Official "Sick of your Gym" Thread

[Cmanuel]

Lets get a gym rant thread going.

I'll start:

have a story from tonights workout. So I just finished a set of 230x10 on my bench for my final set, when some kid comes over to me and says "nice work!". So we start talking, and this kid proceeds to yap about EVERY damn thing on the planet. First he tells me he saw me squatting below parallel the other night and said nice work, and then proceeded to explain why he cant hit parallel (hip injury, aka BS Excuse). Its funny because he was in the squat rack next to me the other night doing quarter squats with 315. *Sigh*.

So I try to get rid of him by moving to a bench farther away from him and he just would not stop following me. I dont have the heart to tell someone to go away. Then he asks me for a spot. Without even warming up he goes for 195x10 he says. His form is horrible....feet shuffling, no arch at all, bouncing HARD off chest. He gets 6 reps and I give him some pointers which just goes in one ear and out the other.

So at this point im really frustrated and just want to get away from this kid. I go over to my other bench and put on my head phones and about 5 minutes later, guess who walks up. He then proceeds to talk about this random guy at this other gym that instructed him not to touch on incline bench, talks about Paul Anderson (old school strongman/lifter) and how he lifted an elephant with his back, talks about how this other guy once told him that olympic lifters can leg press 2,000, that he can leg press 900.... i mean you name it this kid was spitting it out.

Finally I was just like, dude sorry but I've got to finish my workout. And that was that.

And then I went home and banged my head on the wall and had a big beer. The end.

[Koalala]

This thread would be better off in end&pieces don't you think?

[Cmanuel]

This thread would be better off in end&pieces don't you think?

Oops, you are right... I didn't even notice that we had an "off topic" forum now... Guess because its so far down on the list.

Can a mod move it?

[Benthic]

My biggest complaint about my gym is that it looks like a playroom for a bunch of children. There are always weight plates and equipment scattered around where they don't belong and worse, people leave empty water bottles or sports drink bottles, magazines, paper towels, etc all over the place. There are plenty of trash cans around. How hard is it to pick up after yourself?!?! And don't think the gym 'staff' is going to do anything about it. They're not about to come out from behind that counter up front.

I guess I shouldn't complain for $15 a month. They have all the equipment I need, and I generally don't have to compete with anyone for it. But I'd REALLY like to have a home gym, I just don't have the space for it.

Brian

[kunnar]

This reminds my last training day. In dressing room one dude started asking questions, like - are you going to pump? I said no, will do just few squats. Then he asked - are you going to make your muscles real big, HUGE? And he showed with his arms how huge :)
Otherwise my current gym is more or less ok, mostly machines but also enough free weights. There are even 2 platforms for doing power cleans and deadlifts.

[Smack]

My gym recently sold almost all the machines and replaced them with some more benches and a new dumbbell set. The only 'machines' we have left, outside of the main cardio room, is a smith machine and some cable machines. Oh, and a leg press.

[homerj742]

I go to a NYSC.

They have a power rack that nobody touches in the morning, which is nice for me.

What I don't like is their stop-sign-weight plates. Makes deadlifting a bit of a pain. Also, I would like it if they had some bumper plates for power cleans, but I'm just catching them for now.

And of course, there's the usual people who try to give me "helpful tips", such as "look up when you squat" and so forth.

There are a few crossfit places near by, but they don't believe in bench pressing. oh well!

[Tim Lofton]

Case in point, I'm at my secondary gym this morning as I'm on an extended Christmas break from work. I've just wrapped up squats and am moving on to the press, the room is fairly quiet with the exception of some decent music being played. A regular then comes in, always with some sort of shirt that is labeled on the back with some sort of gym with big letters underneath "Personal Trainer." He proceeds to turn on the big screen TV up on the wall and turn up the volume, making the music almost impossible to hear. This is somewhat frustrating as I knew I really needed some concentration and focus in my press workout and the music was finely suited to this. I really didn't want the distraction of this big TV being on up on the wall, so I turn my back to it and face away from the TV and him.
His workouts seem to focus solely on upper body and I've never seen him do anything for the legs. It shows too, as he actually has skinnier legs than I do and little definition indicating any kind of musculature. He does push around a lot of big dumbbells and weight on the inclined smith machine. He looks at me a bit incredulously when I do my power cleans.
I get through the first workset of presses, and then ask him if he could possibly mute the TV sound and enable the close captioning if he really must have the TV on during his training. Somewhat chagrined, he did such. I'm normally not a very forthcoming person in trivial matters, but it just seemed silly to have this big TV blaring in the free weight room. Given how my presses went today, it may not have helped much, but hopefully it will help set the table for the next time he comes in if someone is already there with music on. Even asking first would have been appreciated. Oh, he was chewing gum and blowing bubbles through his workouts too. How the hell do you do that?
I guess I'm not really sick of this gym, just some of the antics that take place in it, and if this is the worst thing that happens, then I'm probably in really good shape.

tim

[Paul Sousa]

I actually love the gym I'm at. Pretty much every kind of person you can imagine goes there, but it is huge and has tons of equipment. There are two power racks and seven squat racks. Too many benches for me to count in my head right now. Several sets of DBs up to 80lbs., and then three sets from 85lbs. up to 150lbs. Also some good conditioning equipment like C2 rowers, etc. Never have to wait for anything, more than enough plates for everyone. The trainers and employees there also are really cool and have no problem with stuff like chalk, video taping lifts, etc. The only flaw I can think of is a lack of dedicated Oly platform and basically no bumper plates (they have a pair of 10s, 25s and 45s).

