What should I ask?

EmilyStopFlying

I've just joined a gym for the first time, and I would like to start the SL 5x5 program. At this gym we get one free fitness appraisal/training session at the start. I'm very bad at talking to people I don't know assertively and getting what I need I know so I think I'm going to come in with a list of questions to ask, so I don't forget.

I was planning on asking my trainer to go over the form of all the exercises and the locations and uses of all the free weights in the gym. Is there anything else you think I should find out or ask before I begin? Thanks so much in advance

canadianlbs

if i were just starting out with sl from the beginning again, i would ask the orientation person to show me what i'd be able to use to simulate the correct bar height for deadlifts and rows, so that i could start right out with the right form even when all i'm able to lift is the bar, and/or the bar and some of the smaller plates. i still haven't gotten to big-girl plates yet, and trying to pull that bar from even a few inches lower down totally alters the mechanics and has been slowing me down. plus, higher injury risk.

you might not be up to plates yet, but take a look to see what kinds of clips or clamps are being used to hold them on the bar. i'm suggesting this because the place that i use only has a couple of the easy snap-on type rings, and the rest are these spring-loaded butterfly clamps that are a workout and a mechanical engineering degree all in themselves to get on and take off. you might not be using or needing plates at the moment, but the day will come fast. so it might be nice to have the general low-down on that. i didn't even know there were such things until some kid barely old enough to be out by himself said 'why don't you . . . ?' in that puzzled whats-wrong-with-you tone that you get from someone who's only 14.

get him/her to show you where they keep the foam rollers! also and all any other post-workout kink-remover objects that they might have. in fact, ask them to walk you through the most useful pre-post stretches for the sl lifts, as well as the form of the lifts themselves. any other tips you happen to pick up from them for dealing with DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), write them all down and then bring them in here :bigsmile:

and way to go! i hope you're excited, because it's nice to have you here.

lishie_rebooted

I'm sorry but ew on the gym foam rollers.
My gym had an orange textured one that was a dingy color on the surface that contacted the skin but bright orange in the crevices.
No one whips them done.


Stack plates to get the bar the right height.

kgeyser

I just went through this myself. I went in and told the trainer what program I was planning on doing, and that I wanted to go over proper form for each exercise. He also looked at my range of motion, flexibility, and strength to see what I needed to work on, and gave me some mobility drills and exercises to increase strength in my weak areas. And I don't mean strength with barbells, I mean "your upper back is weak, and it's going to screw up your form" "your left shoulder is much weaker and has less mobility than your right shoulder," "your right knee collapses in on your squat," "you need to strengthen your hip flexors and this head of your quad." A good trainer will be able to see those issues and help you make form corrections and modifications. And don't be afraid to speak up if you don't feel like you are getting what you want out of session.

Tell them when you schedule the appt that you will be doing the program and you need a trainer who is educated on the Olympic lifts. No sense wasting your time or theirs because they just randomly stuck you with someone.

EmilyStopFlying

Thanks so much for the advice

randomtai

I'm sorry but ew on the gym foam rollers.
My gym had an orange textured one that was a dingy color on the surface that contacted the skin but bright orange in the crevices.
No one whips them done.


Stack plates to get the bar the right height.

I use gym foam rollers.. I haven't died yet. I think they are fine.

randomtai

Trainers are hit or miss... mostly miss. I would research on my own about what I want to do and teach myself.