Resolutioners...

**musclestack** · 01-06-2015, 12:14 PM

I touched on this subject briefly with GGR in another thread. Let me first say that I really admire the newbies wanting to better themselves, and making time to train in the gym, although for 98% of them, it never lasts more than a few weeks. For the 2% that stick it out, kudos to you. For those of you who don't, please be aware of some 'rules' that, in my opinion, should go without saying...

Last night in the gym, I was training back. I was on the machine that takes the place of bent over barbell rows (not sure of the proper name). I had 3 plates on, and when I picked it up, anyone with eyesight could see that it was heavy. I started my set, and when I got to the third of fourth rep, a middle-aged woman (newbie) came up to me and asked me "Is that the squat bench?" (pointing to the squat rack). I grunted "What?", not skipping a beat in my set. She repeated, "Is that the squat bench?" I couldn't really understand her; one, because I was focused on my set and, two, because I didn't know what the hell a 'squat bench' was. So, I said "No", with the hopes that she would just go away and let me finish my set. She did, and when I was finished, I walked over to her and asked what she had asked...She repeated again, "I was just wondering if this is the squat bench." I replied, "This is the squat rack, yes", sweating profusely, and trying to catch my breath.

People please, when someone is doing a set, and not just standing there in between sets, do NOT go up to them to ask a question or start a conversation. It will not kill you to wait 15-30 seconds for them to finish. Furthermore, if YOU are able to have a conversation with someone while in the middle of a set, you should probably question whether or not you're working hard enough; you're probably wasting your time in the gym. Having said this, I will gladly assist you in anything you need, be it a spot, advice on how to use a specific machine, dieting, etc...as long as it's when I'm not suspending hundreds of pounds in the air. /end rant.

How about you guys? Are there any 'rules' you wish newbies would know when it comes to going to the gym the first time?

**zempey** · 01-06-2015, 02:08 PM

Stay the hell out of my way, jk, but I wish they would learn how to put weights away properly from the beginning. Nothing worse for OCD than plates all mixed up on the pins, I mear come on, match up the sizes for pete's sake.

One good thing about all the newbs that come for 2 weeks and bail, it keeps my membership price down.

As for people coming up to me, doesn't happen too often, I guess I look kind of intimidating, lol. There were two younger girls, low 20's, that wouldn't come into the weight side of the gym, they would stay on the machine side because I intimidated them I was told by one of the regulars. I had never said a word to these girls, I wear headphones and don't really talk to anyone, but my size and intensity must have made them unsure. I would not have answered that women, just flat out ignored her, if she kept it up I would have been probably snapped a snide remark at her out of frustration and being in the zone.

**musclestack** · 01-06-2015, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by zempey

Stay the hell out of my way, jk, but I wish they would learn how to put weights away properly from the beginning. Nothing worse for OCD than plates all mixed up on the pins, I mear come on, match up the sizes for pete's sake.

One good thing about all the newbs that come for 2 weeks and bail, it keeps my membership price down.

As for people coming up to me, doesn't happen too often, I guess I look kind of intimidating, lol. There were two younger girls, low 20's, that wouldn't come into the weight side of the gym, they would stay on the machine side because I intimidated them I was told by one of the regulars. I had never said a word to these girls, I wear headphones and don't really talk to anyone, but my size and intensity must have made them unsure. I would not have answered that women, just flat out ignored her, if she kept it up I would have been probably snapped a snide remark at her out of frustration and being in the zone.

I agree with putting the weights back. It's problematic in January in my gym as well. Isn't that common sense? I guess the old saying is true that common sense is not that common. I didn't want to answer the woman either, but I also don't want the newbies to be intimidated by regular gym goers (such as myself), and have that as their reason for not coming back. I want others to feel welcomed (even though deep down I just want the gym for myself lol). I figure they'll make up plenty of other excuses for discontinuing; I don't need to be one of them.

**< <Samson> >** · 01-06-2015, 03:54 PM

I am so bad - everyone but the good looking girls get nothing but nasty stares from me

Yes - I am using both cables
Yes - You can stand there for all 4 of my sets and wait for me to be done
Yes - You can give me looks like I fell from mars 15 minutes ago because I warm up with what you barely max out at
No - Don't try to lift what I do because you think you're cool (haven't seen anyone lose one one yet, but geez were they close)
NO - Don't stand in my personal space - I will taunt you until you go away & you will do it quickly
NO - Don't walk by me within one inch while I am lifting double your weight - I swear

Yes - I am on a lot of sauce & I don't need anything to make me angry(specially in the one place I go to "relax")

**diesel101** · 01-06-2015, 09:15 PM

You forgot one that I heard the other day.

