What Are Your Gym/Fitness/Routine Moans?

[Regiment]

MajorProblem said:

Squat racks being used for incline bench press this time, even when the fking incline bench is empty. I fking give up.

I must admit, when I sometimes go heavy on bench, I sometimes use the squat rack if its free, so many people don't know how to spot so at least if I'm using the squat rack, I'm safe if I fail and I know its all me.

[jaedba2604]

Regiment said:

jaedba2604 said:

people's inability to improvise in a gym is funny, there's quite a serious lad at mine who is obviously rigidly following something he read in mens' health as he patiently stands next to you when he wants your machine, even if he could achieve the same result somewhere else in the same gym.

I will not improvise at all, how do you accurately judge progression from week to week if you're constantly improvising?

If I go in to do barbell benchpress, using dumbells or the chest press machine is not an option as its not an Olympic bar with weights. The only time I'll ever improvise is when ill be waiting more than 5 minutes and/or its a tertiary exercise like bicep curls. It's like saying "can't use squat rack, just use leg press" that's a ridiculous thing to say and shows how lazily someone is taking their workout in my opinion.

your opinion mate, but what is your ultimate goal?! the numbers on the weights are arbitrary, and the exercises you do with them are equally arbitrary.

I go to the gym to train for other sports, couldn't really give a monkies' toss about whether I curl xkg one week v ykg next week. I think the limiting factor in a lot of people's workouts is their resting periods, however everyone has different goals, mine isn't aesthetic.

[burwoodman]

jaedba2604 said:

your opinion mate, but what is your ultimate goal?! the numbers on the weights are arbitrary, and the exercises you do with them are equally arbitrary.

I go to the gym to train for other sports, couldn't really give a monkies' toss about whether I curl xkg one week v ykg next week. I think the limiting factor in a lot of people's workouts is their resting periods, however everyone has different goals, mine isn't aesthetic.

Rather than stand next to you waiting for the machine why doesn't he ask 'can i work in'? It is even worse when I get up from a machine to rest rather than use it as a resting station and someone jumps in without even asking and then sits there resting after their set. Bloody rude some people.

Edited by burwoodman on Saturday 18th May 13:09

[jaedba2604]

burwoodman said:

jaedba2604 said:

your opinion mate, but what is your ultimate goal?! the numbers on the weights are arbitrary, and the exercises you do with them are equally arbitrary.

I go to the gym to train for other sports, couldn't really give a monkies' toss about whether I curl xkg one week v ykg next week. I think the limiting factor in a lot of people's workouts is their resting periods, however everyone has different goals, mine isn't aesthetic.

Rather than stand next to you waiting for the machine why doesn't he ask 'can i work in'?

guess everyone's resting is different, I tend to do a diff exercise alternate using different muscles rather than sit and wait 2 mins.

[Regiment]

jaedba2604 said:

your opinion mate, but what is your ultimate goal?! the numbers on the weights are arbitrary, and the exercises you do with them are equally arbitrary.

I go to the gym to train for other sports, couldn't really give a monkies' toss about whether I curl xkg one week v ykg next week. I think the limiting factor in a lot of people's workouts is their resting periods, however everyone has different goals, mine isn't aesthetic.

The weights aren't arbitrary, you go to the gym to get stronger, get fitter, get faster. You're not going to know how strong you're getting if you're doing your own thing every week, you'll have no record of your past accomplishments, whether you're actually progressing or whether you're progression has slowed. Whether you're working out for a sport or working out to get stronger, it's the exact same thing, its about tracking progression and you can't do that if you walk into the gym with no idea what you're doing.

I can not see any reason whatsoever to ever just go to the gym and improvise, it makes no sense from everything I've read and experienced. It might work for you but it sounds backwards to me, whether its for a sport or personal achievement.

Edit: also, how can you say the exercises are arbitrary, if you're doing a sport, you're doing sport related exercises. If you play rugby, lots of deadlifts and squats, you can not replace them with leg press as it might work the same muscles but its not as beneficial for rugby.

