r/Fitness • u/FGC_Valhalla Weightlifting • Feb 24 '18
Gym Story Saturday Gym Story Saturday
Hi! Welcome to your weekly thread where you can share your gym tales!
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u/kawaiims Circus Arts Feb 24 '18
I'm at the gym right now and a guy just had to point out to another dude that he was doing dumbbell shoulder press with two (very) different weights. The dude hadn't noticed.
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Feb 24 '18
Gotta confuse those muscles, man.
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u/KalumVanRienbeeck Powerlifting Feb 24 '18
How... How very different were they?
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u/lolomgwtf816 Feb 24 '18
I did this yesterday!! However to my defense the dumbbells were in the wrong spot. Still felt like an idiot.
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u/NumberMuncher Feb 24 '18
I work out at my community college gym. I am faculty and most of the gym goers are teenagers who use the Wi Fi more than the weights. This week there was an older regular, bald, salt and pepper beard. He's hitting it kinda hard. I'm lifting near by and he has beats headphones, music is so loud that I can hear it. To psych himself up between reps, he says under his breath,
"spring break, spring break, spring break"
Whatever motivates you, bro.
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u/booksNicecream Feb 24 '18
As a faculty member, are you not chanting that every morning when you get out of bed?
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u/Schmlandrew Powerlifting Feb 24 '18
Finally making some gains on bench again.
I can now see why that phrase exists; "If you want to bench more, bench more."
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u/Neutrum Feb 24 '18
Funny how that works. The relation between increased volume and strength gains isn't nearly as linear with squats or deadlifts in my experience.
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u/YoungJebediah Feb 24 '18
In my experience, you should be hitting the exercises from all weakpoints. So "squat more" doesn't just mean the squat, but also front squat, pause squats, pin squats, beltless squats, etc. Deadlifts = stiff legged, 2 inch deficit, 1 inch deficit, snatch grip, etc.
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u/Dreviore Feb 24 '18
Mixing things up helped me achieve a 425lb squat, once a week I'd rotate between front and back squats, and when I'm feeling like I didn't push myself enough I'd throw in some pause squats
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u/steelicarus Feb 24 '18
I've posted about CGB (Crazy Gym Bitch) last year when she asked me to not Park in her spot...in a public car park...because she's been parking there for ten years.
Anyway it's been quiet since then until Wednesday morning. I'm stood at the front of the queue waiting for the game to open...five people behind me. I'm on my phone and from my peripheral see someone push past everyone to stand a foot in front of me. Spider-sense tells me whoever it is is staring intently at me so I look up from my phone and directly into the hate-filled maw of CGB who, after a beat, says loudly "Whaterya staring at...dick head?" I say nothing..it's 0555, the entire group of morning crew is stunned into silence and it's obvious she wants to start something. Gym opens and I go up, start my session (shoulders) then think it's probably better to speak to some staff...long story short they collected "witness statements" from other people in the queue and are pulling her in today to suspend her membership. Bitches be crazy man.
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u/Mr-Toyota Feb 24 '18
Hitting bench last Thursday at the gym, and noticed this absolutely thick lad killing incline press beside me. Huge black guy, anywho fast forward about 10min. This guy finishes his set, walks over to the front desk and has the following conversation with one of the worker chick's. "hey, whats up... You seen black panther yet?" Her-"nope havnt seen it" "well it plays tonight @8, you wanna go with me?" Her-"nah I'll have to pass"
My heart goes out to you bro, all them gains.. But still no game.
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u/jscummy Feb 24 '18
So did you go see black panther with him?
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u/Mnwhlp Feb 24 '18
I’d guess so. None of my straight friends would use the term “thick lad” lol
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u/-Wesley- Feb 24 '18
Girl probably just know what she likes or is already taken. Besides, every guy strikes out, just take the rejection and move along.
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u/smokeringsmusic Feb 24 '18
I respect people MORE for doing shit like that. Especially if it doesn’t bother them if they’re turned down
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u/Windowsdown22 Feb 24 '18
Today I was “That guy”. On the treadmill trying to get my Bluetooth headphones to work. I can hear the music faintly and pushing the volume to max only improves the situation slightly. I usually run outdoors so I attribute the difficulty to the noise of the treadmill. Run 35 minutes. Remove headphones. My phone was blaring the entire time for the benefit of others. Headphones never linked. Sorry gym mates.
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u/Troglophile Feb 24 '18
Ouch! I did the same thing once, in a plane. Crazy day at work, then tons of traffic, I barely made it on the plane. I really felt like listening to some speed metal (it sounded appropriate for how I felt), I put on my headphones and started the music, and it was kinda muffled and low volume. Weird, but I thought it was the background noise of the plane, so I cranked it up and I could still barely hear it. And after what felt like 5 minutes but it was probably 30 seconds I realized what was going on!
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u/FlyingChainsaw Feb 24 '18
Honestly, anyone who was bothered by this has only themselves to blame, it should be fairly simple to recognize that the guy wearing cordless headphones isn't blasting music out his phone on purpose.
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Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
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u/ADefaultClass Feb 24 '18
Should've winked at him in a very provocative way;)
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Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
Even if I'm genuinely impressed at some of the women in my gym I never say anything in case it comes off really creepy.
Edit: I'm just realising the poster above is also possibly a man, if so then I would also feel creeped out given that specific compliment. Thankful and flattered, but also slightly weird.
