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General Gym Observations General Gym Observations

03-20-2009 , 12:16 PM
If you're worried about crushing yourself, bench with dumbells. It's better anyway.
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03-20-2009 , 12:56 PM
i dont get how people crush themselves benching, unless they are lifting ridic weight. ive failed reps without a spotter a bunch of times. i just move the bar to my stomach then do a sit up and voila.
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03-20-2009 , 01:11 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by zachvac
ok I had a question and not sure where to ask it so I'll ask here I guess, but if you're working out alone is there anything wrong with benching using a Smith machine? (those are the machines with the hooks and stuff so you just twist the bar and it catches right?)

I'd just rather not have to go ask a random guy to spot me if it works just as well, but I didn't know whether there was a problem with it and whether the balance and control with the actual free bar bench was an important component to it. Thanks.
The smith machine is a towel rack. Free weight benches are vastly superior. Just stop being pussy and ask for a spot. You don't really need one unless maxing out or on the last set anyway. You can always remove the collars incase you get pinned.
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03-20-2009 , 01:15 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by tmcdmck
i dont get how people crush themselves benching, unless they are lifting ridic weight. ive failed reps without a spotter a bunch of times. i just move the bar to my stomach then do a sit up and voila.
Hmmm, how much do you bench?
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03-20-2009 , 01:30 PM
at the moment a mere 150 but im pretty sure i would be at not risk of getting crushed by anything less than 200, and by the time i will be able to bench that i expect for it to take a heavier weight to then crush me.
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03-20-2009 , 01:39 PM
150 wouldn't crush many people.
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03-20-2009 , 01:40 PM
I suspect that, with sufficient exhaustion, you could choke to death under 50 lbs.
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03-20-2009 , 01:53 PM
yes i know 150 wouldnt crush many people. but i dont think a weight that a person can bench could crush them in most cases.
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03-20-2009 , 01:55 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by tmcdmck
yes i know 150 wouldnt crush many people. but i dont think a weight that a person can bench could crush them in most cases.
I disagree. After the beginner stage how can you get the weight off you?
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03-20-2009 , 01:57 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by zachvac
ok I had a question and not sure where to ask it so I'll ask here I guess, but if you're working out alone is there anything wrong with benching using a Smith machine? (those are the machines with the hooks and stuff so you just twist the bar and it catches right?)

I'd just rather not have to go ask a random guy to spot me if it works just as well, but I didn't know whether there was a problem with it and whether the balance and control with the actual free bar bench was an important component to it. Thanks.

If your gym has a movable bench and a power cage just do it that way. I'm surprised how rarely I see this option mentioned.

On a related note why do people sometimes squat outside the power cage?
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03-20-2009 , 02:17 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Micturition Man
On a related note why do people sometimes squat outside the power cage?
i've never seen this. i dont' even know how this would work.
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03-20-2009 , 02:22 PM
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Originally Posted by oddjob
i've never seen this. i dont' even know how this would work.

They have the hooks on the outside of the cage, unrack facing the cage, and take a few steps back onto the gym floor.

Have seen it several times, seems completely pointless to me.
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03-20-2009 , 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by cookie
np.

Did you find a place?
Yeah found one. Funny thing is that this one is like half the price of the other ones Ive looked at.
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03-20-2009 , 02:45 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Micturition Man
They have the hooks on the outside of the cage, unrack facing the cage, and take a few steps back onto the gym floor.

Have seen it several times, seems completely pointless to me.
yah, i don't even see the point of that.
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03-20-2009 , 03:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ra_Z_Boy
I disagree. After the beginner stage how can you get the weight off you?
lower the bar towards the bottom of your abdomen, sit up, the weight will now be on the top of your thighs and then you just have to do a bastardised dead lift. since your dead should always be stronger than your bench, i dont see how this ever becomes a problem.

this assumes you dont fail the rep in a spectacular manner and you manage to lower it under control ldo.
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03-20-2009 , 03:46 PM
The benches in my gym have lil hooks towards the bottom. Seems like it would be somewhat difficult to get the bar on those hooks if exhausted though.
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03-20-2009 , 04:32 PM
I squat outside the power cage on my 5x5 "B" day as its light squats then military press and the ceiling of the cage is too low to do those inside, so I just move the pegs outside. Plus it looks cool.
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03-20-2009 , 04:42 PM
I saw a sign at my gym today that said, "Stop! Doing too much cardio can actually increase your fat. Ask your trainer why."

wtf?
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03-20-2009 , 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by -zero-
I saw a sign at my gym today that said, "Stop! Doing too much cardio can actually increase your fat. Ask your trainer why."

wtf?
I googled it and found this article:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art..._body_fat.html
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03-20-2009 , 05:21 PM
Quote:
On a related note why do people sometimes squat outside the power cage?
i never do this with the cage, but if i have to use the squat rack because someone else is using the cage i have to back all the way out in order to get low...im short so when i squat the bar will hit the rack unless i back all the way out...
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03-20-2009 , 06:10 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by -zero-
I saw a sign at my gym today that said, "Stop! Doing too much cardio can actually increase your fat. Ask your trainer why."

wtf?
i don't know or care about its effect on bodyfat levels, but i know too much LSD type cardio definitely makes you a p***y and suck at everything important to athletic performance
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03-20-2009 , 06:49 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by tmcdmck
lower the bar towards the bottom of your abdomen, sit up, the weight will now be on the top of your thighs and then you just have to do a bastardised dead lift. since your dead should always be stronger than your bench, i dont see how this ever becomes a problem.

this assumes you dont fail the rep in a spectacular manner and you manage to lower it under control ldo.
I can see this with light benches but after a certain point you won't be able to sit up. Like with 250 pounds on your chest.
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03-20-2009 , 06:59 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by thirddan
i never do this with the cage, but if i have to use the squat rack because someone else is using the cage i have to back all the way out in order to get low...im short so when i squat the bar will hit the rack unless i back all the way out...
I do the same thing, and I'm not short. I go deep enough that I would barely hit the rack, and would smash it on front squats
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03-20-2009 , 07:14 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by -zero-
I saw a sign at my gym today that said, "Stop! Doing too much cardio can actually increase your fat. Ask your trainer why."

wtf?
This is a marketing ploy. I could go into the part of the sales script that covers this, but then I would kill myself.
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03-20-2009 , 08:06 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by zachvac
ok I had a question and not sure where to ask it so I'll ask here I guess, but if you're working out alone is there anything wrong with benching using a Smith machine? (those are the machines with the hooks and stuff so you just twist the bar and it catches right?)

I'd just rather not have to go ask a random guy to spot me if it works just as well, but I didn't know whether there was a problem with it and whether the balance and control with the actual free bar bench was an important component to it. Thanks.
Have your benches got safety pins?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Micturition Man
On a related note why do people sometimes squat outside the power cage?
because rippletoes does it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxa_k...eature=related


On a related note... what exactly is the smith machine good for...
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