Say Something or Not?

**mda1125** · 05-30-2003, 08:52 PM

We've all be in this situation. You're in a gym (any gym) and you see somebody doing an exercise. Cardio or anything fitness related that's so incorrect it's funny yet sad.

For example, I saw in my corporate gym in the last two days:

A: An older employee doing lat pulldowns (front) to her lap. Maybe she thought somebody say "lap-pulldowns" It was horribly incorrect.

B: Person comes in.. Fully dressed in khakis and a button up shirt. Gets their chest press on.. bicep curl on.. back and forth.. leaves. Hope I'm not in a meeting with this guy.

C: A middle-aged woman using the cybex bicep curl machine to do some sort of modified rowing action. I believe that she was attempting to do biceps but was not using the grip and was actually doing some type of odd rowing movement with the bicep machine.

I know that most of you here probably don't do things like this. I'm not saying our form is perfect. But I'm pretty sure if you are on a bodybuilding forum, you would not use the bicep machine as a row. I'm only asking about things you see in the gym that are so extreme that it's a no-brainer it's totally incorrect.

Question

If somebody is doing something so obviously wrong and you are in a gym that is full of newbies, do you say anything?

**Mudge** · 05-30-2003, 10:14 PM

Sometimes I will, sometimes I wont but admitedly I rarely see such goofy movements these days. I guess you just have to wing it, based on how they might take your comments/suggestions, some people might get pissy/defensive.

**mda1125** · 05-30-2003, 10:23 PM

The people I speak of are not in your typical gym. It's a small, cardio and cybex only corporate gym.

I've never seen such extremely poor form at my regular gym that I attend. I'm just on a cardio kick now.. and to me.. a stationary bike is a stationary bike. Weights are different as this gym has no free weights so I do not lift there.

Most people don't workout. Nor eat correctly.

But they will complain well into their 60's about how they know they should.

To clarify for anybody else.. these are some pretty damn goofy movements. Not just bad form.. but "OMFG.. what are you doing with the curl machine" form.

**Burner02** · 05-30-2003, 10:59 PM

yep!
we have all seen them...I saw this one punk doing ommething...not sure what...but just had a laugh to myself (I was doing cardio and had a great view of the gym floor from where the cardio machines are)
This kid...was a punk..thought he was cool..so no, I wold not say anything to him..and then I have not seen him in there for about a month now, I think.
Some people you see doing things that are wrong but are trying, I would. I have helped a guy improve his squats for instance.

I saw a friend doing lat DB raises, sort of wrong. (he was just raising to his sides, not 'pouring the water pitchers' form from everything I have read. I suggested he try it that way...blown off..oh well.

So..how's life in the 'Bay area? I was there once for a couple days...too much to look at..overwhelming...

**mda1125** · 05-30-2003, 11:09 PM

Life in the Bay Area?

Well.. I like it very much. Plenty to do. Plenty to see.. Close to the airport when I need to go anywhere. Busy.. yet there are many tranquil spots. Diversity out the wazoo.

Overall.. I'm very happy.

I'm guilty of not taking advice as well.. But I really think it was the advice of a powerlifter. I did my research and found out that during squats, one can have the bar higher or lower. Lower is more of a powerlifting move and is geared towards weight. Having the bar higher on the traps is geared towards maximum stress on the quads.

I was getting advice and some flack from a powerlifter when he asked me WFT I was doing (in regards to my squats).

After taking his words, and being neutral and open-minded, I decided to do some reading.

That's when I discoverd that bar placement is really up to the person and their goals.

He wanted me to do it low on the bar. Like lower traps, so that my rear delts were support the weight. Truthfully, it was just too much of an awkward stretch.

But his form was correct for powerlifting and max weight.

Anyway, he was doing heavy heavy squats and after a pretty big injury decided he's gonna go lighter. I never see him doing legs.

So his advice can sux my nutts.

While it's releveant.. I'm not interested in squatting beyond a reasonable amount for growth (for me that is).

And that's what got me thinking about this thread and then what I saw in the gym.

So day I will be snowboarding in Colorado. Like next winter.

**Burner02** · 05-30-2003, 11:20 PM

Originally posted by mda1125
So day I will be snowboarding in Colorado. Like next winter.

what a coincidewnce! So will i!

I didn't get to go this past season at all...that sucked. I even had a new board to use..

I am planning on getting my season pass renewed for next season though...

I liked the Bay Area, but seems cold..and too expensive..

