What really gets you going on in the gym ?

[poacher]

I like to put my feet up when I bench. It makes my tummy feel smaller

 

[ozarkaBRAND]

I like to put my feet up when I bench. It makes my tummy feel smaller

As far as I'm concerned, and several world-renowned strength and conditioning coaches, that's the only positive benefit I can think of for elevating your feet during a flat press.

 

[ImJ2x]

Let me tell you a little story -- happened a few days ago:
After a "spring break" week in San Diego (with two 25-yo hot chix, lol), I needed a serious "catch-up" day at the gym -- a full-body workout, lasting nearly 3 hours. After all my upper-body compound work, it's time to hit my legs. Well, my gym has 3 leg press machines, lined up in a row. The one on the far right is being used by this old Asian guy I see there all the time. (Amazing dude -- at least 60, loads 6 or 7 plates per side, for some decent partial reps. Always smiling, but never talks to anyone -- I think he may be Buddhist, or just doesn't speak English.) Anyway, I load up the machine on the far left, leaving the one in the middle unoccupied.
So me and Buddha are working legs. Between sets, he does stretches, maybe 5' from his machine. And I alternate between my leg presses and calf raises (on a machine right next to my leg press -- also approx. 5' away). All is going well, until this girl (she's maybe the 4th best-looking girl in the gym at the time, so let's call her Einstein) decides she needs to do leg presses too. Buddha happens to be stretching at this moment, and I'm doing calf raises, so we're both away (but only 5') from our leg press machines. Einstein goes to the empty machine between us, and proceeds to remove a plate from Buddha's machine and puts it on hers. Then she saunters over to the other side, removes a plate from my machine and, yes, slides it on hers. And, of course, there's maybe 10 plates on the rack of her own damn machine, which she chooses not to use.
Buddha and I just look at each other, astounded. Einstein's rocking an i-Pod (of course), so maybe she didn't notice us? Whatever. We both give her a dirty look (which she also doesn't notice), reload a plate on each of our respective machines, and finish our presses. But the saga continues...
I then proceed to the other leg machines to do my alternating leg extensions/hammy curls. I spend a couple minutes adjusting one of the two leg extension machines, getting it dialed in perfect. (You can see where this is heading, huh?) I knock off a set of extensions, and go over to the leg curl machine for a set (about 50' away from the extensions). When I return, I see Einstein screwing around with my leg extension machine, still rocking the i-Pod (I'm guessing Kelly Clarkson). I take a deep breath, start to adjust the other machine to my liking, when I hear: "Excuse me -- I don't like this machine." Yes, my worst fear is confirmed -- it speaks.
I'm actually starting to get a little pissed off, and snap back, "Then don't use it." Einstein (thinking I'm joking) giggles, "Will you help me? I can't figure out how to change the weights." (Instead of the usual pin, this is a newer machine with the little levers, which Einstein can't quite master.) "I only like that one," she whines, pointing at the second machine. The one I'm currently trying to adjust. The one she could have taken in the first place. The one I considered "accidentally" knocking over onto her frail little body. (I wonder if she'd die...)
For the first time (maybe ever), she has a moment of perception, and senses that I may be upset. "Did I do something wrong?"
I just look at her, more incredulous than upset, by this point. Is this a weird dream? I summon the calming vision of my friend Buddha to my mind, channeling all the peaceful and tolerant humanity he stands for.
"No, honey -- it's OK. I'm just a little on edge today."
"Oh," she chuckles, "I don't like this exercise anyway. See you around." And she meanders away...
But there's one more little chapter to this story. (I'm sure you're all thrilled, lol.) Earlier in my workout, I had noticed this weird guy (20-something, balding, with his remaining hair in a goofy pompadour) wearing the fruitiest outfit -- matching, designer orange shirt and shorts. The shirt was sleeveless, but this dude had nothing to show off. And he was wearing some expensive, gold shades on top of his head. (Maybe to hide that beach he calls a forehead -- I dunno.) And then I overheard him speak. Total, obvious lisp. So then I understood (to the best of my blatantly old-school ability) -- the dude was gay. Let's call him Liberace. (You youngsters may have to Wiki that one, lol.)
Well, to (finally) put this epic tale to rest, I had totally forgotten about Liberace by the time I scared Einstein away from the leg extension machines. But, as I watched her little heinie stroll away, I noticed Liberace approach her. Their paths met, they embraced, and they started making out. Right in the middle of the gym. The young dumb chick and the bald gay guy. One of the most surreal moments of my life.
I may have to switch gyms...

