Giving unsolicited advice

[Jimbo48]

This morning in the gym, there was someone I didn't know doing deadlifts. He had good form at 135, 225 and 275. But at 315, I saw that he was rounding his back. Normally, I don't give advice. However, this time because he looked like he was trying to lift with correct form and because it was 315, I mentioned to him that he was rounding his back and suggested that he try to think about keeping his chest up as a way not round his back. I also told him that the reason I gave the advice is because rounding one's back can cause an injury.

So should I have given advice or stayed quiet. He seemed to appreciate it, thanked me and introduced himself. Of course, it could have gone the other way and he could have told me to get lost.

[Torrtrefireto]

I would've said nothing. I get asked for advice about once a year and at that point I give it. Otherwise I just let people do their thing because more often than not people will just get defensive

[mjf100215]

I keep my mouth shut. I'm more than willing to answer questions and help if asked, but the jacktards that have no clue are on their own.

[SuffolkPunch]

If it's to prevent injury then yes - always give advice. It's pretty unusual for people to get annoyed by it. If so - fcuk em - you can't plan for azzholes but azzholes sometimes happen.

[scarboro]

I unsuccessfully tried to tell some guys to not use the manta ray to squat and ever since that wasted 15+ minutes of frustration I don't even pay the slightest attention to what other people are doing. Just let people do whatever they want to do.

If someone actually cares about form/wants help, they'll ask for it.

[isaku900]

at a commercial gym, nothing, unless he strutted around like a peacock. then I might start deadlifting right next to him.

at my gym, I'd be coaching him.

[GuinnessStrong]

This is kind of what I get paid for. If he's doing something that looks seriously injury prone, I give him some pointers and maybe an anecdote about some of the horrors we've all seen come from whatever the hell he's doing (like good morning squatting with the bar on his neck). If he's just squatting a mile high, I usually just laugh and walk away. Kind of like most of you though if he's acting like he's hot **** dropping something too heavy to a deep knee bend, I'll call him out on depth. If you can't tell, I came off as an ******* when I first got the job. Then everyone got to see the guys who listened make real gains and most saw the big picture. It's also really embarrassing to have me cold rep your max while I calmly talk you through form cues.

[arian11]

at a commercial gym, nothing, unless he strutted around like a peacock. then I might start deadlifting right next to him.

at my gym, I'd be coaching him.

Pretty much this. When I use to go to a commercial gym, I would see people doing stupid stuff but I wouldn't say anything. It's not my place and most likely the gym would then get mad at me for "personal training".

Now our club has our own room to train in. So if someone asks me for help or is doing something really stupid, I'll try to help them with what knowledge I know.

[JacobRothenberg]

unless someone dumps the bar while benching when i am nearby (it's happened a couple items), i ignore everyone at my commercial gym. i do give my passive-aggressive headshake of disapproval to the quarter squatters, though

[Drew23]

Very glad I don't have to train at a commercial gym so I don't need to worry about it. But as a general rule, I would speak up if I saw something that was a definite injury waiting to happen. The worst thing that could happen is they tell you to **** off which for me is just fine.

[ilovethe80s]

I think you did the right thing - normally I'd ignore everything going on in gym - but if someone is deadlifting horribly wrong... An appendage is one thing but it majorly sucks to have anything happen to your back. Glad he was receptive.

Unsolicited BAD advice in the gym is a major annoyance, but good advice from someone who knows their stuff is always welcome. Unfortunately in there is more bad advice than good so people might be on the defensive when approached - but if you can save a back it is more than worth it.

[A_Hard_Rain]

i ignore everyone, even the people clearly struggling with squat form right next to me while i'm squatting. if they'd ask i'd help, but that never seems to happen

[Torrtrefireto]

unless someone dumps the bar while benching when i am nearby (it's happened a couple items), i ignore everyone at my commercial gym. i do give my passive-aggressive headshake of disapproval to the quarter squatters, though

This. If someone is lifting light weight and it looks bad I don't really pay them any mind

If someone is walking around big and bad I'll usually pretend they aren't there. Or make sure that I do more weight than them and make a point to be quiet about it and pretend dissapointed that I did so poorly

[ISuckAtBenching]

at a commercial gym, nothing, unless he strutted around like a peacock. then I might start deadlifting right next to him.

at my gym, I'd be coaching him.

