Blog Entry
Alright, so I have to get his off my chest, out of my system, etc. At the gym tonight, I was witness to one of many reasons some women are intimidated and turned off by weight lifting. There was a couple working out together and I can safely assume that neither of them saw the inside walls of the gym too often. However, I think it’s rad to see new people trying to make changes. So, the man is doing goodmornings with a 45lbs dumbell and although his wasn’t too scary, hers was. She obviously hadn’t done this exercise before and was hardly able to lift the bar to her shoulders, let alone perform the exercise… correctly that is. As I’m doing my lunges in the corner, I’m cringing at what is happening and I feel bad for her. I know that all the intentions were good, etc. but I was really struggling with givin’ her a lil hint, advice if you will. After they finish the good mornings, the man attempts to show her how to squat… again… with the 45lbs barbell. Her heels came way off the ground and her knees way over her toes…. yikes. At this point, I am practically forcing myself to mind my own business, but finally I can’t help it and I offer a bit of advice. I was very polite and simply suggested that she might feel much more comfortable with a little less weight (baby steps lol). They thanked me and I go off to finish my workout and when I gather the courage to look in their direction, what do I see…. she is still attempting a "squat" with the same barbell. Ugh… Well, I tried right? I just want people to learn the right way and feel good with no injuries so that they too can learn to love and live for what we all do… weight lifting baby!:)
January 30, 2009 at 12:22 am
I know how you feel. There are guys in my gym that I call the pain boys. They are normal sized guys, and don’t look like they work out much. I heard them the other day yelling, above the tunes on my Ipod, while lifting weights. I’m somewhat amused so I go over to take a peek at what they’re doing. They have FIVE 45lb plates on each side of a bar and they are attempting to do shrugs with it. In effect all they are doing is shouting and budgeing the bar maybe a half inch from its resting place. What a bunch of tools. It was funny.
January 30, 2009 at 12:36 am
If they are new why are they doing barbells and dumbbell exercises? Most everything I’ve read says it’s good for new lifters to start with machines, to learn the range of motion and work the connective tissues as well as the muscle. Then to move on to cables, and finally to free weights. I wonder how many people injure themselves each year and stonewall their goals by going too hard, too fast, on the wrong equipment.
January 30, 2009 at 1:50 am
I saw 2 young guys doing deadlifts a few days ago in my gym and it was like I could feel the pain in my own back. They didn’t look like they’ve done this particular excercise before and after a while I decided to go over and offer 2 advice:
1) Use less weight (they’re almost at the same weight as I do…)
2) Try to KEEP YOUR BACK STRAIGHT
Well, I was very polite, just pointing out what I’d do. I’m curious what happens when I see them again doing deadlifts…
February 4, 2009 at 12:44 pm
you can lead the horse too water but you can’t make em drink.
February 4, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I hear you loud and clear. I do believe most folks are very grateful for tips I have given them,because I will see them not doing what I suggested and they will ask more questions, thats how you learn. Right? Although I did see a women doing DB curls while walking, but was throwing her shoulders back on the flexion. I suggested that she is not getting the full benefit of her curls, I was told to mind my own f#$king business like you I tried its all you can do.
February 13, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I saw a dude at 24 doing the same thing, squating with a barbell with plates, and his heels came all the way up and knees past toes, it was nuts, I went over to help him and he barely spoke english (spanish speaking).. but on his next set he did it correctly and I could see his butt burning. haha
on a happier note, I hope I look as good as you in my first comp in May!
February 20, 2009 at 11:53 am
telling someone in the gym to use less weight is like telling a child "do not press the red button" - you knowthe moment your back is turned they will completely ignore your advice
February 23, 2009 at 5:17 am
Well your intentions were good,Id do it every time if I had seen it,I stay there untille the apply what i say and feeling it works better,i’ve helped lots a people this way and they always thank me with way better results rather focusing on form than the wheight.I really don’t care if they’d think im a know it all etc. all i do is pass along knowledge from my own trial and errors,so other people can trial and triumph and not go through the ditches and learn the slow,long and hard way,I do unto others as i would want doen onto me and im open minded and would apreciate it if a guy or even a chick the third of my wheight gives me advice or tels me my form is a bit of here and there,being humble and open minded u learn allot more and ucan never learn enough. The other people shouldleave their ego’s at the door ,to prvent training their frail joints instead of their muscles. So id offer advice to any go bigger than me or smalle and woman,only because id like them to progress faster without hitting hte damn ditches i did. p.s. You’ve got a good heart,it’s good helping poeple even though they don’t always apreciate it.
