Gym Stories

Everyone has had ridiculous and sometimes obnoxious things happen to them in commercial gyms.  From time to time, I like to throw a few experiences out just so we can collectively acknowledge the vast ignorance that holds the fitness community together.

Today I was fortunate enough to have two minor experiences that I haven't had in a long time.

First there was the "territorial trainer syndrome" that took place between my two main exercises of the day.

  I've been doing a little rehab on my back after an injury.  I won't go into it because it was a previous post of mine.  I started my training for the day by working up to just under 400lbs in the deadlift while standing on a two inch 100lbs plate (bear in mind that I way 150lbs soaking wet).  Yes... my back is almost 100% and after only 10 days of rehab.  

When I got done with this exercise, I moved the weight to a rack for pulls from just below the knee.  This is something I took from my days of Shieko style training.  I usually break the exercise of interest into two parts and work each half independently, but today I was simply going to work the top half extra hard despite the fact I had done full range deads from the two inch plate earlier.  I usually put an upper body movement in between to allow a little recoup for my core.  I don't recommend doing this unless your training volume allows for it (mine did today).  I chose the least used of the racks because I knew I wouldn't be back for a few minutes and I was lazy about putting all the weights back because I knew I would use them shortly.  

Upon the completion of my "sandwiched" exercises, I returned to find a large gym member and what I could only surmise was his trainee looking at my setup anxiously.  The trainee was very tall and slender and he wore a black weight vest.  I had seen him around the gym before doing step ups on benches and waiting around for his "coach" to direct him.  His coach had the build of a retired heavyweight powerlifter and he had to be at least 6' / 300lbs.  I had never seen him move any serious weight nor had I seen him with other clients.  He looked down at me and asked if I was through.  I explained that I had high pulls left, but that they were more than welcome to "work in".  This is proper gym etiquette and something that is rarely displayed anymore.  He exclaimed that my stuff had been there for the better part of their workout.  I replied that with another rack ( the better one) sitting five feet away from it and no one asking before now that I hadn't thought it a problem.  I acknowledged my slip of etiquette and asked what exercise required that specific rack ( a rack without hangers, not bolted down, smaller footprint, lower weight capacity, etc).  The coached attempted to explain what could only be described as a box squat using a bench, but he fumbled his words and explained they would simply do a different exercise.  I quickly began moving my setup over the better rack five feet away and told them that the rack was theirs.  I asked him to kindly grab one end of the bar loaded with 315lbs while I managed the other end in order to move it over to the other rack.  To this he recoiled and repeated that they would do something else but thanks all the same.  I stood wondering if he had been embarrassed by the fact that the movement they were waiting to do could have been done on any of the open racks in the room.  Had I caused him to lose face in front of a trainee?  I excused myself once more and continued with my training.  The coach went over to yet another rack and continued to work his 1X bodyweight partial squats.  

They point of this long and drawn out story is this.  If you are a trainer you must understand that the commercial gym is not your personal territory.  You share it just like everyone else that pays to play.  A trainer does not have more right to any piece of equipment nor does a trainer hold domain over specific pieces of redundant equipment.  When I was a trainer I had to be able to understand the principles of weight training well enough to pick from a vast number of movements that would meet a specific need.  This also helped me when I had to frequent a gym with less equipment or when I was training while on the road.  If you know multiple ways to get the job done, you aren't stuck when it isn't available.  Trainers should also know etiquette and should strive to accommodate other gym members.  You just never know who is watching.

My next experience came shortly after the first and was an example of "Newbie Armchair Coaching".  

I had gotten up to 495lbs pulls from below the knees in the rack when a young man began setting up in the rack next to me.  I noticed that he kept looking over whenever I was in the middle of my set, but I didn't think much of it.  He stopped for a moment in between my sets and looked me straight in the eyes.  He got a little closer and politely said, " you know that if you move the weight from the floor, it has a much better effect overall.  When you do it from the rack, it doesn't allow for a full range of motion."  I managed to keep a straight face and I thanked him for his "help".  He then explained that he was a Crossfit

I guess there will always be a lot of different people with different opinions in a commercial gym.  I make it a point to get in, do my business, and get out.  You can't help but run into some less than scientific methods, but my young friend had a point when he said "whatever works for you".  The fitness world is filled with ludicrous, money-making schemes and pseudo-science that can only really be deciphered by getting in the gym and finding out what really works.  It doesn't matter what you read or hear; any of it could be B.S.  The other thing to remember is that there is always someone stronger than you or any of your buddies in the gym at any given time.  Treat everyone as if they could be that person and leave the ego at home.  Most folks are shrouded in so much disinformation that it will take them years to see the light.  You can't help someone that doesn't want to be helped.  They have to be ready.  I'm sure I will see all of these people each week for as long as they continue to go to the gym, but like an animal with a long lifespan; I've seen them all come and go.  I hope I'm around long enough to see them all reach their goals.     

On a final note, I have got to figure out what a Crossfit athletic competition is because that has to be something to watch ;-)