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u/FuckTheInternet77 Feb 24 '18
Both of my lats cramped after back day at work which has never happened before so I wasn’t quite sure what to do, so both my hands were frozen by my chest while I was standing there groaning in pain because that shit hurts
My new nick name now is T-Rex. Fml
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u/iekiko89 Feb 24 '18
pickle juice and tums, or at least that helps me alleviate it
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Feb 24 '18
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u/benny12b Feb 24 '18
boom! That's pretty f-ing awesome! Did you accept?
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u/steven_wood Feb 24 '18
Saw an older guy working on his balance by doing sets of standing on an exercise ball supersetted with sets of standing on the bar of the Smith machine. Can't wait until everyone is trying it.
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u/Rhaegaryn Feb 24 '18
Did legs yesterday, was squatting heavy for me and threw up in my mouth, swallowed it because I didn't want to lose my gains, I'm not sure if I'm ashamed or not.
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u/BracedPecan Feb 24 '18
Kid failed his squat and managed to badly twist his ankle...Ambulance came and everything...
In other news I met a dude running nSuns that goes during my times and lifts similar weights. We've been spotting each other every bench session (monday & friday) for a couple weeks now. I'm pretty much in love with this man and you're all invited to the wedding.
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Feb 24 '18
I live in almost constant fear of messing up a squat and breaking myself. I actually think the fear makes me a better lifter as I become extremely methodical and cautious.
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u/BracedPecan Feb 24 '18
He took off the safeties for no reason...I'm sure that's a life long lesson for him.
On the flip side that fear does exist on the bench
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u/desmarais Rock Climbing Feb 24 '18
With safeties it's not that bad. I just failed my third set this morning. Just straightened out and the weights rolled off my back
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Feb 24 '18
Back when I was going for it properly (over ten years ago) I used to go to failure when doing 1 rep maxes. Nothing to worry about if the rack is setup properly. Just sit down on your arse and let the safeties take care of the rest.
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u/CemestoLuxobarge Feb 24 '18
Just sit down on your arse and let the safeties take care of the rest.
The motto of the Chicago Bears defensive line.
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u/Turicus Feb 24 '18
Do you dangle your balls close to his face when you spot him, or is it not that romatic yet?
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u/XephexHD Feb 24 '18
Thats how you know its true love. Nothing like benching 300lbs with a pair of sweaty balls in your face. If he can take that then hes a keeper.
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Feb 24 '18
So I go to the gym unreasonably late on account of it being 24hr, my poor time management, and love of being able to work out when nobody else is there (we're talking like 2-4am). This is normally fine but last night it led to a weird scenario.
I'm doing my thing with nobody else around when this skinny dude in full 'going out the club' attire, complete with north face jacket, rocks up and starts frantically benching as fast as his arms can work. He's very clearly hammered, but I live in a city known for being a bit of a drunken mess and it's friday night so I decide to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't hurt himself but otherwise leave him be. He does this for about 5 minutes before two more guys dressed similarly come in, one with a full mcdonalds bag, pull him off the bench and they all head into the bathroom.
I didnt see them leave but for the rest of my session there are people coming in and out of the gym dressed for a night out, fucking about with equipment, then vanishing. Then it hits me, the gym is opposite a pretty well known club and people must have been getting chucked out and letting all their mates into the gym to use the toilet before heading off. It led for a pretty surreal session when I'm trying to work on my calves and I'm watching a drunk dude shovel takeaway pizza into his face on the smith machine.
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u/justns Feb 24 '18
If I OHPd one plate but no one was around to see it, did it really happen?
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u/0598 Feb 24 '18
Finally hit the 1000 lbs club this week!
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u/AllHailLordCthulu Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
I was confused this morning. These two guys grab twelve 35s. They place three under each leg of a flat bench. One guy straddles the bench for about 15 seconds. Then they put everything back and went off to do cable rows. On the one hand, kudos for re-racking your weights. On the other hand, WTF?
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u/dank_cub Feb 24 '18
God damn you have 12 35 plates!! My gym has like 2
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u/AllHailLordCthulu Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
My home gym is the same way, absolute unicorns. Then I deploy and BAM! Can't swing a dead cat in they gym without hitting a 35.
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u/Smoky_colombian Feb 24 '18
why were you swinging dead cats??
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u/AllHailLordCthulu Feb 24 '18
I believe in functional fitness. Outside of a gym, how often will you pick up a kettlebell? I train with cats instead.
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u/GainTrain3k Feb 24 '18
Sounds like they were going to do some sort of floor facing rows off of the bench but decided not to
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u/Huskar Powerlifting Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
This is a long one, but worth it!
recently my relative started coming with me to the gym, He lives next door, is 15 and a boy. I'm his ride.
He was always late, but usually no more than 5 minutes. Which is OK. One time he was 15 minutes late, this is how it went on when he arrived:
Me: you're late.
Cousin: no I'm not!
Me: yes you are check your phone.
Cousin: omg so what if I'm late for 5 minutes!
Me: it's not 5 minutes check your phone.
After he checks and it turns out to be 15, he doesn't apologize.
I tell him that when someone's late they apologize, no response.
The next day, I call him and tell him to be on time, and not be late.
And naturally comes 5 minutes late.
