Alright, 4 gyms I lifted in, only one was decent, it had a power cage, DBs up to 200 lb ( 200 was kept hidden because people tripped or got scared because it )n bench presses with various angles ( even a 15Ã?° incline bench ), hammer-strength rowing machine, power squat and leg press, with some other useless machines I avoid. Shame it was under a shopping mall and it would get crowded with all shorts of age groups, who wouldn’t fucking shut up.
The other 3 gyms were practically the same thing, except they managed to get worse one after the other.
Chalk was not allowed, even if I cleaned it up and was careful not to make a mess.
Deadlifting was seriously frowned upon.
Squatting was seriously frowned upon.
Leg Presses was seriously frowned upon.
Everything with a heavy weight was frowned upon.
Leg Press machines would tremble and break down when loaded with more than 600 lbs
Bars would start bending with 200 pounds
Equipment falling apart
Way more cardio machines than space available to accommodate them.
Way too many people the gyms could safely accommodate, sometimes doing lateral meant hitting the db on someone’s face.
One gym had way too many mirrors. People would fight for the spot in front of the larger mirror. This was also the only place with enough space to dead-lift. I’d often have to throw my shit and barbell in the middle of the area and make a perimeter with my things so I could lift in peace.
[quote]dianab wrote:
I have access to great coaching at a weightlifting club where my daughter trains, both of us have been coached by Pierre Roy and she trains alongside Marilou Prevost, which gives her (and myself) an amazing source of inspiration.[/quote]
Training next to an olympian is always cool, and if I’m not mistaken Pierre Roy coaches some of the top weightlifters in Canada (I want to say he’s Luna-Grenier’s coach but I’m not sure). Totally jelly.[/quote]
It’s cool and humbling LOL. She has about a 22" waist and is strong as a bull. When my daughter’s father saw Marilou train, he mentioned to me that she has muscles he didn’t even know existed. Strong, super nice and drop dead gorgeous!
M.Roy has coached pretty much every weightlifter in the area. He retired last year, but I don’t think it fully took, he still coaches the girls at my kids club.
[quote]Bmacres wrote:
My gym sucks. Twice as many smith machines as squat racks, DB’s only up to 100 lbs, can’t find a 10 lb. plate to save my life(for all the jackasses using three on each side for curls).[/quote]
Yeah, what is it with 10lb plates anyways? I can never find 2, and it makes me wonder what idiot took 1 plate and where the fuck did he leave it. I swear people steal them from my commercial gym. There are 100lb DBs at my work gym and I swear no one has EVER touched them. It is my goal to do goblet squats with one and brush off the dust LOL.
[quote]Bmacres wrote:
My gym sucks. Twice as many smith machines as squat racks, DB’s only up to 100 lbs, can’t find a 10 lb. plate to save my life(for all the jackasses using three on each side for curls).[/quote]
Yeah, what is it with 10lb plates anyways? I can never find 2, and it makes me wonder what idiot took 1 plate and where the fuck did he leave it. I swear people steal them from my commercial gym. There are 100lb DBs at my work gym and I swear no one has EVER touched them. It is my goal to do goblet squats with one and brush off the dust LOL.[/quote]
lol Right, when I can find ten pound plates it’s usually only one. And 100 lb. goblet squat? Lovin’ it, I’m training a lady right now who can do 65 for 10 at BW of 120. Not bad for her frame, but shit 100 would be legit to see a female do.
[quote]dianab wrote:
I have access to great coaching at a weightlifting club where my daughter trains, both of us have been coached by Pierre Roy and she trains alongside Marilou Prevost, which gives her (and myself) an amazing source of inspiration.[/quote]
Training next to an olympian is always cool, and if I’m not mistaken Pierre Roy coaches some of the top weightlifters in Canada (I want to say he’s Luna-Grenier’s coach but I’m not sure). Totally jelly.[/quote]
It’s cool and humbling LOL. She has about a 22" waist and is strong as a bull. When my daughter’s father saw Marilou train, he mentioned to me that she has muscles he didn’t even know existed. Strong, super nice and drop dead gorgeous!
