For BG fitness fanatics, a question..

[Meat]

you're not supposed to have this awesome endurance. you're a fast twitch kind of guy, endurance running is every anti muscle retention. but i know what you're really worried about.. make her get on top once in a while

[Shagoa]

I didn't figure it was good enough to start a new thread, but I have a question about the gym. If you're at the gym, and you see one of "those guys" do you take few minutes to give them pointers?

What I mean is, when you see someone doing a routine with very incorrect form, or maybe someone that's trying to look badass and curl the biggest dumbells in the weight set but they're rocking a lot letting momentum do all the work.. do you say anything about it? I mean sometimes, I see people do some crazy stuff that looks like it'll result in a major injury or something.

Is there etiquette for this kind of thing? Are you obligated to tell them so they don't get hurt? I'd say maybe 90% of the time I just don't say anything because it's not much of my concern, but once in a while I'll toss out some hints. Particularly when they're tying up the piece of equipment I'm waiting to use. It's like "man, if you're going to keep me from doing my workout.. at least do it correctly".

What are your thoughts?

[Moss]

I usually let the hardasses just do their thing, if I see someone who I think would appreciate some tips I usually do.

[Appie]

About 50-50 usually, the 50% that I don't they usually got a buddy that does know, better to hear it from them than me like I'm some expert. Usually when I see people with a bad form I'll say it. Especially if the friend they are working with isn't saying it (had this one time). No fun if you got a sore back the next day because you didn't do the routine correctly and nobody told you. They won't stick with it either when they get that.

I sometimes had people comment my form too, that either got sloppy in the weeks or just plain wrong from the start (had that a bit when I started 2 years ago). I personally liked it when they told me and thought it was helpful or I'd be the fuck with the sore back or w/e.

[chiyio]

There's just too many people working out right now. I hate this this time of year. GTFO off my treadmill fatty. I've ran on that one for the past 8 months.

Oh man, THIS.

I hate January, the first week of about every month, and Mondays. Those are the times all the "I'm really going to do it this time" people come to the gym and walk slow as ass forever on the treadmills. Especially *MY* treadmill

I know all the treadmills are basically all the same, but I want to do my 10k's on *THAT* one ><

[richardd]

i love criticism. i dont take offense to shit like that all all. if it gets me to look good better naked, by all means lemme have it. give me your worst. if it wasnt for people like that, i'd still be fucking up with my barbel crunches.

[Tyche]

I went the other day, and I had to ride a fucking stationary until a treadmill opened. It was so fucking lame. They are having an inaugural marathon in april in the city, so everyone and their fucking mother is training for it. Bundle that with the fatasses and their new years resolutions, and it's just un-fucking-bearable. I typically enjoy my treadmill time if it's 10 miles or less, but I've been hitting the streets lately because of it. It's supposed to snow about 3 inches tomorrow, so I don't know what I'm going to do this weekend. 15+ miles on a treadmill will blow.

As far as calling out people with terrible form, I see it all the time. People wearing the wrong shoes, heel striking 2 foot in front of the CoG, poor arm carriage, etc. I don't say anything, because, I've seen elite runners do much worse (a la Paula Radcliffe). There's the one African female who carries her arms in way way that looks like a boxer in a fighting stance. Forgot her name, but it's so damn weird. Sometimes the oddest things work for people.

[chiyio]

Hehe, ya, I hate that. I'll just jump on whatever random machine is closest to the my treadmill so I can jump on it the second it's free. If somebody is reading a book on there I get sooo agitated.

The ones at my gym have this sport training 10k setting, so it gives you hills and makes every run a bit different. Before I discovered that, I had a hard time running on the treadmill at all really, it's just kind of boring compared to the street. Now though, I'm addicted to those 10ks.

If I'm going to do more than 10k, I run outside weather permitting.

Good luck on 15+ miles on a treadmill, that's definitely going to suck.

[Sanoske]

Criticism is good, as long as the person knows what they're doing.