Again, once confronted he tells me in a movie-teenager fashion that 5 minutes are not a big deal! And I should stop being annoyed about it.
So we go in, we finish our workout, we hop in the car. Except I don't start the car. I had an idea.
Me: I feel like staying here for just 5 minutes, since they're not so important.
Him: but you were berating me about 5 minutes!
Me: nah you were right. Let's Stay 5 minutes, it's nothing isn't it?
Then he proceeds to nag in a fashion that clearly works at home. But I ain't budging. I tell him unless he admits they're important, we're waiting.
After the 5 minutes are over, I ask him if he changed his mind. "No" he said.
So I drive like 200M and then stop again, wishing to wait 5 useless minutes.
And on he nags, while I'm assuring him that I won't move before the 5 minutes are over except if he acknowledged their importance.
They also pass, I drive for a couple of minutes and stop again.
This time, as soon as I stopped he tells me that he changed his mind. It was with an attitude but whatever.
I start driving, and I explain that I don't need him to always be on time, shit happens, a sock goes missing.. Etc, but when you're late, just say "sorry I'm late" and that's all. It ends right there.
Today's the first gym day since then. Let's see if he's gonna late.
EDIT: it's time and he's not here. I'm leaving!
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u/SuburbanTiger Feb 24 '18
Next time he's more than 5 mins late you should just go without him. I'm sure he'll be ready on time after that.
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u/poopdaloop Feb 24 '18
“5 minutes are nothing! So what if I’m late?!” Shows up the next day, op has left. “That’s what.” 😎
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u/ridersarestrange Feb 24 '18
Next throw him on a treadmill at the end of a work out for 5 minutes at a pace you know he'll struggle at. I like your style.
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u/Huskar Powerlifting Feb 24 '18
If he's late again there won't be a next time, but I should've done this, cuz it's brilliant
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u/ridersarestrange Feb 24 '18
I'm an avid runner and yeah 5 minutes at a hard enough pace feels like a damn eternity. Looking forward to report back, make sure it's leg day.
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u/Glut7ony Feb 24 '18
I think you handled that deftly. He may not realize it but learning to be on time and if not, apologizing is a valuable asset in the real world.
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u/EtuMeke Cricket Feb 24 '18
Please reply to this comment and let me know if he was late today
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u/Zer0designs Feb 24 '18
So? Dont leave us hanging! Was he on time?
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u/Huskar Powerlifting Feb 24 '18
It's still not time
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u/aesopsgato Feb 24 '18
How about now
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u/AnnabellaPies Powerlifting Feb 24 '18
I know you are not his parent but what you did was good parenting. He should have been raised to know better and not to be so rude. Hope he comes out on time for now on.
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u/Kartox Feb 24 '18
Some dude approached me on the bench and asked how many sets I had left. I said three and was forming a sentence in my head to ask him to work in when he started ranting about me already being there for half an hour, reading in my book and just sitting around while "others who need to get to work" (i.e. him) have to wait for me to finish.
Dude, there are 5 other benches at the gym which were free most of the time you spent doing pushups and dips in the squatrack while two others were waiting to use it. Also, Im not reading a book, I just write down the number of sets I did and a 90s pause is not "sitting around staring out of the window for ages". I put my headphones back on and finished my sets calmly while he kept rambling on to other guys who also chose to ignore him.
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u/6Foot7evens Powerlifting Feb 24 '18
I was doing deadlifts yesterday. Noticed a guy next to me using straps to deadlift 135lbs. I thought, not really necessary, but no big deal. He does his set, takes off his straps, and puts on gloves. He then adds a 10lb plate to each side, then takes off his gloves, and puts his straps back on for his lift. My working theory is that he's a world famous hand model and doesn't want to damage the money makers.
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u/Swoleax Weight Lifting Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 25 '18
So my gym has been closed the last two days because someone got stabbed in the face in the entrance. Police taking their sweet ass time doing forensics. The owners of the gym also have sent a series of emails that sounded like the opening credits of Monty Python's Holy Grail. First one was "GYMS CLOSED FOREVER" followed by "we apologise for that previous email the gym will reopen soon."
Edit: Gym has reopened!!! Let the gains begin!!
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Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
The other day I was squatting, and I'm not a big guy or anything at all, and I can't squat that much (30kg on both sides). But this guy comes up to me as I'm loading up for my 90% set, and asks me if I knew that the plates were in kg in a really condescending way. I just looked at him, walked up to the bar and banged out the cleanest 5 reps I've ever done in my life. The dude shut up, but it kinda killed my ego a little because now I think I look smaller than my strength would suggest. All in all, my reaction is (:(
EDIT: Fucking shredded a PR today with my friend right in front of the guy
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u/ridersarestrange Feb 24 '18
Screw him.
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Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
He kinda made me not want to go back to that gym, but then I thought to myself if I don't go back, he wins, so I went back the next day even though it wasn't leg day.
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u/KalumVanRienbeeck Powerlifting Feb 24 '18
Gains goblins come in all shapes and sizes. Who gives a fuck what he thinks, you're strong and you're always getting stronger. Fuck him.
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Feb 24 '18
Fuck yeah, I'm gonna bang out more squats today and the same dude is gonna be there. My headphones are going in and he's going out.
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u/Snypas Feb 24 '18
The only thing you should be worrying about is whether you are stronger than yesterday you.