 

[ReaperX]

4th best looking girl in the gym at the time ? Yep, that dosen't cut it. I'd get pissed too.

 

[ReaperX]

I had one instance where I was curling (biceps are a must) and after I got done I put them down on the ground and just stepped back a few steps to break.

Right afterwards this hot stripper looking girl barely wearing any clothes stands right in front of me, bends over, and takes the dumbbells I was using and walks away. hm.

 

[ImJ2x]

I had one instance where I was curling (biceps are a must) and after I got done I put them down on the ground and just stepped back a few steps to break.

Right afterwards this hot stripper looking girl barely wearing any clothes stands right in front of me, bends over, and takes the dumbbells I was using and walks away. hm.

Reaper -- you curl the same weights as "hot stripper girls?" I'd keep that a secret. :stick:

 

[poacher]

I curl hot stripers

 

[ReaperX]

Reaper -- you curl the same weights as "hot stripper girls?" I'd keep that a secret. :stick:

Damn. I do.

 

[ImJ2x]

Damn. I do.

Like my mom always told me: "Go hard or go home, you pussy."

 

[Big BAMA]

Like my mom always told me: "Go hard or go home, you pussy."

I bench your mom and that's HYOUGE!!!!!!!!!

 

[Australian made]

The one I considered "accidentally" knocking over onto her frail little body. (I wonder if she'd die...)
.

bbaaaahahahahahahahaha funniest thing i've read all day!!:lol:

 

[ImJ2x]

Mama2x still be kickin all ass, lol.

 

[kbtoy31]

I bench your mom and that's HYOUGE!!!!!!!!!

:toofunny::rofl:

 

[hardknock]

Mama2x still be kickin all ass, lol.

I got lost half way through that epic. Your saying that was real or you were dreaming....lol?

 

[ImJ2x]

I got lost half way through that epic. Your saying that was real or you were dreaming....lol?

It was 100% real, but it sure started to seem too goofy to be true.

 

[Australian made]

It was 100% real, but it sure started to seem too goofy to be true.

she chose a gay man over you? bow your head in shame:lol:

 

[ReaperX]

So last night when I went to the gym, there was a group of 3 japanese foreigners working out. They were doing only bicep curls, cartwheels (?), and other non-effective shlt. This was already bad enough, but then they start screaming at the top of their lungs to each other in japanese. Everyone was watching.



This was a classic instance where the asian race has been set back another 100 yrs. Jackie Chan was the first time, this was the second time.

 

[poacher]

This morning I was inclining. I have started using incline as a substitute for behind the neck military presses. I find the really crush the delts and tie into the chest. Anyways I was doing 275 for 4 and a little assistance for the 5. SOOooo a couple guys start breakung my stones about juicing. I told them i just started Gaspari Size on. The actually tried to talk me out of taking it. Yup I got the lecture of the dangers of creatine. And to the question I know you will all ask - I let it roll of my shoulders. Think I should have dropped the buggers

 

[Australian made]

This was a classic instance where the asian race has been set back another 100 yrs. Jackie Chan was the first time, this was the second time.

I think you'l find Japan is 100 years AHEAD of the rest of us! Odd dress sense as well haha

 

[SilentBob187]

I told them i just started Gaspari Size on. The actually tried to talk me out of taking it. Yup I got the lecture of the dangers of creatine. And to the question I know you will all ask - I let it roll of my shoulders. Think I should have dropped the buggers

Gotta be careful with that creatine broski, +11 to aggression on first sip of SizeOn.

 

[ozarkaBRAND]

Gotta be careful with that creatine broski, +11 to aggression on first sip of SizeOn.

+11 on aggression?? He better be pwning those weights!!

 

[bigpoppapump2]

I hate the tall skinny guy who wears wrestling shirts that does squats everyday (he seriously squats 5 days a week). And he is only squating 135!

 

[psychobabble]

What really gets you fired up in the gym ?

AS$ in arobic classes, i peep through the clear glass :food:

 

[Saurabh]

What gets me going:

1) Women on the rather plump side wearing tight leotards. Each a$$ cheek is twice the normal size of a human head and if you looked closely you will see every single line of cellulite(then you will puke).

2) Women who "capture" a machine, do a set then idol for 5 minutes(on the machine) and dont move till about 20 minutes in total.

3) Men who come in groups and converse about sports, politics and all. I dont mean peeps who talk 10 minutes out of their 60 minutes total but other way around. For eff sake this is a gym not Queen's tea-party.