If anyone in the area is looking for a good gym it is Bayshore Athletic Club in Braintree, MA. I know this thread is meant for venting, but maybe it could help some people find a new place to train too.

[bluecheese]

My gym isn't too bad. Its one of those 24 hour Anytime Fitness places whci works well for my schedule. Sometimes I don't make it to the gym until 9pm. My main complaint is that there is only one power rack. Normally no one touches is except for the jackasses doing wrist curls. The only guy that I've seen use the rack for actual barbell lifts is this big hairy sweaty bastard who leaves the bar looking and smelling like a swamp.

The people there are pretty cool, if not deluded by their love of bodybuilding.

One interesting story:
Not too long after Katrina, where I live had (and still does) a lot of transient people setting up shop. The crime was getting out of control in some areas. Anyway, one night, around 8pm, I was at the gym. One of the normal gym rats comes in and says to one of the resident fitness chicks "I think someone is breaking into your car."

"You're kidding" she says.

"If your car is the black cadillac outside, some dude just busted the window."

She yells, and everyone in ear shot goes running outside. I don't think the car thief was expecting a gym full of power lifters, bodybuilders, and roid heads to come running towards him. One of the bigger guys tackles him, and two others help hold him down.

There hasn't been a break-in in that parking lot since.

[Squatson]

Only at Globo Gym....

One day I'm gettin ready to do cleans and I can't find the bumper plates...found them on the calf raise machine

I'm resting in between squat sets, guy finishes his super heavy leg presses, walks on the platform and proceeds to quench his thirst by spraying water all over his face and the floor ( reminded me of the gasoline scene in zoolander )

I'm benching my last set of 175...4th rep goes up slow cause it's heavy for me...5th rep is going up even slower (BUT STILL GOING UP) and superman dashes from across the room, grabs the bar, and shrugs with all his might to save me from certain doom

I asked the personal trainer (big mistake) to tell me if I was getting below parallel, and before I know it, he's got his arms around me spotting my body and cheering me on

All of this made me feel alone in the gym until saturday, when the stay puft marshmallow man ( I make up nicknames for people to help pass the rest time ) and his protege gave me a soft golf clap after a set of full squats. they said I was only the 3rd person they had seen do a real squat in 3 years of working out at my gym.

I guess I can't wait until I'm pulling 500 and looking 70's big so people might stop telling me how to lift.

[mcsquared]

I'm at home on leave, working out at a local YMCA. There's a "Personal Trainer" there who came up to me after I did a set of full, high bar squats. I asked about depth and he was told me how great it was that I was going full depth, blah blah blah. He was training some poor kid who he then put in the squat rack and with little to no warm-up, has the kid doing 315 quarter squats, and the trainer won't leave the kid the fuck alone, he's right up behind the kid, touching the bar, supporting him, etc. My girlfriend looks over at me(i took her along on one of my workouts) and was like, "I can't believe that trainer would say that stuff to you about how good it was, and then take that kid over there and teach him everything wrong."

There's a reason I'm dating this girl.

[Marotta]

Usually no complaints aside from the old guys walking around dicks out in the change room.

But today, I had to wait 15 minutes to start squatting for a kid to finish super setting 1/4 squats, ''step-up aerobic what ever they`re called''s, and dumbbell curls, Then I had to wait to bench for some guy to finish half bench pressing, then when it was time for powercleans, everyone decided to ignore the big open spaces and move their benches 1/2 foot away from my bar to do kickbacks and such nonsense.


Most of the other stuff just makes me laugh, the 120lb 6' tall guys doing crossovers, the obscenely fat people doing cable curls, all that nonsense just gives me something to laugh at between sets.

[stronger]

It really annoys me when I see trainers talk to their clients while they are lifting. Not encouragement, but an actual conversation.

The gym is not a social event; talk after you finish your set and have enough respect for people that are paying you to get them strong that you shut your mouth.

[Mr.City]

When I see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BMKKIWycTw&feature=rec-fresh+div-f-3-HM

[Marotta]

When I see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BMKKIWycTw&feature=rec-fresh+div-f-3-HM

Maybe she was REALLY upset that he wasn't going deep enough?
In all seriousness though, that's about the stupidest thing to do to someone squatting.