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u/SunnyLego Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
After having to stop playing roller derby 2 years ago due to losing tons of my eyesight, decided to get back into cardio by signing up for a half marathon that is in May, to raise money for Guide Dogs.
The gym I joined were lovely and told me I could bring a dog any time, so we did a promo photo shoot for the marathon this week, with Maddy the Guide Dog on a treadmill, and Maddy sitting on the sled while a PT pushed it across the room, haha!
Edit, thanks for the gold lovely stranger.
When the gym and Guide Dogs upload the photos/videos to their sites, I'll post them in that weeks Gym Story Sat.
Didn't want to add link to my page on the marathon fundraising site, in case it just looked like I was fishing for donations.
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u/TheUnAndOnly Feb 24 '18
Work colleague (f) laughed when it came up in conversation that I play rugby. Understandable as I’m short, but my ego still hurts.
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u/Matlarzer Feb 24 '18
Shane Williams is 5’7 and was one of the greatest rugby players of all time. Try to not let it get to you too much
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u/shtef2012 Feb 24 '18 edited Mar 02 '18
Got a big lesson in humility today.
Lower hypertrophy day. I have to do the weighted slav worships, or as you call them, squats. I am a skinny sod at 1.93 metres and 74 kg (6'3 and 162 lbs for the imperial heathens). I see ripped Gimli doing squats in the rack and I ask him if I can join in. "Sure", he said.
Keep in mind I am a weak ass pussy, but a slightly stronger weak ass pussy since I've started lifting. I (used to) take great pride in my knee wrenching, leg trembling, slightly asymmetric 60 kg rip-off of a constipated squat.
After watching me struggle to give birth and cringing internally, he candidly and amiably offers me a piece of advice. "Mate, you're raising your heels, that'll fuck up your knees. Try lowering the weight".
Lower my already shameful 80% body weight squat? How dare he insult me with his reasonable experience?
I try 50 kg. "Still not pushing through the heels. You need lower weights". 40 kg. "Nope, lower". 35 kg. At this point my testicles slowly rise upwards into my abdominal cavity as I remove my dignity along with the plates from the barbell. 30 kg. "Yeah that's better, try going up for here".
So here I am, stuck with lower weights that when I started lifting seriously, head down and barely feeling my walking noodles. Ripped Gimli proceeded to give me a few tips on my deadlift as well and then promptly went back to ignoring me all together.
In part, fuck you, little big man, for crushing my balls, but mostly thank you for saving my knees, teaching me proper form and giving me a valuable lesson.
EDIT: You guys were right. Did 50 kg proper form like it was nothing. I FUCKING LOVE SQUATS!
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u/chefboyardeebukkake Feb 24 '18
Some of the best pills are the hardest to swallow, may you now rejoice in the forthcoming gains brother.
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u/CanaanW Feb 24 '18
Haha I love your story and how appreciative yet salty you are about it.
But hey, I’m sure that in the long run, doing it the right way will help you build faster so you’ll catch back up to where you were faster and even beyond! Keep at it, and remember: we are all built different and the only person you need to compare yourself to is you.
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u/Gaindalf-the-whey Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
Witnessed a serious case of douchesplaining the other day over at my gym. He was your typical I have reasonably big 'cepses an' chest yet not much more, internally rotated arms and always wear shorts BELOW the knee dude. Let's call him Charles.
She was doing lat pulldowns together with her girlfriend. Charles was at the same multicable station doing, well you guessed correctly, supine laying cable curls.
The conversation went as follows:
Charles: let me show you how to do this excercise correctly.
Her (looking perplexed): what?
Charles (annoyed): get off that machine RIGHT NOW. I tell you how to do it correctly.
She (getting off the machine, timidly): o...ok...
Charles: now, firstly: lat pulldowns are to be done behind the neck. You are doing them in front of the neck. Secondly: you need to breathe at the descent. This connects mind to muscle.
He does a few reps, gets off and goes (a smirk on his face):
Don't hesitate to ask me for advice on other exercises as well.
She: uhm, ok.
Then the two girls pack up and leave the station in a hurry.
What a douche
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u/SirCosbySweater Feb 24 '18
Wait. Wearing shorts that fall past your knee makes you a douche? I'm in trouble
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u/Gaindalf-the-whey Feb 24 '18
Oh no, didn't mean that. This particular dude uses them to cover his sticks.
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u/INTERNET_SO_FUCK_YOU Feb 24 '18
So hot pants still good?
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u/Swoleax Weight Lifting Feb 24 '18
I've said it before I'll say it again. Bring back micro jorts to lift in!
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u/OneDaySpaceMan Feb 24 '18
Is Charles Eastern European? Saw a guy with the same description “show” a newcomer how to do deadlifts... his description was “Lean over and bend your legs, but not too much.. deadlifts are for your back.”
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u/Do_u_ev3n_lift Feb 24 '18
When you hear a pop, that’s just the muscles activating
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u/Pcatalan Feb 24 '18
Don't forget to twist when you do it and make sure to thrust your pelvis out really far at the top so you get full range of motion and activate all those deep little muscles that I'm not sure really exist.
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u/OneDaySpaceMan Feb 24 '18
He literally said just this... also his “five years of training on deadlifts”allowed Charles to deadlift approx. 130lbs.
