What's your handicap (weakness) in the gym?

[capnsavem]

what i mean is- what about you hinders (or makes you think of work-arounds for it) your bodybuilding goals... or just what plain bugs you about yourself that you wish you could improve but genetics dealt you a bad hand?...

in my case: my hands.

i have tiny hands. women hands. it sucks.

my wife's hands are as big as mine.

i have to use straps so much more than the next guy... i actually have versa-grips that i use... i gotta do what i gotta do to lift heavy... my pic may actually show up on the "THAT GUY IN YOUR GYM" thread... lol

chime in with your downfalls

[drivehard]

I'm short (barely 5'9")
I have horrible knees (two ACL reconstructions, and tons of damage)
I get tendonitis super easy. Especially in my patellar tendon, and in my elbows.

I can't seem to get my calves to develop right. They are super strong...just lack size.

[wedlund6]

squats i played hockey bad knee . i will be squating 140 and look like im going to die and most of the time im going to i have 27 in thighs and 19 in calf i think it must look funny.

[thiggin]

I would agree with drivehard, I'm only a little over 5'9" myself, but I'd have to say the worst would be my lower back, I hurt it in a competitive cycling crash when I was 18. I can't squat anything heavy or it just causes pain, I can front squat, but still not much weight.

[David Dunn]

Middle aged women...

[jim623]

Upper chest... I have none.

Drivehard, you have 2" on me bro, I'm short, lol.

[capnsavem]

man... and i thought i had it rough..

[FreakSho]

Being 6'7'' i find myself unable to make use of a lot of the equipment at my gym. For example, i never use the lat bar because its impossible for me to get a good stretch at the top of the movement. Nor can I make use of the decline bench, T-bar machine or any kind of smith machine squat. I can also no longer deadlift, squat or free T-bar row due to two back injuries. Even though I cant perform some of my favorite exercises or use some of the common machines, I find creative ways around the hurdles and continue to make gains and enjoy myself.
Train Hard!

[Cyberstalker]

im too jacked and it draws a lot of unwanted attention from not bigs that want to strike up convos. usually they want to know what my routine is or what im using.

[capnsavem]

Being 6'7'' i find myself unable to make use of a lot of the equipment at my gym. For example, i never use the lat bar because its impossible for me to get a good stretch at the top of the movement. Nor can I make use of the decline bench, T-bar machine or any kind of smith machine squat. I can also no longer deadlift, squat or free T-bar row due to two back injuries. Even though I cant perform some of my favorite exercises or use some of the common machines, I find creative ways around the hurdles and continue to make gains and enjoy myself.
Train Hard!

standing calf raises machine?... oy vey

[capnsavem]

im too jacked and it draws a lot of unwanted attention from not bigs that want to strike up convos. usually they want to know what my routine is or what im using.

wtf pic?

[Rommel65]

Being 6'7'' i find myself unable to make use of a lot of the equipment at my gym. For example, i never use the lat bar because its impossible for me to get a good stretch at the top of the movement. Nor can I make use of the decline bench, T-bar machine or any kind of smith machine squat. I can also no longer deadlift, squat or free T-bar row due to two back injuries. Even though I cant perform some of my favorite exercises or use some of the common machines, I find creative ways around the hurdles and continue to make gains and enjoy myself.
Train Hard!

Being 6'5 - I feel you. I was interested in your back problems. About 3 years ago, I had minor back sugery to repair L4 disc. At the time, the doc said I would not be able to lift heavy again. Well, after a slow crawl back to strength and size, I am lifting super heavy and am stronger now than I have ever been. Bent over rows are one of my favs, and yesterday was hitting it for 315 while suppersetting incline dumbells 150s. I mean, my lower back is sore...but a kinda good sore. No pain down the leg or anything. Am I being a complete idiot? You cant put me in a gym and tell me not to train heavy, but how stupid am I being?

[drivehard]

Upper chest... I have none.

Drivehard, you have 2" on me bro, I'm short, lol.

:-)
The one golden thing about being short...
MASSIVE deadlifting ability!!!

[Resolve]

wtf pic?

He's 6'3" 178lb, no pic is necessary. He's just messin' with ya.

My biggest handicap in the gym is other people: using the equipment improperly, hogging the power rack when they don't even need it, or trying to strike up a conversation with me while I'm in a set.

[jim623]

:-)
The one golden thing about being short...
MASSIVE deadlifting ability!!!

And every little gain stands out big time.

[Sinon]

I have 33 degree scoliosis and a lot of muscle imbalances. I have lost two inches in height in 5 years. If I don't work out my back, its hurts a lot under my ribcage that protrudes.

[Rommel65]

And every little gain stands out big time.

I'm starting to cut now after a 6 month bulk where I gained 60 some lbs. In the last few weeks I've dropped from 315 to 290 with almost no visable difference. You little dudes got it made when it comes to weight lifting and mass etc. Now short mans complex and gettin' the ladies are problems I will never have. Girls like big, tall, men. Bad part is that people are like dogs, the big breeds don't live as long.

[adampl2t]

it seems like all the tall ones are having back problems and I'm no exception. I have a disk in my lower spine (L3-L4) protruding into spine nerves (8mm) for 6 years now. For a while, I could squat and deadlift but last time I woke up in my bed and couldn't move my legs. They were totally cramped. Paramedics drove me to hospital and since then they want to cut, but I've tried to manage without it, even though I can't push my left leg straight on the leg press etc., Some say your back will never be the same after you've been cut.

[capnsavem]

I have 33 degree scoliosis and a lot of muscle imbalances. I have lost two inches in height in 5 years. If I don't work out my back, its hurts a lot under my ribcage that protrudes.

sorry to hear that bro... makes my complaints seem petty...

[sman1217]

I have a degenerated disc L4-L5 as well as missing that ligament due to spinabifida (the mildest case though) It sucks because i'm only 19. All I can tell anyone with a bad back is avoid surgery if at all possible. Find a good pain management doc and wait for future/better treatments. On another note, my dominant side (right) is smaller than my left, and in some areas weaker. It is most noticeable (size and weakness), in my upper body, particularly my pec. My neuroscience professor told me it could be that I was born a lefty but became a righty. it is really annoying.