[quadancer]

I have a fully equipped gym at home, but lost motivation after a couple of years, so I'm at a chain franchise-yuppie-fitness-emporium deal that I like rather well. They don't have platforms or allow chalk, but that's to be expected.
As one of the bigger lifters, I get a lot of questions from mostly the college crowd (which I don't mind at all) and sometimes have to go train at our local PL gym to keep the ego in check.
The worst thing is lack of plates and instructions to the members, who generally don't know squat about gym ettiquette. So you often find plates or DB's disappearing in the middle of your sets.

[Mr.City]

Maybe she was REALLY upset that he wasn't going deep enough?
In all seriousness though, that's about the stupidest thing to do to someone squatting.

It's all the rage in spotting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5hsx9SRYFs

[mcsquared]

It's all the rage in spotting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5hsx9SRYFs

Honestly? That shit pisses me off. I don't even know what to say. I'd break up with that girl on the spot and probably ax-murder someone if they nut-shot me during a bench press. Seriously could've seen a major injury that way with a heavier load.

[homerj742]

One interesting story:
Not too long after Katrina, where I live had (and still does) a lot of transient people setting up shop. The crime was getting out of control in some areas. Anyway, one night, around 8pm, I was at the gym. One of the normal gym rats comes in and says to one of the resident fitness chicks "I think someone is breaking into your car."

"You're kidding" she says.

"If your car is the black cadillac outside, some dude just busted the window."

She yells, and everyone in ear shot goes running outside. I don't think the car thief was expecting a gym full of power lifters, bodybuilders, and roid heads to come running towards him. One of the bigger guys tackles him, and two others help hold him down.

There hasn't been a break-in in that parking lot since.

That rules lol

[Cmanuel]

The gym I deadlift at has a nice platform with a deadlift jack...

One day I came in ready to hit some pulls and there was some jacktard doing barbell curls on the platform using the deadlift jack.... WTF

[quadancer]

Oh man, that's a classic! I guess the squat rack was occupied, huh?

[Guido]

I actually don't have many problems with the place I train as it has all the equipment I need and plenty of strong lifters. Recently, however, the clueless gym staff has taken to coming around and insisting that we put our gym bags in our lockers instead of having them with us, citing them as a "tripping hazard".

Mind you, this had never been a problem for them for the past 5 years plus that myself and the rest of my PL team members have been lifting there. I confronted them about it and told them that I needed what was in my bag for lifting purposes (it contains my suits, belt, deadlift slippers, chalk, baby powder, bands, etc.) and they said I could take out everything I needed but that the bag has to go in a locker. I mentioned the foolishness of that (i.e. the fact that if everything were out of my bag that I needed and laid out seperately it would be even MORE of a "tripping hazard" than just the bag and plus the fact that it would be highly annoying to have to carry everything around in a big pile around the gym every time I moved to new area) but they would have none of it. I suggested that maybe they should install some coin lockers in the lifting area if they were going to have such a policy but to no avail.

Anyway, I've been bringing my bag in, anyway, flaunting this ridicuous rule that is being, I believe, selectively enforced (because it's generally only the serious lifters who have enough equipment to require a gym bag with them). I will only move my shit if they tell me to, so I'm hoping that eventually these clueless idiots will give up trying to enforce this "rule" and will let us continue on as we were before.

[misspelledgeoff]

i've seen this douchebag do the following twice now at my gym.

tall, lanky young guy is probably 6'3" and maybe 175 pounds. first thing he does is take his shirt off. all through out the workout he checks himself in the mirror from various angles.

he's plugged into his iPod even though music in the gym is blaring. at some point his favorite song comes on the iPod, and he does this sort of dry-hump-the-air thing with his eyes closed while biting his upper lip. It reminds me of my old college buddy trying to teach another friend of mine how to dance in 'da club' --"dude just put your arms in the air and pretend like you're fucking".

The coupe de grace, though, is when he hits the calf raises or the shrugs with 225 on the bar. He belts out a wail reminescant of bad pr0n actress in mid orgasm...."UuuuuAAAAAhhhhhhh!!!!!".

[Gary Gibson]

I actually don't have many problems with the place I train as it has all the equipment I need and plenty of strong lifters. Recently, however, the clueless gym staff has taken to coming around and insisting that we put our gym bags in our lockers instead of having them with us, citing them as a "tripping hazard".

Mind you, this had never been a problem for them for the past 5 years plus that myself and the rest of my PL team members have been lifting there. I confronted them about it and told them that I needed what was in my bag for lifting purposes (it contains my suits, belt, deadlift slippers, chalk, baby powder, bands, etc.) and they said I could take out everything I needed but that the bag has to go in a locker. I mentioned the foolishness of that (i.e. the fact that if everything were out of my bag that I needed and laid out seperately it would be even MORE of a "tripping hazard" than just the bag and plus the fact that it would be highly annoying to have to carry everything around in a big pile around the gym every time I moved to new area) but they would have none of it. I suggested that maybe they should install some coin lockers in the lifting area if they were going to have such a policy but to no avail.