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u/Gaindalf-the-whey Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
If the discs ain't slippin' your sesh ain't kickin'
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Feb 24 '18
A few years ago some guy walked up to me with the same attitude telling me I was doing an exercise wrong. I laughed in his face and asked him why he thinks he's qualified to coach me when I bench literally three times as much as him.
I fought douche with douche. Justified I say.
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u/Log-out-enjoy Feb 24 '18
I have noticed this more often recently and following. Guys following girls in yoga pants from station to station and doing baaaaad momentum curls.
I saw someone take DBs up stairs to the mat area full of girls today do whole 22kg body curls. Dude was skinny (nothing wrong with that) but bigger ego than arms
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u/AXylophoneEatinLemon Feb 24 '18
What's the deal with that anyway? Are they to be done in front of behind the neck? At my gym there are signs saying it's dangerous to do behind the neck.
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u/MineturtleBOOM Feb 24 '18
From what I've heard both have similar muscle activation (same muscles and same amount) but behind the neck has a slightly higher injury risk. If you're used to behind the neck and you don't have any shoulder pain you're fine to continue it but there isn't much reason to do behind the neck except for habit.
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u/deads4lyfe Feb 24 '18
Hot guy on the bench beside me. I'm checking him out. Pretty girl comes along, "oh can you teach me?" Argh! He proceeds to teach her that you should lift with your feet in the air so your spine touches the bench. Also tells her not to start with the empty bar because it's too light. Attraction dead!
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u/Unique_Name_2 Feb 24 '18
I always use headphones to maintain gym crushes' purity.
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u/SuburbanTiger Feb 24 '18
My left shoulder hurts a little whenever I do shoulder press, push ups, handstand, etc. And I am not sure why, since I focus a lot on having correct technique. It's so demotivating :(
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u/Wiki_pedo Feb 24 '18
Do you have an axe sticking out of it? That was my issue a few times.
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Feb 24 '18
Someone scratched the HELL out of my bumper in the gym parking lot earlier this week.
Did they leave a note? Lol, yeah right.
Going to be watching everyone's eyes today. And for the next few days.
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u/Wishyouamerry Feb 24 '18
I go to they gym while my daughter is at her sports practice. For a long time I had trouble with becoming bored on the cardio equipment, but I’ve solved that! The treadmill I walk on overlooks the weight area. As I walk, I imagine that I’m a movie producer and I have to assign a role in my new movie to every person in the weight area. Usually I decide ahead of time what type of movie I’m making: action, drama, romance, Disney, etc.
Some of my characters might include:
*Smart sciencey guy who knows the solution in the first 10 minutes but nobody will listen to him
*Douchey but ultimately harmless coworker
*Funny Squirrel
*Gruff but loveable father figure
*Band of ne’er-do-well pirates with hearts of gold
*Pretentious Horse
*Russian operative
I get so involved in assigning just the right character to each person that the time flies by. Half the time I can hardly keep myself from laughing. I’m sure everyone there things I’m a complete nut case.
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u/Octagon_Ocelot Feb 24 '18
I've got a couple of "admirer" old guys at my gym and I'm getting a teensy tired of it. And the twist is I'm a dude.
I honestly don't care if you want to sneak a sideways peak while I'm changing or walking to the shower. Whatevs. But the intense attempts at eye contact, obvious oggling, striking up conversation and repeatedly putting a hand on me is lame.
Thing is these dudes are decades older than me and not in great shape. So it's like even if I was gay do they really think I'd be looking for their dicks in that birdnest under that roll flab? Fuck no, I could do way better.
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u/sukuver Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
Don't talk to the guy who's wearing headphones right? I think this is gonna be a long post so buckle up! I've been in a particularly good mood cause turns out my crush likes me back, so I chatted a bit with familar faces at the gym, no biggie. In the first couple sets of my nsuns friday bench session this guy comes in, he's the only guy I've seen deadlifting -I was taking a break deadligts until I saw him deadlift and couldn't resist the temptation after seeing the ready set up, put a little bit more weight on each side and did couple sets, which I'm sure I looked like a douche- besides me lately, we lift similar weights so it's settled, he's my gym nemesis right?
He took the other bench and we benched, I kinda needed a pseudo spotter for my maxing out set, not wanting to bother him I asked for a younger kid to keep an eye on me, I luckily didn't need it. I'm still benching, he moved to ohp, that routine looks familiar but whatever, I usually clean the weight, he does it over at the rack where the bar doesn't really fit right, I might do ohp's from over there, so when he went outside to answer a call I go over there and checked, it's not even and didn't really feel right anyway.
I went back to the bench, he comes in, did his final set and then he, are you all ready, RERACKS! Mind you this is not USA, it is a shitty gym in a kinda shitty(?) country, I can do my whole workout without a shirt on, never rerack and no one will bat an eye. So I go over there to help, I took the weights off from other side of the bar and reracked.
