Are you an ego lifter?
ninerbuff
Posts: 48,988 Member
I see it all the time in the gym. A guy will go to the leg press, pile on 10 or more 45's on the sled, only to do a slight knee bend. Do I care? Yes for one main reason.....................I could have used a couple of those 45's instead that were closer to me rather than go hunt some down and displace them from the other side of the gym (an issue we have at my gym due to getting another leg press machine).
I'm NOT that strong a person. I don't squat over 225lbs, bench press over 185lbs or deadlift over 225lbs. I look like I could lift a lot more, but it's more important to me for full range of motion and form. Don't get me wrong. Back in the day, I lifted more than I really could correctly to fulfill my ego as well, but over time realized that it really wasn't doing anything to improve my physique.
Guys are notorious for lifting WAY MORE than they could really handle for actual REAL REPS. Just to get a little attention and admiration, but in reality most serious lifters know they are just ego lifting and brag about it to people unfamiliar with actually working out.
I know you guys have stories. Let's hear 'em.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc1i77VMwBE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9-zZNtpBDI
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I'm NOT that strong a person. I don't squat over 225lbs, bench press over 185lbs or deadlift over 225lbs. I look like I could lift a lot more, but it's more important to me for full range of motion and form. Don't get me wrong. Back in the day, I lifted more than I really could correctly to fulfill my ego as well, but over time realized that it really wasn't doing anything to improve my physique.
Guys are notorious for lifting WAY MORE than they could really handle for actual REAL REPS. Just to get a little attention and admiration, but in reality most serious lifters know they are just ego lifting and brag about it to people unfamiliar with actually working out.
I know you guys have stories. Let's hear 'em.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc1i77VMwBEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9-zZNtpBDIA.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
7
Replies
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Biggest injury risk using full ROM is a bruised ego.5
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The college and high-school kids are now back in the gym (yay), so I see this now a TON! I just keep thinking that these kids are going to end up with joint and muscle problems way before they should.
I'm dealing with a strained glute muscle (thought it was hamstring, now think it's low glute), and I admit it is has been TOUGH to put my ego aside to lower the weight so I can rehab it and not make it worse.1 -
No, I'm too old and have too many nagging little things from beating my body up when I was younger. Full ROM and time under tension are more important to me than piling on plates.4
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Speakeasy76 wrote: »The college and high-school kids are now back in the gym (yay), so I see this now a TON! I just keep thinking that these kids are going to end up with joint and muscle problems way before they should.
I'm dealing with a strained glute muscle (thought it was hamstring, now think it's low glute), and I admit it is has been TOUGH to put my ego aside to lower the weight so I can rehab it and not make it worse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca94XHIooI4
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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There was a time when I started lifting that I tried to see what my 1RM max "equivalent" was which was based on 3-5RMs wc was w/in the top 5% for men my age/wt based on charts and certain public databases.
However, after sustaining a back injury doing squats improperly (and not even while attempting to lift a heavy wt for me), I stopped doing that after my recovery and only lifted at around 70-75% of my estimated max for general physical conditioning since then.
BTW, I never inconvenienced anyone by hogging plates bc I do all of my lifting at home alone.0 -
I am amazed that the gym in the first video permitted him to stack weights like that. He spent so long fannying around that they could easily have put a stop to it.1
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Yeah, wouldn't happen at my gym. That shows the ineptitude of the staff NOT paying attention to people doing dumb things in the gym. We don't allow people to dance on treadmills (to keep others around safe) or attempt dangerous lifting exercises like overstacking machines.I am amazed that the gym in the first video permitted him to stack weights like that. He spent so long fannying around that they could easily have put a stop to it.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Oh goodness me, no. And my coach is very protective of my back as we put a lot of volume in, and insists I wear a belt for anything above 70% of max. So you will see me wearing a great big weight belt while deadlifting what looks like not very much at all.0
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Right before COVID lock down, there was a dude who was clearly an inexperienced lifter slap two 45s on either end of the bar and attempt to squat. It did not end well. Thankfully, the safety bars were in place or it might have been call an ambulance time.1
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Last week, I knew not to add more weight to bench. I knew that I should stay at that weight and bang out the reps. Sometimes, I do what I want and slapped on more weight and had to break up the set. This week I dropped back to 130....aaaaand did all my reps. I just needed a little ego boost with big plates to get me through my slump.1
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No . I use auto regulation so my intensities are governed by what is appropriate for that session.
My gym doesn't really have ego lifters and is well equipped.
Those who might have tendencies towards inappropriate intensities pick the brains of one of bull's of the gym.
