[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
I will measure tomorrow and report back.
You don’t have to do that. I was just thinking that was the standard amount of room needed for safety.
…on second thought, go ahead and measure, I’m curious now lol.[/quote]
Me too. I am pretty sure it is less than 5 feet.
[quote]tora no’ shi wrote:
i always do curls in front of a mirror…dumbbell, barbell, cable, high cable…whatever…
and i always turn and look at myself when i’m doing pressdowns…didn’t know there were little guys that would call me a scrub for doing that…at least not to my face that’s for sure…
[/quote]
I do the same. I don’t get what is wrong with mirrors. I use it to check form and to see my muscles working during the movement. Why is this is a negative to anyone? If you are small and weak, the mirror is not the reason. If some huge guy is looking into one, why would anyone make fun of that?
Try taping a piece of tape on the mirror to give you something to focus on. You’ll be less likely to break your focus, and most places won’t even notice what you have done.
Also, you can adjust the tape to look up, straight, etc.
[quote]wressler125 wrote:
Try taping a piece of tape on the mirror to give you something to focus on. You’ll be less likely to break your focus, and most places won’t even notice what you have done.
Also, you can adjust the tape to look up, straight, etc.[/quote]
What I don’t get is, why would someone NOT be focusing on their target muscle group if a mirror is in front of them? That is what they are there for. That is what bodybuilders have used them for ever since someone first decided to throw one up in front of a weight rack. When did they become “bad”?
[quote]Professor X wrote:
wressler125 wrote:
Try taping a piece of tape on the mirror to give you something to focus on. You’ll be less likely to break your focus, and most places won’t even notice what you have done.
Also, you can adjust the tape to look up, straight, etc.
What I don’t get is, why would someone NOT be focusing on their target muscle group if a mirror is in front of them? That is what they are there for. That is what bodybuilders have used them for ever since someone first decided to throw one up in front of a weight rack. When did they become “bad”?[/quote]
Probably because that person is squating or deadlifting. The going up and down of the reflections on the mirror can be disorienting and/or make it harder to fix your eye (and thereby your head position) into one place. I, for one, cannot be looking at the mirror ALL THE TIME when I squat (especially the OH Squat) or deadlift because I loose my consentration. HOWEVER, I do look at the mirror infront of me and to the side, or even better, diagonal to me (so I don’t have to turn my head around), in the 1st few sets.
[quote]NeoSpartan wrote:
Professor X wrote:
wressler125 wrote:
Try taping a piece of tape on the mirror to give you something to focus on. You’ll be less likely to break your focus, and most places won’t even notice what you have done.
Also, you can adjust the tape to look up, straight, etc.
What I don’t get is, why would someone NOT be focusing on their target muscle group if a mirror is in front of them? That is what they are there for. That is what bodybuilders have used them for ever since someone first decided to throw one up in front of a weight rack. When did they become “bad”?
Probably because that person is squating or deadlifting. The going up and down of the reflections on the mirror can be disorienting and/or make it harder to fix your eye (and thereby your head position) into one place. I, for one, cannot be looking at the mirror ALL THE TIME when I squat (especially the OH Squat) or deadlift because I loose my consentration. HOWEVER, I do look at the mirror infront of me and to the side, or even better, diagonal to me (so I don’t have to turn my head around), in the 1st few sets.
[/quote]
That’s common sense and I doubt anyone is talking about strictly squatting where your vision is constantly changing plane of sight. Even then, I have usually focused on my own eyes or simply been so focused that what is in front of me isn’t registering to any significant degree. Either way, mirrors have never been an issue so I still don’t understand why they would be to anyone else.
Of course one needs to focus on the lift, not the mirror. Looking at one’s self in the mirror while doing power cleans would be silly. Still, when I do biceps curls, I personally enjoy watching the “veins” in my arms “pop out” during a set. While I don’t train for size, lifting still has a large component to vanity to it.
I hope people aren’t so non-thinking that they can’t understand the difference between the two situations.
And I still think the irritation at seeing big guys flexing in the mirror is caused by jealousy.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
NeoSpartan wrote:
Professor X wrote:
wressler125 wrote:
Try taping a piece of tape on the mirror to give you something to focus on. You’ll be less likely to break your focus, and most places won’t even notice what you have done.
Also, you can adjust the tape to look up, straight, etc.
What I don’t get is, why would someone NOT be focusing on their target muscle group if a mirror is in front of them? That is what they are there for. That is what bodybuilders have used them for ever since someone first decided to throw one up in front of a weight rack. When did they become “bad”?
Probably because that person is squating or deadlifting. The going up and down of the reflections on the mirror can be disorienting and/or make it harder to fix your eye (and thereby your head position) into one place. I, for one, cannot be looking at the mirror ALL THE TIME when I squat (especially the OH Squat) or deadlift because I loose my consentration. HOWEVER, I do look at the mirror infront of me and to the side, or even better, diagonal to me (so I don’t have to turn my head around), in the 1st few sets.
