Do you or anyone you know help others at the gym?

[Studio117]

I think many people are intimidated by the bigger guys and don't want to ask for help, especially newbies. I've found that most of the big guys are more than happy to help with technique or spotting etc.

[smiffy180]

Studio117 said:

I think many people are intimidated by the bigger guys and don't want to ask for help, especially newbies. I've found that most of the big guys are more than happy to help with technique or spotting etc.

Ive asked guys smaller than me for advice and I usually get it should be me asking you! But I like to learn new techniques and not stick to the same routine. You say people are intimidated by bigger guys but I guess its down to the gym. The ones ive been to feels like a big family and you often talk more than you work out

[Studio117]

I've found the chain gyms like henry lloyd etc are fairly anonymous but the smaller gyms and council run places are far more friendly.

Even though some guys have roid eyes, generally they are pretty cool.

i often recognise the gym blokes on the door in nightclubs. Often skip the queue and get let in for free.

[mattikake]

I usually do, but also always followed by me giving them my card.

Trouble is, you do get some meatheads who don't take kindly to some friendly advice, despite them talking about injuries like it's to be expected... So I normally leave it to obvious starters.

[Mojooo]

There is a massive difference between a gym staff or some sort of fitness professional talking to someone and some random bloke in the gym doing it.

Quite frnakly I wouldn't appreciate a personal trainer telling me I was crap and giving me his card unless he showed me I was being a fkwit.

[Hoofy]

Also, how do you know they're decent PTers?

I know of one PTer who advised a client to eat no more than 800 calories a day and do st loads of treadmill. WTF. Does he offer anorexic counselling services, too, and was drumming up business?

[mattikake]

^ record on phone. Report them. Upload youtube video. Add to my PT blacklist database.

Reduce my competition. Get me more clients.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Mojooo said:

No, they probably wouldnt take me seirously

At the end of the day they can look things up on the internet, like i have spent lots of hours doing

I see all the types of things talked about online - in particualr people squatting half way

one thing i have noticed and was going to bring up in my old gym was that they had the squat rack facing the wrong way - it faced the mirror which meant everyone was walking forwards with the bar off the rack and we all know you walk backwards to start with - for a squat. really they should have the rack facing the other way to disocurage amateurs doing it wrong and potentially dangerously.

Hand up here! I'll admit I have been doing this as well. I did think something felt odd, putting the bar back on the rack by walking it backwards always felt wrong. Shoulda taken notice of the other guys around me facing their racks (we have lots of racks! - probably about 15 racks and 5 lifting platforms). Though there was one (clearly elite athlete) doing lunges using the bar and rack, but using it as I was, walking the bar off forward and back on backwards.

Will do it right next time!

[fatpasty]

I wouldn't help anyone unless they asked. I've only had the PT in my gym tell me to relax my knees once while doing cable flys that's about it. Normally just keep my self to my self. I will say hello and have a chat no and again but to be honest I go up get my workout done and leave.

[Animal]

Otispunkmeyer said:

(we have lots of racks! - probably about 15 racks and 5 lifting platforms)

Sounds like heaven - we only have one and it's always full of silly kids doing partial squats with "heavy" weights.

[Mojooo]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Hand up here! I'll admit I have been doing this as well. I did think something felt odd, putting the bar back on the rack by walking it backwards always felt wrong. Shoulda taken notice of the other guys around me facing their racks (we have lots of racks! - probably about 15 racks and 5 lifting platforms). Though there was one (clearly elite athlete) doing lunges using the bar and rack, but using it as I was, walking the bar off forward and back on backwards.

Will do it right next time!

Yea going backwards with serious weights is dodgy.

[Bolognese]

I generally get on with my own stuff at the gym. However, sometimes I do see people doing some crazy lifts/bad form. Unless its really dangerous I tend to not say anything because I find it quite amusing. Im a bad person..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS_69v3lVVo

[Asterix]

Going on from that link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk9jp9rJ3Ss&fea...

Go about 1:30 in - that's mad! The guy is full of helium!!!

[MacGee]

I now go to Crossfit and everyone helps eachother. I know how to row so I help get others to get good firm and pace. They seem happy enough with it. I equalled the 1k challenge tonight against a fit lad half my age! So s bit of respect was earned.

[theshrew]

I wouldnt and couldnt ive not really got much idea myself. I just learn from watching vids on youtube or people in the gym. Ive only just started doing free weights so i have a lot to learn.

Id be happy for someone to give me some advice. TBH its always pretty quiet when i go as its normally first thing in the morning or last thing at night

[smiffy180]

theshrew said:

I wouldnt and couldnt ive not really got much idea myself. I just learn from watching vids on youtube or people in the gym. Ive only just started doing free weights so i have a lot to learn.

Id be happy for someone to give me some advice. TBH its always pretty quiet when i go as its normally first thing in the morning or last thing at night

Every gym ive been to is rammed on a night. Consider yourself lucky

[fatpasty]

My gym is usually quiet at night times. anything after 8pm it is pretty dead until closing at 10pm.

[Hoofy]

theshrew said:

Ive only just started doing free weights

Seriously? You've been training for a while so I'd assumed you were using weights like the rest of us. Anyway, you've made the right step - weights are simple but very useful tools whether you want to build strength, improve your physique, strengthen a weak area, burn fat, rehabilitate...

[theshrew]

Hoofy said:

Seriously? You've been training for a while so I'd assumed you were using weights like the rest of us. Anyway, you've made the right step - weights are simple but very useful tools whether you want to build strength, improve your physique, strengthen a weak area, burn fat, rehabilitate...

I did get a bench for in my garage but tbh all i could do with that was bench and Shoulder press. Bought more weight so i could do deads and squats with help but cant fit enough weight on the bar ffs so i pretty much knocked it on the head faffing about going in the garage.

Ive changed my gym now, it has some free weights so just learning about using the correctly.

[Hoofy]

theshrew said:

I did get a bench for in my garage but tbh all i could do with that was bench and Shoulder press. Bought more weight so i could do deads and squats with help but cant fit enough weight on the bar ffs so i pretty much knocked it on the head faffing about going in the garage.

Ive changed my gym now, it has some free weights so just learning about using the correctly.

Ohhhh ok, so I'm not going mad after all.