Would you (especially girls) ask someone random to spot you?
Amyaya
Posts: 107 Member
I have only been lifting weights the last couple of months and I have made some progress so far.
My current goal is to go up to my body weight on squats - but this definitely requires a spotter to do safely. My issue is that because I always go to the gym alone ( have no one to go with!) it is preventing me to go heavier (except for a PT session a week).
Would you ask someone random you see there to spot you? If so how would you approach them?
Also - if you were asked to spot someone, would you feel ok with it?
My current goal is to go up to my body weight on squats - but this definitely requires a spotter to do safely. My issue is that because I always go to the gym alone ( have no one to go with!) it is preventing me to go heavier (except for a PT session a week).
Would you ask someone random you see there to spot you? If so how would you approach them?
Also - if you were asked to spot someone, would you feel ok with it?
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Replies
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Most folks would have no issue with it IMO, but spotting for squat is quite... close so its more a case of you feeling comfortable i'd guess0
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DangerousDUCK wrote: »Most folks would have no issue with it IMO, but spotting for squat is quite... close so its more a case of you feeling comfortable i'd guess
Yes I know what you mean and spotting squats is quite close! I feel frustrated - and I def wouldn't want anyone to get a "wrong" idea by asking to spot me either! lol0 -
So you don't have access to a squat rack that has the safety bars? Hmmm, the videos I've seen with people spotting lifters on squats show two spotters, one on either side of the bar, so it's not quite so "close". Maybe you could get two people to help?0
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CarlydogsMom wrote: »So you don't have access to a squat rack that has the safety bars? Hmmm, the videos I've seen with people spotting lifters on squats show two spotters, one on either side of the bar, so it's not quite so "close". Maybe you could get two people to help?
I do have access to those squat racks with safety bars - but I am still not comfortable going heavier with no one supporting me. I wish my bf would go with me but he has no interest in working out at the gym which is a shame!
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DangerousDUCK wrote: »Most folks would have no issue with it IMO, but spotting for squat is quite... close so its more a case of you feeling comfortable i'd guess
Also again - I guess I just didnt make sense did I. I mean having a spotter is what I want so I would be fine with it. I just wanted to ask how people would feel being asked for it, and if any girls would ask if they were in my situation.0 -
I have asked random people for a spot. I prefer it to be someone I see often and chat with sometimes, but when I first started, or even now on certain days-no one like that around. I do prefer it to be someone who I have seen power lifting already. Are you friendly with anyone at the gym?0
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arditarose wrote: »I have asked random people for a spot. I prefer it to be someone I see often and chat with sometimes, but when I first started, or even now on certain days-no one like that around. I do prefer it to be someone who I have seen power lifting already. Are you friendly with anyone at the gym?
I do chit chat to some people I often see - but they might not be the ones who could help with spotting.. (they are not doing weights)0 -
MrBiggiesworth wrote: »I have only been lifting weights the last couple of months and I have made some progress so far.
My current goal is to go up to my body weight on squats - but this definitely requires a spotter to do safely. My issue is that because I always go to the gym alone ( have no one to go with!) it is preventing me to go heavier (except for a PT session a week).
Would you ask someone random you see there to spot you? If so how would you approach them?
Also - if you were asked to spot someone, would you feel ok with it?
I don't ask for spots. I never lift to failure when I could drop the weight on myself. I have seen several others do this though. You should find two spotters for squats, one on each side of the bar. Just look for someone who is paying attention to you, they will probably help.
Ok I see - finding two spotters would be even harder....0 -
The reason I use machines is so that I don't have to have a spotter. If there was a way to not have one I would totally get into that!0
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MrBiggiesworth wrote: »I have only been lifting weights the last couple of months and I have made some progress so far.
My current goal is to go up to my body weight on squats - but this definitely requires a spotter to do safely. My issue is that because I always go to the gym alone ( have no one to go with!) it is preventing me to go heavier (except for a PT session a week).
Would you ask someone random you see there to spot you? If so how would you approach them?
Also - if you were asked to spot someone, would you feel ok with it?
I don't ask for spots. I never lift to failure when I could drop the weight on myself. I have seen several others do this though. You should find two spotters for squats, one on each side of the bar. Just look for someone who is paying attention to you, they will probably help.
Ok I see - finding two spotters would be even harder....
You don't need to do that.
Just ask someone. It's worth the 30 seconds of awkwardness to see how you are doing up near your max. Trust me.0 -
zoomtech16 wrote: »The reason I use machines is so that I don't have to have a spotter. If there was a way to not have one I would totally get into that!