I see jacked up dudes with poor form all the time though. Some guy who looked like he could eat rocks was doing standing bicep curls but he was swinging his body around and throwing his weight into the lifts... looked like shit. He was doing heavy weight, but it was weight he obviously couldnt/shouldnt be lifting.

[Moss]

He was doing heavy weight, but it was weight he obviously couldnt/shouldnt be lifting.

Applies to 99% of people using free weights at gyms.

[Sanoske]

Applies to 99% of people using free weights at gyms.

Yea, kinda sad. I like being able to lift heavy weights as much as anyone, but if my form sucks I fucking move down a notch until I can do it right.

[Serif]

Why I stick to the pool and the running trails

Can still have bad form but most people aren't out there so they can't seeeeeee

[Shagoa]

I don't care much to run on a treadmill, or ride a stationary or the trainer for my bikes. These seem like some of the most used equipment, and it's always for extended times.. not the 1 minutes sets you do for weight lifting. Where I live, I'm lucky that we only see snow 1-2 times a year, so I can jog outside year round.

It's tough because your messing with someone elses routine that they've been doing for what could be years and not everyone sees it the same way as you. If I was doing something wrong, I'd want someone to tell/show me the right way. Most of the time though, I can see my form in the mirror and have yet to have someone correct me. I guess I've never seen someone get pissed at being corrected, so maybe I should start helping more often.

I've seen some pretty ripped guys in the gym doing the form very wrong too.. but I guess it's working for them. sure they can bench 1000 pounds, but since they're only going through about 3" of movement, it's not helping as much as it could.

[Sanoske]

I don't care much to run on a treadmill, or ride a stationary or the trainer for my bikes. These seem like some of the most used equipment, and it's always for extended times.. not the 1 minutes sets you do for weight lifting. Where I live, I'm lucky that we only see snow 1-2 times a year, so I can jog outside year round.

It's tough because your messing with someone elses routine that they've been doing for what could be years and not everyone sees it the same way as you. If I was doing something wrong, I'd want someone to tell/show me the right way. Most of the time though, I can see my form in the mirror and have yet to have someone correct me. I guess I've never seen someone get pissed at being corrected, so maybe I should start helping more often.

I've seen some pretty ripped guys in the gym doing the form very wrong too.. but I guess it's working for them. sure they can bench 1000 pounds, but since they're only going through about 3" of movement, it's not helping as much as it could.

Some things are weird though. I try to go a smidge past 90 deg. angle for bench press, that way I get most benefit. I had one guy (who was ripped) tell me to go down until your chest is stretched out. Yea you feel it more, but supposedly its harder on your joints and actually disengages some of the muscles you're trying to work.

Its so hard to get any kind of fact when it comes to working out, everyone has their own shit.

[barber2006]

Since this is on the first page......


I have an absolutely terrible track record drinking enough water throughout the day. Is there any detriment to using flavor additives like crystal light? I'm talking stuff with no sugar and basically no calories just to break the monotony of drinking water all day. I always assumed adding stuff like that didn't change the way your body processes the fluid, but does it? Stick to just water or is that stuff ok?

[Caiyuo]

I think it was on Tim Ferris' blog that I read about sticking to 5-and-5 second cadence for each repetition and while it's fucking miserable to, you know, actually have to lift all the weight purely yourself without involving the wrong muscles or using momentum, it always feels better to end a workout feeling like you got the most out of it possible.

The only part of this that mystifies me is that some people I've met swear by doing some sets, not all, by "exploding" (lol) and bumping the weight up in one quick motion. Is there any benefit to this whatsoever? It's this kind of ambiguous void of information for me about muscle growth and if doing certain exercises a certain way actually changes growth or adds more endurance as opposed to strength and vice versa.

