Today's Gym Experience

[ericraven2003]

of the story was not really making fun of his weights, although I do think you have to lift progressively heavier to grow.

The point was about how he was TRYING to look the part, rather than Be the part. Wearing a Batman Costume, doesn't make you batman. If he really wants to be PRO bodybuilder, he doesn't have to dress like the guys in the mag.

Knee straps, gloves, knitted hat, middle of the summer, etc etc. I really don't like making fun of people, but since he approached me, and held a conversation with me, about that, I had to.

I think you can use super sets, drop sets, etc to grow pretty well without having to go to heavy. My knees aren't the best but using other types of sets, allows me to grow nicely without as much knee pain.

 

[PlateStacker45]

of the story was not really making fun of his weights, although I do think you have to lift progressively heavier to grow.

The point was about how he was TRYING to look the part, rather than Be the part. Wearing a Batman Costume, doesn't make you batman. If he really wants to be PRO bodybuilder, he doesn't have to dress like the guys in the mag.

See thats what I don't get about this thread. He was trying to LOOK the part.. as a BodyBuilder. Which again, means nothing about the weight he's using. Myself and my Partner LOOK like large Amatuer Bodybuilders that would place well in a small NPC show. We also both wear Do rags, Bandanas or Headwraps. We also wear boots, wraps/straps. But like I said before, there are many guys using much heavier weight than us.. but not one looks better than us. 3/4 of the "heavy" lifters in our gym look average guys or like they never go to the gym at all.

 

[PlateStacker45]

i see your point...
but grunting and carrying on about a 225lb squat is silly...

If you think the weight you use has nothing to do with size then you will be in disagreement with quite a few of us. Cant imagine having 30inch legs and never going over 225 but I could be wrong.

I'm afraid you are wrong and need to hop off the bandwagon bro. My partner and myself both have good legs with proper Size, Separation, Conditioning and Symmetry. We only go "heavy" every few weeks, but we hardly ever back squat anymore, we front squat instead. I myself never could and never will Backsquat again, I could never do it comfortably. I stick to FrontSquats as far as a main leg movement goes, and use different variations of it often. I'll go heavy (275lbs) on FrontSquats every once in a while and heavy legpress (1500lbs) sometimes. But for the most part, use moderate weight for everything.

 

[witefall]

of the story was not really making fun of his weights, although I do think you have to lift progressively heavier to grow.

The point was about how he was TRYING to look the part, rather than Be the part. Wearing a Batman Costume, doesn't make you batman. If he really wants to be PRO bodybuilder, he doesn't have to dress like the guys in the mag.

Knee straps, gloves, knitted hat, middle of the summer, etc etc. I really don't like making fun of people, but since he approached me, and held a conversation with me, about that, I had to.

I understand where you are coming from. There is a difference b/w shooting for a mag vs. just training. I seriously doubt Dusty gets all oiled up and shirtless to actually train. I see a few of the "full attire" guys in my gym and I'm always of the opinion "hey, whatever floats your boat." I just try not to be THAT guy.

If the guy worked in with you, well you have no choice but to notice the weights and the noise. Usually most guys are self aware enough or have big enough egos to tell you they are going light today for whatever valid reason, just so you know they are holding back. But the grunting and such for a "lighter weight" workout is non-sense.

About a month ago, I was doing LISS cardio after training and a couple of guys were making all kinda noises on a Hammer Incline Press. Nowhere near the cardio area, so yes, loud. A couple of girls on treadmills started copying them and screaming and grunting and overexaggerating the intensity of their brisk walks. I nearly peed myself it was so funny. The guys stopped the noise immediately.

 

[Mike Hunt]

I live in a small town, Hickville, Mississippi, so the gym I go to is really small.

Today I walk in to do legs. I notice there is this guy in the rack, I'm going to workout next to him. He has a skull cap on, sweat shirt, Knee Wraps, Gloves, head phones blaring, workout belt and work boots. He has about three shirts on under the sweatshirt. Not real big, but you can tell he works out.

I on the other hand, no wraps, no gloves, no belt. Just t-shirt, shorts, tennis shoes. No headphones, no hat. Don't look like anything, just trying to look like I work out, when I have my clothes off.

I hear him grunting, and screaming while he is lifting. Grunting to his music.

I do a few warm ups, then I'm ready to go right into my 405 squat. I look over at him, he has two plates on each side of his bar. He's done with his set, then sits down to watch me. I bang out 8 good reps, rack the bar. It feels good, so I do my next set with same amount, 8 good reps again. I finish my last set. Then I have to unload the whole bar, so I can set up to do my Stiff leg deads.

He walks over, starts talking about how he got kicked out his last gym for grunting, and dropping weights. He says "I'm trying to be a Professional bodybuilder, you know?" I say, Yeah OK.

He ask's if he can work in with me, cause he needs to do deads too. I say sure. We do a couple warm up sets, then I put 365 on the bar. Bang out a real good set. He unloads the bar to do a set of 225. I don't say anything, figuring he is still warming up. I do 385. then I finish with one more set.

His highest set on deads is 225, he was squatting 225.

I didn't have the heart to tell him, that you don't have to look the look, you just have to get to the gym and bust your ass.

I really don't have a conclusion to the story, but I really wanted to tell it.!

yeah i dont get it either, you didnt have the heart to tell him hes weaker than you? i think he pretty much figured that out.