Edited by Regiment on Saturday 18th May 13:22

[Centurion07]

Regiment said:

jaedba2604 said:

your opinion mate, but what is your ultimate goal?! the numbers on the weights are arbitrary, and the exercises you do with them are equally arbitrary.

I go to the gym to train for other sports, couldn't really give a monkies' toss about whether I curl xkg one week v ykg next week. I think the limiting factor in a lot of people's workouts is their resting periods, however everyone has different goals, mine isn't aesthetic.

The weights aren't arbitrary, you go to the gym to get stronger, get fitter, get faster. You're not going to know how strong you're getting if you're doing your own thing every week, you'll have no record of your past accomplishments, whether you're actually progressing or whether you're progression has slowed. Whether you're working out for a sport or working out to get stronger, it's the exact same thing, its about tracking progression and you can't do that if you walk into the gym with no idea what you're doing.

I can not see any reason whatsoever to ever just go to the gym and improvise, it makes no sense from everything I've read and experienced. It might work for you but it sounds backwards to me, whether its for a sport or personal achievement.

I think the point is it's ok to improvise every now and again. If you're doing it every time you go in the gym then although you'll improve, it's harder to track your progression as you say, but every once in a while if it's busy won't do you any harm, especially if you pick an exercise/machine that is similar enough to what you would have been doing anyway.

Barbell bench press is similar enough to be subbed for a dumbell press, squats vs the leg press not so much, but it's still ok.

[jaedba2604]

Regiment said:

jaedba2604 said:

your opinion mate, but what is your ultimate goal?! the numbers on the weights are arbitrary, and the exercises you do with them are equally arbitrary.

I go to the gym to train for other sports, couldn't really give a monkies' toss about whether I curl xkg one week v ykg next week. I think the limiting factor in a lot of people's workouts is their resting periods, however everyone has different goals, mine isn't aesthetic.

The weights aren't arbitrary, you go to the gym to get stronger, get fitter, get faster. You're not going to know how strong you're getting if you're doing your own thing every week, you'll have no record of your past accomplishments, whether you're actually progressing or whether you're progression has slowed. Whether you're working out for a sport or working out to get stronger, it's the exact same thing, its about tracking progression and you can't do that if you walk into the gym with no idea what you're doing.

I can not see any reason whatsoever to ever just go to the gym and improvise, it makes no sense from everything I've read and experienced. It might work for you but it sounds backwards to me, whether its for a sport or personal achievement.

I'd agree. I have said exactly the same thing to my partner, she struggles to push herself so needs structure in her routine. After 20 years of training i tend to have an idea of how hard i'm pushing myself, there are a few simple tests - 5 mile run times, numbers of bodyweight pull ups to failure, press ups, bleep test etc. but day to day I don't need to grade myself, i'd sooner cram as much as I can into 45-60 mins and get out. not stand waiting for a bench.

like you say, it might work for me, it does work for me, it may not work for you, but then at some point you will have to improvise, you cannot constantly improve. or you'll be benching 6 times your own bodyweight at 65 years old.

[goldblum]

Regiment said:

The weights aren't arbitrary, you go to the gym to get stronger, get fitter, get faster. You're not going to know how strong you're getting if you're doing your own thing every week, you'll have no record of your past accomplishments, whether you're actually progressing or whether you're progression has slowed. Whether you're working out for a sport or working out to get stronger, it's the exact same thing, its about tracking progression and you can't do that if you walk into the gym with no idea what you're doing.

Sounds good.

[Regiment]

jaedba2604 said:

I'd agree. I have said exactly the same thing to my partner, she struggles to push herself so needs structure in her routine. After 20 years of training i tend to have an idea of how hard i'm pushing myself, there are a few simple tests - 5 mile run times, numbers of bodyweight pull ups to failure, press ups, bleep test etc. but day to day I don't need to grade myself, i'd sooner cram as much as I can into 45-60 mins and get out. not stand waiting for a bench.

like you say, it might work for me, it does work for me, it may not work for you, but then at some point you will have to improvise, you cannot constantly improve. or you'll be benching 6 times your own bodyweight at 65 years old.