Anyway, I've been bringing my bag in, anyway, flaunting this ridicuous rule that is being, I believe, selectively enforced (because it's generally only the serious lifters who have enough equipment to require a gym bag with them). I will only move my shit if they tell me to, so I'm hoping that eventually these clueless idiots will give up trying to enforce this "rule" and will let us continue on as we were before.

That is truly ridiculous. It is persecution of powerlifters, plain and simple.


i've seen this douchebag do the following twice now at my gym.

tall, lanky young guy is probably 6'3" and maybe 175 pounds. first thing he does is take his shirt off. all through out the workout he checks himself in the mirror from various angles.

he's plugged into his iPod even though music in the gym is blaring. at some point his favorite song comes on the iPod, and he does this sort of dry-hump-the-air thing with his eyes closed while biting his upper lip. It reminds me of my old college buddy trying to teach another friend of mine how to dance in 'da club' --"dude just put your arms in the air and pretend like you're fucking".

The coupe de grace, though, is when he hits the calf raises or the shrugs with 225 on the bar. He belts out a wail reminescant of bad pr0n actress in mid orgasm...."UuuuuAAAAAhhhhhhh!!!!!".

I'm not calling you a liar, but I have a hard time believing such d-baggery truly exists. You'll have to present recorded evidence for both amusement and verification.

I feel everyone can do whatever flagrant nonsense in the gym that strikes their fancy. Just don't do it in the squat rack. That space is holy.

[misspelledgeoff]

I will document this high douchebaggery for both amusement and verification.


That is truly ridiculous. It is persecution of powerlifters, plain and simple.



I'm not calling you a liar, but I have a hard time believing such d-baggery truly exists. You'll have to present recorded evidence for both amusement and verification.

I feel everyone can do whatever flagrant nonsense in the gym that strikes their fancy. Just don't do it in the squat rack. That space is holy.

[Sami]

*waits for video of douchebaggery*

http://i.pbase.com/o4/98/583898/1/63713938.qaEEdjG9.popcorn.gif

[misspelledgeoff]

when you come to Texas in the summer you can see firsthand the Grade A douchebaggery on display. good for some laughs. i'll buy you a beer too.


*waits for video of douchebaggery*

http://i.pbase.com/o4/98/583898/1/63713938.qaEEdjG9.popcorn.gif

[Sami]

when you come to Texas in the summer I can give you a tour so you can see firsthand the Grade A bodybuilder-wannabe douchebaggery on display at Metroflex of Plano. good for some laughs. i'll buy you a beer too.

It won't be this summer, I don't know the next time I can go back.

'The tour' probably won't be needed; I lived in Texas for the first 18 years of my life. I've been to all the big cities (except El Paso), and plenty of small ones. I suppose I haven't really been to Plano though.

[Platus]

I use the local YMCA. It isn't all bad, as it costs me about $5 a month, and I have met some really great people there (for example, K.Diesel that posts on this board). But here are a couple of examples of douchebaggery that I recorded in my log:

As I was waiting in preparation for my 1RM press attempt, a guy I've never seen before goes, "watching the clock is no way to spend your time in the gym." I replied, "I'm just resting before I attempt a 1RM." "Do you want a spot?" he asks. The fact that I was in a cage notwithstanding, I was confused by the very proposition of a spot on the press. Is that even done? How could it be done safely? The answers to these questions came quickly. When I looked across the room I saw this guy spotting his friend as he did seated overhead presses. In the smith machine.

Also, occasionally, there's this young kid (maybe 16 or 17), who psychs himself up by cranking up his ipod and then thrashing around like he is having a seizure in his own private mosh pit --- before slamming out some real heavy dumbbell curls. It's really damn distracting, and I suspect that he is listening to some real shitty 'nu metal.'

But, the most problematic thing at the Y is the trainers. Several of the trainers are very petite women. I don't mean to say that I mistrust female spotters (my girlfriend is 4'11'' and I totally trust her to spot me, as she has been doing SS for a couple of months), but there is no way that these 'trainers' could possibly spot anyone moving heavy weight. It is a classic example of machine-based training liberating the staff from the shackles of competency. There are often times that I have to switch to triples rather than sets of five, for fear of getting trapped under the bar with an
incompetent spotter.

[Guido]

That is truly ridiculous. It is persecution of powerlifters, plain and simple.
Thanks, Gary. I'm glad someone else agrees with me. The sad thing is that we also happen to be the most courteous bunch that lifts in the gym. We are the only ones who take the time to put all of our plates away, not leave DB's sitting out, and clean up any baby powder/chalk mess we leave behind.

[Gary Gibson]

Thanks, Gary. I'm glad someone else agrees with me. The sad thing is that we also happen to be the most courteous bunch that lifts in the gym. We are the only ones who take the time to put all of our plates away, not leave DB's sitting out, and clean up any baby powder/chalk mess we leave behind.

