Form checking?

grandevampire

Hello all,

I am testing out a gym tonight for the first time in....ever, really.... I am 3 weeks from the end of P90X and really want to make Stronglifts my next fitness step.

I was just wondering if many/most of you work out alone, and if so, how do you handle form checking? I have watched a LOT of videos on proper form and will try to do my best to self-correct, but I imagine there are loads of things you do not realize on your own when you cannot see yourself. Do you just figure out how to improve things naturally as you go along or at some point will I need to solicit outside help?

Thanks!

lwoodroff

hello! welcome! yes I work out alone, I prop my phone up or get one of the gym staff to take a video, then I upload it to youtube and put the link in a topic on here (hmm.. sticky suggestion for forum form checking?) and the girls and guy tell me what I need to tweak

also the group eat, train, progress has a form check sticky, and lots of knowledgeable people.

Enjoy!

grandevampire

hello! welcome! yes I work out alone, I prop my phone up or get one of the gym staff to take a video, then I upload it to youtube and put the link in a topic on here (hmm.. sticky suggestion for forum form checking?) and the girls and guy tell me what I need to tweak

also the group eat, train, progress has a form check sticky, and lots of knowledgeable people.

Enjoy!

Thanks so much for the reply! How often do you usually do this? Is it ever too soon? I assume my first few sessions I will be too caught up in the details to have anything worth critiquing?

(Sorry for the totally n00b questions, took me forever to mentally commit to actually trying even after becoming convinced that it's the thing to do. I'm the type of person who hates the feeling of not being prepared and aware if I can help it!)

lwoodroff

never too soon, but I'd give yourself a couple of weeks to feel comfortable in what you are doing, then when you think you are doing it properly, get a video. but I'm only a baby lifter myself, so one of the more experience gals might want to jump in..?

grandevampire

Well, I survived, but I definitely feel like I need practice and to work on my form. Man, that bar is heavy (when you're weak) !

Thanks again for the encouragement, it was rather fun and only a few people stared at my lost-looking activities.

leahartmann

I work out alone. I have also watched a lot of videos and read some. I find it difficult to remember it all. Sometimes I ask the trainer to check on my form (she knows what she´s doing!) if I feel somethings is off. I imagine that if it doesn´t hurt, I must have done something right. Lol. But then again, I don´t use that much weight yet. Sometimes I have simply asked the guys who worked out to correct me, if they saw that I did something wrong.

BTW, I have a miserable memory. I have to write it all down in a notebook. I have my notes and small drawings, I can watch when I´m not sure that I remember it all right.

spicy618

Well, I survived, but I definitely feel like I need practice and to work on my form. Man, that bar is heavy (when you're weak) !

Thanks again for the encouragement, it was rather fun and only a few people stared at my lost-looking activities.

Way to Go!

I know how you feel. I could not get myself to go to the squat rack. Are there any free Personal training sessions at this gym? If not, the videos and the people here will help you through it.

Also, exrx.org or exrx.net. I can never remember the site. It shows any exercise with dumbells, bars, and machines. Check it out. :flowerforyou:

grandevampire

Way to Go!

I know how you feel. I could not get myself to go to the squat rack. Are there any free Personal training sessions at this gym? If not, the videos and the people here will help you through it.

Also, exrx.org or exrx.net. I can never remember the site. It shows any exercise with dumbells, bars, and machines. Check it out. :flowerforyou:

Thanks for the emotional support, gals. It is really encouraging me since I feel alone stumbing in the dark here. I will definitely continue to watch videos on form and try to remember it in the moment. Luckily, Stronglifts is only 5 moves. :sick:

Not to mention that language barrier isn't making things easy, since my fitness related vocabulary in French is nil. I wanted to tell someone I had 3 sets left, but had no idea what the term was for "set". Apparently, it's "série". Thanks, Google!

Another n00b question: Were you guys able to throw on more weight right away on the second workout, or did you empty bar it for a while? I made it through the five sets, but was pretty shaky on the last set (but I guess that is kind of the point).

lwoodroff

get your form down pat before moving up. it's much better to practice with the empty bar, or maybe add a wee bit of weight, to build that muscle memory. and well done!

holding up 3 fingers would also have shown 3 sets left, though for 2 or 1 you might have to be careful!!

grandevampire

get your form down pat before moving up. it's much better to practice with the empty bar, or maybe add a wee bit of weight, to build that muscle memory. and well done!

holding up 3 fingers would also have shown 3 sets left, though for 2 or 1 you might have to be careful!!

Lol, exactly ! "One" here is a big thumbs up. Whenever people do that, I think in my head "Aw, thanks, they think I did a great job...wait...no.....they're just saying "One"". Actually my "3" is weird to them too. Apparently they find tucking the thumb bizarre and awkward in general and avoid it at all costs.