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I used to be an ego lifter, seeking that ever higher 1RM. That all came to a screeching halt the day I benched 285 for the first (and last) time at BW 190. I had been adding weight every single week that summer, soreness in my joints be darned, because I wanted to catch up to the guys around me I saw lifting 315 for reps. Absolutely had the blinders on my eyes, ignoring the fact these guys also outweighed me by a good 50 pounds, much of it muscle.
Did I complete the rep? Yes, I did, tearing something in both shoulders in the process. Luckily avoided surgery, but rest and rehab cost me six months of lifting, and another year before I was again lifting any appreciably heavy weights. These days I don't go below sets of five (except for deadlift, where my form breaks down if I do too many reps, so I do triples).
I do admit to including the leg press every couple weeks in my routine, and it remains an ego pleaser for me because I can lift a ton of weight. (Ok, technically half a ton, but still...) But I make sure my legs go to 90 degrees, and it's only every other leg day, where squat is still the king of my routine.4 -
The biggest case of "ego lifting" I observe in the gym is the incorrect use of spotters on the bench press. I was taught that a spotter is there "just in case"... if the spotter actually has to exert a single muscle to help complete a rep, the set is done. (Negative reps are a different situation.)
But there's been more than one time I've been at the gym and witnessed somebody load up the bench press, have a spotter ready, lower the weight... and the spotter has to almost do an awkward deadlift to help raise the weight. Yet instead of racking the weight, the bencher goes for another rep, again requiring serious help up... and a third rep... While it's possible the goal was negative reps, controlling a heavier-than-able weight on the way down, I doubt it, as the bencher lowered the weight super fast, not in a controlled fashion.2 -
I actually see people doing this in my Body Pump classes but didn't know there was a term for it.1
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I used to see that quite often (though never at the magnitude of the first video - WOW), mostly on the leg press and calf machine, sometimes the bench press when there was a bro gang which somehow got to wake up early.
Never got the point of it - it's not like barely jerking the thing while ungghhh-ing out loud is going to bring more gains than proper reps with a proper weight.
I usually stuck in the hypertrophy range, especially with big compound lifts, so that thankfully never got to be a personal issue. There's formulas to derive the 1RM even from sets of 8-10 reps.0 -
With most negatives though (if the intention was that) the spotter should immediately pull the bar up on the concentric movement because it's NOT the focus. If a rep on the concentric is difficult for the spotter to pull, then the bencher is pretty much done on that set.The biggest case of "ego lifting" I observe in the gym is the incorrect use of spotters on the bench press. I was taught that a spotter is there "just in case"... if the spotter actually has to exert a single muscle to help complete a rep, the set is done. (Negative reps are a different situation.)
But there's been more than one time I've been at the gym and witnessed somebody load up the bench press, have a spotter ready, lower the weight... and the spotter has to almost do an awkward deadlift to help raise the weight. Yet instead of racking the weight, the bencher goes for another rep, again requiring serious help up... and a third rep... While it's possible the goal was negative reps, controlling a heavier-than-able weight on the way down, I doubt it, as the bencher lowered the weight super fast, not in a controlled fashion.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I have no ego when I lift at all. I load and deload my plates within minutes. But I'm not a real heavy lifter either. Aand yes, form is much more important to me.
When I got back into lifting around 13 years ago, I saw a guy decide he was going to use the 100 lb dumbbells. His arm (or might have been his elbow) snapped in half. Was awful to see. I had to look away. He was going to the side with the weight after he benched it. Made absolutely zero sense to be using dumbbells to bench and not a bar, especially not knowing how to safely move them to the ground -- not going off to the side like he tried!
That would cure anyone from being an idiot with too heavy of dumbbells.1 -
No. I've learned the hard way that sacrificing proper form and risking injury just for some clout isn't worth it.2
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The biggest case of "ego lifting" I observe in the gym is the incorrect use of spotters on the bench press. I was taught that a spotter is there "just in case"... if the spotter actually has to exert a single muscle to help complete a rep, the set is done. (Negative reps are a different situation.)
But there's been more than one time I've been at the gym and witnessed somebody load up the bench press, have a spotter ready, lower the weight... and the spotter has to almost do an awkward deadlift to help raise the weight. Yet instead of racking the weight, the bencher goes for another rep, again requiring serious help up... and a third rep... While it's possible the goal was negative reps, controlling a heavier-than-able weight on the way down, I doubt it, as the bencher lowered the weight super fast, not in a controlled fashion.
I had some accidents that could have been ended ugly doing bench press. But I was the only person that that accommodation gym, where the whole kit was completely *kitten*, btw. Once I just about got the weight up. It was lower than previous time. But then could not hold it and the weight went down to my chest. Nearly. I just about managed to break it. But then it sat there and I was underneath. Ouch! Afterwards I did bench presses inside the squat rack even though I lost full range of motion that way.