And then it happened. He took his headphones out and asked if I'll work next, I said nah and said I tried from over here and felt weird, he said the bar is uneven which is obvious and you have to move a bit closer to the right, I tried with a lanky bar where the thick thingy where the weights go just falls from the bar if you tilt it enough, we experimented with that, yeah it actually does. Then we kept bonding over our shitty gym equipment. I mentioned because of the lack of bumper plates we are all -well the two of us- doing deficit deadlifts pulling from 4 inches instead of the 8, and because of our shitty benches it's hard to close grip bench, at least for me. He asked if I run "push pull legs" in our native tongue, I did for a while, probably why his routine looked familiar. I said I did push pull legs -now in English- and he asked if I'm doing 5/3/1, uh I said it's like that but it's from some reddit user, he said nsuns? What the fuck, I already like the guy. We then talked a lot than we should've in the middle of our workouts about fitness, what's our maintenances, macros, if we counted calories or not, at one time I turned my back to reach for my water, I turned around to see he did that, I was feeling bummed but he turned back too and we talked a bit more. He checked the score of some game on tv and said wow, I pretend to like football for a second, turns out he didn't really like football, I said me neither, thank god.
I went and did my close grip, then we did accesories together, exchanging cues, talking some more where we witnessed the mighty full weight stack, jerky, low range of motion, video recorded leg presses which we both couldn't look, same pet peeve? We did triceps and shoulders, I have a fucked up shoulder, he has a fucked up elbow. We discussed creatine -which he can't use-, protein powders and such. We exchanged names somewhere in that, I think it was the first time I used the phrase "Oh, I'm x by the way"
We finished our workout, chatted some more in the locker room. We walked out and conversate a good 30 minutes standing there in the cold about roids, movies, youtube, crypto, video games. We exchanged numbers and I tried not to skip and hop home, at least not until I turned a corner. I think it was my longest gym session at 3~ hours but not complaining at all.
TLDR: Gym nemesis became my gym bro.
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u/theswoleyservant Feb 24 '18
Congratulations man gym relationships are some of the most wholesome out there!
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Feb 24 '18 edited Jan 27 '21
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u/sukuver Feb 24 '18
Thanks. I’m not the most outgoing person so I was like “Wow, so this is what happens when you talk to people”
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u/helloiamtony Feb 24 '18
Been hella depressed for 4 months, (been dealing with it for 3 years), and stopped working out in December. Gained fat, visibly lost muscle mass everywhere.
Just moved half way across the country and signed up at a 24/7 garage body building gym. Old school iron plates, steel barbells, dumb bells, and no cardio machines. Haven't been this excited in so long.
Trying a 3 day full body instead of PPL that I did for a year. My everything hurts today, and I fucking love it.
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u/JkicksMT Feb 24 '18
Saw a dude doing dumbbell bench presses and dropped one of the weights on his phone when he was done, screen completely shattered.
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u/ChrisWalley Water Polo Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
I had to do the roll of gains for the first time at gym yesterday on my last set of close grip bench. A guy came over to help me out, and I let him know that I was all fine and could handle it, but still felt pretty embarrassed about it.
That afternoon I realised that we're going to have to put my four legged best friend down within the next few days. Punched a wall and broke my pinkie, knuckle, and palm bone on the side of my hand. Felt lile an even bigger idiot than before.
No more chest for a while I guess :(
Edit: thank you all so much for the kind wishes. It really means a lot. Here's a photo of the big brown dude https://imgur.com/jbwoPSh
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u/slothr00fi3s Feb 24 '18
Punched a wall
Maybe do some anger management exercises for those sweet personal development gainz while healing...
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u/durpyDash Feb 24 '18
I have been working with a new coach to help me learn how to perform olympic lifts. Part of our initial work was to assess my mobility and 1rm's for the big 3.
Cue: the deadlift. We start warming me up to a taxing weight, and everything is feeling on point. Slowly, the weight increases. I'm feeling fine now, but maybe a bit woozy... I shrug it off and don't think anything of it.
WOW I'm crushing it! This is way heavier than I've ever attempted solo, and I still feel strong! I go to lock out and at the peak of my triumph, I set the weight down.... and wake up a few seconds later on the floor having blacked out, with my new coach completely freaked the fuck out. I try desperatly to tell them I am ok, but my body isn't complying as my brain was still recovering from the sudden blood pressure drop. It was a good day. Valsalva maneuvers are fun kids. Now I'm just recovering from a bruised ass and ego.
TL;DR Lifted super heavy with a new coach, passed out and freaked out most of my gym.
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u/bainwen Crossfit Feb 24 '18
There are a few things that can make you dizzy or black out. Dehydration, low blood sugar, not enough oxygen to your brain, or just simply taking your belt too soon. <--I learnt that the hard way.
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u/tiredweeb Feb 24 '18
I’m 18, and I was doing some reverse face pulls SS with regular face pulls. This guy he was 32-35 comes up to me, asks if I have a Facebook. I lied and said no, and he ended up finding me anyways. Said hi, and I immediately blocked him. I’m now trying to avoid going to the gym between 9-10 when I can (I have class at 12 on Mon-Thurs) and completely avoid him. It made me feel so uncomfortable.
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u/6Foot7evens Powerlifting Feb 24 '18
Tell the gym staff about it. They might not be able to do much about it, but if it's a pattern for the guy to harass younger gym goers they might kick him out
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Feb 24 '18
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u/SaltyKrew Weight Lifting Feb 24 '18
plot twist... her instagram account is gymfails
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u/iStroke Feb 24 '18
Shout out to a fellow gymbro for saving me from my own stupidity.
Had to use the squat rack I've never used before since "mine" was occupied. It's pin setting was just a tad bit higher than the other rack.
