Gym Ettiquette For 2010 Dummies

Off Topic
141

[quote]heavythrower wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]PimpBot5000 wrote:
Ok, I’m usually an incredibly laid-back guy, but I feel like venting and this looks like the place to do it!

[i] No, you cannot fucking work in with me! [/i]

Equipment in most gyms is limited and I try to be accommodating whenever I can, but if I’m doing squats or deadlifts, no, you in fact cannot “work in with me”. Removing plates and adjusting the safety bars, while seemingly trivial things, annoy me and occupy my time. I’m very brief when I use a piece of equipment, go do something else and leave me alone.
[/quote]

This irritates me and never used to happen. These newer weekend warriors are much more bold than they used to be. They used to see that the weight I was using was drastically more than them and leave me alone. I am not about to load and unload several plates before and after each fucking set just so you can work in with me. It would tire me out long before I ever got to my last set. I would rather be an asshole and make progress than the type who would allow some of the bullshit happening lately.[/quote]

i do not agree with this attitude. the gyms i used in the southeast before i moved out to the west coast, this attitude was not tolerated. for example, if there is only one squat rack, and you are at the begining of your 10 sets of warmups and work sets, it really was not considered fair for everybody else who wanted to squat to have to wait 20-30 minutes for you to finish. that rack was not “your” rack, it belongs to everybody who pays their dues, and if you are bigger and more jacked than everbody else, well guess what, your money is no more valuable than the weekend warrior.

if you were using the bench, and somebody wanted to work in, heck, now you have a workout partner and a spoter for that set. so what if you have to abaondon your tough guy lone-wolf image for a few minutes and have to interact on a civil, if not friendly basis with somebody else for a few minutes. if said person is bigger and stronger than you… well, look at it as a learning experience, and if they are weaker and smaller, look at it as an opportunity to teach or just inspire somebody.

when i moved out to the left coast, i noticed that once somebody planted their butt on a piece of equipment, it was off limits to anybody else for however long they were using it. I was one of those guys who would ask to work in, and I got some of the biggest eat shit and die looks…LOL.[/quote]

I hear you but just can’t agree. If I’m asking to work in with someone, I’m going to work out with someone near my size/strength unless its a cable machine where the weight can be changed quickly. Courtesy is a two way street and just because you want to work in doesnt mean I or anyone else should have to do extra sets of “weight on/weight off” routines.

142

[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
No, this guy, my bench form is not improper.

LOL @ the sounds that guy is making during the lift. If it ain’t him, maybe someone is jerking off behind the camera?

Btw, he got some awesome leg drive.

143

[quote]Loudog75 wrote:

[quote]heavythrower wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]PimpBot5000 wrote:
Ok, I’m usually an incredibly laid-back guy, but I feel like venting and this looks like the place to do it!

[i] No, you cannot fucking work in with me! [/i]

Equipment in most gyms is limited and I try to be accommodating whenever I can, but if I’m doing squats or deadlifts, no, you in fact cannot “work in with me”. Removing plates and adjusting the safety bars, while seemingly trivial things, annoy me and occupy my time. I’m very brief when I use a piece of equipment, go do something else and leave me alone.
[/quote]

This irritates me and never used to happen. These newer weekend warriors are much more bold than they used to be. They used to see that the weight I was using was drastically more than them and leave me alone. I am not about to load and unload several plates before and after each fucking set just so you can work in with me. It would tire me out long before I ever got to my last set. I would rather be an asshole and make progress than the type who would allow some of the bullshit happening lately.[/quote]

i do not agree with this attitude. the gyms i used in the southeast before i moved out to the west coast, this attitude was not tolerated. for example, if there is only one squat rack, and you are at the begining of your 10 sets of warmups and work sets, it really was not considered fair for everybody else who wanted to squat to have to wait 20-30 minutes for you to finish. that rack was not “your” rack, it belongs to everybody who pays their dues, and if you are bigger and more jacked than everbody else, well guess what, your money is no more valuable than the weekend warrior.

if you were using the bench, and somebody wanted to work in, heck, now you have a workout partner and a spoter for that set. so what if you have to abaondon your tough guy lone-wolf image for a few minutes and have to interact on a civil, if not friendly basis with somebody else for a few minutes. if said person is bigger and stronger than you… well, look at it as a learning experience, and if they are weaker and smaller, look at it as an opportunity to teach or just inspire somebody.

when i moved out to the left coast, i noticed that once somebody planted their butt on a piece of equipment, it was off limits to anybody else for however long they were using it. I was one of those guys who would ask to work in, and I got some of the biggest eat shit and die looks…LOL.[/quote]

I hear you but just can’t agree. If I’m asking to work in with someone, I’m going to work out with someone near my size/strength unless its a cable machine where the weight can be changed quickly. Courtesy is a two way street and just because you want to work in doesnt mean I or anyone else should have to do extra sets of “weight on/weight off” routines.

