The plates have to face inward so the smooth side is on the outside.
I usually have a towel over my head when I do my warm up on the bike and I walk with it into the free weight area. I dont take it off till it is time for my first set after warm up and stretch. It is my way of getting focussed and tuning everything out but the iron. It also prevents people from asking me questions and talking to me. Once the towel comes off the cage is open and the Animal is unleashed.
A
Good thread. Glad to know I am not the only one with some quirks in the weightroom.
-pace between sets
-on ME just before I get in position, I do 3 deep heavy breaths and give the weight a crazy, wild-eyed look (I’m sure this is goofy looking, but I get more focused)
-on ME, as I struggle with that last rep, I often mutter curses at the weight, “Get the f…k up there” or “I own you mother f…r”, through gritted teeth
But I’m not “that guy” that yells during reps.
Whatever works to move it.
[quote]maraudermeat wrote:
I was at the gym today and my workout partner layed his lifting belt across the bar that we were using. Now that would be okay if the weight on the bar was his, but this was my set and only my belt can be on the bar before my set. That got me thinking about all the rituals that I have acquired over the years under the iron.
I was curious to hear from some of you guys on the topic. I wonder if some of us have some of the same ones and am alwaysinterested in hearing about new ones. (really I just want to know that I’m not the only crazy one)
Below is the short list that only scratches the surface on the many that I have.
-The biggest one has to do with the collars on the end of the bar. My gym uses the type that you squeeze and they release. The ends that you squeeze MUST be turned upward. In my mind the weight will go up if the ends are turned up.
-Only on max effort lifts I have to touch the bill of my hat right before I pull, press or squat.
-Only on max effort lifts I have to make sure that I cover my entire palm of my hands with chalk.
-I have to arch three times before starting my count for the liftoff on the bench.
-Only on max effort lifts, I have to be able to first visualize myself lifting the weight before I can attempt the lift. Sometimes this is difficult and may take several minutes of standing there looking like an idiot with his eyes closed.
Maybe I just need a really good shrink.
meat
[/quote]
Great thread by the way.
[quote]jlesk68 wrote:
maraudermeat wrote:
I was at the gym today and my workout partner layed his lifting belt across the bar that we were using. Now that would be okay if the weight on the bar was his, but this was my set and only my belt can be on the bar before my set. That got me thinking about all the rituals that I have acquired over the years under the iron.
I was curious to hear from some of you guys on the topic. I wonder if some of us have some of the same ones and am alwaysinterested in hearing about new ones. (really I just want to know that I’m not the only crazy one)
Below is the short list that only scratches the surface on the many that I have.
-The biggest one has to do with the collars on the end of the bar. My gym uses the type that you squeeze and they release. The ends that you squeeze MUST be turned upward. In my mind the weight will go up if the ends are turned up.
-Only on max effort lifts I have to touch the bill of my hat right before I pull, press or squat.
-Only on max effort lifts I have to make sure that I cover my entire palm of my hands with chalk.
-I have to arch three times before starting my count for the liftoff on the bench.
-Only on max effort lifts, I have to be able to first visualize myself lifting the weight before I can attempt the lift. Sometimes this is difficult and may take several minutes of standing there looking like an idiot with his eyes closed.
Maybe I just need a really good shrink.
meat
Great thread by the way.[/quote]
thanks!
[quote]Amsterdam Animal wrote:
The plates have to face inward so the smooth side is on the outside.
I usually have a towel over my head when I do my warm up on the bike and I walk with it into the free weight area. I dont take it off till it is time for my first set after warm up and stretch. It is my way of getting focussed and tuning everything out but the iron. It also prevents people from asking me questions and talking to me. Once the towel comes off the cage is open and the Animal is unleashed.
A [/quote]
Sounds like Iron Mike Tyson’s ringwalk.
This thread rules. I love the craziness here.
-If listening to music, I always have to start my set-up to a ME lift at the beginning of a song. I can’t start the lift in the middle of the music.
-Squat rack base has to be parallel to the floor mats and edge of the wall. When benching the bar has to be parallel to the ceiling.
-I always headbutt the bar before a lift that will require some hard effort. Not hard, but enough to let the weight know who the boss is.
-Always grip the bar left hand first. Always initiate a walkout with my right leg.
-I always use the same drinking fountain. I get super pissed if someone is at it when I need a drink or to get some water, or if someone comes up behind me to wait while I’m using it. I don’t act like a dick or show it, but it just annoys the hell out of me for some reason.
-Tighten my shoe laces in between every heavy set of squats, left shoe first.
after last nights ME workout I noticed a couple more.
I have to say- “on the count of three…” for the liftoff. Of course it’s on the count of three. It always has been, but I have to say it. I tried on one set to not say it but couldn’t bring myself to start without it.
I have to wait until my lifting partner says “big weight” before I start the count of 3. I don’t know if he is aware of this but he always says it. Same thing on deads. I’ll stand there until he says “big weight”.
_I have to use one particular bench and squat rack. Don’t ask me why…
meat
I used to HAVE to get a drink before a heavy set, but that drove me crazy so I started hydrating more pre-workout and carrying a nalgene water bottle during.
On leg days, my partner never tightens the plates/collar on his side of the bar. So before a set with new weight I always reach out with my left hand around the plates and push them in then tighten the collar. The fraction of an inch looseness couldn’t possible affect the lift, but I do it.
When putting plates back on the plate trees, I give 'em a spin so the brand name is upright and readble.
My leg day partner hates distractions. On leg days, we barely speak. When it’s time to raise the weight, usually one of us just pulls a plate or two off the nearest tree and holds it up for a second while the other nods, then grabs plates for the other end of the bar.
#1 is/was ritual.
#4 is just style.
#2 & #3 are just life as a freakin’ Type A.
The plates at my gym are octagonal. All of the sides must be lined up, with the hand grips in line as well. They have to be this on all lifts. It helps with the aerodynamics…
When deadlifting, the bar has to be in line with the wall. If it’s not, I feel like I’m lifting the weight at an angle.
On ME bench, I arch my back twice, then squeeze my shoulder blades twice, then have my spotter hand me the bar.
On any lift that has to be racked, the bar has to be perfectly centered before I attempt my lift. This ensures a balanced load.
I’m glad I’m not the only one…
olympic lifting:
i have a couple ‘routine’ oriented things i do before i pull. how i address the bar, that kind of thing. i do them exactly the same each time.
the one ‘odd’ thing i do is this:
last training day before a meet. it’s the last time i will be in the gym, on ‘my’ platform lifting ‘my’ weights before competition. the last thing i do is generally a light set of squats for 3 to 5 reps.
after my last rep i dump the weight behind me (i do this at the conclusion of most workouts but it’s pretty common). i then get down on my knees and kiss the weight on each side. i kiss the bar. then get down on all fours and kiss the platform. then i leave.
I do the breath/rocking thing on bench, and when I arch, I always rock back and forth left and right before setting for liftoff.
When I pull heavy, I have a 5 count setup:
If I go out of this sequence at all, I will back out of the pull. But on snatch grip pulls, I always roll the bar out and back in.
I always pick at my calluses between heavy pulls.
I rest with my arms over the bar before a squat. The heavier the squat, the longer I rest.
This is fun, because I hadn’t ever looked at these as habits or requirements, but I guess they are.
-folly