Boy do I remember the early days of loading up that leg press sled. 45’s on each side until they couldn’t hold any more. some more on top and then a training partner standing on top for good measure.
pretty sure I couldn’t squat 500 then.
lol @ plates and leg press.
[quote]audiogarden1 wrote:
Theres too many sort of decent size guys that sit in there and do half ROM reps and jerk the weight around on the HS machines.
[/quote]
Why would you worry about their form? Or care? And, especially why if they got to ‘a decent size’ doing what they’re doing?
I’ve never met anyone who’s goal it was to be the best “Hammer Strength Form Dude” in the world. They’re a means to an end. If half reps and jerky moves are getting them to their ends, who are you to judge. I don’t know-- sounds kind of douchy and elitist.
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
I’ve never met anyone who’s goal it was to be the best “Hammer Strength Form Dude”[/quote]
That’s because you’ve never seen me on the Hammer Jammer. It’s almost an art form.
(Do they still make these?)
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
[quote]audiogarden1 wrote:
Theres too many sort of decent size guys that sit in there and do half ROM reps and jerk the weight around on the HS machines.
[/quote]
Why would you worry about their form? Or care? And, especially why if they got to ‘a decent size’ doing what they’re doing?
I’ve never met anyone who’s goal it was to be the best “Hammer Strength Form Dude” in the world. They’re a means to an end. If half reps and jerky moves are getting them to their ends, who are you to judge. I don’t know-- sounds kind of douchy and elitist.[/quote]
Im not talking about form in a sense of preventing injury and all that stuff, im talking about not being afraid to be the skinny guy now and put the work in so that theyll be the biggest guy later.
Every gym has a group of guys who are not small, (though not noteworthy either) and have a modest amount of strength, but really dont know what the hell theyre doing and will stay that way forever. Why do i have friends that have been benching 225 for the last 2 years? Because they arent willing to swallow their pride and lower the weight so that they can do it properly.
Im not talking about guys with loose form that know what theyre doing and can get away with that stuff. im also not talking about someone who stops 2 inches short of his chest on bench. Hell, i advocate using looser form as long as it allows me to move the weight safely and still hit the target muscle properly.
Also, i wasnt specifically talking about a HS row machine. I should have worded that differently. But im talking about the kid who loads up 3 pps on a squat rack and then does quarter squats to impress his friends, when in he reality he couldnt squat 225 to depth for one rep.
[quote]roguevampire wrote:
just like on pro athletic teams(baseball, football, etc…) the guys there the longest have more say as to what goes on.
[/quote]
Comparing that to a gym is retarded.
At a gym there is no preferential treatment. You pay the same monthly fee as everyone else, you get the same privileges as everyone else.
This is a pretty good fight haha
[quote]gregron wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Greg, I think this young woman responded well to that.[/quote]
oops… I really should read more posts before I respond some time lol.
If some “Random” was working in with me then I wouldn’t mind if they WERE SERIOUS and if they did all the extra work of stripping the weights off and putting em back on.
I’d be fine with that.[/quote]
I’m just happy having been referred to as a young woman 
For those of us that train with a club, there’s usually a lot of guys that have spotted and loaded on a platform all day. It gets down to a science when we’re training and usually on the same rising bar principle.
[quote]audiogarden1 wrote:
[quote]roguevampire wrote:
just like on pro athletic teams(baseball, football, etc…) the guys there the longest have more say as to what goes on.
[/quote]
Comparing that to a gym is retarded.
At a gym there is no preferential treatment. You pay the same monthly fee as everyone else, you get the same privileges as everyone else. [/quote]
Maybe so, but thats the good thing about having some size. Most won’t even bother asking to join in. thats the way it should be.
[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:
[quote]OBoile wrote:
[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:
I have the feeling some of you pitiful motherfuckers would be a lot nicer if you hadn’t gotten relatively “big”. But then again, the same reason you pitiful motherfuckers made it your life’s dream to get big is probably the same reason you’re a dick now.
Anyway, asking to work in is a matter of practicality - NOT how big some insecure douchebag is or how much progress someone is making, or a measure of how scary or intimidating you THINK you are. If working in involves the removal of countless plates after each turn, then it’s pretty impractical and probably an unreasonable request. If it’s taking a few plates off each time, stop being such a fucking dick. We all started somewhere. And some people have different goals.
First, LOL at the leg press. What’s next? The smith machine? Next, not many of you so-called “big” “progressive” motherfuckers here are squatting north of 500; so if someone “smaller” or “weaker” than you wants to work in for squats (for instance), you’re removing maybe 3-4 plates each set? Big fucking deal.
A few of you assholes could really use some humility.
If you don’t like sharing, go get your own space and own equipment.[/quote]
It all comes back to:
[quote]Gambit_Lost wrote:
Most importantly 4) Don’t be a dick.
