No spotter?

baxgilter

What do folks do when they don't have a spotter? I want to go up in weight in alot of excercises but am afraid I will hurt myself or just look like a fool without a spotter. Thoughts?

- JoAnna

bufger

When i dont have a spotter i dont lift heavy - its dangerous. If my friend cant make it to the gym i just do more reps on a comfortable weight.

Or you could use the machines instead. They're ok if you dont have a friend with you.

Willbenchforcupcakes

For most exercises, I don't worry about not having a spotter. The safety bars in the squat rack for example, I adjust so that I only have about 2 inches below the bottom of my full range of motion before them. Deadlifts again aren't an issue, I reinforce proper form on my warm-up sets, and if form is wonky that day, I skip them. Shoulder press I work with dumbells, so if I fail, I drop them to the side. Only for chestpress, and only when I'm working close to my 3 rep max do I grab a spot - all the regulars at my gym are awesome, and if I needed, I could grab a quick spot from one of the trainers.

jayhoang

People at the gym are usually pretty good with helping out.
If I look around and I see someone I usually see around all the time, I'll ask for a quick spot and they are generally quite happy to oblige.

Chief_Rocka

People at the gym are usually pretty good with helping out.
If I look around and I see someone I usually see around all the time, I'll ask for a quick spot and they are generally quite happy to oblige.

This. Gym staff will also always help.

FullOfWin

For what lifts? Can you use a power rack with safety pins\bars?

wellbert

For what lifts? Can you use a power rack with safety pins\bars?

This.

Although I don't use a spotter for anything. My bench is still in the range where I can roll-of-shame.

sjohnny

Bench is the only one I worry about having a spotter. Everything else is easy enough to bail on if I need to. I work out at home so I only go up to new weights on bench when someone is there to spot me.

jayhoang

For what lifts? Can you use a power rack with safety pins\bars?

This.

Although I don't use a spotter for anything. My bench is still in the range where I can roll-of-shame.

You should give it a try! I found that having a spotter helps breaks plateaus. Especially on the bench.

SideSteel

My bench is still in the range where I can roll-of-shame.

^ LOL, love it.

VelociMama

People at the gym are usually pretty good with helping out.
If I look around and I see someone I usually see around all the time, I'll ask for a quick spot and they are generally quite happy to oblige.

+1 more to this

I only use a spotter for benching though. The squat rack is perfectly safe to use alone, and deadlifts are easy to bail out on without injury if you need.

erickirb

I suggest power rack, with safety pins

elprincipito

i just ask anyone...even people i never even seen before in the gym ahaha
i have yet to meet someone who says NO

wellbert

For what lifts? Can you use a power rack with safety pins\bars?

This.

Although I don't use a spotter for anything. My bench is still in the range where I can roll-of-shame.

You should give it a try! I found that having a spotter helps breaks plateaus. Especially on the bench.

Yeah, I need a workout buddy. All the bros at my gym insist on touching the bar.
Someone touches the bar = rep doesn't count.

tobnrn

For what lifts? Can you use a power rack with safety pins\bars?

This.

Although I don't use a spotter for anything. My bench is still in the range where I can roll-of-shame.

I did this last week :sad:

IronSmasher

For what lifts? Can you use a power rack with safety pins\bars?

This.

Although I don't use a spotter for anything. My bench is still in the range where I can roll-of-shame.

I don't put the collars on for bench. I've not had to for a long time (due to rep range selection) but the whole gym will know if I've put too much on, and then tried the last rep regardless.

wellbert

For what lifts? Can you use a power rack with safety pins\bars?

This.

Although I don't use a spotter for anything. My bench is still in the range where I can roll-of-shame.

I don't put the collars on for bench. I've not had to for a long time (due to rep range selection) but the whole gym will know if I've put too much on, and then tried the last rep regardless.

Hahahaha. Awesome.

RunsOnEspresso

I've always just used the machines at gyms (even though I know they aren't as effective) because I've never had a spotter. I took two years of weight training in high school and it was drilled into us to never use free weights without a spotter. I guess something from high school stuck...

And I never thought to ask random people at the gym. I am anti-social at the gym.

iplayoutside19

People at the gym are usually pretty good with helping out.
If I look around and I see someone I usually see around all the time, I'll ask for a quick spot and they are generally quite happy to oblige.

This is what I do. But it's only on the bench. However, just having someone stand there provides a ton of confidence.

wackyfunster

Options:
Use a power cage or squat rack.
Get bumper plates so you can drop the bar if needed.

PetulantOne

For what lifts? Can you use a power rack with safety pins\bars?

This.

Although I don't use a spotter for anything. My bench is still in the range where I can roll-of-shame.

You should give it a try! I found that having a spotter helps breaks plateaus. Especially on the bench.

Yeah, I need a workout buddy. All the bros at my gym insist on touching the bar.
Someone touches the bar = rep doesn't count.

Right!!! I've always wondered why it becomes easier when someone has like 2 fingers on the bar :laugh: