I am about to turn the big 40. I have been following powerlifting/strength workouts for the last 3-4 years or so. I have been a member of various commercial gyms for several years and couple of years back joined a dungeon gym close to my house. It is open 24/7 and has an access pass. The owners are in for only a few hours a day. This the kind of place I was looking for: deadlift platform, chalk, heavy dumbells, halfway decent squat rack etc. The equipment is also a bit old and rickety.
The owner keeps a board of personal best lifts and gym records. I would guess that 90% of the squat lifts are quarter squat or higher. I have witnessed several pathetic squat attempts that the owner had witnessed and let pass. One guy got help from a spotter and they gave it to him. There is not consistency, bench numbers from bouncing and butt off the bench and hitching deadlifts.
Needless to say, those with legitimate gym records like myself can be passed up by a guy quarter squatting or hitching etc. But it does create undo feelings of competition and validation by allowing these lifts to be documented. Also, a majority of the members are loser 20 something year olds with bigger egos than lifts. Do to this, my motivation has been suffering and my lifts have dropped.
At my age, and due to these issues, I do not want to be part of this competition. I could keep putting up numbers correctly and compete with these people and do a back and forth or stay out and let them play the game. This is part of my competitive makeup. I am also wondering if I should even be powerlifting - I have much more to lose if I get hurt and cannot work (house, family etc). I could also stand to lose some bodyfat with a more bodybuilding type of routine.
I have been thinking to join a more family oriented gym where my wife works out. I have gone a few times and there are the obvious pros and cons at both places. The commercial gym has more equipment but more clowns and rules.
So I have come full circle, considering going back to the type of gyms I have tried to avoid in the past. I am not sure if I have a question in all this or if this is just a rant. I guess, at my age, I am trying to decide if I want to stay in the dungeon or hit the commercial gym with all the other people my age.
You need to think about your goals in lifting. Are you training to compete in powerlifting competitions? Why is documentation for your personal best lifts by this gym owner so important to you?
The twenty-something guys can do a half-assed lift so they can have bragging rights and big numbers. They don’t seem to care about correct form.
Take pride in knowing that you are reaching you goals without “cheating”.
Find a gym or location to train where you feel comfortable and not distracted. Just remember that no place is perfect, and all have their limitations.
I’m 53 years old. I’m lifting to stay alive and be as strong as I can. I don’t care if I train in a luxury gym or a crack house, as long as I’m working towards my goals.
I guess all gyms have their limitations. At at this stage of my life I just want to be healthy and get stronger in the process. I have a weeks pass to the commercial gym and it is not half bad. I need to be less competative in this endevour and do this for me. I have no plans to complete, just to live to an old age without major injury.
Do your own thing. If you want to compete, then compete in a real contest. One with a level playing field. I’m with Yo Momma, I lift to stay alive and be as strong as I can. Fuck everyone else.
I am paying the price for playing the wrong game. I had told myself i would work hard at staying lean after placing 3rd in my first show last March.
On April 22nd my ego and a big fight with the mrs led to a horific injury. instead of a more reasonable workout for some one 35 yaers old and as big as i wanted to be, I for no goddamn raeson decided to put up 410 on the bench. I had done this in the past and didnt even need a spoter.
With a f-up mind set and a poor choice of a workout I completly tor my right pec. I had surgery a month later, fuckin insurance. Any way I just started my rehab and its killing me, watching these 130lbs boys hit it harder than me.
I relocated gyms just to get away from all the people who want to talk to me about my injury. I even work out at home some times, just because im so down on my self right now. Mpi, fuck the numbers man. It aint worth getting hurt. Do your own thing and stay strong.
[quote]GIANT DAN wrote:
I am paying the price for playing the wrong game. I had told myself i would work hard at staying lean after placing 3rd in my first show last March.
On April 22nd my ego and a big fight with the mrs led to a horific injury. instead of a more reasonable workout for some one 35 yaers old and as big as i wanted to be, I for no goddamn raeson decided to put up 410 on the bench. I had done this in the past and didnt even need a spoter.
With a f-up mind set and a poor choice of a workout I completly tor my right pec. I had surgery a month later, fuckin insurance. Any way I just started my rehab and its killing me, watching these 130lbs boys hit it harder than me.
I relocated gyms just to get away from all the people who want to talk to me about my injury. I even work out at home some times, just because im so down on my self right now. Mpi, fuck the numbers man. It aint worth getting hurt. Do your own thing and stay strong.[/quote]
Jesus dude, take it easy! We all hit rough times… good luck getting back from that bitch of an injury… but remember that eventually, you will be back to where you were, maybe better.
Giant Dan: Good luck on the rehab, we really need to keep in mind that the ego may be larger and stronger than the body.
That is where I am at, hurt myself on a 600 lb squat to compete with someone doing a glorified knee twitch and for what? These are not sanctioned lifts and there are no qualified judges. I will do my own thing, whether I switch gyms at this time, I am not sure. However, being in the funk I am in right now, a change of scenery may help motivate me.
Well, I hate to admit it but i’ll turn 40 in less than a year!! DAMN!!!
Anyway, i’m in better shape now than i’ve ever been, After hurting my back too many times powerlifting, i now concentrate on form and technique. I had to drop the weights but i’m still very strong!
My best motivation is that most 20 to 30 years old cant even keep up with me on the job and in the gym…OOOOOH i’m proud of that!!! and i intend to keep it that way!!!
