Noticed something weird at the gym.

[djtdot]

When I go at around 5-6PM on weekdays, my university gym is usually packed, but the squat rack is mostly empty. There is a big line for benches, lat pulldown etc. All the guys doing bicep curls etc. But a couple of times I went at around 7:30PM and at that time, all the serious weightlifters were there. There was actually a queue for the squat rack and wonder of wonders, the benches were pretty much empty and no guys doing biceps or shoulder anythings. Most of the people there were doing squats, deads , pullups etc. No stupid cable chest fly or bicep curl or anything. So do all the serious weightlifters come late so that there is no disturbance from others? Any thing like this happened at your gym? Any of you personally go to the gym late?

 

[Kerpal]

I go early, because otherwise there's a line of people curling in the squat rack. Last time I was there, this guy was curling 135 and his friend was "spotting" him

 

[Omen]

I use to work at a university gym, and everyone came in at that time as well, but I cant say you had your serious people in at that time. Correct though, that most the time the squat rack is empty. Or at least at mine it was, and we only had one.

Athletes had their own separate building, and our school didnt have football, so you never had your big guys come in and lift except your few who still lift like that.

It will vary from place to place and the size of your school. More people where I am at use fitness clubs over the gym at the school cause it just isn't up to date like some want it. Its enough for some, but for others its not.

I RARELY had to wait for the squat rack and like I said we only had 1 rack.

I go to the gym at about 9am and its at a YMCA. I never have to wait for anything, and when I go, there aren't too many people who lift like I do anyway. I will NEVER go at 5pm cause you are neck and neck.

 

[int3l]

i try to go in the morning or else it's really annoying at the uni gym i'm at cause you lose your fire while waiting. Generally though the squat rack and pull-up bars are empty so it's okay, i guess.

 

[EFFORT]

Usually the best time to go is early or late, most serious lifters don't like putting up with that mess of people curling in the power rack. And the serious serious lifters will be working out at home or in a powerlifting gym. I'm just glad that most people lifting weights at the gym focus mostly on bench and biceps (curling in the rack is annoying though).....i've also witnessed that 135curl spot performance, the poor spotter was getting himself an interesting full body workout doing 80% of the lift.

 

[BluEyes]

You poor sods... My gym is almost empty at all times of day. The only problem is that I have to listen to Maroon 5, Jack johnson, and gwen stefani when lifting. Damn gym music selection.

 

[Kerpal]

Saw something funny this morning at the gym. This girl was lying on her back on the floor under the bar in the smith machine and using it like a leg press... looked extremely unsafe.

 

[Bonez]

Sounds a lot like you guys are introverted even when you are at the gym.

Ask to change the music, ask to step in on the rack for a second. God damn learn to be assertive sometimes.

 

[Warboss Alex]

I don't let crowds keep me waiting; if the squat rack is being used, I opt for the hack squat machine. If the hack squat machine is not vacant, I can always do lunges...

if I'm scheduled to squat, I'll squat.. I'll either wait and bs with me mates or ask to work in.

no-one's ever said no when I've asked to work in before

 

[Kidfabulous]

They feel intimidated or don't know how...?

 

[Being_the_Don]

On weekdays I usually go around 3-4 PM. The place gets crowded after 6 PM. On weekends I go first thing in the morning, there are only a few people there so I don't have to wait in line.

 

[Being_the_Don]

Saw something funny this morning at the gym. This girl was lying on her back on the floor under the bar in the smith machine and using it like a leg press... looked extremely unsafe.

Most people don't know what they're doing when they go to the gym and the staff isn't always around to stop them. Beginners should ask experienced lifters for advice if possible.

 

[mintxx]

haha that reminds me - i was in the foul mood the other day and a guy in one of the power racks was half squatting a **** load of weight with the bar up on his neck , worst posture you could imagine, like some kind of cripple. so i'm like 'excuse me, what the hell are you doing?', explained squats to him, and now he thinks i'm jesus ^_^ pretty disturbing how wrong you can go with free weights, i guess that's where those utterly, utterly useless machines come in...

 

[BluEyes]

I had to correct a trainer the other day who was telling a guy to put the bar directly onto his neck when squatting. He must have been asleep for the part of the weekend "become a trainer" program that explained "What could kill you: ..."

 

[TyTe`EyEs]

I've been thinking about switching gyms lately and went to check one out last night. The guy was trying to show me the steam room and the machines, but I asked him to take me to the squat rack. It was in a separate room and there was nobody in there. I asked him if it was usually like this and he said yeah. We have a winner...

 

[SinJester]

**** I'm scared I mgiht be doing somee excercises wrong and fvcking myself up now...

 

[int3l]

You poor sods... My gym is almost empty at all times of day. The only problem is that I have to listen to Maroon 5, Jack johnson, and gwen stefani when lifting. Damn gym music selection.

funny, when i lived on the gold coast (last year) there was a gym straight across from Australia fair, (it was small) but it was like what you just described lol.

 

[I-tallionStallion]

i must admit...going to the gym has it's perks. The idiots that go in there hahahha the comedy of it all. Everyone does bicepts, tricepts, and chest + no one squats - leg press is always empty - and no one does deadlifts but me and my friend. I must say....nothing like everyone in the gym watching me deadlift wondering "what the fu-k?" lol

And whats worse is when i once in awhile try to help...they think i'm wrong. Like this guy doing 180 on bench press - doing half reps...asks me to come over to help spot him. After he does it I tell him to lessen and he had a fit and i walked away. No sooner did he add 20 lbs to demonstrate quarter reps with some other sap doing Rows to help him with the weight. I gave up helping lol now i just take videos of all the dorks at the gym for later entertainment. Wow...i'm mean hahahahahha :rockon:

 

[mrRuckus]

Had an argument with a friend the other day. He said he doesn't work his lower body because he doesn't want to get huge and lower body work outs make you gain a lot of weight.... as if that weight materializes out of thin air: he doesn't eat for growth.