[/quote]

Exactly. I just had this happen. It fucked up my workout because the guy who asked to jump in WOULD only do one plate a side for each of his 5 sets (notice I wrote “would” and not “could”). Mind you, he wasn’t even straining hard with this weight at all. There was no heavy breathing, no sweating…no effort. Between each set, I have to now recover AND take off and put on 4 extra plates a side and the gym was nowhere near crowded enough that he couldn’t find another movement.

FOR INSTANCE, I was on my way to the shrug machine last week when two newbs got there milliseconds before me. I turned around and did lateral raises instead. Yet someone 5 times weaker than me can’t do the same?

No, jumping in with someone who is THAT much stronger than you is not a good thing. It should be common sense that this action would throw someone else’s progress off.

Most of these people aren’t even serious. This is NOT the same as some serious newb asking to work in so he can learn. I think most of us would help the lesser experienced in that situation if the person was open to learning something.

144

[quote]kanew wrote:

[quote]Beast27195 wrote:

  • if I ask you to spot me, this doesn’t mean you have the right to violate my no talking rule
    [/quote]

I agree with all of your guidelines except this one. Fair enough if they’re just chatting random crap, but if it’s relevant (i.e. fair pointers on your form etc) i think it’s justified.

Unless that’s what you meant.[/quote]

Nein! If it’s pointers, I’m all for it. However, trying to chat me up or “motivate” me is a no go. Good that you brought that up, though.

145

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:

[quote]dirtbag wrote:
How about the idiots that look at you every ten seconds like your going to eat them.

Then the skinny fucktard that trys to alpha you on everything your doing in the gym by trying to work in.

I know this will sound gay, but here goes. I hate women in my gym. Yup I said it. I find them distracting from lifting heavy cause I want to look at them. Lots of teenie 20 somethings in tight clothes walking around needing to feel special. I want to lift with no distractions. Not watch some little girl look hot in her new yoga pants who crave attention cause there boyfriend treats them like garbage. I totally agree with separate areas for women and men.

The only co-ed parts should be cardio areas. Then looking is just something to pass the time while you work at the hamster wheel.[/quote]

Boooooooo. That idea sucks ass. You know if we were segregated then we’d end up with some type of Curves-esque type crap.

Mine was several months ago but I still feel like finding the guy and punching him in the head. I was benching without a spotter so when I lift it off myself I pause at the top to get my back and shoulders pulled in and tight. I guess some idiot interpreted this to mean I was struggling.

I had my ipod on so I couldn’t hear anything, wasn’t looking at anything but above me and in he swoops from the side and pulls the bar away from me. It scared the crap out of me and I yelled at him for a while. Knob gobbler.[/quote]

Well then skimpy gym clothes and shit should not be allowed. Hahah I get way to distracted. I want to look to much. Then I want to go and take them into the guys bathroom and fuck there brains out. Screw the work out. Get some 20 mins of cardio!!

Its only cause when I work out hard my hormones rage. I thought this happens to everyone. Sometimes I forget what I am doing when I walk around in a gym with little gym bunnies giggling. Guess I am use to my old gym with tons of powerlifters and no chicks around.

[quote] blunt wrote:
NO ! that is not the solution !!

Men just needs to focus… last time i went to a commercial gym(im in private now) these two girls are lifting weights they are not hot or anything just girly and giggily and then immidietly 15 guys or something sorround them in a half moon circle and starts doing biceps !!

and thats just stupidly wrong.

BTW anyone want me to make a website/book with gym ettiquette !? id be happy to compile something ! but i dont wanna do it if nobody is going to use it !
[/quote]

Focus? Well I am not out to impress them but I also feel like I am on display and vice versa. Or they are bidding for attention like the guys your talking about doing curls. I see it all the time. I want to do serious work not look for some ass to fuck.

The gym is not a pickup joint is my point. That is why in my gym there is a place where girls don’t go cause its all guys down there. But its hot as fucking hell cause the pool heater is down there too. Then the power rack is right in front of the heater for the whole basement. So it gets really hot down there.