That’s common sense and I doubt anyone is talking about strictly squatting where your vision is constantly changing plane of sight. Even then, I have usually focused on my own eyes or simply been so focused that what is in front of me isn’t registering to any significant degree. Either way, mirrors have never been an issue so I still don’t understand why they would be to anyone else.[/quote]
oh… Now I see what your saying Prof X. The only times I see the mirrors as an issue is when doing the big lifts, and I thought that was the OP’s main beef with mirrors. hum…I guess I read too quickly…
I think we are all missing the point here. There are mirrors around the gym so we can get away with staring hot ass girls squatting and working the leg machines without actually getting caught looking. Besides, it would be just boring to stare at a blank wall.
California Law’s first post explained what i tried to say.
When someone with no muscle starts doing EXAGERATED curls in front of the mirror or always is checking themselves out during all exercises. It’s laughable.
If you have some solid mass, do whatever pleases you in front of the mirrors.
There is a point to the mirrors.
I can see behind me while in the rack to make sure I wont hit anyone(and i have, and come close a few times).
Also it is quite enjoyable to watch my muscles work, see them contracting and veins popping out.
Sorry my first post was unclear and/or not well thought out. “Scrub” in the gym, is a term I have put meaning to.
[quote]Raven3606 wrote:
I think we are all missing the point here. There are mirrors around the gym so we can get away with staring hot ass girls squatting and working the leg machines without actually getting caught looking. Besides, it would be just boring to stare at a blank wall. [/quote]
Another great reason. I love the double mirror stare… looking at one mirror that faces another which finally gives me a perfect angle while a girl is doing bent-over exercises.
[quote]ShaneM686 wrote:
haha, funny story Zap, got a good laugh outa me.
I could care less if the mirrors were there or not.
It does make me laugh/smile when I see some scrub doing curls in front of them… or the head turn while doing tricep pushdowns. I make sure they see me laugh too. Always.
I probably am not the nicest person ever, but if you are trying very very hard, you don’t have time to check out your triceps in the mirror while lifting.
Not to say i’m not guilty of either, but I only do it once in awhile. Hell, most of the time i wear a fleece at the gym.[/quote]
And can you please explain why someone who is trying very, very hard doesn’t have time to look in the mirror?
I don’t understand.
And what’s the point of laughing at someone doing bicep curls in front of the mirror? Why are you so concerned with what other people are doing in the gym? And why go out of your way to make sure they see you laughing at them?
Again, I don’t understand.
Why not just do your fukin’ workout and quit worrying about what others are doing?
One day you might just laugh at some dude having a bad day and get your ass handed to you.
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
tmoney1 wrote:
I will measure tomorrow and report back.
You don’t have to do that. I was just thinking that was the standard amount of room needed for safety.
…on second thought, go ahead and measure, I’m curious now lol.
Me too. I am pretty sure it is less than 5 feet.[/quote]
I checked. They are 2 feet from the wall.
[quote]CaliforniaLaw wrote:
… While I don’t train for size,… [/quote]
I just had to quote this.
[quote]ShaneM686 wrote:
When someone with no muscle starts doing EXAGERATED curls in front of the mirror or always is checking themselves out during all exercises. It’s laughable.[/quote]
Especially when the dumb bell rack is right in front of hte mirror and hte guys are standing so close that you can’t get your dumb bell. I used to be more polite. Now-a-days, I just step right in front of them and grab what I need.
[quote]Raven3606 wrote:
I think we are all missing the point here. There are mirrors around the gym so we can get away with staring hot ass girls squatting and working the leg machines without actually getting caught looking. Besides, it would be just boring to stare at a blank wall. [/quote]
Golden. I know that’s why I like the morrors in my gym 
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
tmoney1 wrote:
I will measure tomorrow and report back.
You don’t have to do that. I was just thinking that was the standard amount of room needed for safety.
…on second thought, go ahead and measure, I’m curious now lol.
Me too. I am pretty sure it is less than 5 feet.
I checked. They are 2 feet from the wall.[/quote]
That’s not safe at all. I would address that to the management at the Y you work out at.
Thanks for checking Zap.
[quote]dre wrote:
ShaneM686 wrote:
haha, funny story Zap, got a good laugh outa me.
I could care less if the mirrors were there or not.
It does make me laugh/smile when I see some scrub doing curls in front of them… or the head turn while doing tricep pushdowns. I make sure they see me laugh too. Always.
I probably am not the nicest person ever, but if you are trying very very hard, you don’t have time to check out your triceps in the mirror while lifting.
Not to say i’m not guilty of either, but I only do it once in awhile. Hell, most of the time i wear a fleece at the gym.
And can you please explain why someone who is trying very, very hard doesn’t have time to look in the mirror?
I don’t understand.
And what’s the point of laughing at someone doing bicep curls in front of the mirror? Why are you so concerned with what other people are doing in the gym? And why go out of your way to make sure they see you laughing at them?
Again, I don’t understand.
Why not just do your fukin’ workout and quit worrying about what others are doing?
One day you might just laugh at some dude having a bad day and get your ass handed to you.[/quote]
Look right before your post.
Ours are about 4 feet from the row of treadmills behind it.
Cardiobunny dominos!
[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
I checked. They are 2 feet from the wall.
That’s not safe at all. I would address that to the management at the Y you work out at.
[/quote]
I dunno–is whacking straight into the wall any worse than if you had room to flail around and twist before whacking into the wall?