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

[asmith474]

man i see some people in my gym using straps for bench press for every set ,,,,, maybe i should say something

[TBU720]

How bout this:

Say "Are you looking for any pointers?"

That way they can answer with a simple shake of the head, and if they don't want any help then at least you offered.

I'll only do that for skinny beginners who obviously look unconfident about what they are doing. If I see a guy loading 3 plates on a bar and doing quarter squats then I just won't bother.

[edubarreche]

Depending on how bad is the mistake they are making, if it could be dangerous or it makes the exercise pointless I´d try to tell them in a polite way maybe a couple of tips on how to do it properly, but it´s not simple stuff since many people feel insulted and whatnot, and I dont wanna be the "coach-guy" who tells people what to do without being their coach

[Xuaxace]

only ever gave advice to one kid, doing deadlifts for the first time and clearly had no clue of what he was doing, it was probably the worst form I had seen to date (lumbar curvature that is). Kinda reminded me of myself when I started and destroyed my back the first time I did a deadlift so I told him to do some research into the movement as it wasn't worth pulling with that form. He thanked me and moved on to another excercise.

I only give advice when asked though, though I am often temped to give out advice, I keep to myself.

[HeteroticPhenom]

The last time I gave someone advice (after asking if he wanted it), was this barrel-shaped guy whom I first saw using a Smith machine to do heavy side bends. No, not kidding. He loaded the Smith with plates, grabbed it w/ one hand, and did side bends with it.

Later, he was still going heavy on the obliques with 90 or 100-lb DB's. That's when I happened to say something. I proceeded to explain the art of building a V-taper via large upper body muscles... and a tight, small waist area. And how "building" the obliques with heavy weight was not exactly the idea. I didn't mention anything about the spine, I guess I should have.

The guy had the type of body --around the waistline-- that you might expect, given this workout I witnessed.

Later, I regretted saying anything. It occurred to me; what if he eventually corrects himself, and builds a massive physique w/ a tight waist... and beats me on stage...?

Since then I only say something if I see someone facing imminent doom.

...which, I have actually.

Otherwise I just enjoy the entertainment. Some of it has to be seen, to be believed.

[ImmenseGTi]

I prefer to mind my own business...I wouldn't want some guy coming up to me giving me advice I didn't ask for so I don't do it to anyone else...

[joegabo]

Hello,

I always tell them whether they blow me off or not is fine with me. Just the other day I saw a young kid doing dumbbell press with way too much weight, I mentioned possible shoulder failure to him as he could not balance the weight on his own giving him a full explanation as to why I was telling him this. (his buddy was spotting/helping him by pulling his fists up) He blew me off (which is fine) but after he left a guy on the bench beside where he was working out lifted up his sleeve and showed me his surgery scar from doing the same thing.

One can not make someone do things properly but you can always let them know. Personally I always listen to anyone that is willing to share knowledge with me. Whether they are right or wrong is my decision as it was for the kid I spoke to in the instance I mentioned.


A lot of people may not initially see the benefit in what you tell them but if it makes them think, then that is a step in the right direction. (but many do and its also about how you say it)

Take care,
Joe

[joegabo]

Forgot to mention this,

Why don't gyms take some responsibility for this? I find it weird that even when I go to the local YMCA you see their wellness coaches walking around and never give anyone any advice even when it is blatantly needed.... lol

Is society truly so touchy that everyone is afraid to say anything to anyone? lol

Anyhow, take care yall, and always tell me if you see me doing something wrong.... (I'm the one in the gym that looks like a chimp)


Joe

[SayWhatAgain12]

I really don't see why people get so butt-hurt about others offering help to someone doing a potentially dangerous exercise/exercise performed non-optimally. At the end of the day, it's just advice ffs

An old man came up to me the other day in the gym to critique my calf raise form ffs, instead of getting butt-hurt I actually considered what he said and decided whether I thought it was good or bad advice. I don't see the big deal surrounding people wanting to help others?

I have only given advice one in the gym and this was to a 12-13 y.o noob kid that I know who was using momentum on a lot of exercises. This is mostly because my physique sucks bum at the moment and I feel like most people wouldn't respect my opinion. inb4 takeaseatoverhere.jpeg

[stefanosgr]

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.

No.It's the trainers job plus I usually don't look at other people working out.I mean it's ok to help but people sometimes react the wrong way so why bother...

If they ask you it's different,in that case I always help(only because I know I have good technique)

[Retardo-pex]

I have a pretty strict speak when spoken to rule at the gym. I don't want to bother anyone and I don't want people to bother me. For a newer lifter or even just a younger lifter it can be very embarassing to be "called out" in the middle of the gym, even if you have nothing but good intentions. This can put someone on the defense right off the bat and put them in a state of not bothering to listen to you. Also keep in mind you probably don't know EVERYTHING there is to know about lifting so what looks wrong/dnagerous to you could have a very specific reason for being in a person's routine.