4) Elderly men with sagging a$$es bending down to pick towel in men's room. I doubt if consuming soy protein every 30 minutes will have a more advese affect on libido as staying 5 minutes in locker room.

5) Fitness trainers who sit and watch as their trainees do the exercise all wrong. Lateral raise are done laterally with a little bend in arms dimwit, it is not raised over the head with arms so bend it looks like a front raise.

 

[poacher]

where I train the have the concrete rooms where the take a little racquetes and hit a little the ball at each other. Well one gets a ball to the head and the start jawing at each other. I suggest the put on a couple of dresses and start swinging their purses at each other. I dont think this club is for me. Oh YEH the have pointed out to me several times it is a club not a GYM. The REALLY hate it when I GRUNT

 

[ImJ2x]

where I train the have the concrete rooms where the take a little racquetes and hit a little the ball at each other. Well one gets a ball to the head and the start jawing at each other. I suggest the put on a couple of dresses and start swinging their purses at each other. I dont think this club is for me. Oh YEH the have pointed out to me several times it is a club not a GYM. The REALLY hate it when I GRUNT

HAH!! That's some funny poo, bro!
:icon_lol:

 

[typeOnegative]

I may be a little anal retentive, but I really get enraged when people don't put their weights away properly... this really comes into effect since I am the poor soul who has to pick up after theses people since I work at the gym.

 

[ImJ2x]

she chose a gay man over you? bow your head in shame:lol:

Well I think the lesson learned is not to judge. Obviously, they were bf/gf and he wasn't gay after all. But she was mosdef stupid, lol.

 

[ImJ2x]

I may be a little anal retentive, but I really get enraged when people don't put their weights away properly... this really comes into effect since I am the poor soul who has to pick up after theses people since I work at the gym.

I'm occasionally guilty of this, but I'm trying to improve. And frankly, I'd say it's the only workout some of you "trainers" ever get. So, you're welcome. :rasp:

 

[harlan100]

well im just glad i work out at home, people not putting weights away and people that hog would piss me off though.

 

[kbtoy31]

well im just glad i work out at home, people not putting weights away and people that hog would piss me off though.

X2 on that brother. I used to go the gym but decided to invest in some home equip. some of the best $ I ever spent. Now I Don't even have to drive to the gym or anything I can make all the God damned noise I want. **** I could work out in the nude if I wanted to. I got my shed set up better than some gyms I've worked out in b4. Not top o' the line but not bad for just me and my lonely. It just gets hard if I want to do forced reps.

 

[harlan100]

X2 on that brother. I used to go the gym but decided to invest in some home equip. some of the best $ I ever spent. Now I Don't even have to drive to the gym or anything I can make all the God damned noise I want. **** I could work out in the nude if I wanted to. I got my shed set up better than some gyms I've worked out in b4. Not top o' the line but not bad for just me and my lonely. It just gets hard if I want to do forced reps.

yeap totally agree getting stuck under the bar is one of the few negitaves.

All i have is a bench 2 bars free weights (discs) and dumbells and love it. I am planning on joining a gym at some point because im limited to what i can do at the moment.

 

[gumbercules01]

I hate the guy that never makes any progress. It used to be me and I am pissed that it took so long for me to wake up.

 

[MrBrightside]

I hate seeing guys use 3 plates or more and do 2 inch movements.....horrible range of motion while lifting more to "look strong" makes me sick too.

Reps2U. Right on.

I'd have to say all of the above (especially the fat guys who think they're ripped and wear cutoff tee's) + people who lift incorrectly, people who wear those trendy knit caps with the small brim when they lift, and women who do 8,000 reps of <10lbs; you're not going to get toned by doing that, so stop wasting my time and get off the torso rotation. Skinny/untoned people who think they're buff and wear cutoffs really get me going, too.

The people benching that don't touch the bar to the chest/lift their lumbar off the back of the bench to get the bar back up. Lower the damn weight and take the ego hit.

The calf-raisers who don't use a full range of motion. I don't care if you can do 200 in one minute; quality over quantity.

The deadlifters who put 7000 pounds on the hexbar and procede to throw their back out trying to complete a deadlift set.

Bicep-curlers who drop their elbows and 90 degrees or less and then curl back up (unless doing 21's).

Body-jerkers in wide grip pulldown and seated row. Again, lower the weight and stay stationary.

Squatters who dip down about 5 inches and prop right back up and then do the exact same thing. LOWER THE DAMN WEIGHT AND DO IT CORRECTLY.

You get the point.

 

[MrBrightside]

No one has the air boxing guys ?

