Things you have noticed in the gym

Joined
Jan 4, 2020
Messages
3
Anyone posting a legitimate member or witness of the 405 BP club? 540 DL?

I get a kick out of posers--kids that will never reach the top of the mountain. I see this everywhere.
I've hit 425 on bench, 600 on squat, and 633 on deadlift. I competed in powerlifting for a while and just have always really enjoyed strength. Last march I tore my rotator cuff completely off my shoulder benching 405. Came down and when I pushed, for reason flared my elbow way out and heard it tear. Sounded like velcro.

I'm fully healed now but have decided to lift in more of a bodybuilding style and not go so heavy, because who cares now. I'm 42. I do want to maintain repping 315 on bench, 405 on squat, and 500 deadlift.

We only have one gym in town, VASA. Nice gym but it's insanely busy, like crazy busy. Even early mornings. But my wife teaches group fitness classes and we get free memberships.

A fun thing I saw was a Polynesian buddy of mine slap the shit out of a young (20ish) kid who was getting mouthy and in his face for some reason (why you'd try to fight a Polynesian I'll never know). It was hilarious.
 
Joined
Feb 19, 2023
Messages
480
Location
Montana
I was a BB and power lifter for 20 years and I have hit 425 bp, 610 dl, and 585 squats. I love to be strong and I really hate to diet but I have done well. I'm in my 40s now and only her to work out about 3x a week what with family, work and hunting commitments but it keeps me in shape. I don't have nearly the mass of physic I used to but I still do alright.
 

Coffeetalk

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 13, 2020
Messages
117
At 55 years old, I am close, 385 BP, 480 DL, both in competition (at 198-lbs). My powerlifting buddies hit well above those numbers. @ 520BP and 700 DL's. I hope to break a 400 BP before I give up for good, but age may win out....


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"age may win out...."

Always does--that's why I wish this younger generation would take things more seriously--either career, family, health, education.

I am aging and have few regrets--certainly not in the gym--

I will never hit 405+ bench again--there are a few guys I train with that are unreal strong--but young--I hope they still have the drive and desire when they get to be our age--life, family, career gets in the way.

Powerlifting keeps me 'grounded' and keeps me out of trouble--I owe alot of good personal choices to the discipline learned in a cold dirty gym.

Best of luck to you--life is nothing more than moving heavy weight
 

Marble

WKR
Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
3,579
I focus more on "time under tension". I warm up with two lighter sets of ~20 reps and do 3-4 more sets with heavier weights each set. Sometimes replacing a few sets with drop sets until failure. It varies.

I don't need to impress anyone with the total amount I can lift. I'm more interested in seeing changes in the right direction.

People forget or don't know that your diet plays as much of a role in muscle growth. Alcohol and sugar are probably the biggest culprits of robbing people of making progress.



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CJohnson

WKR
Joined
Mar 28, 2019
Messages
337
Location
SC
It’s wild how different body types are built for different movements. I’ve never come close to a 405 bench, but I have hit well over 540 on the DL at 185lbs.

I also can’t believe people haven’t called out some of the “CrossFit” style shenanigans you see in corporate gyms. I can’t count how many people I’ve seen eat it on box jumps.

I applaud you guys who can consistently do a home gym. I’ve worked out consistently for 15 years and every time I try to get a good home gym set up, I lose all discipline.
 

3325

WKR
Joined
Oct 10, 2021
Messages
442
I also can’t believe people haven’t called out some of the “CrossFit” style shenanigans you see in corporate gyms. I can’t count how many people I’ve seen eat it on box jumps.
Jeff Gurwitch is retired Army Special Forces. He has a YouTube channel, Modern Tactical Shooting, where he discusses guns, gear, and other related things.

Gurwitch once mentioned wearing low top Salomon shoes in combat. People questioned the wisdom of it. He said he’d seen more soldiers injured in the gym doing box jumps than he’d ever seen injured from wearing low top shoes in combat.
 

Sunshine40

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 22, 2024
Messages
102
Location
Southern California
Jeff Gurwitch is retired Army Special Forces. He has a YouTube channel, Modern Tactical Shooting, where he discusses guns, gear, and other related things.

Gurwitch once mentioned wearing low top Salomon shoes in combat. People questioned the wisdom of it. He said he’d seen more soldiers injured in the gym doing box jumps than he’d ever seen injured from wearing low top shoes in combat.
My brother is in SF and that's literally what he wears. He also got me turned onto those mid top hiking shoes vans makes.
 

thinhorn_AK

"DADDY"
Joined
Jul 2, 2016
Messages
11,225
Location
Alaska
I power lifted non-competitive at the same gym for about 7 or 8 years, up to about 6 years ago. I got all the muscle mags so was familiar with the current pro bodybuilders and all that jazz...but for the first time ever seen a man in person with true 23-24" arms and probably a 60" chest...the guy was just massive. Of course he was on gear....you don't get that big without it. I couldn't stop staring at those arms! Apparently he thought he could use the gym to train others but it wasn't allowed due to liability so they booted him out.

Another was this guy about 35 and maybe 5'10" and about 175 pounds. Not a huge guy but fairly muscled. I only saw him maybe 2 days ever few weeks because he travelled all over the world for work....he was one of those techy wizards...super smart guy. Anyways. this guy was shredded every time I saw him...like he just stepped off the Mr Olympia stage....you could see every striation in every muscle group on the guy. I don't know how he accomplished this as even the best BB'ers can't keep that conditioning for very long. I swear his bodyfat was easily under 8% every time I seen him working out and I know what I'm looking at.