It is a great irony. Powerlifters and weightlifters tend to respect the weight room the MOST. To them (us) it is something of a sacred place.

[Magnetotail]

I thought 4ft 1 inch was a bit short!

Usual irritations for me, whichever gym I go to it seems. Yesterday my workout was interrupted by a guy shouting across the room at his friends whenever he did a set; you know, to celebrate. I soon realised why there was so much conversation needed, it appeared to be a team exercise they were doing. The old bench press + shrug/upright row combo, at 140kg on the incline bench, about a half-rep.

I wanted a spot ten or so minutes later on the bench on my 5th set (at a much more modest 90kg) and took my time to explain to the guy - who was part of the same group above, everyone is apparently best friends in this gym - to keep his hands off the bar unless I was going to crush myself.

Most of the guys in there were noticeably bigger than me, but their training methods and lifting techniques were just so obtuse. I saw nothing other than bench press, curls and "core" stuff being done. It makes me wonder how these people to get to the stage they're at.

Is it just years and years of poor training slowly building up or what? This is a genuine question. Though in fairness it was difficult to assess their actual overall strength based on the "exercises" they were doing.

[elVarouza]

Is it just years and years of poor training slowly building up or what? This is a genuine question. Though in fairness it was difficult to assess their actual overall strength based on the "exercises" they were doing.

I too wonder this, and I suspect it's years of bench pressing and such. There are plenty of people in my gym, nearly all football players, who barely out-deadlift their bench press or in some cases, don't. I've seen guys rep 315lbs on bench and struggle to rep 275lbs on the deadlift. Based on what I've seen it just seems like they all do mainly bench variations, so after only doing bench for a few years it's no surprise they all have really high benches.

I've only seen one football player in my gym legitimately deadlift heavy and he (of course) happens to be the strongest looking football player I've seen there: he was doing 405x8 or so.

[Smack]

I'm actually a member of two guys - my uni's gym and another other uni's gym.

I usually got to my uni's gym because it's better and I can go any time I want, whereas with the other uni's gym I have to be out by 4:45pm because I could only purchase off peak because fat people who have no intention of doing anything about it and alcoholic students who sleep until 5pm have purchased all the peak memberships. So the gym is relatively empty during 'peak' times.

This gym has thee power racks, two squat racks and five platforms. It's got everything you could possibly need, don't get me wrong.

But I don't like it.

It's full of stereotypical gym goers.

Today, there was some guy doing biceps curls with a 5kg dumbbell on the bosu ball. Didn't look like he lifts. Probably has shit balance as well.

There was this guy who had massive arms whilst curling and skull crushing. But once he put the bar down he looked normal.

The typical benchers who never do any warm up sets.

Some fat guy in a vest and yellow gloves.

Everyone does arms all the time. Ain't seen nobody squat.

Just goes to show how what is a decent gym on paper can be ruined by idiots.

[homerj742]

Smack, that doesn't sound so bad. It means you can take as long as you want in the power/squat racks.

My gym's the same way, except they only have 1 power rack. and I'm the only one who uses it for the 90+ mins I'm at the gym...

[matclone]

It's my observation that, unless you're in a real black iron gym (and there aren't many), at any given time (a snapshot view), you're going to see 75% or more of the guys on the floor doing some exercise for their arms or chest.

[quadancer]

Man, isn't THAT the truth! OTOH, I think I've started some problems for myself by giving tips, advice, form corrections and incentive to the college crowd here. It seems like our one power rack is getting very busy lately.

Maybe I should have just told them all that machines are better???

[Mr.City]

What exactly is a black iron gym? I've heard that term used many times.

[Gary Gibson]

What exactly is a black iron gym? I've heard that term used many times.

The black iron of racks and barbells as opposed to the chrome of machines.

[matclone]

What exactly is a black iron gym? I've heard that term used many times.

Rip used the term in Starting Strength (the book). In addition to what Gary said, a gym where strength rather than appearance is more often the goal of the members. Where powerlifters and olympic lifters train. A gym that resembles Wichita Fall Athletic Club.

Where the squat or the clean are king.
Where chalk is not banned.
Where platforms are found (a key sign)
Where power racks exist
(In a commercial gym) where there is always more than one place to squat (another key sign).

[Smack]

Smack, that doesn't sound so bad. It means you can take as long as you want in the power/squat racks.

My gym's the same way, except they only have 1 power rack. and I'm the only one who uses it for the 90+ mins I'm at the gym...

No, the free weights area is quite small and the racks are always getting used for bench pressing, shrugs, curls, etc.

[JCavin]

I just joined a new gym a couple weeks ago.

Everything was going awesome until my last workout.

I saw this goody white guy with long hair and big chops. Real skinny. I walked in and he was stepping off a chest pressing machine. All I heard was a loud "whooping" sound followed by "I am truly humbled by that lift!"