 

[Michaelthomasj]

For most people including myself, weight = growth. now there are people who dont require this or induce progressive overload by other means. But lets say you want to get larger as most of us do. now being OCD and impatient as a lot of us are whats the fastest way to do this. Also whats the most efficent way? Is it to induce this overload wiht pre exhausting? 20+ sets with moderate weight per bodypart? I dont believe it is. IMO the right combination of volume and progressive weight is the key. if you can train progressively heavier, safely, and with the right frequency that combination will lead to the best gains. I didnt read every post throughly in this thread but i didnt see anyone making fun of him. If they were thats immature and uncalled for. but in my experience the biggest weights built the biggest guys. Im not trying to be a dick here or argue, just voicing my opinion for discussion.

Yeah I agree. At my heaviest weight (270) I got there because i was always pushing the envelope with poundage. Now i did take a week here and there; to lift lighter andmore volume, but only to let my joints heal. i was constantly pushing the envelope and that was the recipe for my muscle gain.

 

[samiam]

-

 

[Twatta]

Heart

It wasn't that he was lifting lighter weights than me, it was he looked like a total douche bag doing it! A small fitness facility not a hardcore gym. Everybidy wears tshirts and shorts. Not all that crazy crap.

If it was some hardcore gym then I'd probly wouldn't have noticed him!

 

[triathloncoach]

Nice strength on your part

The guy does sound like a tool with his costume et al. Was he natty? You?


I hit the weights pretty heavy, especially for my age. And I get compliments most days in the gym. I'm proud of my work ethic, but then I feel guilty about not being natty.

 

[gettnlarge01]

he could've been working around an injury and lost some size due to that. I know guys that do "cover up" when they are not at their biggest,peak or whatever you want to call it.
or he could be a complete dumbass who knows

 

[JETHRO TULL]

No, man, I get what you are saying.

It wasn't that he was lifting lighter weights than me, it was he looked like a total douche bag doing it! A small fitness facility not a hardcore gym. Everybidy wears tshirts and shorts. Not all that crazy crap.

If it was some hardcore gym then I'd probly wouldn't have noticed him!

Those dipshits who show up at the gym with their friggin' costume on, making a ton of noise so everyone will look at them are TOTALLY ANNOYING.

It would be different if they were actually busting ass and not simply looking for attention.

These are the same fucking pussies who after a half-assed set of dumbell benches with the 100 pounders- drop them on the floor. WTF?! Are you so proud of FINALLY being able to do the 100's that you want everyone in the gym to see you?

I have to laugh. Too weak to set those things down?

When I see other white guys with Do-rags on their heads it makes me smile as well. WTF? Are you a pirate? :banghead:


Careful-Your stiff legged deads are very good. I have never, and I repeat never, used more than 225 on that exercise.

I love stiff deads too. However, that seems like a perilous situation to put yourself in. Ask Garret Downing- He's a pro that was doing those heavy and he totally blew a hamstring. He's done.

 

[STEVO 47]

My solution for avoiding idiots. Work out 5:30 in the morning. Only
problem to this is you have to walk around all the dumbells, plates
and bars that the lazy fucking kids from the night before couldn't
put away. And that goes for that Godsh damn red beach ball that
seems to be everwhere...........

 

[Mike Hunt]

of the story was not really making fun of his weights, although I do think you have to lift progressively heavier to grow.

The point was about how he was TRYING to look the part, rather than Be the part. Wearing a Batman Costume, doesn't make you batman. If he really wants to be PRO bodybuilder, he doesn't have to dress like the guys in the mag.

Knee straps, gloves, knitted hat, middle of the summer, etc etc. I really don't like making fun of people, but since he approached me, and held a conversation with me, about that, I had to.

well the way you say it here sounds different than the original post. to me you focused more on his weight. heavy to some maybe light for others. i remember when i first started out i could barely bench plates on side but some guy would curl my bench weight but i progressively got stronger, bigger and moved up heavier weight, heavier in terms of my lifting ability that is

 

[Mike Hunt]

Those dipshits who show up at the gym with their friggin' costume on, making a ton of noise so everyone will look at them are TOTALLY ANNOYING.

It would be different if they were actually busting ass and not simply looking for attention.

These are the same fucking pussies who after a half-assed set of dumbell benches with the 100 pounders- drop them on the floor. WTF?! Are you so proud of FINALLY being able to do the 100's that you want everyone in the gym to see you?

I have to laugh. Too weak to set those things down?

When I see other white guys with Do-rags on their heads it makes me smile as well. WTF? Are you a pirate? :banghead:


Careful-Your stiff legged deads are very good. I have never, and I repeat never, used more than 225 on that exercise.

I love stiff deads too. However, that seems like a perilous situation to put yourself in. Ask Garret Downing- He's a pro that was doing those heavy and he totally blew a hamstring. He's done.

yep, i agree jethro! 150%, last year i did stiffs with a weight of 315. on my 5th ot 6th rep i felt something pop. it was a slight tear/strain in my left hammie, couldnt do shit for like 4 weeks, literally getting up hurt. it didnt turn purple like most injuires do but i felt it for sure. from then on, over a year now, i only do standing, seat and laying hammies, if i do stiffs ill never go over 135lbs (plates on each side) or more than 65 lbs dbs

the past 3 shows my hammies and my back were my strongest features

goes to show, not everything has to be heavy

 

[JETHRO TULL]

I hear you, Mike.

yep, i agree jethro! 150%, last year i did stiffs with a weight of 315. on my 5th ot 6th rep i felt something pop. it was a slight tear/strain in my left hammie, couldnt do shit for like 4 weeks, literally getting up hurt. it didnt turn purple like most injuires do but i felt it for sure. from then on, over a year now, i only do standing, seat and laying hammies, if i do stiffs ill never go over 135lbs (plates on each side) or more than 65 lbs dbs

the past 3 shows my hammies and my back were my strongest features

goes to show, not everything has to be heavy

I've had to learn those exact lessons a few times myself.