People using horrible form at the gym

jwalker30
jwalker30 Posts: 282
edited November 2024 in Chit-Chat
Just curious, when you see someone using terrible form at the gym to you offer to help them, or are you offended if someone offers you help?

Replies

  • NNSSJSKR
    NNSSJSKR Posts: 30 Member
    As a relative gym newbie, I would love some help if someone noticed I was doing something improperly. I can't improve if I don't know what I am doing wrong.
  • shovav91
    shovav91 Posts: 2,335 Member
    I don't offer to help personally, I honestly really never thought to do that! I tend to think of my workout time as personal time so I worry I would just be disturbing the other person. However, if you feel qualified to offer advice, they might be appreciative!
  • KareninCanada
    KareninCanada Posts: 962 Member
    As long as it was offered in a nice way, I'd be thrilled if someone offered to help. As it is right now I'm spending my time there people-watching from the vantage point of the treadmill, picking up ideas while I wait til Wednesday when I get to make plans with my trainer.
  • Bonita_Lynne_58
    Bonita_Lynne_58 Posts: 2,794 Member
    I'm a newbie at the gym and can use all the help I can get. I'd appreciate advice if someone sees I'm doing something improperly. I want the maximum benefit and want to avoid injury.
  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
    dont offer help

    not sure how i'd take someone offering me help. i have pretty good form anyways.
  • albinogorilla
    albinogorilla Posts: 1,056 Member
    I find its usually a waste of time, though sometimes i will make a point to demonstrate the proper form for them, without being blantent about it. You dont want to see anyone get hurt, but I know guys are particularly un-receptive to constructive criticism when they are trying to look like tough guys...........
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    i havent been brave enough to lift at the gym yet - so im not 100% sure i have great form, but if/when i ever did decide to get out of my garage and into the gym for lifting i would love someone to correct my form if needed.
  • juliecat1
    juliecat1 Posts: 3,450 Member
    theres a lady at my gym that just about pulls herself apart on the elliptical trainer. I dont even know how she does it. Ive been next to her and tried to get her attention in hopes she will realize shes jerking herself around but shes been doing it for months now. I dont feel right saying anything and no one else obvious has.
    But, someone did help me once with balance ball twists. She gave me a pointer to twist at a different angle so my abs dont go to rest mode. Totally worked! I get a much better workout and was really thankful for the tip
  • Jessicaruby
    Jessicaruby Posts: 881 Member
    i love when people offer help or suggestions. i take all the information i get from sites, forums, people, magazines, ect. and combine what i find useful to create my routines. I actually had a guy help me out the other day. I have good form but my body tends to lean slightly forward when doing squats, which puts added pressure on my lower back. He suggested i incline my heels on a wooden board to straighten myself and then showed me how. it has helped alot! although like another mentioned i think women are more inclined to take help then men.
  • jwalker30
    jwalker30 Posts: 282
    I find its usually a waste of time, though sometimes i will make a point to demonstrate the proper form for them, without being blantent about it. You dont want to see anyone get hurt, but I know guys are particularly un-receptive to constructive criticism when they are trying to look like tough guys...........

    Yeah, I tend to do the same. Except lately, I've seen a few guys doing Squats with horrible form. I kind of feel obligated to say something if I know there is a substantial chance of the person seriously injuring themself.
  • blueandigo
    blueandigo Posts: 296
    I help them and they probably thing I am a creeper, so I tend to not help.
  • rollycollysmama
    rollycollysmama Posts: 143
    I would be thrilled if someone gave me pointers, today I went thought the weights and stuff with a trainer, and that hour went by wayy to fast, Im not sure I got everything down. so I'm a little scared to use them still. I might just pay for like 10 personal training sessions because I want to KNOW the machines before I hurt myself or make a fool of myself.
  • theprettyone1010
    theprettyone1010 Posts: 408 Member
    If someone looks confused or is hurting themselves as a result of bad form, I'll speak up. But otherwise, I try not to look at people.
  • christina0089
    christina0089 Posts: 709 Member
    I find its usually a waste of time, though sometimes i will make a point to demonstrate the proper form for them, without being blantent about it. You dont want to see anyone get hurt, but I know guys are particularly un-receptive to constructive criticism when they are trying to look like tough guys...........

    Yeah, I tend to do the same. Except lately, I've seen a few guys doing Squats with horrible form. I kind of feel obligated to say something if I know there is a substantial chance of the person seriously injuring themself.

    If you feel strongly that a person may get hurt, I would say offer a bit of advice in a round about way. Don't take it personally if they get upset. Everyone takes constructive critisim/advice differentley. Atleast you will know you did your best to help another person, that counts for sumthing even if the other person don't realize it.
  • GrammyWhammy
    GrammyWhammy Posts: 484 Member
    Unless it's a safety issue or an equipment problem/malfunction, I generally keep quiet. However, a good gym should have workers on the floor to answer questions and demonstrate proper form. If you see someone who is obviously about to hurt him/her self, perhaps a word with on-duty worker/trainer is in order.

    Recently I watched a fellow doing potentially harmful presses unsafely w/o a spotter. I asked my trainer about it and she said the worker on duty should have stepped in to help.
  • Seraph1120
    Seraph1120 Posts: 194 Member
    I haven't yet gotten the guts to try hitting up the weights vs. using the machines. I would love to get any advice available that would help me get more from my workout. I wonder, if I go to the front desk and ask for help navigating the weights, would they actually help, or would they just try to force personal trainer sessions on me? I hate getting attacked with the salesman mode.
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    Nothing beats someone walking up to a squat rack, without warm up and dropping the weight and bailing on the first rep.

    Bad form is everywhere. I never offer advice because it's usually not received well while actually "at" the gym. If someone asked me, I'd be more than willing to help them out.
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