If it works for you then stick to it, if you've been working out that long then you'll know what's best for you. I do sound like your workout partner though, I have to have structure and goals to beat each time I'm at the gym, so when I walk into the gym, I know that last week I did 1.5miles in this time at this speed, so have to beat it. Goals and structure help to motivate me and its also why I go late to the gym when the gyms quieter, no waiting for anything generally.

[Hoofy]

NeMiSiS said:

People who place the pin in the Max hole after they leave each machine, then strut around like Lee Evans when the next person has to move it up.

I have a good visual image of that.

NeMiSiS said:

Egyptian pool attendants who have mastered the art of sleeping with their eyes open.

EFA? http://news.sky.com/story/1092518/british-girl-dro...

[burwoodman]

It is quite amusing 'people watching' in gyms. You get all types. It never ceases to amaze me how unfriendly some people can be. maybe they are shy but you see the same bods day in day out and they never say hi or crack a smile.

As for the 'pi55ing' on the sauna-is that for real? I saw a guy once shaving in the sauna which is bloody disgusting but pissing. That is on a whole new level.

[Regiment]

burwoodman said:

It is quite amusing 'people watching' in gyms. You get all types. It never ceases to amaze me how unfriendly some people can be. maybe they are shy but you see the same bods day in day out and they never say hi or crack a smile.

Lol, that's me. Ill say hello to the trainer at the desk, march into the weight room, pump some iron, then march out saying goodbye to the trainer at the desk.

[nagsheadwarrior]

Ive been going to my gym for 2 years,i spoke to one person,once,and they spoke to me first.
In,exercise,fk off again!

[smiffy180]

nagsheadwarrior said:

Ive been going to my gym for 2 years,i spoke to one person,once,and they spoke to me first.
In,exercise,fk off again!

I don't get left alone. I'm always yabbering .

[Ordinary_Chap]

smiffy180 said:

nagsheadwarrior said:

Ive been going to my gym for 2 years,i spoke to one person,once,and they spoke to me first.
In,exercise,fk off again!

I don't get left alone. I'm always yabbering .

I'm friendly too, I say hello to folk I see often.

I think I look approachable as folk are always asking me stuff!

[theshrew]

Phantom Talc users - Ive never seen anyone use that stuff so why is it its always everywhere in the changing rooms at my gym.

Friday night im getting dressed after a shower, sit on the bench which i a light colour, i stand up and was talking to another fella he points out ive got talc all over the back of my jeans. Covered in the stuff FFS and it smells horrible.

[22s]

Regiment said:

jaedba2604 said:

your opinion mate, but what is your ultimate goal?! the numbers on the weights are arbitrary, and the exercises you do with them are equally arbitrary.

I go to the gym to train for other sports, couldn't really give a monkies' toss about whether I curl xkg one week v ykg next week. I think the limiting factor in a lot of people's workouts is their resting periods, however everyone has different goals, mine isn't aesthetic.

The weights aren't arbitrary, you go to the gym to get stronger, get fitter, get faster. You're not going to know how strong you're getting if you're doing your own thing every week, you'll have no record of your past accomplishments, whether you're actually progressing or whether you're progression has slowed. Whether you're working out for a sport or working out to get stronger, it's the exact same thing, its about tracking progression and you can't do that if you walk into the gym with no idea what you're doing.

I can not see any reason whatsoever to ever just go to the gym and improvise, it makes no sense from everything I've read and experienced. It might work for you but it sounds backwards to me, whether its for a sport or personal achievement.

Edit: also, how can you say the exercises are arbitrary, if you're doing a sport, you're doing sport related exercises. If you play rugby, lots of deadlifts and squats, you can not replace them with leg press as it might work the same muscles but its not as beneficial for rugby.

Edited by Regiment on Saturday 18th May 13:22

100% on your side Regiment.

