When you see a 'Beginner' do something totally Wrong in the gym, do you tell them ?

[Aussieguy101]

If i see someone do something which has a decent probability of doing themselves harm or injury , i will say something.

If it's just bad technique which minimises the effectiveness of an exercise, that's upto them to sort out and learn.

[E-Tank]

usually if i see someone doing squats or deads that hurts me just watching, ill help them out

[Zerste]

I feel like a lot of people might be insulted if you approach them and try to help them. Personally, as I'm still (and will always be) learning, any assistance is generally appreciated.

[Garage Rat]

Its the gyms responsibility to have the staff make sure people aren't doing anything unsafely.
Its not your job and you aren't getting paid for it.
If you are asked and it doesn't interrupt your workout then by all means help out.
Its been my experience most people don't want unsolicited advice.

[chazzy1864]

I've found that the people who are most adamant about approaching others to instruct them on their erroneous ways are usually those who are in fact, largely ignorant themselves.


+ ^ All that garage rat said.

[MarkS51]

If i see someone do something which has a decent probability of doing themselves harm or injury , i will say something.

If it's just bad technique which minimises the effectiveness of an exercise, that's upto them to sort out and learn.

Generally? No. My experience is "fitness" is one of those topics in life in which most people think an opinion equates to knowledge and so no amount of unsolicited advice is heeded. I've had guys double down on whatever bone-headed thing they were doing after I offered a tip. Pride goaded by embarassment, you know?

But if I see someone doing something dangerous to others, like obliviously overloading one side of a barbell, or lately with the young dudes, doing snatches and jerks without collars I'll say something.

[ironwill2008]

I make it a point to strut around the gym, sticking my nose into others' training, and tell them my opinion of how badly they're screwing up. They always appreciate it, and thank me profusely for interrupting them with my unsolicited advices.

[BigVic92]

I'd say most people who are messing up in the gym are trying to do more weight than they can properly do on a given exercise, and if they are making that mistake, they probably aren't going to take it well when you tell them their form is shaky.

[SuicideGripMe]

I only tell someone if they are a danger to themselves or other gym members. I do not care if someone wants to lift with sh*t form. If someone is throwing dumbbells like a jackass, that's a different story.

[matjusm]

If I corrected everything I thought was wrong I wouldn't have much time for my own workout. Now I only offer to help out people with the Olympic lifts (when I see them doing something that is obviously wrong and can quickly be fixed) but even that I don't do always. I lead by example, if others choose to follow it then that is their business.

[ktothewire]

I'm still a learner and I typically ask other gym members who obviously know what they are doing for assistance or advice.

I'd feel embarrassed and a bit irritated if someone came up to me and told me how bad I suck; though Id appreciate not getting hurt.. so it's a 50/50 split for me.

[mcmoon]

I mind my own damn business unless asked.

[speedjason]

depending on if it would hurt them.
I really dont like people try to "deadlift" with their back completely bent. never saw these guys anymore.

[Yodums]

Never have I told anyone that what they're doing is blatantly wrong. Just mind my own business.

[stealth_swimmer]

No. I figure they're just gonna blow me off anyway. Some folks have tried giving me tips before, usually older folks, but they're usually wrong. Like "wide grip lat pulldowns work your back more" or "squats are good for strength but bad for your knees" or like this one time a trainer (don't think he was certified) saw me and my friend doing wide stance squats and was like "you trying to work quads or hamstrings?" with a smug look on my face...could tell he was expecting me to say quads but I let him know me and my friend were having a workout to emphasize our hamstrings and glutes that day. Had a dumbfounded look on his face and was like "oh...alright..." nodded and walked away.


If someone asks me for help or tips, I'll give them my input. I'm tempted to correct horrible form when I see it, but sometimes when I see someone doing a lift that way *I actually see someone else in the gym telling them to do it that way* which is pretty horrible if you ask me.


Maybe I'll start doing the good Samaritan thing and start bringing it up to people though. I actually hate it when people are misled (whether it's on purpose or not). Spreading accurate information helps make the world a better place. People go to the gym to improve themselves, so they shouldn't be doing stuff that's close to 100% wrong and will end up injuring them.

[mikelad19]

just offer advice don't come across as a dick and they usually take heed well the smart ones do hehe

[jmccauley1229]

I have a hard enough time focusing 100% on most days towards the end of a workout. I keep my head down, music up, and only pay attention to someone if they are on the equipment I want to use.

[Ferdinand17]

I think it comes down to how you approach them. If you say straight up say "you're doing it wrong" they might take offense but if you say something like "try it this way. It may work better" or "this way has less risk of injury" they're more likely to receive it better.