You don't really need one. Sometimes when you are up near max weights it can be helpful.0 -
zoomtech16 wrote: »The reason I use machines is so that I don't have to have a spotter. If there was a way to not have one I would totally get into that!
You're robbing yourself of the amazingness that is free weights.
I lift alone alone. And if there was someone else in my basement, I wouldnt br asking them to spot me.
When I lifted in a commercial gym, I never once felt the need for a spotter on squats. Once on bench but I've watched how to get out of a bad bench or a bad squat0 -
OP, how much are you doing for reps now? It took me about a year of squatting before I got high enough to ask for a spot.0
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I use a power squat rack with the safety bars.
I max out at 405. Never have a spotter as much as observer. The bars are my emergency spotter
That said I have spotted women I know well as they seem to like a person as well as the safety bars.
It is a bit personal and I do keep my hands on her waist and do the squat as well.
I would think it odd for a stranger to ask me. How would they know I knew what I was doing?
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arditarose wrote: »OP, how much are you doing for reps now? It took me about a year of squatting before I got high enough to ask for a spot.
I am currently at only 110 x 5 reps after about 2.5 months of training. I am aiming at 132 which is my body weight for now. When I tried 110 last week, I did need a spotter (my PT) and I could just make my last rep but it was very close to dropping.0 -
arditarose wrote: »OP, how much are you doing for reps now? It took me about a year of squatting before I got high enough to ask for a spot.
I am currently at only 110 x 5 reps after about 2.5 months of training. I am aiming at 132 which is my body weight for now. When I tried 110 last week, I did need a spotter (my PT) and I could just make my last rep but it was very close to dropping.
Are you doing 5x5?
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arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »OP, how much are you doing for reps now? It took me about a year of squatting before I got high enough to ask for a spot.
I am currently at only 110 x 5 reps after about 2.5 months of training. I am aiming at 132 which is my body weight for now. When I tried 110 last week, I did need a spotter (my PT) and I could just make my last rep but it was very close to dropping.
Are you doing 5x5?
No not doing 5 x5, 110 last week was my first time trying and 5 reps were the maximum i could make.0 -
arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »OP, how much are you doing for reps now? It took me about a year of squatting before I got high enough to ask for a spot.
I am currently at only 110 x 5 reps after about 2.5 months of training. I am aiming at 132 which is my body weight for now. When I tried 110 last week, I did need a spotter (my PT) and I could just make my last rep but it was very close to dropping.
Are you doing 5x5?
No not doing 5 x5, 110 last week was my first time trying and 5 reps were the maximum i could make.
Okay, so you don't necessarily need a spotter. You need a structured program with a progressive overload, adding appropriate amount of weight each week. There are definitely weeks when my last rep on my last set is HARD to get up, but it goes. And if it doesn't, I know how to fail with the safety bars.0 -
arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »OP, how much are you doing for reps now? It took me about a year of squatting before I got high enough to ask for a spot.
I am currently at only 110 x 5 reps after about 2.5 months of training. I am aiming at 132 which is my body weight for now. When I tried 110 last week, I did need a spotter (my PT) and I could just make my last rep but it was very close to dropping.
Are you doing 5x5?
No not doing 5 x5, 110 last week was my first time trying and 5 reps were the maximum i could make.
Okay, so you don't necessarily need a spotter. You need a structured program with a progressive overload, adding appropriate amount of weight each week. There are definitely weeks when my last rep on my last set is HARD to get up, but it goes. And if it doesn't, I know how to fail with the safety bars.
Probably like you and other people say, what I need is to learn how to use the safety bars when needed. I only get to work with weights like this a couple of times a week.0 -
arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »OP, how much are you doing for reps now? It took me about a year of squatting before I got high enough to ask for a spot.
I am currently at only 110 x 5 reps after about 2.5 months of training. I am aiming at 132 which is my body weight for now. When I tried 110 last week, I did need a spotter (my PT) and I could just make my last rep but it was very close to dropping.
Are you doing 5x5?
No not doing 5 x5, 110 last week was my first time trying and 5 reps were the maximum i could make.
Okay, so you don't necessarily need a spotter. You need a structured program with a progressive overload, adding appropriate amount of weight each week. There are definitely weeks when my last rep on my last set is HARD to get up, but it goes. And if it doesn't, I know how to fail with the safety bars.
Probably like you and other people say, what I need is to learn how to use the safety bars when needed. I only get to work with weights like this a couple of times a week.
I think picking a beginners program would help too. It will help you calculate how much weight to lift, when to add, when NOT to add.
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arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »OP, how much are you doing for reps now? It took me about a year of squatting before I got high enough to ask for a spot.