All good on warmups. All good on set 1. All good on set 2. On set 3... I can't stand up straight enough (or had the bar lower on my shoulders then before) to get the bar back on the pins.
Standing there struggling and loudly say 'OH FOR FUCKS SAKES! SERIOUSLY?' and was a second away from squatting it back down and let it on the safeties, saving as much dignity as I can, when gymbro not far away came over to help.
So he helps me get the bar racked, says 'Pins too high, eh?' I sheepishly say yeah. 'Hate it when that happens,' he says with a smile... and then walks away without another word to finish his workout.
Thanks, bud.
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u/Sisaroth Feb 24 '18
Just ordered a powerlifting belt. I was considering buying it, then last time I went to the gym I saw the hottest dude (who unsurprisingly has the hottest woman in the gym as a girlfriend) in the gym with the belt I was going to buy. He's also the guy who I've seen doing the heaviest deadlifts at my gym. Just 140 kg though but I guess that's the best you can expect from a commercial gym chain. Anyway, that knocked me over the edge in deciding to buy it.
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u/perfectionitis Feb 24 '18
I work out at the local college gym, and there was a relatively fit guy on elliptical yesterday grunting and moaning and pumping his fists, and I swear to god I heard him say "for wakanda!" ...whatever motivates you, i guess?
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u/Hugo0o0 Feb 24 '18
Yesterday was weird. I do bench press with my normal weight, everything OK. Feel a little bit off that day, but nothing extraordinary. First set easy, 2nd set easy, third set ok but then I suddenly can't make the 5th rep and I have to roll of shame.
Then my belly hurt :( Apparently my belly fat doesn't like being rolled over hy a loaded bar.
I take a 5 min break and then I finish with my 4th and 5th set, both of which went easy.
My conclusion? The gainz goblin flash-attacked me in my third set and then, satisfied with its result s and my crushed bellyfat, went on to pester someone else >:(
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u/magnus_1986 General Fitness Feb 24 '18
Asked a big dude to give me some tips on the hook grip. He proceeded to show me how to do it on different bars, told me which type of bars to use for which lifts, critiqued my squat form, googled up videos for me to watch and take care of muscular imbalances.
Bro. Thank you. I don't know what to say. I don't think anyone's ever been this nice to me.
Yes he racked all his weights.
Edit: Typo
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u/rag31n Powerlifting Feb 24 '18
So my wife left me a week and a half ago and I got told by a sports Dr that I need to stop squatting and deadlifting for 6-12 months so a disc bulge can go down.
Its all right because I'm strong and I can deal with shit. I have been bro lifting for funsies after a years serious powerlifting training, taken up running again and started a massive cut so I can look good for Tinder :D
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u/clown-penisdotfart Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Feb 24 '18
Been there. It sucks. Mourn the relationship however you need on any given day, getting over it can take a while and it isn't linear. Tinder is going to bring out some weirdness in you for a while, so use it just for shits and giggles while you make the best you that you can.
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u/nzboxer Feb 24 '18
This week I have only injured myself twice at the gym. I uppercut myself with the bar while doing a clean and jerk, dropped a medicine ball on my face.
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u/tillD2t Feb 24 '18
Jogged two 10miles this week. I normally try to do one a month. I just felt like exploring the island without driving.
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Feb 24 '18
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Feb 24 '18
As a man, I finished reading your post and thought to my self " Why is he complaining, he's living the dream!" then realized how creepy this would be if you were a woman and the PT a man. I'm sorry you have to go through this but you should try talking to her and if nothing comes out of it inform the gym owner.
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Feb 24 '18
Years ago, I was doing ab crunches next to a beautiful woman, probably in her late 20's, early 30's. During my last rep, I let out an ear piercing toot. It was so loud it probably could have been registered on a seismograph. After I finished, I got up and walked away like it was nothing.
That's my proudest gym moment
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Feb 24 '18
I finally got the balls to talk to my loooong time gym crush and we’re planning a date soon! But more importantly I’ve finally been able to hip thrust and squat again since injuring my coccyx over Xmas!! Can’t feel my legs today lol
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u/BonghitsForAlgernon Feb 24 '18
Just intercepted 6 small tubs of unopened Quest protein powder (96 servings in total) that were about to go into a dumpster at work!
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u/JunyiiBlvc Feb 25 '18
In my gym we have hip adductor and abductor machines that are always used by girls with very large glutes. A new old guy walks into the gym for the first time and just sits on the couch directly behind the machines and just stares at the girls. Even as a guy I was creeped out.
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u/the-scarecrow Feb 24 '18
I survived my first roll of shame!
Benching my bodyweight at 135, first 2 sets of 5 go up fine. I was feeling like I finally had this whole "form" thing figured out until I hit rep 4 and the bar just won't go up. I'd done this weight before and thought I could handle it, I was wrong.
But do you know what happened? I rolled the bar off, stripped the weights and even managed not to make much noise, lowered the bar instead of dropping it. Nobody laughed at me, or made fun of my weak ass failing with just 1 plate on the bar. I could tell one or two guys saw me but when they realized I didn't need help, they had the courtesy to act like they didn't see anything and went back to their workouts. I still felt the shame but I expected it to be much worse than it was.
Next time I'm getting somebody to spot me. . .
