The good and the bad at the gym

shor0814

How are other people's gyms with regards to lifting? For example some good things happened.

This weekend we got our 3 power cages and 1 squat rack and hex plagtes replaced with 5 full racks with deadlift platforms and bumper plates as well as extra bars. It was a great upgrade.

I had to drag a bench over to do my bench press and one of the trainers wanted me to not put the bench on the new wooden deadlift platform and suggested a Smith machine....we compromised I put some mats under the legs of the bench. My normal trainer came over after to see what was going on and is going to suggest some poly or rubber mats for the new equipment. Turned out pretty good overall.

The only negative I can come up with is the lack of exposure to low bar squats by trainers in my gym. It is a big corporate type gym and they all know high bar squat and are pretty decent trainers but are a bit too caught up in the non heavy lifting world. I left my Starting Strength book with my trainer to see if he can get up to speed. He did try some low bar squats on his own time and is having some of the same problems I have, bar placement and back position. Maybe we can encourage management to host a power lifting seminar.

All in all I love this gym and am happy with it, just need some options for coaching my deadlifts and squats. I am going to upload my videos to the Starting Strength website but I always learn better with immediate feedback and hate waiting. Anyone know what to look for in a coach so I can quit adjusting form and just get it right? I hate to pay someone who only read the books. I am in the Denver area if that helps.

What are other people's gyms like with regards to lifting?

shmerek

Sounds like an awesome gym. Mine sucks.

meshashesha2012

mine's OK.
good: 2 power cages and 1 squat rack. 3 reg bench press stations, 1 decline bencjh station. there are 3 proper oly bars. these are all accessible during the non peak hours of the gym (weekends, mon-fri after 7 pm) basically when i would be using it

the bad : there are 3 proper oly bars but they can be anywhere since bars are also used for several other places and the rest of the bars are the 30-35 pound variety, so sometimes i have to move around bars from one station to another to get an oly bar. so many bars and only 4 collars!!!

the ugly : sometimes there's no respect for the cages. for instance people doing lunges and sit ups between the racks.. people using the floor space inside the racks to do complete workouts that do not even involve free weights!

in general the trainers suck at my gym. there is one with a with strength training/power lifing know how and another who might be OK, the rest are pretty useless for anything other than "here's how you do a million tricep extensions with barbie weights"..

if you're eager for a coach then ask the front desk if there are any trainers who specialize in power lifting and strength training for competiton. if there's no option maybe you can find a trainer at another gym and see if you can have your gym allow them to train you there.

Rage_Phish

mine is a pure weight lifting gym designed for heavy lifting and full of mostly people stronger than me lol the cardio section is pathetic (and many of the cardio machines are out of order)

the gym has zero frills, tons of racks, benches, free weights, machine weights, they claim to have an AC that they use but i sure dont think they have one.

DavPul

Your gym just got a bunch of racks, platforms, and bumper plates.....and what's the bad, exactly? That doesn't sound like any big corporate gym I've heard of. I work out in a kick *kitten* gym but it sounds like yours has mine beat

Myhaloslipped

I love mine! It is a brand new L.A. Fitness, and it has everything I need and more.

Pinkranger626

As an ACSM certified Health Fitness Specialist I train my clients to use heavier weights. That being said, for the typical client, low bar squats may be too advanced for them as far as form and technique. Because of the positioning of the bar, those with rotator cuff issues, or back issues may not be able to get into proper form. Unfortunately, these two issues are a very common occurence in the training world. I have been trained in the basics for powerlifting and olympic style lifts, but have not gone much farther as I decided to get the HFS certification over Strength and Conditioning since I had planned on going into personal training and not coaching. More than likely, the trainers at your gym are not strength and conditioning coaches, which is why they don't know about low bar squats.

My suggestion for you, as you are able to and want to perform this type of squat, would be to find a trainer with a strength and conditioning certification. Strength and conditioning coaches are trained in proper form and technique for olympic style lifts and power lifts, where personal training certifications do not cover them. Personally, I wouldn't want a trainer to try and coach my form if they haven't had work in that area and only have a book for reference. What type of credentials do the trainers in your gym have? Unfortunately the fitness field isn't very regulated so you'll find a lot of trainers have minimal education before they start training. I would check out their credentials and find someone with a degree in exercise science and a background in strength and conditioning so that you are completing the exercises safely and getting the most benefit from it.

JoRocka

Your gym just got a bunch of racks, platforms, and bumper plates.....and what's the bad, exactly? That doesn't sound like any big corporate gym I've heard of. I work out in a kick *kitten* gym but it sounds like yours has mine beat

mine's full of power lifers and body builders and we still only have 2 racks and one power cage.

Sounds like you are winning the gym pimped out aware.

leodru

i just left mine because it sucked. I was always looking for equipment and dragging weights around. I quit and have a new "box store" gym. It has all new equipment - 4 new squat racks that are fantastic but the place is blocked with 20-somethings hanging out chatting with each other. Still trying to find my times to go. I could go to another club a little further away (part of the same membership) but this one is 7 minutes from home (the other about 20). I'll find my grove but the equipment is great.