The weights are all 20-30 years old. We all call it the dungeon. But there is better equipment for cable use in the other parts I like using so I have to go and see all the girlies and douchebags doing there thing.

Fawk I admire all of you with your own home set ups :frowning:

146

If you cant handle the sound of dumbbells dropping, stay on the cardio side.

Honestly, i got lip from this guy because i had just completed a 10 rep set of 120lbs Dumbbell presses on a DECLINE BENCH and i dropped the weight. To which he turns to me and goes, “If you have to drop the weight, you cant handle it.” Ugh, i hate the little fuckers that essentially just go there to say that they go to a gym.

147

I wouldn’t ask to work in with a total stranger, but I do have training partners who are stronger than me, and we have to take off and put on plates all the time. It’s not a problem unless you make it one. Our rule: the weeny put on plates for the mighty.

As for girls in skimpy outfits – it’s a two-way street. We on the distaff side have to see a lot of handsome men in tank tops. The way I see it, it’s the ogler’s responsibility not to make too big a fool of him/herself. You don’t have the “right” to have your eyes shielded from the sight of other people in the gym.

148

I read all this posts
damn glad I lift at home

149

[quote]AlisaV wrote:
I wouldn’t ask to work in with a total stranger, but I do have training partners who are stronger than me, and we have to take off and put on plates all the time. It’s not a problem unless you make it one. Our rule: the weeny put on plates for the mighty.
[/quote]

I used to have training partners who were stronger than me too, but not 5 PLATES STRONGER per side. That is on a completely different level of strength. Does it make sense for someone who weighs all of 150lbs to run up to Ronnie Coleman on the hammer Strength and ask to work in? After he unloads 20 plates a side, how ready for that next set do you think he will be?

150

[quote]dirtbag wrote:

Well then skimpy gym clothes and shit should not be allowed. Hahah I get way to distracted. I want to look to much. Then I want to go and take them into the guys bathroom and fuck there brains out. Screw the work out. Get some 20 mins of cardio!!

Its only cause when I work out hard my hormones rage. I thought this happens to everyone. Sometimes I forget what I am doing when I walk around in a gym with little gym bunnies giggling. Guess I am use to my old gym with tons of powerlifters and no chicks around.

[/quote]

What kind of cardio would you be doing for the other 18.5 minutes?

ZING!!!

151

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]AlisaV wrote:
I wouldn’t ask to work in with a total stranger, but I do have training partners who are stronger than me, and we have to take off and put on plates all the time. It’s not a problem unless you make it one. Our rule: the weeny put on plates for the mighty.
[/quote]

I used to have training partners who were stronger than me too, but not 5 PLATES STRONGER per side. That is on a completely different level of strength. Does it make sense for someone who weighs all of 150lbs to run up to Ronnie Coleman on the hammer Strength and ask to work in? After he unloads 20 plates a side, how ready for that next set do you think he will be?[/quote]

If I am doing heavy singles and taking five minutes+ between sets, sure, come on in and strip the bar, do your thing…but you better have it reloaded by the time I get my knees wrapped.

I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that there just isn’t enough demand for the cage at my gym to make this an issue.

152

[quote]pushmepullme wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]AlisaV wrote:
I wouldn’t ask to work in with a total stranger, but I do have training partners who are stronger than me, and we have to take off and put on plates all the time. It’s not a problem unless you make it one. Our rule: the weeny put on plates for the mighty.
[/quote]

I used to have training partners who were stronger than me too, but not 5 PLATES STRONGER per side. That is on a completely different level of strength. Does it make sense for someone who weighs all of 150lbs to run up to Ronnie Coleman on the hammer Strength and ask to work in? After he unloads 20 plates a side, how ready for that next set do you think he will be?[/quote]

If I am doing heavy singles and taking five minutes+ between sets, sure, come on in and strip the bar, do your thing…but you better have it reloaded by the time I get my knees wrapped.

I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that there just isn’t enough demand for the cage at my gym to make this an issue.[/quote]

And your mind set makes sense. If I were literally hogging a piece of equipment AND the guy wasn’t some rank newbie who needs me to unload several plates each and every set, I have no problem…but I don’t see anyone anywhere near my strength level in most gyms unless they are NPC competitors. For some newbie to jump in with me wouldn’t even make sense unless I am taking it easy that day and don’t mind turning “plate load&unload” into a workout in itself.

Once again, some of this is just common courtesy. I’m pretty strong but I STILL wouldn’t run up to someone like Ronnie Coleman and ask to work in unless I checked to see if it wold set him back at all.

