This may be a repeat confession: When I look at other people’s logs, their weights seem heavier/more impressive, even if the numbers are the same…for example I read that someone squats 315, their 315, in reading, seems heavier and more impressive than my 315. I don’t know why this is
I looked at your journal and I’m jealous of your deadlift numbers!
There’s a “trainer” at my gym that scares the shit out of me. Always rockin a sleeveless shirt, headband, 2 diamond earrings, and the lankiest pair of arms you ever did see. Wouldn’t care about the size of his arms if he wasn’t always walking around flexing them taking selfies. He walks up to the bench while I’m doing some CGBP one day, loads up 185, unracks it, bounces the weight off his chest and spends the next ten seconds grinding it up inch by inch, rocking back and forth and lifting his ass in the air. A couple inches short of lockout, he slams it back onto the pins, gets up, walks over to where some of the other trainers, and pretty much yells, “TOLD YOU I COULD BENCH 185”. At this point I thought he was just a front desk employee at the gym, but I saw him training someone the next day.
2 Likes
In my defence, I did tell you I could bench 185
6 Likes
Be more scared for the people he “trains”
2 Likes
I worded that weirdly but that’s exactly what I’m afraid of. I’m not trying to be mean, but I could give a shit what that dude does to himself provided he doesn’t die or paralyze himself.
1 Like
And to think idiots like him get paid and can claim they are trainers! 
Works both ways as well. I’ve known a trainer or two who pull 650+ at 181 or rep out 400 benches but can’t teach or coach worth a damn.
That’s true also. I have known many like that also.
I worked as a trainer for about a year and a half before going back to school (still do a little on the side).
It was always weird to me that people assumed I’d put them through a workout that I would do. Most of my clients were 40-70 years old and they only wanted to workout twice a week. It’s not too hard to come up with a couple full body routines, teach technique, and sprinkle in a few things to get the heart rate up.
Coaching though, that’s not something I’m remotely prepared to take on.
Edit: I did have one client that was in good shape so I put him through Brian Alsruhe’s Darkhorse program, that was fun and he liked it
1 Like
This is totally my situation. People always want me to “teach them how to lift”, but how can I possibly teach what I know?
“Alright, deadlifts. So like, grab the bar. Ok, good. Now, stand up with it really hard!”
“It hurts.”
“I know right?! This sucks: I hate it. Ok, now just squat until you can’t feel anymore and then the workout is done.”
13 Likes
There is a theory about this.
The best coaches are not the guys that find something easy / simple. They guys are normally in the top 1% of a sport or other skill (thinking academically also) . The best guys to learn from are the ones that had to fight to be in the top 2-5%. They had to develop a deeper understanding of the subject just to compete.
If you look at sports, they guys that have had the best playing careers make crap coaches and managers. But guys that played 3rd or even 4th tier have stormed it. Even in BJJ and MMA I think it was Eddie Bravo that said “every one wants to get trained by the champion. Why? I want to get trained by the guy that trained the champ.”
2 Likes
My coaching experience (golf).
Had a woman come to our group lessons one time with a small carry bag with some dude’s name on it. After our first lesson, I asked her who the dude was and she said it was her boyfriend. The name on the bag usually indicates a pro, so I asked her, “Is he a pro?”
She said yeah, but he was a player, not a teacher, so he couldn’t teach her. That my explanation and visual demonstration of loft taught her in thirty seconds while he had been trying to explain it to her for weeks.
Her boyfriend was on The Hooters Tour at the time.
The name on the bag?
Zach Johnson.
I’d rather be able to play than coach.
5 Likes
I say the exact same thing to my wife. She then replies with how I always say I’m a very ordinary lifter.
So then I say, that doesn’t automatically make me a good teacher. I’m a worse teacher.
Then she usually asks if it is because I don’t want too spend time with her. Initially, I would say something like “do you really want to know the answer to that?” which would just get me into trouble.
Now, I just say that I only know the stuff that makes you bulky.
Every now and again, I end up in a debate with one of her friends about how that is a myth. I find those particularly enjoyable as I have a set of Instagram strangers I refer to as “proof”.
Anyway people, the important thing is never compromise on your principles.
Very true… That’s been my point of view for a long time.
I could talk for ages on this. But it makes sense. Guy at the very top are instinctively good. You can’t teach instinct.
1 Like
While ostensibly I’m only competing in a strongman show in order to hit some PBs and get a feel for it, I am quite happy to see that at least one other super-novice has just been shocked to find out, 10 days out, that he cannot use straps on the farmer’s walk. This means I may not be the worst at that event on the day.
2 Likes
I have seen that happen at local powerlifting meet. The look on the poor bastard face was priceless.
3 Likes