Azdak

How are other people's gyms with regards to lifting? For example some good things happened.

This weekend we got our 3 power cages and 1 squat rack and hex plagtes replaced with 5 full racks with deadlift platforms and bumper plates as well as extra bars. It was a great upgrade.

I had to drag a bench over to do my bench press and one of the trainers wanted me to not put the bench on the new wooden deadlift platform and suggested a Smith machine....we compromised I put some mats under the legs of the bench. My normal trainer came over after to see what was going on and is going to suggest some poly or rubber mats for the new equipment. Turned out pretty good overall.

The only negative I can come up with is the lack of exposure to low bar squats by trainers in my gym. It is a big corporate type gym and they all know high bar squat and are pretty decent trainers but are a bit too caught up in the non heavy lifting world. I left my Starting Strength book with my trainer to see if he can get up to speed. He did try some low bar squats on his own time and is having some of the same problems I have, bar placement and back position. Maybe we can encourage management to host a power lifting seminar.

All in all I love this gym and am happy with it, just need some options for coaching my deadlifts and squats. I am going to upload my videos to the Starting Strength website but I always learn better with immediate feedback and hate waiting. Anyone know what to look for in a coach so I can quit adjusting form and just get it right? I hate to pay someone who only read the books. I am in the Denver area if that helps.

What are other people's gyms like with regards to lifting?

I am puzzled by one thing-- are the platforms attached to the power racks--i.e.the platform in front of the rack with a wooden "tongue" extending into the rack? If so, those racks and platforms are meant to be used with a bench--in fact, a custom bench is often included in the whole package. There is going to be wear and tear on those platforms--might as well get used to it now.

MelissR75

mine is a pure weight lifting gym designed for heavy lifting and full of mostly people stronger than me lol the cardio section is pathetic (and many of the cardio machines are out of order)

the gym has zero frills, tons of racks, benches, free weights, machine weights, they claim to have an AC that they use but i sure dont think they have one.

We must go to the same gym! lol

we do have a decent cardio section but it is small..if you are there mid-morning you can't get on anything as the senior citizens are there walking and getting in their daily gossip.

Other than that its all for serious lifters. I love it

shor0814

Your gym just got a bunch of racks, platforms, and bumper plates.....and what's the bad, exactly? That doesn't sound like any big corporate gym I've heard of. I work out in a kick *kitten* gym but it sounds like yours has mine beat

Nothing really "bad" about the gym at all actually, just looking for a bit better training for strength. I really can't complain much.

I am puzzled by one thing-- are the platforms attached to the power racks--i.e.the platform in front of the rack with a wooden "tongue" extending into the rack? If so, those racks and platforms are meant to be used with a bench--in fact, a custom bench is often included in the whole package. There is going to be wear and tear on those platforms--might as well get used to it now.

That is exactly the design (Hammer Strength). I can't imagine those weren't designed with benches in mind. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of bench press stations available, but the rack is the only place to do presses without a spotter. At least they are open minded enough to allow us to improvise. I think it was more like buying a new vehicle and not wanting to get that first scratch on it

What type of credentials do the trainers in your gym have? Unfortunately the fitness field isn't very regulated so you'll find a lot of trainers have minimal education before they start training.

There are a bunch of trainers and they all have a bunch of letters after their names. Rather go off actual knowledge as opposed to certifications. But I will check.

That being said, for the typical client, low bar squats may be too advanced for them as far as form and technique. Because of the positioning of the bar, those with rotator cuff issues, or back issues may not be able to get into proper form.

What makes the low bar so advanced? I would be asking for the same form check and coaching even with high bar squats. I prefer low bar because it works the hamstrings and glutes more and that is my weak spot.

Sounds like I got the good end of the overall gym package. Not sure if I want to join a pure lifting gym, I like the pools we have too much

Rage_Phish

Your gym just got a bunch of racks, platforms, and bumper plates.....and what's the bad, exactly? That doesn't sound like any big corporate gym I've heard of. I work out in a kick *kitten* gym but it sounds like yours has mine beat

If you were responding to me, there is no bad. It a local independent place

Except it's pretty damn hot in the summer and the dudes talking about "cycling" and I'm pretty sure they don't mean bikes

JoRocka

Your gym just got a bunch of racks, platforms, and bumper plates.....and what's the bad, exactly? That doesn't sound like any big corporate gym I've heard of. I work out in a kick *kitten* gym but it sounds like yours has mine beat

If you were responding to me, there is no bad. It a local independent place

Except it's pretty damn hot in the summer and the dudes talking about "cycling" and I'm pretty sure they don't mean bikes

LOL

the girls on the treadmills complain that it's too hot in our gym- and made them open a frigging door... and I'm sitting on the bench getting chills between sets. Like- you do realize you raised your core temperature- it's GOING to get warm right???