M.Roy has coached pretty much every weightlifter in the area. He retired last year, but I don’t think it fully took, he still coaches the girls at my kids club.[/quote]
Yeah, in my experience weightlifters are generally pretty nice people. Everyone I met at nationals last year (with the exception of maybe one or two people) was really down to earth and good to talk to (except that I don’t speak french . . . kind of put a wrench in speaking to the Quebecers haha). I had to keep reminding myself that all these people were either a) lifting way more than me or b) lifting just as much as me, but at a much lighter bodyweight. And I agree, there are a few cuties in the ranks of Canadian weightlifters.
[quote]Bmacres wrote:
My gym sucks. Twice as many smith machines as squat racks, DB’s only up to 100 lbs, can’t find a 10 lb. plate to save my life(for all the jackasses using three on each side for curls).[/quote]
Yeah, what is it with 10lb plates anyways? I can never find 2, and it makes me wonder what idiot took 1 plate and where the fuck did he leave it. I swear people steal them from my commercial gym. There are 100lb DBs at my work gym and I swear no one has EVER touched them. It is my goal to do goblet squats with one and brush off the dust LOL.[/quote]
lol Right, when I can find ten pound plates it’s usually only one. And 100 lb. goblet squat? Lovin’ it, I’m training a lady right now who can do 65 for 10 at BW of 120. Not bad for her frame, but shit 100 would be legit to see a female do.[/quote]
Well I’m not sure how long it’ll take to do that. I just started doing them because that gym doesn’t have a rack and I’ve been logging in a lot of hours lately at work, that has kept me from my regular gym. I tried this week and did 8x50, I wonder if there is much carry-over from regular back-squatting.
[quote]dianab wrote:
I have access to great coaching at a weightlifting club where my daughter trains, both of us have been coached by Pierre Roy and she trains alongside Marilou Prevost, which gives her (and myself) an amazing source of inspiration.[/quote]
Training next to an olympian is always cool, and if I’m not mistaken Pierre Roy coaches some of the top weightlifters in Canada (I want to say he’s Luna-Grenier’s coach but I’m not sure). Totally jelly.[/quote]
It’s cool and humbling LOL. She has about a 22" waist and is strong as a bull. When my daughter’s father saw Marilou train, he mentioned to me that she has muscles he didn’t even know existed. Strong, super nice and drop dead gorgeous!
M.Roy has coached pretty much every weightlifter in the area. He retired last year, but I don’t think it fully took, he still coaches the girls at my kids club.[/quote]
Yeah, in my experience weightlifters are generally pretty nice people. Everyone I met at nationals last year (with the exception of maybe one or two people) was really down to earth and good to talk to (except that I don’t speak french . . . kind of put a wrench in speaking to the Quebecers haha). I had to keep reminding myself that all these people were either a) lifting way more than me or b) lifting just as much as me, but at a much lighter bodyweight. And I agree, there are a few cuties in the ranks of Canadian weightlifters.
Does your daughter compete?[/quote]
Most awesome to participate in Nationals. My girl competes locally, she’s been at it for just a little over a year now and loves it. I tried to get back into it last year, but training PL and weightlifitng at the same time was not do-able for me.
I have a semi-decent setup at home (no power rack though) and also have membership at the commercial gym that’s less then a mile from my house.
About 3-4 miles away there’s an area with expensive condos, nice restaurants etc. They have a gym there, all you see from the outside is a cardio area so I always assumed it was a “fru fru” kind of place.
Then I saw some dudes pushing a prowler in a parking lot so I figured I’d check that place out.
Walked in - power racks, chalk, tires, they even have an atlas stone lol. Signed up on the spot. Been living in this area for 6+ years, took me 5 years to “discover” that place.
