!!!!!!"

Well, I have to eat my words now, because we did squats last night and everyone did full paralell squats. My one relative actaully went down in his regular weight by like 50lbs to just concentrate on form. Maybe I am not the lone voice after all... we had a great workout.

RE: Helping out people ? (mhartman)

Thu, 26 Aug 2004 20:18:51 GMT

Actually I do more than not give form, I don't even talk to anyone else (well besides people that I know from outside the gym) at the gym besides "are you using this", "no I'm not using this", and "sure I'll give you a spot". My brother once asked a bigger guy a question regarding rear shoulder raises and the response was great but otherwise I leave it be.

My main form of communication at the gym is the male nod. All you guys know the one. It's the one where you and another guy give each other a slight nod of the head, sort of like "hello" and respect all rolled up in one.

RE: Helping out people ? (DjjD)

Thu, 26 Aug 2004 18:53:35 GMT

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.

RE: Helping out people ? (2wice)

Thu, 26 Aug 2004 16:03:25 GMT

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.

RE: Helping out people ? (Weapon X)

Thu, 26 Aug 2004 07:29:58 GMT

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!!!!!!"

RE: Helping out people ? (cpl)

Thu, 26 Aug 2004 05:28:58 GMT

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.

RE: Helping out people ? (poncho)

Wed, 25 Aug 2004 20:48:15 GMT

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

RE: Helping out people ? (Marc David)

Wed, 25 Aug 2004 20:21:49 GMT

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.