I am currently at only 110 x 5 reps after about 2.5 months of training. I am aiming at 132 which is my body weight for now. When I tried 110 last week, I did need a spotter (my PT) and I could just make my last rep but it was very close to dropping.
Are you doing 5x5?
No not doing 5 x5, 110 last week was my first time trying and 5 reps were the maximum i could make.
Okay, so you don't necessarily need a spotter. You need a structured program with a progressive overload, adding appropriate amount of weight each week. There are definitely weeks when my last rep on my last set is HARD to get up, but it goes. And if it doesn't, I know how to fail with the safety bars.
Probably like you and other people say, what I need is to learn how to use the safety bars when needed. I only get to work with weights like this a couple of times a week.
I think picking a beginners program would help too. It will help you calculate how much weight to lift, when to add, when NOT to add.
Yes definitely - I will look into it
Thank you! 0 -
arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »arditarose wrote: »OP, how much are you doing for reps now? It took me about a year of squatting before I got high enough to ask for a spot.
I am currently at only 110 x 5 reps after about 2.5 months of training. I am aiming at 132 which is my body weight for now. When I tried 110 last week, I did need a spotter (my PT) and I could just make my last rep but it was very close to dropping.
Are you doing 5x5?
No not doing 5 x5, 110 last week was my first time trying and 5 reps were the maximum i could make.
Okay, so you don't necessarily need a spotter. You need a structured program with a progressive overload, adding appropriate amount of weight each week. There are definitely weeks when my last rep on my last set is HARD to get up, but it goes. And if it doesn't, I know how to fail with the safety bars.
Probably like you and other people say, what I need is to learn how to use the safety bars when needed. I only get to work with weights like this a couple of times a week.
Yes, it'd be best if you just learned to use the squat safety bars, that way you can do your own thing, any time you want. My trainer had me learn to use them on purpose, using just the bar. We practiced failing on squats just so I could get used to the "technique" of failing. I only had to "really" bail on a squat once, and there was no fear because I had worked on it. It was with my trainer watching too--he actually commended me on how well I bailed! It is a little intimidating to think about, but once you do it a couple times, then you know you can do it whenever you need. Probably a good thing to learn, especially since you've got a goal to keep going heavier. Good luck!
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When I used a commercial gym I had no major issues asking someone random for a spot. These days, it's a complete non issue. Who I'm asking for a spot is either a coach or a teammate.
Learn how to fail - practise dropping down onto the bars so that when the time comes, it's relatively comfortable to do. Even the most attentive spotter won't always be able to help you back up.0 -
I wouldn't really ask for help as I squat in a power rack. If I ever felt I needed to I would ask one of the many regulars at the gym. No awkwardness there. There's a certain comraderee and they see me at some of my most awkward states already...why not add one more to the list!0
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Definitely do as Iron miss says. Practice for failure, it's going to happen. And knowing how to ease the weight from your back to the bars can mean the difference from a safe unload to a potential back injury. And definitely don't be afraid to ask for a spotter, It would be actually for squats especially if it's someone you don't know. But if your gym consists mainly of serious lifters they should be able to tell that it's purely a request for a spotter, and nothing else. Lift safe!0
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No. I would ask and have asked one of the trainers in the gym, if I see they have free time. Otherwise I just up reps or do an extra set and leave increasing weight for another day, if I do not feel comfortable doing it without a spotter. I would not trust some random person, because their idea of spotting might get me seriously hurt. If I have seen someone lift several times, and feel he is serious about it, I might ask him/her for help. But to be honest, I see a lot of people lifting, even lifting heavy, that I would not trust at all, based on mistakes I see in form and attitude. So, unless I really know someone, I would not trust him/her as a spotter.0
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I haven't thus far but if I really felt it necessary, then I would. I've failed only on bench so far but that was during the 12 weeks I followed Stronglifts. I haven't failed a lift in NROLFW. On squats, I've gotten up to 165 (that was around body weight at the time) and didn't have to rely on the safeties but that's my plan thus far if I fail on squat and can't get back up. On bench I ended up racking on the lower spot and pulling myself out.0
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I wish I had someone as the equipment at my gym is really rubbish, but I'm either alone there or there might be a girl getting sweaty with 1kg weights. I had bad luck with bench presses twice already. First time the bar fell off the rack the moment I sat up but still had a bit of a hand on the bar (not nice for ones shoulder!), the other time I could not lift the weight and slowly had to let go. I then rolled the bar off my chest and towards my stomach which was just about low enough for the safety bars. Still I had a hard time getting out. Wish the safety bars could be adjusted to just a little bit higher, but the next step is somewhere halfway down the movement.0
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