[Sginn32]

I just got back into weight lifting earlier this year after takimg two years off. Wouldnt classify myself as a begginer but if someone came up to me and said "hey youre doing that wrong" or "you need to check your form" I wouldnt mind at all. Squats is what I need help on usually. Cant do much because of a knee injury I got in the military and my form gets shakey alot from it. Usually the insecure noobs are the ones that get bent out of shape over it.

[PaulRivers]

I think it's gets broken down into 2 levels, like the OP said.

1. They're doing something **clearly** dangerous - bench pressing 300 pounds in the power rack without setting up the safety bars. Squatting with this expression like they're about to pass out - outside the power cage that's right in front of them. I will walk over and say something.

2. Anything else, if I feel like it I will walk by, say something small in a relaxed tone, and see if they respond in a way that encourages me to keep talking, or that they'd rather be left alone. Or I might say "I don't think you're doing that right...", pause, then if they don't respond positively go back to doing what I'm doing. I try to keep my body language and tone relaxed, like someone who's casually commented but has nothing invested in whether they want help or not.

People have the right to do stupid stuff - as long as it only hurts them - if they want to. I mean sometimes I'm using terrible form myself - but that's because I'm trying to work out something else I'm doing wrong, and it's just a temporary thing, and I don't need 5 opinions on how I'm doing it wrong. Other times, I would actually appreciate some advice.

[chazzy1864]

Considering I've had idiots in the gym criticize my Good Mornings as being incorrect or bad form squats; I'm figuring more often than not, I'm better off without any retards approaching me trying to offer advice.

[oldballs]

If i see someone do something which has a decent probability of doing themselves harm or injury , i will say something.

If it's just bad technique which minimises the effectiveness of an exercise, that's upto them to sort out and learn.

OP, please post picture of yourself so I can decide if you should say something.

[tidnab]

If i see someone do something which has a decent probability of doing themselves harm or injury , i will say something.

If it's just bad technique which minimises the effectiveness of an exercise, that's upto them to sort out and learn.

It depends what they are doing. I usually help out the guys trying to do cleans, because they tend to realize they aren't doing them right without me having to point it out.

[PaulRivers]

OP, please post picture of yourself so I can decide if you should say something.

Don't see how that would help anyone - guy could be ripped and give bad advice, or the guy could not be buff but good at knowing technique and just doesn't work out constantly.

Lots of people who are "ripped" end up injured.

[oldballs]

Don't see how that would help anyone - guy could be ripped and give bad advice, or the guy could not be buff but good at knowing technique and just doesn't work out constantly.

Lots of people who are "ripped" end up injured.

you will learn a lot here

http://www.youtube.com/KanevskyFitness

[PaulRivers]

you will learn a lot here

http://www.youtube.com/KanevskyFitness

Like I said.

[abendm]

ONLY if they're a danger to me or others. At that point it's a negative externality. I don't want to pay for someone else's stupidity; if they're going to fully internalize they're stupid **** then more power to them. I've once had a trainer tell me I was going too deep on squats... while I was in the middle of a set of triples. That **** really pissed me off.

[JohnRainbo]

Very often, the thought crosses my mind. Then I think to myself, "who the f*** am I to give advice," and then I don't. At that moment, I simply tell my workout partner, and we both laugh at how stupid they look.

[Sinaku5]

I've found that the people who are most adamant about approaching others to instruct them on their erroneous ways are usually those who are in fact, largely ignorant themselves.

Lol hell yeah...I had someone give me some pretty terrible squat "advice" the other day...

I said he was wrong and explained why I do what I do and walked away...

[sharpieblet]

Very often, the thought crosses my mind. Then I think to myself, "who the f*** am I to give advice," and then I don't. At that moment, I simply tell my workout partner, and we both laugh at how stupid they look.

usually my approach as well...only i tell MYSELF in my head since i have no workout partner lol. i've been lifting (mostly) properly for a little over a year, that doesn't make me the freakin' weight room savior of souls or anything.

Its the gyms responsibility to have the staff make sure people aren't doing anything unsafely.
Its not your job and you aren't getting paid for it.
If you are asked and it doesn't interrupt your workout then by all means help out.
Its been my experience most people don't want unsolicited advice.

good point...though i never notice this going on in my local Golds...i see guys doing stupid things all the time ESPECIALLY with deads...no one steps in EVER from the staff...but God forbid i go for my one rep set on squats and fail, and the bar falls as i fail a few inches from the bottom of the movement, and hits the safety rails as they were designed to be used and makes a loud clank...then i get reminded to 'be careful, we just want you to be safe!' which is their nice way of saying 'shhhh....you're gonna freak out the spinners and joggers and zumba class if you do that again'

/rant....