**mda1125** · 05-30-2003, 11:34 PM

Expense is all relative to your frame of reference.

Houses in other states are what my kid asks for on a monthy basis so he can keep PE at his school.

It's been hot here lately.. but not overly hot. If I want horribly hot I can go to the valley.. or I can go to Tahoe for a nice cool-down.

Colorado is but a season away and I will go there. Been to Canada and Wyoming and everywhere but Mammoth in CA. It's on the list for sure.

**Burner02** · 05-31-2003, 12:06 AM

Originally posted by mda1125
Expense is all relative to your frame of reference.

ha! I thought expense was relative to your wallet!

Haven't been 'boaring anywhere besides Colorado so far...did get to go skiing in Italy way back when I was in the military...that was great!

**ZECH** · 05-31-2003, 06:41 AM

Don't say a thing! Too many think you are a know-it-all. So I just sit back and shake my head!!

**Dr. Pain** · 05-31-2003, 06:46 AM

I say correct dangerous situations....but leave "bad form" alone unless asked....or see if that the person would be receptive to your advice....

Sometimes I just yell at a person...BREATHE...or something as an "Opener!"

A lot of times, people will come to you, if they see that you have it together

**Triple Threat** · 05-31-2003, 06:51 AM

The short answer to the original question is "NO". Unless you are being paid to train someone, just butt out.

**tidalwaverus** · 05-31-2003, 08:32 AM

I keep my mouth shut,

but try not to laugh to loud

Some people won't listen to ya even if ya think they will get hurt.
and they will for being stupid.

( I guess go rat- um off to the manager) better than 911

**naturaltan** · 05-31-2003, 08:47 AM

Most of the folks at our gym who have modified exercises are seniors. My thoughts are, at least they are in the gym and doing something. At that stage of life, they're not concerned about what they look like. They are thinking about just keeping active and for that I commend them.

There is one asian fellow who I swear will one day knock himself out doing curls. Now ... he may be one of those people that is stronger than he looks, but I doubted. He's smaller than I am

He uses 60lb dumbbells to do seated bicep curls. Not really a stretch if the form was good. But this guy uses momentum as the main force to lift the weight. And that momentum takes the weight dangerously close to his head ... even tapping his head a few times. It is quite comical to watch ...

**Eggs** · 05-31-2003, 09:00 AM

It depends why you want to correct them. If you want to correct them to show that you are the better lifter and to satisfy your urge to one up somebody... then just walk away. However, if you actually want to be useful in their life and help them out I think you should do so.

When you do so though, dont just walk up and say "Dude, your form sucks, watch me"... walk up, start a little conversation and then say "You know what really works well for me? So and so showed me this a month or two ago and has helped alot." That way you dont put the person on the defensive and waste your breath on telling them something that they wont listen to because they're pissed that you're trying to make them look bad to the rest of the gym. Common courtesy applies to muscle heads as well

**Prince** · 05-31-2003, 09:04 AM

Originally posted by CaptainDeadlift
The short answer to the original question is "NO". Unless you are being paid to train someone, just butt out.

I agree, or if someone asks me for help I will, but I NEVER give unsolicited advice, never.

**david** · 05-31-2003, 11:17 AM

I'd say something to the point if their is potential danger within themselves but if it's just appearance etc... then no. However, if it's odor, then yes!

**mda1125** · 05-31-2003, 01:05 PM

Most of the people I see doing this.. are not in any potential danger. There are no free weights. They are not doing more then 30lbs of weight. Just beyond bad form. Rowing with a cybex curl machine is pretty nuts.

I totally agree, that if I saw something I knew to be dangerous I might say something. Mostly, it's appearance at this point.

Luckily it's well ventilated so odor is not an issue. It's probably the most well ventilated small gym I've ever been in. And at max, there are like 4 people in there scattered around.

I'm always followed the rule of:

1) Don't solicit unless asked
2) Unless you know the person
3) Possibly try and help but open with some kind of icebreaker and not just jump in to criticize somebody's form.

The people I'm talking about have probably never worked out until their 40's. So they have little to no history of any physical activity. They are your typical, 65% overweight Americans, who think that not eating is a good solution to losing weight.

None of the machines appear to have any laminated instructions on them. So even if somebody was curious, there is no information. I'd have to double-check. But I'm almost positive there is none. Which in my opinion is bad. Sometimes even being advanced, I like to read the quick card just to make sure I understand the odd looking machine I'm about to try.

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