That's fine, I guess. I'm not usually one to judge, but he kept saying weird stuff like that for the next 10 minutes. After taking a crap and changing, he came into the locker room and introduced himself.

I was immediately ashamed. I'm pretty sure the guy wasn't all there.:o

There was also this big ass bouncer there. He's probably 5'6, said he weighed 240. Solid as a fucking rock. He was plate loaded pressing 900lbs.

Real nice guy. The only problem is that he wouldn't stop talking to me while I was concentrating on my lifts. He talked for about 45 minutes straight. The bad thing was that he only wanted to talk about himself and say how strong he was. "I just deadlifted 505 a few minutes ago..." etc.

Like I said, he's really nice, but damn man.

[Mr.City]

I joined LA fitness for a trial membership, and it's fucking terrible. I have of two different bars to choose from: one with no "rings" on it to use landmarks for my grip or a hexagonal bar. All the weight plates are plastic and hexagon-shaped. There are more machines than free weights. The power cages suck dick to squat since they're very narrow.

[quadancer]

If it's any justice, I've seen the local L.A. Fitness here fold up, reopen at a new location and rates have gone from $1300-$2400/yr down now to $35/mo.
Competition: it's the American way baby!
2 friends and I got "free" one-month passes to their emporium years ago...my buds had the sharks all over them every session: I just raved about the gym and the kewel equipment and so they left me alone until the last 2 days. I told them it was too much money and they cut out the pool, sauna, etc, etc, down to $1300/yr. I thanked them and left. My friends never did get a complete workout in there, heheh.

[Gary Gibson]

If it's any justice, I've seen the local L.A. Fitness here fold up, reopen at a new location and rates have gone from $1300-$2400/yr down now to $35/mo.
Competition: it's the American way baby!
2 friends and I got "free" one-month passes to their emporium years ago...my buds had the sharks all over them every session: I just raved about the gym and the kewel equipment and so they left me alone until the last 2 days. I told them it was too much money and they cut out the pool, sauna, etc, etc, down to $1300/yr. I thanked them and left. My friends never did get a complete workout in there, heheh.

I think the pressure is going to be on globo gyms as the credit bubble's continued deflation moves along. The globo gym is an unecessary bauble and as people's budgets tighten, they're going to realize that they've gotten very little physical improvement for this huge monthly expense to go play around on selectorized chrome machines and have personal trainers help them balance on balls.

Hell, the average person would get a whole lot more out swinging, pressing and front squatting a kettlebell than they would out of machines. And a kettlebell fits neatly in one's closet and looks kinda cool.

The more insane among us who live to up our squats, benches, deadlifts, cleans and snatches will simply melt back into our garage gyms. I don't even have a garage, but I have a garage gym. I made sure to get an apartment on the ground floor and with enough space for a rack and storage for my weights and bars.

[HamptonMike]

I work out in my garage. The only gyms around me are Bally's, Golds and little personal training places with wall to wall machines and people "toning" in circuits. My wife got me a complete set of bumpers for Christmas. The only thing I lack is a power rack but it's next on the list. I have a store near me that also sells used fitness equipment. I've been cherrypicking the best stuff off of them. Used GHD for 50 bones. Can't beat it. Wish I had a motivated lifter near me. That's the only thing I don't have and that's a training partner.

[homerj742]

This morning I'm doing my squats of 240 (new PR!). This older regular comes up and starts "spotting" me. And by spotting I mean helping.

He meant well and is a nice guy, but damnit I use a power rack so I don't need a spotter. I need to know if I can lift the weights on my own.

I made sure to do my last 2 sets without him around, and was able to lift the weights just fine. So atleast I know I can get the weight up, but I'm still annoyed.

[misspelledgeoff]

pretty much everyone in my gym has read the post I made here. the gym owner, Greg, has some Google thing setup that emails him when some mention of his gym name (Metroflex) comes up on teh interwebz. he read the post and shared with a lot of the other lifters and bb'ers and they all had a big laugh. Apparently I am not the only person in my gym who's witnessed this douchebaggery. but I fear my efforts to get video may be thwarted as said douchebag is aware his exercise theatrics haven't gone unnoticed.


i've seen this douchebag do the following twice now at my gym.

tall, lanky young guy is probably 6'3" and maybe 175 pounds. first thing he does is take his shirt off. all through out the workout he checks himself in the mirror from various angles.

he's plugged into his iPod even though music in the gym is blaring. at some point his favorite song comes on the iPod, and he does this sort of dry-hump-the-air thing with his eyes closed while biting his upper lip. It reminds me of my old college buddy trying to teach another friend of mine how to dance in 'da club' --"dude just put your arms in the air and pretend like you're fucking".

The coupe de grace, though, is when he hits the calf raises or the shrugs with 225 on the bar. He belts out a wail reminescant of bad pr0n actress in mid orgasm...."UuuuuAAAAAhhhhhhh!!!!!".