I am not one who believes that everyone in the gym is treated exactly a like. If I see some guy who I know is training for an NPC contest, is already deep into his diet, has two weeks left of prep (which is exactly what one of the guys was dealing with months back), and he is doing leg presses, I am going to back off and let him finish his leg presses. I consider his goals slightly above mine since I have no major engagement coming up.

Why is this seen as wrong now?

This used to be how every single gym was run up until the 90’s or so.

153

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]pushmepullme wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]AlisaV wrote:
I wouldn’t ask to work in with a total stranger, but I do have training partners who are stronger than me, and we have to take off and put on plates all the time. It’s not a problem unless you make it one. Our rule: the weeny put on plates for the mighty.
[/quote]

I used to have training partners who were stronger than me too, but not 5 PLATES STRONGER per side. That is on a completely different level of strength. Does it make sense for someone who weighs all of 150lbs to run up to Ronnie Coleman on the hammer Strength and ask to work in? After he unloads 20 plates a side, how ready for that next set do you think he will be?[/quote]

If I am doing heavy singles and taking five minutes+ between sets, sure, come on in and strip the bar, do your thing…but you better have it reloaded by the time I get my knees wrapped.

I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that there just isn’t enough demand for the cage at my gym to make this an issue.[/quote]

And your mind set makes sense. If I were literally hogging a piece of equipment AND the guy wasn’t some rank newbie who needs me to unload several plates each and every set, I have no problem…but I don’t see anyone anywhere near my strength level in most gyms unless they are NPC competitors. For some newbie to jump in with me wouldn’t even make sense unless I am taking it easy that day and don’t mind turning “plate load&unload” into a workout in itself.

Once again, some of this is just common courtesy. I’m pretty strong but I STILL wouldn’t run up to someone like Ronnie Coleman and ask to work in unless I checked to see if it wold set him back at all.

I am not one who believes that everyone in the gym is treated exactly a like. If I see some guy who I know is training for an NPC contest, is already deep into his diet, has two weeks left of prep (which is exactly what one of the guys was dealing with months back), and he is doing leg presses, I am going to back off and let him finish his leg presses. I consider his goals slightly above mine since I have no major engagement coming up.

Why is this seen as wrong now?

This used to be how every single gym was run up until the 90’s or so.[/quote]

X this is probably society creeping into the gym. NO ONE should have to wait for anyone. Today’s culture is “I am a special snowflake, you have to respect me even though I have not accomplished anything”. If you had kids (I dont know and I dont want to know) you would also see this in our school systems. NO kid left behind, educate to the lowest common denominator. Our best and brightest are not pushed they are left behind to take care of little Johnny. Sorry for Rant. Blame my X-wife. :slight_smile:

154

[quote]DJHT wrote:

X this is probably society creeping into the gym. NO ONE should have to wait for anyone. Today’s culture is “I am a special snowflake, you have to respect me even though I have not accomplished anything”. If you had kids (I dont know and I dont want to know) you would also see this in our school systems. NO kid left behind, educate to the lowest common denominator. Our best and brightest are not pushed they are left behind to take care of little Johnny. Sorry for Rant. Blame my X-wife. :slight_smile: [/quote]

Dude, we are on the same page and it pisses me off…and we see it right here on this site. No, IN BODYBUILDING, the guys who have been “training” for 12 years yet no one can tell they lift without them stripping to their underwear and holding a light bulb directly overhead as they flex every muscle until their nose starts bleeding…are NOT on the same level as people who everyone knows lifts weights seriously upon seeing them. Yet they seem to want the exact same respect and attention.

There used to be a level of respect in most gyms that the really big and strong guys earned. You didn’t fuck around with the 280lbs monster in the corner because he was clearly more focused and driven than the 150lbs weekend warrior who is in the gym “to tone”.

Good for us that society is benefiting so much from acting like everyone is made exactly alike. This could clearly have no lasting negative effects…could it?

I mean, let’s not give the kids who stayed out all last night partying an “F”…because that will destroy their self esteem. Let’s erase grades altogether so no one feels bad.

Didn’t go to college and make less than 50k a year? Well, you deserve a $200,000 house anyway so you don’t feel lesser than the neurosurgeon down the street. That will surely have no lasting economic effects, will it?