I do, except I think the guy does MMA. Lots of elbow thrusts. Think he does Pilates or something, too, with a women's class, but he's ripped, so I won't make fun of him.

 

[pantera101]

yeap totally agree getting stuck under the bar is one of the few negitaves.

All i have is a bench 2 bars free weights (discs) and dumbells and love it. I am planning on joining a gym at some point because im limited to what i can do at the moment.

That was me at one point.I'm glad I joined a gym but it does get annoying sometimes.It's easier to get motivated and give it your all it seems.I feel like most people at the gym are wasting their,but more importantly my time when I need what they're using.They just wont eat right and they will never get anywhere.Yet they're their everyday.Also harlan,early morning is the best time to go for many reasons.

 

[harlan100]

That was me at one point.I'm glad I joined a gym but it does get annoying sometimes.It's easier to get motivated and give it your all it seems.I feel like most people at the gym are wasting their,but more importantly my time when I need what they're using.They just wont eat right and they will never get anywhere.Yet they're their everyday.Also harlan,early morning is the best time to go for many reasons.

Early morning :yawn::yawn:

cant i would be doing squats like falling asleep lol, i allways hit the weights in the evening :dance:

 

[pantera101]

Early morning :yawn::yawn:

cant i would be doing squats like falling asleep lol, i allways hit the weights in the evening :dance:

It sucks waking up,but I always haver my best wo's in the morning.Something about being tired and then being wide awake for the first time that day after a set or two.

 

[ReaperX]

I hate the guy that never makes any progress. It used to be me and I am pissed that it took so long for me to wake up.

x2. I used to 'workout' for 3 years and gained like +2lbs.


for awhile I thought I was doing everything right and I knew that it 'took time' to build muscle. After 3 yrs, one day I thought to myself, "Ok, something isn't right here. 2lbs is nothing for 3 years."

 

[pantera101]

x2. I used to 'workout' for 3 years and gained like +2lbs.


for awhile I thought I was doing everything right and I knew that it 'took time' to build muscle. After 3 yrs, one day I thought to myself, "Ok, something isn't right here. 2lbs is nothing for 3 years."

I so beat your a$$!!!!I got 10lbs in two years!!!! :woohoo: Thats exactly what I thought too.That it takes time and hard work,and I didn't have enough of either.I was doing upper body every other day,straight up every other day.Then when I started legs it was legs one day,and upper the next.No days off at all.I was always doing the same exact thing.When I missed a day I felt like crap for it.When I couldn't control my apetite and ate "too much"I felt guilty.In my defense I didn't go to a gym,and I didn't know anyone who was into weights,let alone bb'ing.Started reading one day about eating and training in a free book i got,and ignored the diet.Started making gains,but they stalled.Then I was like okay,I guess i'll give the eating regularly and lots a shot.Thats when I started to grow!

 

[ReaperX]

yeah it takes the diet+proper training to make the magic happen.

It took me, hm.....around 3ish years to get the training down and about 4ish years to get the diet down.


I didn't have any help either. The whole personal trainer thing wasn't for me anyways.


I just started going to the gym and finding the biggest guy in there how he got so big.

 

[Australian made]

Very few pt's in the UK look like they actually workout. There's one big PT in my gym that really knows his stuff, the others however are either overweight or super skinny! I never understood why they became a PT in the first place. I guess the money had something to do with it.

 

[ReaperX]

PT in the US (unless you train celebs) is a fairly low paying job. ~$27,000-$30,000. PT sounded like a good idea and fun for me at one point in time, however, a lot of getting into shape revolves around diet (surprise, surprise).


Alot of people will workout for the sake of it, without any type of motivation and still b.itch. Except if they have a PT, then maybe they can blame their PT for being fat.


Eh, not my idea of a job.

 

[Australian made]

i'd find it frustrating to be a PT i think, showing people what to do only to see them a week later sitting on a bike reading a magazine (cos cardio's so boring).

A friend of mine at home is a PT, he got bout $20/hr as his standard wage, plus $35/half hour when he was with a client. So he could be earning a potential $90/hr. He had a lot of clients in the end and now runs his own PT company with about 15-20 PT's that work for him.. he was a smart kid.

 

[pantera101]

yeah it takes the diet+proper training to make the magic happen.

It took me, hm.....around 3ish years to get the training down and about 4ish years to get the diet down.


I didn't have any help either. The whole personal trainer thing wasn't for me anyways.


I just started going to the gym and finding the biggest guy in there how he got so big.