February 23, 2009 at 9:36 am
I’m thankfull for those like you that help people like me avoid injury. I’m still working out the rough spots with my routines to loose weight. After years of pending time on basic execcises and not branching out I can move heavey weight on some but I’m still a beginer with other exercises.
I do see people all the time trying to one up people in moving weight, or just bitting off more then they can chew.
February 24, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Maybe she was trying to do calf-raises at the same time! lol!
I think just about everyone can relate to ur blog in one way or another. Ur either the guy/girl about to kill themselves from doing an exercise wrong, or ur the one off to the side watching them & anticipating having to run over there to help them out from under the bar like an earthquake victim.
…. Good blog.
March 4, 2009 at 6:50 am
You did the right thing …. it was up to them to take your advice. When and if they get serious about their workouts and if others inform them of their not so good form… they will look back at what you said and appreciate it. All you can do is make a suggestion… and you did that. Have a good day… Good success!!
March 4, 2009 at 7:51 am
I totally understand. I see people all the time in the gym doing this. You see people trying to lift really heavy but, there is totally incorrect. And they are putting there self in danger by doing this. I have found out to just keep my mouth shut, cause most people do not like to be told what they are doing improperly in the gym.
March 6, 2009 at 7:55 am
I think it’s GREAT that you offered help. I LOVE it when people, especially women as in shape as you, politely and selflessly offer me a quick tip in the gym. Sometimes I try and make it obvious that I don’t know what the hell I am doing in hopes that someone will try and give me a little assistance! Where are all the gym rats like you?? lol
March 6, 2009 at 7:59 am
Hopefully they learn, right? haha, learn the hard way, but learn at least.
March 7, 2009 at 6:00 am
Everyone has to start somewhere.. but that doesn’t mean they have to start on the wrong foot. I’m glad there are people like you, me and everyone who posted to help them along. Let’s keep everyone safe and informed.
May 31, 2009 at 1:40 pm
i agree with what u said lol. its very hard to see people do things in a way that will injure them. i tried to help a person with squats and deadlifts once, he said that he knows what he is doing(mind you that he is about 150lbs vs me 220lbs lol). next day he came up to me and said that he looked it up on line and that i told him the correct way and started to ask me how to work other parts lol.
another one was with a very nice guy who was in his late 40s, he started talking to me because he thought i looked very good lol. he said that he has shoulder problems and i told him that he does his bench wrong(by touching his chest on the way down). i told him not to go that low and to only go parallel to the ground. he tried it and said that he cant do as much weight and said that he will go back to his old method. i talked to him a few weeks ago and he said that his shoulder started to bother him a lot more to a point that he couldnt move it and that he’s getting surgery(very sad). he told me that his physician said that after the surgery, when he does benchpress not to go pass parallel to ground not to put pressure on his shoulder. he said that he feels dumb for not listening to me.
people have different ways of learning, some have to go through injuries to learn which is very sad.
June 4, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Which is why you just do your stuff and get out of there, I gave up trying to help people after seeing they just don’t care or still eat twinkies outside the gym.
July 4, 2009 at 11:17 am
I hear ya…I used to offer advice (esp. on proper form), until I realized that apparently people enjoy hurting themselves. I see it over here all of the time….soldiers trying to be a "bad ass" instead of working on proper form and less weight. I totally feel your pain, it distracts me from my workout…I am getting better regarding not offering advice. Whenever I do a new exercise, I will go seek out someone and get there input! Happy 4th and I hope you had a great day…keep kickin’ ass in the gym.