Hahaha great, so it's not just me that does that sh-t. I can't count how many times I've made the wanna be muscle bound huffy puffy fruitcakes stop squatting or deadlifting. I guess it's humiliating when someone smaller and less egocentric makes your max look like the bar. I hate that sh-t so much though... freaking walk around the gym all big chested, holding invisible basketballs in your armpits, glaring at everyone... only to go up to the rack and quarter squat 2 wheels.



But I have no problem giving people tips/advice, especially when its something blatantly wrong that will add a few immediate pounds or pain relief. When i was a little weaker and a lot smaller, I'd get a lot of grief whenever I'd give unsolicited advice, so I kind of stopped. But now people tend to think I just might know what I'm talking about (some of the time anyway :P)

[runtocatch]

I always try to help kids out. They may not want to hear what I have to say but I'm gonna say it anyhow. Maybe someday it will help them be stronger.

[dtaps24]

I tend to lead by example and awesomeness. Not necessarilly in that order.

[runtocatch]

I tend to lead by example and awesomeness. Not necessarilly in that order.

Understand you are tryin to be somewhat comical but its not bad advise.

[SQUAT316]

Pretty much this. When I use to go to a commercial gym, I would see people doing stupid stuff but I wouldn't say anything. It's not my place and most likely the gym would then get mad at me for "personal training".

Now our club has our own room to train in. So if someone asks me for help or is doing something really stupid, I'll try to help them with what knowledge I know.

Same. I say nothing at commercial gyms. At my place, its different. Being older I coach/advise the young ones.

[PhreEkGarden]

I think it's annoying when people just walk up and start giving someone advice. I however don't think it's annoying if you walk up and ASK if you can give someone a few pointers. It's really better for both parties, since if they respond well and actually want to hear what you have to say, you're not 'that guy' and also aren't wasting your time.

[Heavy_Beats]

When I see someone squatting wrong when they seem to want to do it right I just ask them if they want to learn how to squat and if they want to learn how to squat I teach them. The vast majority are appreciative.

If I see some douche load up 230kg and quarter squat it I just try to contain my disgust.

[300lb10yrs]

When I see someone squatting wrong when they seem to want to do it right I just ask them if they want to learn how to squat and if they want to learn how to squat I teach them. The vast majority are appreciative.

If I see some douche load up 230kg and quarter squat it I just try to contain my disgust.

^^
This a couple people have asked outside of the ones I trained and I've helped them. Its sort of gratifying to see a former quarter squatter doing real reps now and know you had a hand in it. One of the guys I helped was back to his old weight in 5 months.


One of the things this thread made me realize is that almost no one on these boards trains at a commercial gym.lol

I'd go back to the basement first.

[darren.dugan]

I lift on an army base and I gave advice to a kid once because his feet were dancing all over the place on a bench and he was going like 3 reps past failure. You'd think he would have listened to me since I was a few feet away from him deep squatting 405 for reps. Of course, he didn't listen so I haven't given any advice since.

I can't ever recall anyone ever asking me for advice. I think all the skinny army joes have too much pride to ask the handsome, bearded Marine how they can squat or deadlift over 500lbs, much less how to fix their form.

I did receive some un-solicited deadlift advice last Friday. In my gym, there are a a few trainers that do crossfit style **** with what seems to be a platoon at a time on M/W/F (which is the only time there are more than 5 people in there using the weights). They usually take up about 8 of the 10 racks and platforms in there with their shenanigans and I don't think I've seen a single soldier do a proper squat... which speaks of the training quality the soldiers are receiving since none are being corrected on form. Anyway, I was bs'ing with one of the trainers since one of them was a Marine vet like me and I showed him my print out of the C/P deadlift routine I was following. He did not seem too impressed with it and suggested I throw in reverse hypers, do this, do that, blah blah blah. I just smile and nod and say "sure, I'll consider it". Never mind he just saw me hit 565x2 followed by many sets of 3 with 475. Pretty sure he had no idea who Ed Coan was too.