[Lhyet]

I'm going to be starting at a gym for the first time on sunday. I'm used to doing casual jogging for an hour a few days a week but it gets so terribly boring after a while.
So I'm hoping that people won't have any problems in telling me when I'm doing wrong with weights and all that. I'm sure I'll need a fair bit of help in starting up~

[RakEx]

I think it was on Tim Ferris' blog that I read about sticking to 5-and-5 second cadence for each repetition and while it's fucking miserable to, you know, actually have to lift all the weight purely yourself without involving the wrong muscles or using momentum, it always feels better to end a workout feeling like you got the most out of it possible.

The only part of this that mystifies me is that some people I've met swear by doing some sets, not all, by "exploding" (lol) and bumping the weight up in one quick motion. Is there any benefit to this whatsoever? It's this kind of ambiguous void of information for me about muscle growth and if doing certain exercises a certain way actually changes growth or adds more endurance as opposed to strength and vice versa.

I prefer 4 seconds down and 2 seconds up. These are basically controlled negatives but you cant really do negatives on the way up so you may as well push it up quick rather than wear yourself out. 5 and 5 would be really tough and you would be doing about half of the weight you could normanlly handle i am thinking.

As for explosive style lifting this type of stuff is great for athletes or people who want to train for fast twitch power and exlosiveness. It is a very valid form of weight training in fact if you go into any collegiate athletic teams weight room you will see them doing mostly explosive style lifts and olympic lifts which are also explosive but use multiple muscle groups. It is a just a different style of training that can train your muscles to work in a different manner.

Its good to incorporate those type of lifts into your workout too. Chest, shoulders, biceps, legs are the ones I incorporate explosive lifting into the most. But all muscle groups can be done this way obviously.

Since this is on the first page......


I have an absolutely terrible track record drinking enough water throughout the day. Is there any detriment to using flavor additives like crystal light? I'm talking stuff with no sugar and basically no calories just to break the monotony of drinking water all day. I always assumed adding stuff like that didn't change the way your body processes the fluid, but does it? Stick to just water or is that stuff ok?

Its fine for the most part. No need to force down water if you dont want to. Crytal light, Iced tea, Juice... as long as it has water in it and it is not soda you should be ok. But I would suggest to try and keep those type of drinks in moderation, like 32oz a day or so because regular water is just better for you. So treat yourself to those but dont cut out the tap water either.

I'm going to be starting at a gym for the first time on sunday. I'm used to doing casual jogging for an hour a few days a week but it gets so terribly boring after a while.
So I'm hoping that people won't have any problems in telling me when I'm doing wrong with weights and all that. I'm sure I'll need a fair bit of help in starting up~

Not everyone at the gym is full of good info and sometimes the ones that are first to help are the ones that have no clue. So take everyones advice with a grain of salt unless you know they are knowledgeable. Even (most) personal trainers can be fairly clueless. You are better off reading up on some stuff yourself and gaining a general knowledge of what to do and what not to do. After all you will know what works best for you. Also, you can ask questions here. Most of the advice from the people here is pretty good.

[Velgadess]

There's just too many people working out right now. I hate this this time of year. GTFO off my treadmill fatty. I've ran on that one for the past 8 months.

I actually hate treadmills and find them boring as hell. I prefer to do my walking/jogging outside in nature. However if I knew someone that was waiting to use it because of me and I hated that person, I'd use that as motivation to keep going and going and going >:D

[Stumblingdrunk]

Since this is on the first page......


I have an absolutely terrible track record drinking enough water throughout the day. Is there any detriment to using flavor additives like crystal light? I'm talking stuff with no sugar and basically no calories just to break the monotony of drinking water all day. I always assumed adding stuff like that didn't change the way your body processes the fluid, but does it? Stick to just water or is that stuff ok?

I like to stay away from artificial sweeteners, but if thats what it takes you to stay hydrated, then by all means, go for it. Adding crystal light will not effect your hydration in any negative way. Staying hydrated is very important. I like to drink green tea, it has more flavor than water, but no extra calories. If you don't dislike green tea, try brewing large quantities of tea and refrigerating it so you can drink it throughout the day without having to make tea constantly. But to answer your question, adding flavor to your water will not affect your body's ability to absorb the fluids.