[homerj742]

This morning I'm doing my squats of 240 (new PR!). This older regular comes up and starts "spotting" me. And by spotting I mean helping.

He meant well and is a nice guy, but damnit I use a power rack so I don't need a spotter. I need to know if I can lift the weights on my own.

I made sure to do my last 2 sets without him around, and was able to lift the weights just fine. So atleast I know I can get the weight up, but I'm still annoyed.


This is bothering me a lot more than I thought. I don't think I'll be at ease until my next session tomorrow.

[StLRPh]

So let me get this straight. Some old guy comes up behind you and touches you without your asking and it happened more than once?

Was he a priest by chance? :p

[homerj742]

So let me get this straight. Some old guy comes up behind you and touches you without your asking and it happened more than once?

Was he a priest by chance? :p

This just gets worse and worse! hahaha

[78704]

Bad example.

[quadancer]

This is bothering me a lot more than I thought. I don't think I'll be at ease until my next session tomorrow.

Come off it man. I've never seen a wannabe spotter stay in the frame when waved off. Just say "No spot" and ignore him. He has no choice but to walk off unless he's a total 'tard, in which case you should have upbraided him the FIRST time he wouldn't leave.
Your fault on this one.

[Gary Gibson]

pretty much everyone in my gym has read the post I made here. the gym owner, Greg, has some Google thing setup that emails him when some mention of his gym name (Metroflex) comes up on teh interwebz. he read the post and shared with a lot of the other lifters and bb'ers and they all had a big laugh. Apparently I am not the only person in my gym who's witnessed this douchebaggery. but I fear my efforts to get video may be thwarted as said douchebag is aware his exercise theatrics haven't gone unnoticed.

I've always been paranoid about this sort of thing happening.

[JAM]

The old gym I went to was filled with shiny chrome machines and metrosexuals. Silly pop music.

My new gym is cold and cramped. It smells like 2 cycle oil, and sometimes trash. When it rains, the rain puddles in the door. Somtimes, there are even dogs in the gym.

But it does have good bars, bumpers, iron, a rack, rower, and various other tid bits. Plenty of conditioning stuff. LOTS of chalk.

Plus I get to fuck the owner's wife. ;)

[78704]

The old gym I went to was filled with shiny chrome machines and metrosexuals. Silly pop music.

My new gym is cold and cramped. It smells like 2 cycle oil, and sometimes trash. When it rains, the rain puddles in the door. Somtimes, there are even dogs in the gym.

But it does have good bars, bumpers, iron, a rack, rower, and various other tid bits. Plenty of conditioning stuff. LOTS of chalk.

Plus I get to fuck the owner's wife. ;)

Sign me up.

[matclone]

one

[TartanEagle]

Talking about who you had sex with in a public space is usually the sign of a braggart, a liar, or a fool.

...or someone who works out in their own garage.

[OldMike]

Talking about who you had sex with in a public space is usually the sign of a braggart, a liar, or a fool.

I might be wrong, but I think he's talking about his garage and his wife.

[matclone]

Sorry for being dense. You guys are probably right. I'll delete my prior post.

[JAM]

That is correct. I was talking about my garage gym and my wife.

The "fool" comment is still probably right.

Deleting of one's post is not neccessary. This is the "Ends & Pieces" area. Werid, rude, sarcastic comments are welcome here. Especially if they're funny.

[homerj742]

Definitely funny, don't delete the post.

[OldMike]

... The "fool" comment is still probably right...

I think I got you beat on the "fool" front.

I saw a thread in Mr. Staley's forum called "How to train the Jerk" and I thought it was a program written just for me...

[quadancer]

Hey, I wouldn'ta TOLD anyone...

[Mr.City]

I actually thought the same thing as Mat, that JAM was actually having an affair with the wife of the gym owner and that he was being foolish enough to publicly post it here. I prefer that version.

[JAM]

That's funny shit.

[Gary Gibson]

Read Dinosaur Training, thought I'd try a squat lockout. Wandered out to my power rack in my garage, managed to get half a ton about an inch off the pins; cool.

Bragged about it online, got challenged to do it at someone else's gym.

Crap power rack had a hole every six inches, cheap barbells. At the right height the bar would bend a lot but not come off the pins. Six inches down I had to spread my stance a lot to get 855 up and locked, at which point my right knee folded sideways.

Very bad day, followed by about a year of rehab.

I am so very sorry to hear that. Hope you're healed up.

My right knee folded on a box squat. My own fault due to huge strength/size imbalance I'd failed to correct plus I was attempting more weight than I should have considering the fatigue. Caused an inflamed plica condition that persisted for two years. Very painful, very depressing. 99% better now, but if I overdo squats, it can come back.