I started lifting when I was 15 and if I wanted help, I asked anyone who would answer. I know not everyone will be as outgoing but I don't think I've ever seen someone lifting in such a way that I feared for thier life. There are plenty of lifters who have been aorund forever who use ****ty form and never get hurt, much like there are brand new guys who might slip a disc by thier 2nd training week.

[VoxExMachina]

People don't listen to the answers when they come on here and specifically ask a question.

What makes you think they'll listen to unsolicited advice?

[sharpieblet]

People don't listen to the answers when they come on here and specifically ask a question.

What makes you think they'll listen to unsolicited advice?

good point

[BombDonald]

People don't listen to the answers when they come on here and specifically ask a question.

What makes you think they'll listen to unsolicited advice?

Lol, touche.

[Engineer_Guy]

I have a pretty strict speak when spoken to rule at the gym. I don't want to bother anyone and I don't want people to bother me.

This. I am not their coach and I do not want any responsibility for them.

[ThickAsABrick]

I usually send these people an email or a text.

I find it saves a lot of embarrassment to contact them indirectly.

[xMiiDNIGHT]

man i see some people in my gym using straps for bench press for every set ,,,,, maybe i should say something

Its common practice for someone with bad form, helps them from flaring out there elbows. Try it.

[Retardo-pex]

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.



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....

At least they are nice about it. I lifted at a Gold's in Boston ( Fenway) for 6 months. Warming up for deadlifts one afternoon with about 3 other people total in the gym, the front desk guy comes up to me and angrily tells me to stop throwing down the weights. I asked what he meant as I demonstrated what I had been doing. He said "you're are being disrespectful to everyone else here and we are not THAT type of gym" I asked him if in all his wisdom he thought that maybe the iron to bare concrete in an empty basement with a 30 foot ceiling maybe had something to do with the noise. He asked me to leave.

[Retardo-pex]

I really don't see why people get so butt-hurt about others offering help to someone doing a potentially dangerous exercise/exercise performed non-optimally. At the end of the day, it's just advice ffs

An old man came up to me the other day in the gym to critique my calf raise form ffs, instead of getting butt-hurt I actually considered what he said and decided whether I thought it was good or bad advice. I don't see the big deal surrounding people wanting to help others?

I have only given advice one in the gym and this was to a 12-13 y.o noob kid that I know who was using momentum on a lot of exercises. This is mostly because my physique sucks bum at the moment and I feel like most people wouldn't respect my opinion. inb4 takeaseatoverhere.jpeg

Its not usually a butthurt response its more of a " who the hell are you and why should I listen to your advice?" which in all fairness everyone should have. I like to refer to this example a lot: While in college and on the club powerlifting team during the holidays, a teammate and I were still on campus for a normal training day. The varsity gym was closed for 2 weeks, so we went to the campus rec center ( varisty gym is a strength and conditioning gym run by athletes and at least 1 powerlifter, rec center is a 3 story planet fitness). We decided to do some pull work and around the time we get to defecit deadlifts I notice my buddy tsk tsk'ing at someone across the gym in that know it all disapproving sort of way. He was watching someone do pullups, but they weren't going to a full dead hang or bringing their chin up over the bar so he was judging them and considering going over to help them out. I pulled him abck to reality and said " Dude look what we are doing right now and tell me who looks like the gym idiot to everyone else" We had 2-3 45 plates stacked on top of each other outisde of a squat rack to use for defecit deadlifts.

Basically to everyone else at a conventional fitness center that would be dangerous and foolish or even cheating, so why would they want our advice to begin with?

[wadboram]

Sometimes I don't feel giving advice as some people in the gym don't welcome that. This reminded me of one thin beginner guy was trying to convince me that weight of plates should be calculated per muscle and not the total weight. i.e. for bench press you should say I can bench 50lbs and actually you're benching 100lbs (50 on each side)...I didn't go with him into much debate I just smiled and left him.

[Basketball22]

I never give advice unless i'm asked. I figure it's absolutely none of my business if i'm not asked. That being said, when i first started deadlifting my form wasn't very good and a guy came over and gave me advice which was much appreciated.

[DocF]

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.

^^^
Exactly

[ZoranM]

Sometimes.

[71Avido]

Bert stare and get back to business.

[guineapig71]

If the person is younger than me and looks like they will listen to you and hear you out then yes I usually do sp long as they ask me first. If the person is just one of those douche bags who just think they are Gods gift my training partners and I will usually just laugh about them amongst ourselves. Why waste our time if the person just gonna blow us off. Moreover even though I have years of experience lifting weights I'm not a certified training and do not want to take liability for anyone hurting themselves with my advice.