Every Friday night was my heavy day...I would deep squat working up to 510 for 4-5 reps and then deadlift up to 505 for 6 reps...then rack pull up to 780 for 4-6 reps, at 5'-6"/200 and 58 years old (64 now and still lifting very heavy but at my home gym). When I got to the rack pulls everyone in the gym, maybe 40 people would stop what they were doing and be staring at me. Yeah, that bar had a lot of bend in it. An odd feeling though.

Had one young bimbo hitting on me for awhile..nice chick but just wasn't interested. At 57 at the time I didn't have time for that nonsense.

Had many a young college punk challenge my senior strength.....none succeeded. Trying to impress their friends and/or embarrass me.

Stopped into a Planet Fitness once just to check it out and was told to leave almost immediately, they don't want my type there as it would intimidate the other members. Huh? That's ok.....their dumbells end where I start. Terrible business concept if you ask me.

Lots of younger guys on gear....not very strong but jacked. Too bad they didn't understand the ramifications.
Look out everybody, we’ve got a badass here.
 

JD Jones

WKR
Joined
Dec 2, 2021
Messages
505
Location
Texas
16yo boy crews hitting vapes between sets

the 10-30# in a 5# sack

one guy whilst i was wiping my bench was like no sir it’s ok leave it. i was like no. it’s never ok. he smelled like other problems so i wasn’t suprised

also see some awesome culture. people helping one another, i’ve made some friends and other “connections “ too. so it ain’t all bad!
 
Joined
Dec 2, 2017
Messages
1,131
Location
Northeast Pa
Hey thinhorn_AK......what's your problem? Yeah, I'm pretty proud of what I accomplished in those 8 years of powerlifting 5 days a week. I started as an average 50 yr old and I worked really hard to get to the level I was at 58. Why are you attacking me on a personal level? Did I disrespect you at any point? No need to try and embarrass me here. If you don't like what I post you can skip it and move on. I'm sure you are a decent man otherwise.
 
Joined
Dec 2, 2017
Messages
1,131
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Northeast Pa
mt100...yes, it is unfortunate as we get older it takes a toll none of us can stop....but at least we accomplished something that will still provide a benefit as we get even older. taking strength and fitness into old age is quite important to staying around longer. there is no downside.
 

mt100gr.

WKR
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
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3,003
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NW MT
mt100...yes, it is unfortunate as we get older it takes a toll none of us can stop....but at least we accomplished something that will still provide a benefit as we get even older. taking strength and fitness into old age is quite important to staying around longer. there is no downside.
Same boat here, my friend. Not knocking anyone. The dedicated middle aged demographic has to work harder to stay young. Most just prefer to whine about instead of putting in the work.

I did my time as a gym rat. However, as I have refined my priorities, I have used my gym experience to develop home workouts that help me stay in shape for my lifestyle while accommodating my aging self. And i have really come to despise "gym (meathead) culture" I have had a full set of free weights, rack and bench in the house since HS. Most of my time now is spent on a pull up bar, dip station, or a mat putting my own body weight to work against me. And TONS of focus on flexibility!! I never did the powerlifting thing.

To stay on thread: My favorite gym f-ups were always kids getting the high speed conveyor belt discharge on treadmills!! Priceless!!
 

Delta21

FNG
Joined
Oct 8, 2021
Messages
97
Wi
I attend the devils gym known as planet fitness… worst part is it’s in the ghetto here. Lots of homeless.

Notable mentions

Dude who uses cable machine to shadow box

Crack lady on stair stepper who yells gibberish for 2 hrs.

Dude in trench coat on treadmill running every day. Most certainly a serial killer.

Dude who delivers water to my bank… runs on treadmill with hands up at head height like a ghost or some shit.

17-20 year olds who workout in groups of 3-5 on the same machine. Or occupy two of the same machine while making sure they take breaks at the same time between sets

Another time I walked into the men’s locker room and looked left to see a bra on the ground next to the showers. First thought was oh shit I walked into the wrong locker room…. Then I saw the urinals and realized

Girls yoga pants that were too tight and split on the squat rack.

Watched several fights now specifically women.

Dudes who only go to the gym to talk to girls

Dudes who go to gym wearing sunglasses.. you be creepin hard bro

As I think of more I’ll come back
Winner Goes to…🤣
 

Ross

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Messages
4,820
Location
Kun Lunn, Iceland
Toooo many using handrails on the stair master and bad form lifting, ie all momentum and no mind muscle connection to the actual muscle for that movement. Better than nothing, but so many could achieve better results dropping the speed of the machine, dropping the chosen weight and getting off their phone. It is not osmosis, meaning you show up and get results, you actually have to do something 🤙
 
Joined
Jan 15, 2016
Messages
395
mt100...yes, it is unfortunate as we get older it takes a toll none of us can stop....but at least we accomplished something that will still provide a benefit as we get even older. taking strength and fitness into old age is quite important to staying around longer. there is no downside.
You're right about that. I try to stay in shape year around, so I can keep pushing through the mountains. It paid off this year when I packed my elk out for a mile and a half, alone, at 64 years old. I know if I didn't keep it up in the off season I couldn't perform when I need to.
 
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