[quote]Bmacres wrote:
My gym sucks. Twice as many smith machines as squat racks, DB’s only up to 100 lbs, can’t find a 10 lb. plate to save my life(for all the jackasses using three on each side for curls).[/quote]
Yeah, what is it with 10lb plates anyways? I can never find 2, and it makes me wonder what idiot took 1 plate and where the fuck did he leave it. I swear people steal them from my commercial gym. There are 100lb DBs at my work gym and I swear no one has EVER touched them. It is my goal to do goblet squats with one and brush off the dust LOL.[/quote]
lol Right, when I can find ten pound plates it’s usually only one. And 100 lb. goblet squat? Lovin’ it, I’m training a lady right now who can do 65 for 10 at BW of 120. Not bad for her frame, but shit 100 would be legit to see a female do.[/quote]
Well I’m not sure how long it’ll take to do that. I just started doing them because that gym doesn’t have a rack and I’ve been logging in a lot of hours lately at work, that has kept me from my regular gym. I tried this week and did 8x50, I wonder if there is much carry-over from regular back-squatting.[/quote]
I actually sometimes switch to goblet squats if I notice that her back stability is lacking in back squats(she has a long torso). Supporting the load from the front really forces you to keep your chest up and back tight. She’s been liking them though, hence the 65 for 10. I was really stoked when she managed it. Keep going, 100 is just around the corner.
[quote]Hallowed wrote:
There is a kid that I have seen twice at my gym doing on handed (one armed?) snatch with the big plates. He cranks out a bunch of them pretty much like nothing and well I just find it awesome to watch. He looks like a wressler and he looks young. [/quote]
how does that work? I used to do one arm dumbbell snatches, but i can’t imagine holding on to a couple of plates once theyr up![/quote]
Its pretty fucking epic. Its the long bar with a 45 on each end. I don’t even know if “snatch” is the right term for the movement. He kind of squats above the bar with his hand right in the middle and then in one movement picks it up off the ground, hoists it up and almost jumps under it into a squat type position, and then he stands up while hoisting it over his head all with one arm. He balances it up there for a few too before he drops it.
I would look for a youtube vid of same but youtube blocked at my work.
[quote]Hallowed wrote:
There is a kid that I have seen twice at my gym doing on handed (one armed?) snatch with the big plates. He cranks out a bunch of them pretty much like nothing and well I just find it awesome to watch. He looks like a wressler and he looks young. [/quote]
how does that work? I used to do one arm dumbbell snatches, but i can’t imagine holding on to a couple of plates once theyr up![/quote]
Its pretty fucking epic. Its the long bar with a 45 on each end. I don’t even know if “snatch” is the right term for the movement. He kind of squats above the bar with his hand right in the middle and then in one movement picks it up off the ground, hoists it up and almost jumps under it into a squat type position, and then he stands up while hoisting it over his head all with one arm. He balances it up there for a few too before he drops it.
I would look for a youtube vid of same but youtube blocked at my work.[/quote]
A chick used to do that at my old gym, not 45s though. Probably the equivalent of a guy doing it with 45s.
Gym 1) Local, not too crowded few regulars who know what they are doing, bunch of other people who don’t but they never get in the way so its great. Dumbells 125 I think, at least 1 squat rack always available when I need it, 2 total.
Gym 2) Commercial, total squat rack curls type members always see funny stuff when I go. It has some equipment I like so I just go for certain workouts (hammer strength). 3 Squat racks, almost always all 3 look occupied because people left their weight on but I can usually get 1 of them pretty easily. So far no problems with staff but I could see it happening one day, usually go at night so its lightly staffed and no one really walking around looking to cause trouble. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone lift more than I could, on any lift at this gym. One guy might tie me for smith machine bench pressing but I haven’t tested my partial rep smith bench in a while (or ever).