If you use different machines (which I think are crap bar leg press, lat pulldown, calf raise and reverse hyper - but I digress) or different exercises each session, you are hitting different muscles and are not going to see real progress (assuming your goal is specific, rather than overall fitness in which case this approach is fine).

jaedba2604: what your approach tells me (again, assuming you are working to a goal other than 'overall fitness') is that you are lazy in creating a workout plan as you are doing any old exercise which hits X, and not serious about your goals as you have no accurate benchmark to push yourself with next week. If that's what you want to do, that's fine, but you shouldn't criticise others who are committed to their plan and push themselves to improve consistently over a number of weeks/months years to achieve a personal goal.

[Hoofy]

theshrew said:

Phantom Talc users - Ive never seen anyone use that stuff so why is it its always everywhere in the changing rooms at my gym.

Friday night im getting dressed after a shower, sit on the bench which i a light colour, i stand up and was talking to another fella he points out ive got talc all over the back of my jeans. Covered in the stuff FFS and it smells horrible.

Get this but with chalk in the climbing centre. Never wear black clothes when you go climbing.

Which reminds me of a joke:
A man's wife asks him to go to the store to buy some cigarettes. He walks down to the store only to find it closed, so he goes into a nearby bar to use the vending machine. At the bar he sees a beautiful woman and starts talking to her. They have a couple of beers and one thing leads to another and they end up in her apartment. After they've had their fun, he realizes its 3AM and says, "Oh, st! It's so late, my wife's going to kill me! Have you got any talcum powder?" She gives him some talcum powder, which he proceeds to rub on his hands. Then he goes home. His wife is waiting for him in the doorway and she is really pissed off. "Where the hell have you been?!?!" "Well, honey, it's like this. I went to the store like you asked, but they were closed. So I went to the bar to use the vending machine. I saw this great looking chick there and we had a few drinks and one thing led to another and I ended up in bed with her." "Oh yeah?" She grabs his hands, which are covered with white powder, and screams, "You liar! You went climbing again!!!"

[pilchardthecat]

goldblum said:

Regiment said:

The weights aren't arbitrary, you go to the gym to get stronger, get fitter, get faster. You're not going to know how strong you're getting if you're doing your own thing every week, you'll have no record of your past accomplishments, whether you're actually progressing or whether you're progression has slowed. Whether you're working out for a sport or working out to get stronger, it's the exact same thing, its about tracking progression and you can't do that if you walk into the gym with no idea what you're doing.

Sounds good.

+ 1,000,000

The numbers on the bar are everything. You should know exactly what you are going to do, in what order, before you walk in. The two most important bits of personal gym equipment - pen and paper.

[gjf764]

Hoofy said:

theshrew said:

Phantom Talc users - Ive never seen anyone use that stuff so why is it its always everywhere in the changing rooms at my gym.

Friday night im getting dressed after a shower, sit on the bench which i a light colour, i stand up and was talking to another fella he points out ive got talc all over the back of my jeans. Covered in the stuff FFS and it smells horrible.

Get this but with chalk in the climbing centre. Never wear black clothes when you go climbing.

Which reminds me of a joke:
A man's wife asks him to go to the store to buy some cigarettes. He walks down to the store only to find it closed, so he goes into a nearby bar to use the vending machine. At the bar he sees a beautiful woman and starts talking to her. They have a couple of beers and one thing leads to another and they end up in her apartment. After they've had their fun, he realizes its 3AM and says, "Oh, st! It's so late, my wife's going to kill me! Have you got any talcum powder?" She gives him some talcum powder, which he proceeds to rub on his hands. Then he goes home. His wife is waiting for him in the doorway and she is really pissed off. "Where the hell have you been?!?!" "Well, honey, it's like this. I went to the store like you asked, but they were closed. So I went to the bar to use the vending machine. I saw this great looking chick there and we had a few drinks and one thing led to another and I ended up in bed with her." "Oh yeah?" She grabs his hands, which are covered with white powder, and screams, "You liar! You went climbing again!!!"

Surely it's chalk if it's a proper lifting gym? A few of us got banned from using it at David Lloyd though...