When I was a stoner I read alot about pot and learned alot.I knew so much more than people who were older and been smoking longer.Then I bought a book on how to weld and learned that from a book.Then I put 2 and 2 together and figured I 'd get a book about growing muscle.I found a free book online called maximum growth volume 2.It's free cause they try to sell you their supplements.(isatori)It covered everything as far as training and diet.I was eating clean and always hungry and not growing.Then a guy I was working with said when he worked at a gym the big guys would eat fast food and stuff and alot,and then loose the fat for summer or shows.Then I started eating good food and often.I was amazed when I started to grow.I truly felt like I finally found the secret.That sounds weird and all,but it's true.Most don't realise how much you have to eat.

 

[Cellardude]

Putting your feet up requires much more stabilizer effort... i only put my feet up with db flys

wrrronnng answer. :lol:

I agree with oza, putting your feet up is just stupid. why would you need more stabilization? and if so you can just bench with your feet planted properly on the ground why the hell would you put your feet up? you have all the stabilization you need to put up the weight. putting your feet up is just an assed up way of trying to show off saying, HEY LOOK!

Im doing 145 but with my feet up it requires more effort so its like im benching 165!

Its just a dumb idea in my opinion(im not trying to rip on you) but you could very easily topple over on one side if the weights get too heavy for you. Normally you use your feet to stabalize the weights when it gets too heavy. your left side might start to come down faster than your right and the weights are tilted off. Now if you have a bar or a dumbbell and your losing your energy and the weights coming down in a weird way, you WILL topple over if you dont have your feet planted. Am i right or what?

 

[pantera101]

I hate the damn feet thing.I saw guys at my gym doing it on db incline flyes.They looked so gay.Literally.Like he was saying to his partner"come on big boy."It just looks so gay.It's not cool and it does nothing but set yourself up for injury.I have read articles specifically saying not to do it.Never to do it.

 

[Cellardude]

I hate the damn feet thing.I saw guys at my gym doing it on db incline flyes.They looked so gay.Literally.Like he was saying to his partner"come on big boy."It just looks so gay.It's not cool and it does nothing but set yourself up for injury.I have read articles specifically saying not to do it.Never to do it.

I got dicked out one day by this obnoxious looking black guy in my health class. The day was almost gone so I decided to go to my college gym room to workout. I see all the black people by the bench ( not saying that its a stereotype, but thats exactly what happened :lol and I had been sick for the past week. Appetite SUCKED, Forced in about 2500 calories or so. Anyway my strength has been KILLED. I tried to even do 185 and I would only bring up one rep by myself. Now instead of helping me to spot me, they stand by the side, and when Im done they **** me out about it.

He then goes onto the bench, puts up 225 and reps in for 5-6 reps with his legs up. that got me going, cause a noob like him just dicked me out for being sick all week.

 

[kbtoy31]

I got dicked out one day by this obnoxious looking black guy in my health class. The day was almost gone so I decided to go to my college gym room to workout. I see all the black people by the bench ( not saying that its a stereotype, but thats exactly what happened :lol and I had been sick for the past week. Appetite SUCKED, Forced in about 2500 calories or so. Anyway my strength has been KILLED. I tried to even do 185 and I would only bring up one rep by myself. Now instead of helping me to spot me, they stand by the side, and when Im done they **** me out about it.

He then goes onto the bench, puts up 225 and reps in for 5-6 reps with his legs up. that got me going, cause a noob like him just dicked me out for being sick all week.

I hate that sh*t. Here's the thing I've been to prison b4 a couple times. No i'm not a pedophile or a serious criminal or anything,just did a lot of dumb sh*t when I was younger. Now about the only thing you have to do there is read and work-out. Now you want to talk about seeing people doing some dumb stuff while working out. Especially with the leg thing and the air boxing and the putting all the weight they can handle on the bar but then doing 2 inch movements just to look like a bad A**. There was this one guy who used to put one leg up at a time and do sets. He would cross his right leg up over his left do a set then switch. And I asked him why he said it was b/c it helped when he was doing more weight to stabilize himself. Used to piss me off to no end. Now I'm not saying I would of F'ed with the dude b/c he was a strong motherf'er. But the thing was he was naturally strong. He was working out with 405 like it was nothing but can you imagine how strong he would be if he wasn't benching every day and doing dumb sh*t like crossing his legs while benching. And yes he was black, not stereotyping or anything.

 

[ReaperX]

Going to toss in a 3rd there. I see a lot of African Americans only doing bench at my gym. Occasionally I'll see one squat, but I have yet to see one deadlift. It is always bench....along with 95% of the other male members.




Typically due to genetics, the majority of African Americans have small quads/calves.