Overheard in the gym - Share!

[SevenofSeven]

Had a young guy come over tonight and ask me a heap of questions on lifting. Felt well chuffed, that he actually came over, introduced himself and then asked 20 questions before drawing another breath!

Went through my lifting log with him and set him on the path to Stronglifts and Starting Strength.

Hopefully he'll be back.

[Sam Ashen]

^^I think it's enough if somebody just asks me for a spot.

 

Um.  Basic question:  If spotting somebody doing dumbell bench press, is the correct place the elbow or the weight?  I am thinking just a little bit at the elbow is enough.  He's got the rest.

 

If it is a bar, then ultimately I can grab the bar and pick it up, but if it is dumbells, then I suppose I can ultimately grab the wrists.  Just a little confused and don't want to feel like an idiot the next time around.

[Cat in the rack]

^^I think it's enough if somebody just asks me for a spot.

 

Um.  Basic question:  If spotting somebody doing dumbell bench press, is the correct place the elbow or the weight?  I am thinking just a little bit at the elbow is enough.  He's got the rest.

 

If it is a bar, then ultimately I can grab the bar and pick it up, but if it is dumbells, then I suppose I can ultimately grab the wrists.  Just a little confused and don't want to feel like an idiot the next time around.

Do people need a spot for dumbbell press? Surely once the dumbbells are up if they can't handle the weight they can just drop them to the sides?

"If you laugh before breakfast, you'll cry before supper."

What's this supposed to mean?

[Oramac]

^^I think it's enough if somebody just asks me for a spot.

 

Um.  Basic question:  If spotting somebody doing dumbell bench press, is the correct place the elbow or the weight?  I am thinking just a little bit at the elbow is enough.  He's got the rest.

 

If it is a bar, then ultimately I can grab the bar and pick it up, but if it is dumbells, then I suppose I can ultimately grab the wrists.  Just a little confused and don't want to feel like an idiot the next time around.

 

AFAIK, the proper place is the elbows.  Grabbing the wrists just sounds like a bad idea to me.  That said, if someone really can't do a DB bench rep, dropping the weights is a viable option too.  (just not on themselves!)

[Silo]

this can be avoided with intermittent fasting 

 

She's coming over this weekend and I am going to tell her this to see what she says.

 

 

What's this supposed to mean?

 

That's a mystery that has not yet been solved. I guess it is an old saying but I cannot figure out exactly what it means. She usually used it when she thought we were being too silly. It just made us laugh harder, though, and then she would end up laughing too.

[Machete]

^^I think it's enough if somebody just asks me for a spot.

 

Um.  Basic question:  If spotting somebody doing dumbell bench press, is the correct place the elbow or the weight?  I am thinking just a little bit at the elbow is enough.  He's got the rest.

 

If it is a bar, then ultimately I can grab the bar and pick it up, but if it is dumbells, then I suppose I can ultimately grab the wrists.  Just a little confused and don't want to feel like an idiot the next time around.

 

Wrist or the weights themselves, as per NSCA recommendations.

[matty_mcfly]

Do people need a spot for dumbbell press? Surely once the dumbbells are up if they can't handle the weight they can just drop them to the sides?

Usually spots for dumbbell work is a little less about safety and more so about helping grind through a few of the finals reps to get more volume and more of a pump.

[summer child]

Usually spots for dumbbell work is a little less about safety and more so about helping grind through a few of the finals reps to get more volume and more of a pump.

True, but it is allways nice to have someone to stop you from smashing your face.

[matty_mcfly]

True, but it is allways nice to have someone to stop you from smashing your face.

Lol yes, this is also true

[Oramac]

True, but it is allways nice to have someone to stop you from smashing your face.

 

Haha.  Yes. My face isn't the prettiest, but I still prefer not to smash it if I can help it.  

[Machete]

Exactly. Everyone is being looked at for different reasons. Some chick might be looked at for showing off her ass in borderline hipsters, some huge dude might be looked at for his size, some other person for his clothing in general, I get looked at because I'm not the monk-in-morphine kind of trainer etc.

 

I like to wear short shorts because they're comfortable. I have a lot of hair hanging out down there because I never trim. People probably stare because pubes. I continue to do so because I find it humorous. I've also gone in yoga pants (bulge proved less of a problem than expected), because why should females have all the fun?

[Sam Ashen]

Wrist or the weights themselves, as per NSCA recommendations.

 

NSCA made me think of this:

 

Gentlepersons of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and

whoever may be concerned:

This letter shall serve as my formal relinquishment of my Certified Strength and

Conditioning Specialist credential. I was in the first group to test for the CSCS in

1985, and was among the minority of applicants to pass the exam and be granted

the credential, which I was proud to hold for many years.

However, the NSCA has apparently taken a different direction from the one with

which I so closely identified 23 years ago. My professional emphasis has remained

on the improvement of strength and conditioning, while that of the NSCA has

apparently changed. Its professional publications are quite thoroughly reflective of

a shift in emphasis to physical therapy and athletic training, while failing, in my

opinion, to address the actual processes by which athletes are made more strong

and conditioned,and further, in my opinion, failing to meet the minimum standards

for a quality scientific publication.