[/quote]
I lift with my wife, so plates get added or removed for every set. It really isn’t that big of a deal. If you can leg press 20 plates, lifting one at a time shouldn’t take much effort.
If you’ve got just a couple of sets left, then sure, finish up. If you’re going to be there for 1/2 hour and there is no where else the guy can go, let him work in even if it means moveing the plates.[/quote]
I think part of the difference is that you always train together just like BB and I always train together. We’re used to training in a group or as part of a club so the stripping and loading is a planned part of training. When we hit the gym, I know what my working sets will be and what his will be so we have the plates ready to put on and pull off. We’re all used to doing it.
I’m not sure how excited I would be to work in with someone random at the gym particularly if rack heights were different. I’d do it but I couldn’t see it running as quickly and smoothly as doing it with a group that frequently works together.[/quote]
So you and BB don’t have to change the rack heights? I’d have thought you would have to lower it for him.
When I’m with SG, I usually just 1/4 squat it out of the racks. I imagine I’d do the same if I was sharing the rack with someone else.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]audiogarden1 wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]audiogarden1 wrote:
You have specifically mentioned other lifts, like doing chest for instance, in your previous posts. So dont try and act like this whole argument has centered around your leg press example you seem so fixated on. [/quote]
Uh, dude, I use a lot of plates for chest…so yeah, some guy working in with one plate would hinder my workout.
What are you talking about?[/quote]
Well if you want to only address minor details of my posts, this conversation is pretty much over. But in regards to this, i would be more than happy to HELP unload 3 or 4 plates a side for someone significantly weaker than me to work in on chest if i still had a ways to go and it was particularly busy. This doesnt seem like much of a hindrance to me. THAT is what im talking about. As long as he helps unload it, does his set without fucking around too long and then helps put the plates back on, no big deal for me.
It seems this would be just as much as a hindrance for him as well. But when its busy and equipment is limited, you make do. [/quote]
Dude, we are all very happy that you don’t care.
Some of us would NOT like to unrack 5 plates a side during a chest workout so someone can do one plate.
Why is this an issue for you?[/quote]
Because it kind of violates rule #4 above (the one about not being a dick).
[quote]gregron wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Greg, I think this young woman responded well to that.[/quote]
oops… I really should read more posts before I respond some time lol.
If some “Random” was working in with me then I wouldn’t mind if they WERE SERIOUS and if they did all the extra work of stripping the weights off and putting em back on.
I’d be fine with that.[/quote]
Come on man. If the person wasn’t a total dick about asking you know you’d offer to help move the plates.
[quote]OBoile wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]audiogarden1 wrote:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
[quote]audiogarden1 wrote:
You have specifically mentioned other lifts, like doing chest for instance, in your previous posts. So dont try and act like this whole argument has centered around your leg press example you seem so fixated on. [/quote]
Uh, dude, I use a lot of plates for chest…so yeah, some guy working in with one plate would hinder my workout.
What are you talking about?[/quote]
Well if you want to only address minor details of my posts, this conversation is pretty much over. But in regards to this, i would be more than happy to HELP unload 3 or 4 plates a side for someone significantly weaker than me to work in on chest if i still had a ways to go and it was particularly busy. This doesnt seem like much of a hindrance to me. THAT is what im talking about. As long as he helps unload it, does his set without fucking around too long and then helps put the plates back on, no big deal for me.
It seems this would be just as much as a hindrance for him as well. But when its busy and equipment is limited, you make do. [/quote]
Dude, we are all very happy that you don’t care.
Some of us would NOT like to unrack 5 plates a side during a chest workout so someone can do one plate.
Why is this an issue for you?[/quote]
Because it kind of violates rule #4 above (the one about not being a dick).[/quote]
Dude, the dick in that scenario is NOT the lifter with 6 plates a side on a machine who is finishing his workout. It would be the guy who thinks that lifter should gladly take all of his weights off every set.
I am not a “dick” at my gym. I have already written this. I know most of the people there…and none of them would even do that to start with so what is with some of you not getting it?
Why is it the ONLY scenario some of you understand is the leg press?
Have you tried taking and putting on 10 45lbs plates every set while also doing a full routine?
If you understand the leg press scenario, then the ONLY thing keeping you from understanding what is being written is bias.
Also, I have “worked in” on a machine for chest with a guy who was already there with one 45lbs plate on each side. I did only warm up sets with him until he finished only adding another plate. He got done and I added more weight on. He also understood what I was doing and didn’t waste a bunch of time twiddling his thumbs.
I already know why some of you are responding like this…anytime someone ever mentions a person get any sort of special treatment based on their development, it seems to piss some of you off.
Bottom line is, most regular gym goers are not going to run up to the huge guy with SEVERAL 45lbs plates on machine and ask to work in unless they know the guy.