155

sounds like most of you should go to a hard core gym and not a commercial one. You signed the contract at a commercial gym knowing you’re going into it with the experiences you’ve had in them. And yet you are somehow surprised to run into the problems you expected to have when you signed the contract? This doesn’t make sense. Sure, there’s something to be said about price, availability, and location, but come on, you get what you pay for. If you know small, and misinformed n00bs (non-tmuscle readers) are gonna exasperate you, why let it affect your training by going to a gym that is full of them? I mean if you go just to impress people with your size thats one thing. Your mind should only be focused on getting the work done no matter what it might be, how much experience, size, or strength you have.

156

[quote]ladieslove wrote:

[quote]SteelyD wrote:

[quote]ladieslove wrote:
alright i was finished deadlifting, just taking the plates off, then an older gentleman grabs the plate out of my hand, he doesnt say “here let me help”, he just yanks it from me and takes it away. [/quote]

You should have started crying and throwing plates at him “You big meanie!”[/quote]

hahaha thats exactly how i handle bullies![/quote]

hahaha that’s exactly how I handle buffets!

157

[quote]cavemansam wrote:
I read all this posts
damn glad I lift at home[/quote]

I’ll bet. I train at home before work (in my DINING Room…) and the gym after. If I didn’t absolutely need several pieces of space-hogging equipment, I’d just stay home. I can handle the place after midnight. Any other time, I feel like I’m going to explode.

158

I’m not saying I’m rude. I wouldn’t go up to a total stranger – definitely not somebody like Professor X – and ask to work in. God, no.

Normally there’s not enough demand for the squat racks at my gym anyhow. It’s all mine…

There’s a value to learning from people who are better than you, though. Make friends, work out together, get feedback. That’s all I’m saying. If I’d been too intimidated, I wouldn’t have been able to benefit from more experienced people.

159

Some good posts here…

To the dude that doesn’t want women in the gym in skimpy clothes - I feel sorry ya’s… I get way more motivated with a group of hot, sweaty, athletic women around… Hell most times I’ll be hitting my best workouts… Now it’s time for me to hit the gym and I hope to god this hottie is there in her tight fitting yoga pants (wish me luck)…

To the woman that had a dude come up and ask to spot her on the stiff-legged deads… Sign me up if you need a spot… I’ll snug in real close…

As for me, I’m pretty much in the zone the moment I walk through the door… I have a few regulars that give me the nod or a wave and then nobody talks to me… It’s better that way…

Things I don’t like:

  1. The photo taking with your cell phones of your hawt abs you send off to all your friends so they can all wack off to your little physiques… It’s a huge peeve and a distraction…

  2. Chatting on the cell phone… There’s a time and place… You start chatting on your cell phone near me when I’m squatting or benching, I’m gonna get up and shove it so far up your ass you’ll be dialing Berlin each time you fart…

  3. The working-in thing - I’m a FAN of this, but as someone said, be close to my level and don’t dick around, fondling the machine, as it blows my intensity… I was doing hammer strength on shoulders and had some dude work in, drop the weight to nothing do one to three reps and rest it down… I was thinking he was done… Hell no, he was taking a 30 second break before he did some more… Also, if you’re working in, it means your THERE at the machine, ready to bolt into a set - you’re not half way across the gym talking to your buddies about your hawt abs - seriously… As far as I’m concerned, you lost you spot, move on and deal with it. Got a problem with this? Again, move on and deal with it.

  4. Spotting - I love the dude to always asks how the person wants the spot… I’ve had people lift it so much I’m getting shit out of it… I’ve had people stand back while I hit a sticking point, can’t get past and have the bar descend… If I tell you I’m doing 6-8 reps, don’t expect me to stop at 8 as I might have more power and go for 10 - if so, it’s a warm up, so don’t try to re-rack my weight in mid-press. I’d say something else about females spotting me on the bench and “how I like it”, but it would come across to sexist, so I better shut-up while I’m on a roll…

  5. The squat rack at one of my gyms has handles so you can do pull-ups off it… To the guy that proceeded to do these while I was in the middle of squatting, you killed my set and if I see you do it again, I’m gonna drop the weight back towards you, get up, and have some words… I won’t be polite this time…

  6. Don’t critique someone’s form unless you have the physique to back it up… I’ll listen to people that have progressed, but don’t you dare come up to me and tell me my ass to the ground squats are bad and I don’t know what I’m doing… Or my deadlifts are bothering the other clients as they feel it’s bad for my back…

I’d write more, but I’m late for my workout…

160

[quote]Smallfry69 wrote:

  1. The squat rack at one of my gyms has handles so you can do pull-ups off it… To the guy that proceeded to do these while I was in the middle of squatting,
    [/quote]

Who would ever think that it was okay to do this? What the fuck is wrong with people?