Ok, related to my other thread about the ABBH program, I need to ask how you guys cope at the gym when wanting to superset or giant-set.
Taking Day 3 of the ABBH program as an example, it calls for a tri-set of BB front suqat, cable crunch and sitting calf-raise.
The issue I have is, how do I try and organise this at the gym when the station I need may get taken by another member.
I can usually get to the gym during the quieter times, between 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM, and so have a reasonable chance of sorting this out. But it won’t be easy.
hmm, well you are going when there’s less traffic, that helps. if someone interferes with your work, you could ask him to work in (in between your sets). i’m sure they’ll agree. but of course, there are people that cannot possibly think of doing their workout in order of convenience… don’t know what to do about those guys.
let us know how it works out. some days you might get away with it, other days may be a little busy.
I’m always supersetting at the gym I go to. Usually it works out surprisingly well. Eventually the people there at the same time get to realize what you are doing too.
Anyway, just yesterday when doing squats I was working in with two different people after a third had scoffed the wheels off the bar while I was away.
Hey, sometimes it doesn’t work. Have a few unrelated muscle group stand by items you can do while you wait for equipment to open up. Worse case scenario, go ogle the cardio bunnies while doing an extended light warmup.
Even though people around here speak very ill of it, the smith machine can be used as a substitute for a sitting calf raise machine. Just put a bench and sit down on it. Lower the bar to your knees and proceed to do calf raises. Its kind of old school but its effective.
I just had the SAME problem doing the SAME part of the ABBH workout so I really feel for you.
After 1 set of front squats, I went to do some abs, came back, and all squat racks were filled, including the one I had my drink beside. The guy had the bar low because he was doing bent-over barbell rows. So I waited and you know what, the damn guy went over to talk to a girl who was doing squats in the squat rack. Yep, I had my stop-watch, 4 frickin minutes. And when I started to strip his weights, that’s of course when he decided he was ready to go with his set. I’m just ranting, I know we’ve all experienced this sort of thing.
But after that, the rest of my workout seemed to go alright. I worked in with a guy to do calf raises and he was nice about it. I have a partner I usually train with and that helps out a lot because you can be on one machine while your partner is keeping an eye on one of the other ones.
Other than that, going at less busy times will definitely help. But I feel your pain! Good luck!
Personally I performed crunches with an additional load on a rubber math close to the barbell used for front squats. I usually find free the calves machines. Similarly for the deadlift day. I performed floor pikes close to the barbell used for deadlifts.
Ciao
Luca