I think you need to ask why that upsets some of you.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Also, I have “worked in” on a machine for chest with a guy who was already there with one 45lbs plate on each side. I did only warm up sets with him until he finished only adding another plate. He got done and I added more weight on. He also understood what I was doing and didn’t waste a bunch of time twiddling his thumbs.
I already know why some of you are responding like this…anytime someone ever mentions a person get any sort of special treatment based on their development, it seems to piss some of you off.
Bottom line is, most regular gym goers are not going to run up to the huge guy with SEVERAL 45lbs plates on machine and ask to work in unless they know the guy.
I think you need to ask why that upsets some of you.[/quote]
I have no issue with anyone getting “special treatment” because of their development. I am not the biggest poster on this site, but in daily life, including at my gym, i am bigger than almost all people i interact with and yes, i do get special treatment. I enjoy it, recognition of my progress makes me feel good.
And im also not trying to say if any regular gym goer runs up to me asking to work in when im doing heavy sets that im going to be more than happy every time. Im thinking more of a scenario such as the gym being particularly packed and it being difficult to do several sets on a single piece of equipment.
I would try to accommodate in a situation like this. I also dont think that someone significantly weaker asking to work in automatically qualifies them as being dick, unless they are actually being a dick in the manner in which they ask.
[quote]Blackaggar wrote:
This is a pretty good fight haha[/quote]
meh, it turned out to be pretty tame
Eh, if someone isn’t a dick and is about your strength, it’s kinda nice to have a partner for a few sets.
[quote]Gambit_Lost wrote:
Eh, if someone isn’t a dick and is about your strength, it’s kinda nice to have a partner for a few sets. [/quote]
Yep…key being “about your strength”.
There are a lot more serious people at my gym now. One just competed and came in 4th at his first show…weighing 240lbs on stage at only 5’9". The weight this guy uses for his legs is ridiculous…and you know, he has training partners (none of which are anywhere near his size). One thing I do notice though is NO ONE ELSE BOTHERS HIM while he trains or tries to jump in on a machine he is using outside of that “circle”.
The reason isn’t because of some dumbass idea that big guys all think they are better.
It is simple fucking courtesy and common sense. Anyone looking at him can tell his goals are a tad more serious than the weekend warrior who is looking around the room trying to figure out what an exercise even works.
Dude isn’t a dick either. Offered to help me with posing and we speak daily.
I wouldn’t jump in with his sets unless I thought it wouldn’t fuck up their rotation.
It isn’t because I’m afraid of him. It is because I know what his goals are and how serious he is.
I mean, I know some here just lack that sense about them, but arguing against it as if it wrong just makes no sense whatsoever in a gym setting.
That’s just life.
The same happens on your damn job, at the store or anywhere else.
…and just to piss some off, yeah, being the biggest guy in the room has perks. People will often go out of their way to either speak to you or even give you shit at times. That’s just life.
[quote]Gambit_Lost wrote:
Eh, if someone isn’t a dick and is about your strength, it’s kinda nice to have a partner for a few sets. [/quote]
Yep.
I’m about 5’-9" and squat in the 5’s. I train with a guy who is a 6’-5" basketball player who’s squats about half that right now.
Not only do we have to switch out plates every set, we have to move the bar up and down the rack because I’m a midget compared to him.
We switch out plates on the hack squat, too.
Leg press- I get extra warm up sets while he finishes out, then he moves on while I finish up my sets. Neither one of us want to load and unload what amounts to dozens of plates each over a few sets of that.
No ego, no attitude- It’s just practical.
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
[quote]Gambit_Lost wrote:
Eh, if someone isn’t a dick and is about your strength, it’s kinda nice to have a partner for a few sets. [/quote]
Yep.
I’m about 5’-9" and squat in the 5’s. I train with a guy who is a 6’-5" basketball player who’s squats about half that right now.
Not only do we have to switch out plates every set, we have to move the bar up and down the rack because I’m a midget compared to him.
We switch out plates on the hack squat, too.
Leg press- I get extra warm up sets while he finishes out, then he moves on while I finish up my sets. Neither one of us want to load and unload what amounts to dozens of plates each over a few sets of that.
No ego, no attitude- It’s just practical.[/quote]
Emphasis on the “no ego” part
It’s always refreshing to see someone offer a sane, practical response to the cock stroking above. Maybe I’m spoiled in that in my gym, the biggest guys are also the nicest guys. They make progress bc they put that ego bs aside. I watched one of the most humble guys I know squat 675 for a double on monday night and then spot the 16 year old next to him…There are peole that get the “brotherhood / sisterhood” part of iron, and those that just don’t.
This thread seems to jump between two different scenarios that everyone is pretty much agreeing on but at different times too funny…
I love helping younger guys with my old man experience but just not when I have 500 plus on the bar and they want to ask me a “how” question right at that point in my workout where I have to concentrate. I also stopped asking to work in with anyone years ago. I just ask how many sets they have left and then go about my business until they are done with the equipment I may need, regardless of their age, size or ability…