[corozco]

I only gave advice at a commercial gym once, learned never to do it again. Some dudes were quarter squatting 315 and I approached them to tell them they should be at least parallel to take stress of the knees. They got defensive because I guess their ego took a hit and started asking why etc. I see them now and a year later they look the same and and lift the same. They always look angry when they see me deadlifting or moving heavy weights. I HATE going to a commercial gym on Saturdays, bunch of slack jawed *******s.

[Smolovicus]

Personally it irritates me when someone tries to give me form advice during my training. Principally due to the condescending fashion in which most people go about it. My form suffers from time to time, but I am always quite aware of this and make the proper adjustments. If I think it's becoming a problem, I address it. I don't profess to know every in and out of lifting technique, but I am damn sure that I'm more knowledgeable than the average cross trainer / gym rat / curl brah.

If I didn't know that the people I've seen giving advice around here have the worst squat and deadlift form conceivable, I'd be more humble. Sadly it gets perpetuated as the stronger guys pass on their broscience and poor form habits to the lesser lifters, and so on down the chain.

It doesn't irk me quite as bad as the "He's going so low, going to hurt his knees, break his back," comments.

[samsbolton]

Once or twice i have seen a kid doing something dangerous, either immediately or long term, ie rounding back on squat, and i have gone up and said 'do you mind if i make a suggestion....'

I think thats ok, but where i draw the line. i look decent and since its a commercial gym am about the strongest guy there, I think the average twenty something is not at all going to appreciate your advice even if it was Ed Coan offering it. The oldest and youngest are the most receptive/ most likely to approach me.

[bmontgomery87]

I would've said nothing. I get asked for advice about once a year and at that point I give it. Otherwise I just let people do their thing because more often than not people will just get defensive

ditto.
when i lifted at a gym I just kept my mouth shut.
I had a guy come up to me while deadlifting, and while he was just trying to be nice and help me out, I still was a little pissed off inside. People take it the wrong way. If they come to you for advice, by all means help them out.

[youneverknow899]

There is some old dude who looks like he's like 0% body fat veins and **** showing everywhere
probably at least 75%, not going to lie he is doing **** that would make a normal person look strong.
I would see him do full body swings for dumb bell curls, i just stare out of my peripherals

I saw him using a machine standing reverse leg curl thing i dont remember what its called sorry, it swings your leg like a running movement.
and he was using max weight, pretty impressive and im just surprised he hasn't snapped his **** up. I thought he died b/c i hadnt seen him in a year but i saw him recently



He even cover's his neck in a towel, i'm assuming its to hide his veins poping.

he kinda looks like an extremely skinny border line malnourished santa-clause but i ignore.

I've always wanted to say something to people but **** it, id rather take it to the interwebz lol

[24skiddidle]

Not to be a party pooper but come on man... EVERY SINGLE PERSON who responded in this thread put themselves in position of advice giver rather than advice taker :s

And you're talking about ego :s :s

I'm an advice taker and I'm sure only a minority of people here deserve to be advice givers :s

[JacobRothenberg]

Not to be a party pooper but come on man... EVERY SINGLE PERSON who responded in this thread put themselves in position of advice giver rather than advice taker :s

And you're talking about ego :s :s

I'm an advice taker and I'm sure only a minority of people here deserve to be advice givers :s

Why do you have to use a ":s" at the end of every line you type? Weirdo...

Most of the guys here are probably a notch above the vast majority of commercial gym lifters. It doesn't take much to squat 405, but it's rarely done by your everyday average gym-goer. That is why everyone here can relate to being a source for advice at their local gym.

[scarboro]

Not to be a party pooper but come on man... EVERY SINGLE PERSON who responded in this thread put themselves in position of advice giver rather than advice taker :s

And you're talking about ego :s :s

I'm an advice taker and I'm sure only a minority of people here deserve to be advice givers :s

The only people powerlifters want advice from are other powerlifters. Chances are if you're not training for max effort S/B/D then you lack the knowledge and time under the iron to give that person advice.

I've received alot of valuable knowledge from people and every single time i've had to ASK them.