Another time I was done, put bar back into holders, and for some reasons my hands remained underneath the bar when it fell down behind me. (like I said: *kitten* equipment) I guess I'm lucky that I'm rather flexible.0 -
I’m not an ego lifter, but
I do have a few bets with a some gym members
Regarding the ego lifters in my gym. Usually
Based on Will they tear a pec or loose their grip and drop the bar during BB bench presses, also how many discs will someone rupture deadlifting too much weight using piss poor form. It’s free added entertainment 😂0 -
On the sled I've seen it way too much. And I'll admit that is when I was always tempted. But that video is just stupid.... and dangerous.0
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Guys are notorious for lifting WAY MORE than they could really handle for actual REAL REPS. Just to get a little attention and admiration, but in reality most serious lifters know they are just ego lifting and brag about it to people unfamiliar with actually working out.
How utterly pointless it is to 'lift' a weight that you can barely move - the only attention they would get from me is a slightly raised eyebrow. Which I can lift perfectly, keeping my form and lowering with control...
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Guys are notorious for lifting WAY MORE than they could really handle for actual REAL REPS. Just to get a little attention and admiration, but in reality most serious lifters know they are just ego lifting and brag about it to people unfamiliar with actually working out.
How utterly pointless it is to 'lift' a weight that you can barely move - the only attention they would get from me is a slightly raised eyebrow. Which I can lift perfectly, keeping my form and lowering with control...
Unless you are trying to test your one rep max....0 -
Speakeasy76 wrote: »Unless you are trying to test your one rep max....
Provided it actually is a ONE rep max, not trying to keep moving it repeatedly...
Had to rope in my ego a bit today at the gym. I have two different chest routines, and the one for today called for heavy sets of bench press, five sets starting at five reps, then four, and so on. Got to my two reps weight, eeked it out, but knew I didn't have it in me to do a one rep set. (Note: not my 1RM, probably 95% of it.) So I roped in my pride and backed the weight down to my five rep set and did another set there to finish my bench routine.1 -
Lol not me to the contrary I feel somewhat self-conscious using just 25 lb plates on the bench press0
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I know I ego lifted when I was a college kid. There was no internet. Now it is form and clean reps over 1RM (or too heavy). But this topic brings up something I have been pondering... When you see someone in the gym doing something dumb or they have poor form, do you say anything to them? I never do but I WANT TO. I usually just compliment people doing clean, precise reps.1
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Well being a PT in my gym, I'll always mention it if I see it. Luckily for me, members know that I'm more than qualified for my opinion. But even when I'm working out and NOT wearing my gym uniform, I'll mention it to someone if I see it. It's rare that I've had a bad reaction.Jeffit_170 wrote: »I know I ego lifted when I was a college kid. There was no internet. Now it is form and clean reps over 1RM (or too heavy). But this topic brings up something I have been pondering... When you see someone in the gym doing something dumb or they have poor form, do you say anything to them? I never do but I WANT TO. I usually just compliment people doing clean, precise reps.
Just a few weeks ago, a group of teenage ball players who come in and work out regular were leg pressing and loading up the sled with up to 8 plates on each side. When I saw they were doing just knee bends, I asked the person who was currently in there to break parallel. He went down, but couldn't push it back up. I then let them know, that IF they wanted to actual put on some muscle and put their egos aside, they should only have weight on there that they can do a full rep with. Since then, they don't use more than 8 plates total and do full reps. And they actually thanked me and said their strength coach sucks.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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@ninerbuff Yea, you have the position and credentials, so it would really be inconsiderate for you to NOT say anything. I will probably start to speak up more (humbly and politely). If they get upset, that is on them. Maybe they will at least think about what they were doing/research going forward.0
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But even when I'm working out and NOT wearing my gym uniform, I'll mention it to someone if I see it. It's rare that I've had a bad reaction.
I'm not a trainer or certified, but I have spoken up a few times. Or rather, I used to speak up, because I had a couple occasions of a highly negative reactions. I like to think I'm polite, and my approach would usually be of the "excuse me, may I ask a question, I'm trying to learn, why are you doing this exercise in this way?" Usually this got me a polite explanation, and I could then express my opinion and usually be received well. But one guy immediately belittled me for having less muscle and therefore couldn't possibly know what I was doing, while another time I was going to ask a girl my question but couldn't get beyond "excuse me" before a dude (presumably a jealous boyfriend) was literally in my face, spittle flying, telling me to back the **** off.
I've since left everybody strictly alone, with the exception of one time I got the attention of a PT I knew and pointed out somebody, and once I stepped up when I saw a couple skinny, young teenaged boys doing something patently dangerous not only to themselves but to people around them.3
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