Yes These dumbbells look heavy because they do weigh 120 just like it says.

**noon** · 01-07-2015, 07:17 AM

Group of guys in their twenties all wearing bench shirts and jacking each other off over the new PR. Lol silly kids

**musclestack** · 01-07-2015, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by noon

Group of guys in their twenties all wearing bench shirts and jacking each other off over the new PR. Lol silly kids

People wear bench shirts at your gym, honestly? I can see if it was a week prior to a competition and they want to see what they can push for a one rep max, but are you saying they do this regularly? What's the point? And by the way, I train by the philosophy of "If you can't lift it raw...you can't lift it".

**fitnesstrainer** · 01-07-2015, 07:15 PM

I love the resolutioners, I don't mind it being crowded. As long as people are finally taking an interest in their health I'm happy.

**lovbyts** · 01-07-2015, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by noon

Group of guys in their twenties all wearing bench shirts and jacking each other off over the new PR. Lol silly kids

What is a bench shirt?

**zempey** · 01-07-2015, 08:20 PM

Some highly overpriced yuppy cool guy brand of clothing the kids pay ten times too much money for, oh wait, you are talking weight lifting, wrong bench.

**RaginCajun** · 01-07-2015, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by lovbyts

What is a bench shirt?

I wore one sometimes when powerlifting competing in college.

It basically pulls your shoulders forward, feels like you are in a sausage casing

**musclestack** · 01-07-2015, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by lovbyts

What is a bench shirt?

It's a 'shirt' that power lifters use in competition. It's has kind of a spring mechanism, and can add a lot of weight to your lifts.

Note that usually there is an option to compete geared I.e. With a shirt or squat suit, or you can compete raw. Geared lifters compete against each other and raw lifters with each other. But as I mentioned earlier: "If you can't lift it raw, you can't lift it".

**Honkey_Kong** · 01-08-2015, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by musclestack

It's a 'shirt' that power lifters use in competition. It's has kind of a spring mechanism, and can add a lot of weight to your lifts.

Note that usually there is an option to compete geared I.e. With a shirt or squat suit, or you can compete raw. Geared lifters compete against each other and raw lifters with each other. But as I mentioned earlier: "If you can't lift it raw, you can't lift it".

Yeah, but when you see those kids lifting, you're thinking "do you really need a shirt to lift something that light?"

**musclestack** · 01-08-2015, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by Honkey_Kong

Yeah, but when you see those kids lifting, you're thinking "do you really need a shirt to lift something that light?"

Haha! I know what you said was all in good fun, but I just want to add here on a serious note that I never look down on people who lift less weight than me. We all started somewhere. What's really impressive to me is the young guys who practice perfect form. I admire the guys/girls who go down to parallel or beyond on the squat, even if they have a quarter on each side. That's much more admirable to me than a guy who puts 3 plates a side on and does half squats.

I guess I just don't understand why someone would actually TRAIN like that, which is what I gathered from noon's post?? Unless, of course, it's a few days before his/her competition. And also, to be clear, I'm not bashing on people who use gear in competition (well, maybe a little lol). To each his own; I just know that I would never do it. I like to walk away from a lift knowing that I, and I alone, lifted it, without any help.

**< <Samson> >** · 01-08-2015, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by musclestack

Haha! I know what you said was all in good fun, but I just want to add here on a serious note that I never look down on people who lift less weight than me.

Straight up

I started benching 135 pounds x5 exactly a decade ago

I can care less about what you lift - shit, at least you're making the effort to try. Specially the ones who focus on form and just try to swing or pop weight.

**Honkey_Kong** · 01-08-2015, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by musclestack

Haha! I know what you said was all in good fun, but I just want to add here on a serious note that I never look down on people who lift less weight than me. We all started somewhere. What's really impressive to me is the young guys who practice perfect form. I admire the guys/girls who go down to parallel or beyond on the squat, even if they have a quarter on each side. That's much more admirable to me than a guy who puts 3 plates a side on and does half squats.

I guess I just don't understand why someone would actually TRAIN like that, which is what I gathered from noon's post?? Unless, of course, it's a few days before his/her competition. And also, to be clear, I'm not bashing on people who use gear in competition (well, maybe a little lol). To each his own; I just know that I would never do it. I like to walk away from a lift knowing that I, and I alone, lifted it, without any help.

Yeah, but those kids that he was referring to aren't there to build a foundation and progress. They bought those shirts so that they could "lift heavy" without actually having to do any of the work it takes to get there (that plus it's fashionable). Give them a month and you'll never see them in the gym again. I just find it funny because even with the shirts, they're not lifting heavy.