I'm so happy its warm. I never realized how **itty having an actually cool gym was till I got cold between sets that day (and it's not like I'm taking 5 min breaks here). I think it was like 72 or something that day- even the manager was complaining how cold it was.

NRBreit

I have 2 LA Fitness locations close to my house so that's where I go. I usually go the newer one which has 2 cages and 2 racks. There at least a half dozen benches, 2 inclines, and 1 decline. My complaints are how busy it is between 5:30 and 7:30pm. They also don't have 35 lb plates which bugs me.

Crash7676

They gym I actually train with my trainer at is all free weights & racks & old school powerlifting equipment. The gym I work at is more convenient to use but has soo many more shiny new machines that I have to hunt to find the equipment that will work with the workouts my trainer gave me. I've always been under the impression that free weights are better than machines but boy the machines are popular and plentiful at they shiny new corporate gym I work at.

JoRocka

I have 2 LA Fitness locations close to my house so that's where I go. I usually go the newer one which has 2 cages and 2 racks. There at least a half dozen benches, 2 inclines, and 1 decline. My complaints are how busy it is between 5:30 and 7:30pm. They also don't have 35 lb plates which bugs me.

My LA fitness exactly. (actually ALL the LA's I've ever been too- and I worked out at several in the tri-state area.

I loved that gym- sad I left it- but I'm happy with my power house.

Crash7676

Your gym just got a bunch of racks, platforms, and bumper plates.....and what's the bad, exactly? That doesn't sound like any big corporate gym I've heard of. I work out in a kick *kitten* gym but it sounds like yours has mine beat

If you were responding to me, there is no bad. It a local independent place

Except it's pretty damn hot in the summer and the dudes talking about "cycling" and I'm pretty sure they don't mean bikes

LOL

the girls on the treadmills complain that it's too hot in our gym- and made them open a frigging door... and I'm sitting on the bench getting chills between sets. Like- you do realize you raised your core temperature- it's GOING to get warm right???

I'm so happy its warm. I never realized how **itty having an actually cool gym was till I got cold between sets that day (and it's not like I'm taking 5 min breaks here). I think it was like 72 or something that day- even the manager was complaining how cold it was.

Yea, and on the flip side, in the Spinning studio I teach in it is kept quite cold; a few of the students complain that it is too cold and to turn on the heat. I just laugh and wink and tell them to get on the bike and warm up themselves because the studio will be too hot in no time. They don't realize they won't want the heat blowing on them during the workout. They are lucky to be in a gym that has cardio rooms on different thermostats than the rest of the gym.

JoRocka

Your gym just got a bunch of racks, platforms, and bumper plates.....and what's the bad, exactly? That doesn't sound like any big corporate gym I've heard of. I work out in a kick *kitten* gym but it sounds like yours has mine beat

If you were responding to me, there is no bad. It a local independent place

Except it's pretty damn hot in the summer and the dudes talking about "cycling" and I'm pretty sure they don't mean bikes

LOL

the girls on the treadmills complain that it's too hot in our gym- and made them open a frigging door... and I'm sitting on the bench getting chills between sets. Like- you do realize you raised your core temperature- it's GOING to get warm right???

I'm so happy its warm. I never realized how **itty having an actually cool gym was till I got cold between sets that day (and it's not like I'm taking 5 min breaks here). I think it was like 72 or something that day- even the manager was complaining how cold it was.

Yea, and on the flip side, in the Spinning studio I teach in it is kept quite cold; a few of the students complain that it is too cold and to turn on the heat. I just laugh and wink and tell them to get on the bike and warm up themselves because the studio will be too hot in no time. They don't realize they won't want the heat blowing on them during the workout. They are lucky to be in a gym that has cardio rooms on different thermostats than the rest of the gym.

yeah- being a LITTLE cold/cool for cardio stuff is great- because you warm right up it winds up being nice. That is awesome they have them on different thermostats!!! Makes a huge difference!!! My old gym kept the spin room cooler- it was nice. this one I'm not sure about- I haven't been in there yet.

Azdak

I am puzzled by one thing-- are the platforms attached to the power racks--i.e.the platform in front of the rack with a wooden "tongue" extending into the rack? If so, those racks and platforms are meant to be used with a bench--in fact, a custom bench is often included in the whole package. There is going to be wear and tear on those platforms--might as well get used to it now.

That is exactly the design (Hammer Strength). I can't imagine those weren't designed with benches in mind. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of bench press stations available, but the rack is the only place to do presses without a spotter. At least they are open minded enough to allow us to improvise. I think it was more like buying a new vehicle and not wanting to get that first scratch on it

That's what I thought--it sounded like a Hammer install. Those racks have been installed in weight rooms all over the country (I've done a few myself). Maybe they didn't get them, but there are special benches that do into those racks that attach so that they are centered.

I suspect this is only temporary and they will eventually give in. Those platforms can actually take a pretty good beating.