[pu239]

I workout at the local Y. It's small and has no squat rack. Or rack of any kind. And it costs me $48 a month. I keep thinking about switching, so, you know, I can get a real workout in, but the closest place other than the Y is about 13 miles one way and completely opposite of where I work. If I had a garage I'd get some equipment for home, but I don't have a garage either.

[mrRed]

I also work out at a NYSC. The only real complaint I have is no bumpers and stop sign plates only. Well there's also the modern dance exercise classes and the shitty music coming from the aerobics studio 10' away. The music is easily blocked out with some headphones, but the girls in spandex can really distract when they're dancing (self control is king).

The plus side is that even after work I can spend two hours in the power-rack and nobody ever evens looks like they want to jump in. They're too busy on the smith machines to realize what the power-rack is for. Occasionally people doing quarter squats on the squat rack (also used for dumbell curls), but I pretty much have as much time as I need without interruption.

Nobody bothers me, talks to me, asks questions, and the fact that the bench press room is on another floor keeps me from having to deal with the people who spend two hours cycling through incline and decline sets except for every other workout (not too bad).

I'd love to have a gym with the equipment I want nearby, but the only option is a kick-ass gym for almost 4 times the amount of money I pay now, which I unfortunately really can't afford.

[78704]

I workout at the local Y. It's small and has no squat rack. Or rack of any kind. And it costs me $48 a month. I keep thinking about switching, so, you know, I can get a real workout in, but the closest place other than the Y is about 13 miles one way and completely opposite of where I work. If I had a garage I'd get some equipment for home, but I don't have a garage either.

My power rack's in my living room. :D

[78704]

I workout at the local Y. It's small and has no squat rack. Or rack of any kind. And it costs me $48 a month. I keep thinking about switching, so, you know, I can get a real workout in, but the closest place other than the Y is about 13 miles one way and completely opposite of where I work. If I had a garage I'd get some equipment for home, but I don't have a garage either.

My power rack's in my living room. :D

Sofa and TV or....

[TartanEagle]

I workout at the local Y. It's small and has no squat rack. Or rack of any kind. And it costs me $48 a month. I keep thinking about switching, so, you know, I can get a real workout in, but the closest place other than the Y is about 13 miles one way and completely opposite of where I work. If I had a garage I'd get some equipment for home, but I don't have a garage either.

Can you put a rack in your living room? Can you move, or find a new job? You could always set up a workout room in a storage locker, if there is a self storage area near your home, or work. Or just drive further to the gym. If you really want to train, you can find a solution.

[pu239]

78704 and TartanEagle - Thanks for the replies. I'm thinking about putting a rack in our dining room. I got approval from the wife too! It's just a matter of figuring out what to do with our giant table, chairs, and cabinet. We've also thought about moving or adding on so I can have a home gym. Still thinking about that. I've thought about getting a new job too, but right now I've got a pretty good one.

All that being said I am tired of being weak. So, you're both right, what's more important? Having a dining room table that we never use or a power rack where I can get strong? The answer is obvious.

[Jamie J. Skibicki]

Side note:

Power racks can be used even when not weight training. Exampe, they make a great place to hang a sex swing.

[JAM]

To add to Jamie's comment, lmost all workout items can be creatively used for sex.
Bench = bend her over it
Chinup bar = suspend her from it
Abmat = cushion for her knees during mouth hugs
Bars = ........you're a sick bastard........

[Jamie J. Skibicki]

Be careful with bars that aren't stainless, they may get corroded.

[gzt]

To add to Jamie's comment, lmost all workout items can be creatively used for sex.
Bench = bend her over it
Chinup bar = suspend her from it
Abmat = cushion for her knees during mouth hugs
Bars = ........you're a sick bastard........
Honestly, you're not getting too creative here...

[quadancer]

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb223/quadancer/Home/SquatRack008.jpg

[Marotta]

Yesterday, I was doing some Turkish Get Ups with 45#, it was hard, and I'm sure it looked like a was struggling, but cranking them out none the less, and some guy tells me a should go down to 20# because 45# is too heavy between sets. I just agreed with him then went and did my next set with the 45#.

[barbhero]

Can you put a rack in your living room? Can you move, or find a new job? You could always set up a workout room in a storage locker, if there is a self storage area near your home, or work. Or just drive further to the gym. If you really want to train, you can find a solution.

Haha I love the idea of setting up a workout room in a storage locker. I have no idea how much these things cost but it is probably comparable to monthly rates at a globogym. I just wonder if there is enough room for presses.

I had some guys walk by me the other day while doing squats. The one guy looks at me and says to his buddy, "I never get why you would want to workout your legs, I mean you use them everyday".

[Eric K]

Haha, what an infallible argument.

[MazdaMatt]

True... my arms mostly just hang limp at my sides while I do all my typing and locomotion with my legs. I steer my car with my groin. That's why I bench press.

[Eric K]

Good plan. I'm also glad that I'm not the only one that steers with his groin. The police officer refused to believe me for some reason.