Hello everyone! I was talking on my FL about how I missed this group, and they invited me to come back! So I will introduce myself, jump in, and see if you all agree that I can fit in. The reason that I left originally was that I stopped doing Stronglifts.

I did Stronglifts (switching over to Starting Strength at some point) for much of 2013. However, in the fall last year, I hired an internet trainer and I now do a mix of lifting. My current routine has me doing the Big 4 for low reps once each week, and the rest of the programs are more heavy circuit work. I my programming and I love my trainer, and most of all I lifting weights in any form!

So here I am, if you'll have me!

Welcome back, I haven't done stronglifts since sometime in 2012 I just never left and just stick my nose in and try to hep out from time to time.

Welcome back :bigsmile:

You have a guy who tells people to stop benching? Is it because he wants all the benches, or is he claiming it'll destroy their shoulders or something?! xD What the hell? I would drop that guy on a bench and drop a bar on him, see if he changes his mind xD (Not seriously, but geez, some people...)

I don,t know if that beats the old man I see doing machine chest flyes for 20+ minutes every time I see him... That machine is right at the exit of the ladies' locker room. Just creepy

Threadjack: total NSV today made me smile! I was eating lunch and listening idly to the 2 young men chatting at the next table over. Heard the word "deadlift" go by- one says to the other, "165-175 is a really good deadlift man!". These two were buff guys in their mid 20's. I deadlift 220 routinely (PR 235#) and am a woman pushing 53....

LOVE IT!

You have a guy who tells people to stop benching? Is it because he wants all the benches, or is he claiming it'll destroy their shoulders or something?! xD What the hell? I would drop that guy on a bench and drop a bar on him, see if he changes his mind xD (Not seriously, but geez, some people...)

I don,t know if that beats the old man I see doing machine chest flyes for 20+ minutes every time I see him... That machine is right at the exit of the ladies' locker room. Just creepy

He's a trainer there and he has some weird vendetta against bench presses. Last time he lectured me about how they don't do anything and are a waste of time and that I should never do them. (I guess it should be noted... I didn't ask him.)

Funny! Does he look like this?

Someone on my facebook feed just posted this:

http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2012/09/butterfinger-mousse-cheesecakes/

I will hunt them down and have them make them for me, by force, if necessary.

Damn, they look awesome! Keep us updated about the hunt and the outcome :-)

Welcome back, Elaine :-)

The torso skip pic :laugh:

Gah, that looks absolutely delish!! Send me ONE after you make them, K? Sending address in a PM...

[Edited for typos]

Damn was peckish then looked on here and saw them cheesecakes now I'm full on starving!!

I just walked out of the gym in tears, without finishing my workout.

I get very anxious still. I'm still new to lifting, and I'm still having to compromise the squats (I'm using two dumbbells) because my gym doesn't have a squat rack. I found that when I get there at opening on Saturday, it's generally empty. Not true today. I had to wait and wait and wait for a space near the free weights. They've got so many crummy machines crammed into the area now, that it's hard to get in there. There were three guys and a girl and I walked on the treadmill nearby, hovering and waiting for some of them to finish up. Two of them left and I commenced my squats.

I've been working really hard to get deeper with my squats, after I realized what I THOUGHT was deep really wasn't. The girl I mentioned before was still over there, and I wasn't paying any attention to her, so I don't know what she was doing. She then walked up to me and said, super condescendingly, "Hon... when you do your lunges, you really gotta be more careful." I told her I was doing squats, not lunges, and she said it didn't matter, I was going way too deep and that I was going to hurt myself. She started demonstrating super shallow squats. I said something like, "Okay, thank you.." and kind of turned away. She went away, but on my next set, she came back over and started talking to me like a child, telling me not to do it that way, etc. I gave her the "back off" (hand up, palm out) body language while telling her thanks, and she still wouldn't stop. I finally just walked past her while she was talking and put my weights back and went away from her, over to where the bars are to do my overhead presses.

Except... that girl had the weights I needed on her bar, over by the dumbbells. She wasn't using them, she just had them. And then a gym employee came up, this older woman, and started asking me a million questions. (I've had an issue with this woman before, coming up to me while running and acting as though she was so shocked I was able to run - also super condescending) "Is this the bar you want to use?" "What are you up to today?" "Is that too heavy?" ...The bars were either all way too light or a little too heavy, and she was all up in my face, and I kind of had a mild anxiety attack and left.

I just wish people would understand that some people do not want their input. This is the second time other people have bothered me at the gym to the point where I got upset. I understand that people may be "just trying to help" but I think they need to be aware of their help not being wanted. If I want their help, I will ask. Leave. Me. Alone. Just because I'm overweight doesn't mean I'm brand new to working out. It's condescending to think otherwise.

^^^ This.

I'm often astounded at the nerve of some people in the gym...especially when they know less than I do.

@holliehatesyo
HOLY CRAP. I honestly think you should look into going to a dif. gym. #1 they dont have the equipment you would like to use (it sounds like) #2 B!tches be CRAY up in there talking AT you like tha t...yes at you...because to you would mean she gave a damn what you had to say and obviously she doesnt. #3 Workouts are supposed to be a safe place for you to workout...Safety isnt just proper form- you also have to feel safe...this place sounds toxic.

I cannot believe the nerve... I am upset for you.

Keep doing your thing...do NOT let her stop you.

Thanks everyone!

I kind of got the feeling she wants to be a trainer and was trying to use me as a guinea pig.

I stood outside the door for a while, thinking about going back inside and telling her how inappropriate it was to assume that strangers want to hear her unsolicited advice without her knowing anything about them. I'm already so nervous in there -- and regardless if she's wrong or right or "just trying to help," it's not okay to put people on the spot like that.

Someone should open a no eye-contact gym for us anxiety-ridden introverts.

^^^ This.

I'm often astounded at the nerve of some people in the gym...especially when they know less than I do.

x2...

Definately put the earbuds in...

I personally would print of an article on correct squat form and hand it to the asshat..

I took a screen shot on my phone from Starting Strength to show the proper squat position because my mom and I had the same thing happen. They never said anything again, but I was ready. I am overweight & my mom is older, so they, who spend 2+ hours every day at the gym felt they could school us. Now, after 7 weeks, we are part of the scenery & people probably just thing we are crazy ladies squatting "wrong" & heavy

@hollie wow. your gym does not seem fun. Some people just can't take a hint can they.