Tactics for Crowded Gyms?

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

im new to posting here, been lurking of a couple weeks…

i go to a 24hr fitness and have a long term membership plan so ill be staying htere for a while…

im looking at some new programs including Waterbury method/meltdown whatever and they involve lots of supersetting and multiple exercises in succession, how do you guys accomplish this in crowded spread out gyms like 24hr? do i just take a couple towels and lock up different stations and then run back and forth dodging other lifters? not really practical, but having to do straight sets only really limits my program selection…

any ideas?

thanks in advance…

2

use db’s and barbells

example super set bb flat bench and db rows.

chins and db oh press or bb press bring the bb/db to the other station

Phill

3

When you need to use a piece of equipment, just start making vomiting noises and a path will open like Moses and the Red Sea.

4

Look at using the gym during less crowded hours. You’ll just piss people off by tying up several pieces of equipment during busy times.

5

Talk with employees and map out hours that are less crowded and/or as said earlier get those dumbells and bring them along. As long as you aren’t hoarding the dumb-bells. Usually I rest only 10-15 seconds when supersetting so no one complains that im dragging dumbells off to do evil.

6

[quote]thirddan wrote:
im new to posting here, been lurking of a couple weeks…

i go to a 24hr fitness and have a long term membership plan so ill be staying htere for a while…

im looking at some new programs including Waterbury method/meltdown whatever and they involve lots of supersetting and multiple exercises in succession, how do you guys accomplish this in crowded spread out gyms like 24hr? do i just take a couple towels and lock up different stations and then run back and forth dodging other lifters? not really practical, but having to do straight sets only really limits my program selection…

any ideas?

thanks in advance…[/quote]

I know what you mean! I do some personal training and that is the most stressful part of my job! I leave clothing items, water bottles, a clip board, etc, on benches and things we’re using, but there’s always a few that whine “you can’t use both!”…

I try to stay in one station. I don’t use many machines anyway, so I bring the DB’s and EZ curl bars to the squat rack
so I never have to leave the area.

If that fails…Hurry up and get really big muscles – then nobody will mess with ya!

7

I too work out at 24hr, and honestly, I hate it. I am a huge fan of supersets and every club I go to is usually too busy to accomodate. Probably the best thing to do would be to go at a different time, when it’s less crouded. Well, that’s my plan anyway. I hate waking up early, so we’ll see how long it lasts, lol.

8

One of my buddies jsut walks around looking furiouse ALL THE TIME, people get out of his way, it helps that hes big, and makes a lot of noise.

I’v also used the tactic of pointing at a pice of equipment or bench and just being like “I’M USING THAT,” or walking up to people benching and saying, “I need to bench,” the usually forefie the bench.

You might get a rep for being a ass, but hey, you’re not there to make freinds, and any guys there who don’t mind your tactics ar probably good prospective training partners.

9

Fart…

-chris

10

I don’t know all the details of your situation, but if you could find a couple friends of about the same strength level then you could “tie” up several pieces of equipment rotating from one station to another.

Since you would have a body at each station at all times it should keep things tied up pretty well. As already suggested, exercising at off hours may also help. If there are problems due to limited equipment or equipment that is not placed conveniently in the gym talk to the management.

Discuss your issues with management. You are paying their salaries, so they are there to serve you to get the best workout possible. Good luck.

11

Just give anyone a chokeslam that gets in your way.

12

I’m not too sure whether this topic is still active…

But I’d mention that I’ve made the switch to hitting the gym first thing in the morning, around 6-6:30, and I think it’s prooving to be a good change.

There’s hardly anyone in the weight room, seriously, I thought I heard a cricket this morning. I’ve never been a morning person, but so far this is helping keep my energy level up for the rest of the day.
Anway, food for thought…

13

[quote]BigDaddyT wrote:
I don’t know all the details of your situation, but if you could find a couple friends of about the same strength level then you could “tie” up several pieces of equipment rotating from one station to another.

[/quote]
I don’t think you even need a couple friends. I do this with a training partner all the time. If you do a lot of squatting you will be fine. At most gyms that is usually available (If you can get the squat rack curlers out of there. :slight_smile:

14

Take Phil’s advice and find another way to work in the same movement. Do you live near more than one 24 hour?

I do and I know which ones are less crowded at which times so I end up going to a few different ones…but I know that’s not always easy to do.

15

Wake up early, not alot of people in the gym at 5am

16

Monday is internationally recognized as benching day, so do it another day and you’ll find more space…

Also, yes, you can drag DBs over to a piece of equipment. Just put the DBs back when you are done, so the next person doesn’t have to wander around the gym like an idiot in order to find them.

Whoever that person is, there is a special place in hell reserved for you!

17

[quote]Sandy Joyce wrote:
thirddan wrote:
im new to posting here, been lurking of a couple weeks…

I know what you mean! I do some personal training and that is the most stressful part of my job! I leave clothing items, water bottles, a clip board, etc, on benches and things we’re using, but there’s always a few that whine “you can’t use both!”…

I try to stay in one station. I don’t use many machines anyway, so I bring the DB’s and EZ curl bars to the squat rack
so I never have to leave the area.

If that fails…Hurry up and get really big muscles – then nobody will mess with ya!

[/quote]

Probably the longest thread on T-Nation is about people curling in the squat rack, now we have trainers teaching noobies that this is okay. Where is your head??? Why not find a quiet corner, don’t block a piece of equipment that you’re not using for it’s intended purpose!!!

18

!!!, everyone knows that those big metal racks that can hold an inordinate amount of weight are there for curls. Dumbell curls, barbell curls, air curls, its all good.

On a serious note, i never understood why people just dont use the CURLING rack which most gyms have to do their curling.

19

When I used to frequent a gym (I work out at home now). The people who worked there actually pulled me aside and said I looked mean and unapproachable and people were afraid of me. And I said “so, the problem is?”:smiley: This was a great help to avoid interruption.

However, if that doesn’t work try to find out hours where there are less people there (like others have mentioned) or ask to work in, but please not during some one’s set.

20

I don’t mean to hijack, but I have to make mention of the “squat rack curler” at my gym.

He wears lifting straps for every exercise (he only does three). Bench press (DB or BB), curls (varies), and tricep pushdowns (incorrectly). But, he wears lifting straps for every exercise. And when i tried to explain to him (nicely) about curling in the squat rack he look at me like I was a fucking idiot.

And it is everytime I go in for heavy squats and deads. every time.

So the last time after he said, “I only have like 5 more sets.” (of curls in the squat rack). I told him that there were 3 other available BB’s that he could use to do his BB curls.

And I pointed them out, he then proceded to tell me that he didn’t like having to take the bar off of the bench (keep in mind he is using the hooks on the rack that are set like 12 inches from the ground so he is essentially deadlifting the 65 lbs off the floor).

So I took the bar off of the bench’s hooks and set it on the actual bench, and said, “There you go, now you don’t have to curl in the squat rack.”

He still didn’t get it. I explained that there I am not able to (at this time) to clean and press 315 above my head and then lower it to my shoulders, he still looked at me like I had a arm growing out of my face. Some people just don’t get it.

[/hijack] Had to share.

About your crowded gym…fuck 'em…take up as many spots as you want. I’ll hog 5 at a time at 6 pm (busy time). The skinny frat curl kids and the soccer mom’s aren’t going to do anything. And they will probably use your supersetting (read hogging the machines) as a good reason to rationalize to be lazy during their workout. If the other people are serious about their lifting they’ll figure out how to work in with you.

If you are using 2-5 different spots, then you are only at each spot for 20-40 seconds, the other 2 minutes they can jump in there and get there two sets in. And then you take rest period between sets, they have plenty of time to do there 3 sets of 10 with pink DB’s.