Its internal administrative problems are legend. It has dealt with me in an

unsatisfactory manner regarding its professional insurance. It no longer serves my

best professional interest to be associated with the NSCA or the NSCA

Certification Commission.

Therefore, I am formally relinquishing my CSCS credential, which I shall no

longer use in any subsequent professional reference or capacity. Furthermore, I

withdraw permission from The National Strength and Conditioning Association

and the NSCA Certification Commission to list me as a Certified Strength and

Conditioning Specialist in any publications or online materials that may be

published subsequent to the receipt of this letter.

Sincerely,

(signed)

Mark Rippetoe

 

AFAIK, the proper place is the elbows.  Grabbing the wrists just sounds like a bad idea to me.  That said, if someone really can't do a DB bench rep, dropping the weights is a viable option too.  (just not on themselves!)

 

Two opposite opinions.

 

Do people need a spot for dumbbell press? Surely once the dumbbells are up if they can't handle the weight they can just drop them to the sides?

 

Completing the rep with help is better than not completing the rep and dropping the weight to the floor.

 

Usually spots for dumbbell work is a little less about safety and more so about helping grind through a few of the finals reps to get more volume and more of a pump.

 

What Matty just said.

 

True, but it is allways nice to have someone to stop you from smashing your face.

 

How this is physically possible is beyond me.  This coming from somebody who somehow managed to ring himself an Honorary Darwin Award Qualifier doing deadlifts and I have no idea how I physically managed that one.

[insanity]

How this is physically possible is beyond me.  This coming from somebody who somehow managed to ring himself an Honorary Darwin Award Qualifier doing deadlifts and I have no idea how I physically managed that one.

To smash your face with a dumb bell? Do a dumbell bench press, lift to failure, then when your arm finally gives, and bends at the elbow, the dumbell will proceed to your face... or shoulder in my case...

[Cat in the rack]

Speaking of injuring yourself doing an exercise out of stupidity, I recently tried inverse crunches (hanging from the bar by your legs) using the pull up bar in my room. Turns out your legs can get stuck until you get them loose and plummet to the ground, I'm glad I tried it at home rather than in public. Are inverse crunches a viable option without a spotter or buying those weird leg clamp things?

[summer child]

Male runners are rarely attractive, especially pros

 

Nick Symmonds is something of an aberration

 

Unless you run sprints.

[Estrix]

So apparently my gym is full of clones. It was a very weird day. Got to the gym, there are fours dudes wondering around the dumbbells. All the same shaved haircut, all with the same beard, all with big chests and tiny legs. In the time I did squat/bench/row and assistance work they did more than 20 chest/upper body workouts. I know because after awhile I kept a vague count in my fascination.

 

Highlight moment: in groups of two, one lot doing flies and the other doing preacher curls. The "spotters" screaming "IT'S ALL YOU BRO! IT'S ALL YOU!" while blatantly assisting in lifting the weight!

 

...Reading this back I know it looks made up, but I swear every word is true!

[summer child]

So apparently my gym is full of clones. It was a very weird day. Got to the gym, there are fours dudes wondering around the dumbbells. All the same shaved haircut, all with the same beard, all with big chests and tiny legs. In the time I did squat/bench/row and assistance work they did more than 20 chest/upper body workouts. I know because after awhile I kept a vague count in my fascination.

 

Highlight moment: in groups of two, one lot doing flies and the other doing preacher curls. The "spotters" screaming "IT'S ALL YOU BRO! IT'S ALL YOU!" while blatantly assisting in lifting the weight!

 

...Reading this back I know it looks made up, but I swear every word is true!

If they are clones it is all ''you,him, me, us'' no matter who is lifting. They are one. ^^,

[Cat in the rack]

It'd be interesting if bro-spotters were more honest but showed the same level of enthusiasm.

"COME ON, YOU GOT SOME OF THIS, ITS PARTIALLY YOU!"

[Jett]

Oh no. Did the Borg absorb a bunch of gym bros?

 

The Brorg.

[Estrix]

Definitely "wondering". They were very Zen. Meditating on the dumbbells as it were, while the spotter shouts "You got this Bro! That's super Mindful! It's all you bro!"

[Cat in the rack]

Adding bro to a statement immediately removes any original sentiment.

"I have a dream bro", "The path of the righteous bro is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil bros, bro", "One small step for a bro, one giant leap for brokind", "Do unto bros as you would have bros do unto you bro".

[matty_mcfly]

 "The path of the righteous bro is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil bros, bro"

Haha yes!

[Barfly]

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/553040173047754753/bgQ69kjQ.jpeg

 

And I can't stop saying bro, bro.

[Br0din]

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/553040173047754753/bgQ69kjQ.jpeg

 

And I can't stop saying bro, bro.

 

Bro, we don't make fun of other bros

[Artinum]

"If you laugh before breakfast, you'll cry before supper."

 

What's this supposed to mean?

 

I'm guessing this is an ancient saying for which the original context and meaning has long since been lost. One day all old sayings will have eroded to a single word.

 

Oh, and on Nick Symmonds - hello, handsome...