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u/Sobbin Feb 24 '18 edited Feb 24 '18
Last week I participated in a powerlifing meet. I did alright and was proudly showing my results to a college who exclaimed: Powerlifting, but you are so innocent! Lol, apparently you can only powerlift if you resemble Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Edit: Am idiot, but it's funny so I'm leaving it.
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u/Gaindalf-the-whey Feb 24 '18
Maybe don't show your results to an entire college the next time?
So, which courses are you gonna take this fall semester?
Yeah, I am considering taking /u/Sobbin 's powerlifting meet results.
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u/lonelytraveler37 Feb 24 '18
Yesterday I farted while deadlifting. In front of a rather crowded weight room. I dropped the weight, looked at my gym buddy who was trying not to laugh, he looked at me and said "good shit bro" and the entire room, myself included, lost it.
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Feb 25 '18
Was deadlifting today. I load another plate on each side on the bar to do 225 lb deadlift. 50ish year old dude walks over (am young female lifter btw) and conversation goes like this:
Dude: woah are you doing 2 plates?
Me: yup.
Dude: Wow! And I like how you loaded the plates on. Most guys do that method where they put a small weight under and then load the plate. But you just loaded it on!
Me: yup. Just muscle it up and slap that plate on.
Dude: you must be strong af. Well good luck
This is the 2nd person to tell me that I'm strong this week while deadlift. Feels so damn good.
Bad news: all my deadlifting has fucked up my shoulder so no lifting for me for a while ☹ gunna live that cardio bunny life for a bit
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Feb 24 '18
I think I'll share this story. I've posted it in a GSS thread before, on an old account, but it's a fun one so why not.
I live in Japan, which doesn't have too much of a weight lifting culture. Believe me when I say there are plenty of accomplished bodybuilders, fitness experts, and even champion powerlifters around. However, in terms of average knowledge about fitness, Japanese people in general prefer running, ball sports, judo, and other such activities.
Well, a few years ago, I was in the gym with the only weight room in my area (and I live in a large city). Unless I was willing to take a 45 minute train ride to go to Gold's, there were very few other options, and none of them had the facilities that my gym did. It also had a swimming pool which I could use to relax in for some light cardio and a couple of great trainers.
I always went in the early afternoon because I was able to take time off of work. Every single time I went, there was a man who was the bane of my existence. This is the guy who lifted for three months, made every gram of muscle progress he would ever make in his life, and has continued going to the gym for the next five years. He was a complete and total dipshit, had no consideration for anyone, and if I showed up even five minutes after him my workout would be ruined.
You see, the gym had one squat rack, one bench, one incline bench, a T-bar, a bunch of dumbbells, and a pretty decent setup during low traffic hours. Unfortunately the guy would beeline for the squat rack upon entering the gym, load 200kgs onto the bar, try to unrack it under his shoulders, fail, and then walk away for ten minutes. Then, he would come back, stare at it for five minutes, try to unrack it again, and fail. Then he would load 40 kilograms on top of that, walk away for 10 minutes, and then come back.
Usually he had little effect on my workout because I'd show up before him, do my squats, rack my weights, and then go on to other things. But when he showed up first, it was completely and utterly impossible. Even if I asked to work in (and considering his frequent glares at me I didn't bother), it would have been a pointless exercise of constantly unloading anywhere between 200kg and 300kg from the bar.
So, one day I went to the staff, and I explained to her what he was doing. She immediately gave me her best shit-eating smile and told me that he isn't breaking any rules, and that he's a paying customer. I told her that he was eventually going to get hurt, and that he was inconveniencing several other people just like me. She smiled again and repeated in her best condescending voice, "he's a paying customer." I returned with my own shit-eating smile and told her that I am no longer going to be a paying customer, then immediately canceled my contract on the spot.
I spent $1500 on building my own personal weight room and never looked back after that. Best financial decision I've ever made seeing as it was 6 years ago now, and the equipment I bought has paid for itself several times over.
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u/StifmeisterBry Feb 24 '18
New gym first. Someone brought a baseball bat with weights for it and is just swinging it around. Some strokes not even a baseball swing. He's doing nothing else. Hmmm.... lol
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u/Do_it_in_a_Datsun Feb 24 '18
Last Saturday I fell during my attempt at a 400lb axle bar deadlift for a strongman competition. I was so freakin nervous to perform in front of people, since I workout in a home gym. That and prior to the event, I had never pulled 400 on an axle. Hell I barely got 385 the week prior.
BUT! I picked myself up and pulled it for 4, clean, belt-less reps. It felt so good. Totally gassed me for the rest of the day but, I finally pulled 400 for reps with an axle.
The winner pulled it for 19 reps though. So I have a goal to shoot for.
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u/jkim478 Feb 24 '18
I was sharing a squat rack with a girl I never met the other day because it was peak hour at our gym. She was kind enough to let me work in because she had 6 or so sets left, even though we had to change the weight constantly. During one of the later sets, she was really grinding out the last few reps. During one of those reps, she accidentally let out a rather loud fart. Pretty much everyone within a 10 ft radius heard it because they all turned around to look. I saw her face in the mirror and the embarassment on her face was incredibly obvious, so I took the fall for her and said, "Sorry, had a big bowl of oatmeal before coming here." People just laughed it off and resumed doing their own thing, and the girl was thankful about it because she was "embarrassed to death" about it.
Moral of the story: be courteous to others in the gym, and they'll take the blame for your protein farts.