[quote]TD54 wrote:
Honestly I’m not a big fan of lifting a lot more weight that the guy next to me. It’s a bit awkward to me. I’d much prefer to be lifting next to a guy doing about the same weight as me[/quote]
I cannot take any post of yours seriously with that avatar.
Wow dinahb your daughter is very lucky. You aren’t tempted to do Oly Lifting over Powerlifting?
My gym is alright. Uni gym. Lots of different parts to it… Most of which I don’t make use of. Cardio room with AMT’s and quite a few Concept II’s. The ‘regular gym’ weights rooms with the regular crappy machines - but quite a few cable machines, too. Lots of dip stations and pull up bars around… Rock climbing walls… Dojo… Some kind of gym upstairs (pay extra) with climbing ropes and kettlebells.
I mostly train in the heavy weights room. Oly platform and bumpers, couple power-racks, couple uprights, some cable machines… Dumbbells up to 60kg, I think… Maybe 65kg… Staff rarely venture in there but sometimes do and tell people to put on shoes or not drop the bumpers off the platform. But then they go away again… They don’t mind chalk so long as you don’t make a mess on the carpet in the ‘regular’ (more commercial) weights area.
The atmosphere is pretty good. Not too many bros in the heavy weights room. A bunch of older guys who have been training for a long time who really like to bench but deadlift and squat etc too. They are nice to me, which helps me feel comfortable even when the bros crowd me etc sometimes. Eleiko competition women’s bar I can use. Finally brought myself some lighter technique plates. A couple guys who are fairly seriously into Oly Lifting so I try and train when they do (even though one of them doesn’t seem to like women or something so I mostly just listen quietly to see what I might be able to pick up when he is around). Sometimes we get athletes training in there (with coaches). I usually learn something watching them train. Get some coaching advice from one of the guys there, sometimes, though we might be starting to develop different ideas (I don’t have his levers).
Sometimes I wish it was a bit more hardcore… But I guess really I just wish I had a proper coach and some more lifters who were serious about learning Oly lifting and trained them more regularly. I’m happy enough, though, I guess. Kinda like doing my own thing, too. Figuring stuff out myself.
I have a good gym. It’s called Iron Sport and run by a guy who used to do Highland Games. He has a log on EFS and I’m pretty sure he knows those guys personally. His wife also lifts and did a Strong Man (Woman?) competition a year or so ago and there was a video on here about her training for it.
He’s starting to hold meets and stuff at his gym and is really trying to get it more up to date and beat out the commercial gyms. The only bad thing is the parking lot is so small that sometimes I have to forego training, unless I want to wait until 11pm. Since I’m a semi-regular trainee, this is okay. But it also proves how much of a slacker I am. shrug
Joined a new gym yesterday, its awesome. Elitefts racks and back extension, a ghr, bands, chains, 3 prowlers, 5 sleds, a dozen or so massive tires, lots of benches, inclines, a couple of chinning/dip stations, heavy dumbbells, 2 oly platforms and lots of bumpers. Its fucking sweet
Came to the gym to squat and some guy was curling in the rack. He seen me eye up the rack and gave me the rack to squat in. Much bigger guy than me but very nice to know people like that are in the gym I go to.
At my gym there is a 242 lbs guy that benches over 600lbs on a rugular basis. The owner benches in the upper 400s and he’s in his 50’s. Several guys can squat in the upper 600s. We have one ER rack, two benches, several squat racks, Bands, chains, boards, dumbells, etc. The place is dusty dirty and rusty etc… but it suits our needs. Almost everyone there competes so the environment is a lot more intense than a commercial gym. Basically, Unless you lift at Elite FTS or Westside my gym is top of the line.
Some of the guys there have been competing for 30 years, so there is no lack of coaching. When I started there my lifts went up dramatically at my next meet. Envrionment makes a huge difference. It’s probably a combination of factors but when you lift around strong people you get stronger.
Since I’m a semi-regular trainee, this is okay. But it also proves how much of a slacker I am. shrug