Change of scenery is good. Keep the membership to the dungeon, and get a second at the wife’s gym (look into family discounts, or referal kickbacks). Dude, once you cross 40, everything changes. You can go heavy, just not all the time.
[quote]mpi wrote:
Needless to say, those with legitimate gym records like myself can be passed up by a guy quarter squatting or hitching etc. But it does create undo feelings of competition and validation by allowing these lifts to be documented. Also, a majority of the members are loser 20 something year olds with bigger egos than lifts. Do to this, my motivation has been suffering and my lifts have dropped.
[/quote]
At your age you should not even be thinking like this. You’re the young sliverback, you need feel no insecurity.
inthego, thanks man. I just orderd my “im not here to talk” shirt. Im getting out of the gurage and headed to Inshape City, its a big family gym but membership is covered by my imployer. Ive had some great workouts at home but my chest is doing great, so im ready to strap on the I-pod and f#%k some shit up!
[quote]GIANT DAN wrote:
I am paying the price for playing the wrong game. I had told myself i would work hard at staying lean after placing 3rd in my first show last March.
On April 22nd my ego and a big fight with the mrs led to a horific injury. instead of a more reasonable workout for some one 35 yaers old and as big as i wanted to be, I for no goddamn raeson decided to put up 410 on the bench. I had done this in the past and didnt even need a spoter.
With a f-up mind set and a poor choice of a workout I completly tor my right pec. I had surgery a month later, fuckin insurance. Any way I just started my rehab and its killing me, watching these 130lbs boys hit it harder than me.
I relocated gyms just to get away from all the people who want to talk to me about my injury. I even work out at home some times, just because im so down on my self right now. Mpi, fuck the numbers man. It aint worth getting hurt. Do your own thing and stay strong.[/quote]
I blew my pec out playing the same game 10 years ago.
I just recently bought myself a Tuff-stuff power rack, weight bench, weight set, a weight vest and some odds and ends. I train at home now and am shocked at how much I like it. No overiding desire to play the Alpha Male game, no gym BS, a lot less time invested in working out, ie commute, waiting for equipment, etc.
I will be 40 in 9 months. I think everyone is guilty of comparing themselves to others in the gym. I still do it, but not as much as I did when I was in my 20s. The re-post of the Atomic Dog #18 sums it up nicely:
Check your ego at the door. You ain’t shit, but neither is anyone else.
Like other posters, I get injuries when I let my ego do the lifting. I’m happy to say that I haven’t allowed this to happen since joining T-Nation a few years ago.
A change of scenery might do you some good. I lift at a large commercial gym, and although there are some drawbacks, I find that I can get most things done, and the scenery is much nicer. And every once in a while a young whipper-snapper will say, “Man, I thought you were 25!”
I am happy at my new gym and things are working out. There is not the constant aura of competition like at the other place. The equipment is actually much better and there is much more variety. I was stuck in a rut of using the same lifts and equipment week after week.
I have also been able to lift with the wife since child care is available at the facility. Watching the wife doing deep squats has been quite an inspiration.
[quote]mpi wrote:
Thanks for all the great responses.
I am happy at my new gym and things are working out. There is not the constant aura of competition like at the other place. The equipment is actually much better and there is much more variety. I was stuck in a rut of using the same lifts and equipment week after week.
I have also been able to lift with the wife since child care is available at the facility. Watching the wife doing deep squats has been quite an inspiration. [/quote]
Good for you MPI, keep it up and have fun training!!!
In their heart of hearts, might the quarter squatters know they’re fooling themselves?
Either way, we’re older. We light a candle instead of cursing the darkness. When I see someone going parallel, I go out of my way to recognize it… and if any quarter squatters nearby overhear me, well so be it.
“Now THAT is an honest squat! Good job!”
I take particular joy if it’s some guy with ninety-five pounds on the bar who still hits the bucket – some newbie who’s at least doing a legitimate rep – and in the immediate vicinity someone else just finished a bogus 225. (“Glorified knee twitch.” Well said.)
Organized competition is good. But casual, ad hoc comparisons in a gym where clients, attendance, age, experience, exercise form and ego are in constant flux, is pointless.
Glad you’re on track, mpi. Gym environments should be of no consequence to a focused lifter. The need to belittle health clubs is more telling of people’s insecurity than their pedigree as lifters.
Excellence in any field transcends the surroundings. Great teams play well at home or on the road. It is fine to prefer one venue over another; to require it is a sign of immaturity.
[quote]GIANT DAN wrote:
inthego, thanks man. I just orderd my “im not here to talk” shirt. Im getting out of the gurage and headed to Inshape City, its a big family gym but membership is covered by my imployer. Ive had some great workouts at home but my chest is doing great, so im ready to strap on the I-pod and f#%k some shit up![/quote]
ITS 4pm and and i have 1 hour left before i can leave the job and get ready to pump up the gun show. Ill be sporting my new shirt, it came UPS on thursday. Thanks again for the insperation
[quote]Plowman wrote:
In their heart of hearts, might the quarter squatters know they’re fooling themselves?
[/quote]
So when I am doing my less than full squats with some heavy weight in the power rack, I am fooling myself? Pfft. I guess I could be home eating bon bons on the couch.
But you didn’t see me do the full ATG squats sets last leg workout but yet you judge me.
Anyways, I don’t really care what someone else lifts and I respect anyone in the gym trying to improve their physique.
