Sorry to rant, but WTF is wrong with some people...
Trainers at the YMCA are absolute IDIOTS.
I was doing front squats today, and I had the bar all loaded up on my shoulders. I had done 2 reps already, so it's not like there was any mistaking the fact I was in the middle of something. This woman was working on the Smith machine next to the squat cage and she apparently wants something. She's looking around for something, looking at me and then the floor and then back at me, and my guess is that she wants the back pad. The weight is up on my shoulders, and I see that the pad is a few feet in front of me inside the cage... and I just think to myself "oh shit..."
Anyway, she procedes to try to reach in WHILE I'M DOING FRONT SQUATS. She's trying to sneak in the cage through the front (between the mirror and the cage) and she's ducking under the weights as I'm lifting them. Truly unbelievable, and a total distraction. I thought about just stopping so I wouldn't hurt her or myself.
So here's where the YMCA trainer comes in. I see her coming and I think, "ok, she'll set this lady straight for crawling around a person who's squatting." WRONG. She starts crawling around the other side of the squat cage while I'm still busy at work here. Finally I end up dropping the weight after 6 reps (I was going for 10) because I got frustrated/distracted and I let go of the arch in my back and felt it start to pull a bit.
Truly un-fucking-believable how retarded these people were. I could have dropped the weights on their heads or backs or necks--possibly killing them, or could have broken my legs. Thank GOD I had the safety pins set up at the right height, because no one got hurt at all... just a little bit of soreness in my lower back from letting go of the arch at the bottom of the movement.
That whole fiasco threw my concentration completely and the front squats just sucked after that. I was too pissed to concentrate and push myself properly, and I didn't want to risk straining my back any further.
__________________ You're not the only one improving yourself... I worked out with a dumbbell today -- I feel vigorous!!!
I had a similar experience while doing power cleans.....could have been nasty!
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
I commented in your log oops I have had similar experiences at my Y too, but I said something right away. It still makes me cringe when I think someone might come along and do something really stupid like that!! I agree with JP go to management.
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"My darling," she said at last, "are you sure you don't mind being a mouse for the rest of your life?"
"I don't mind at all," I said. "It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you."
After managing for a YMCA the last 2 years, I can vouche that they're personal training staff is not "up-to-par" with alot of whats new in the fitness field--including unpoken gym etiquiette. I am not surprised reading your post and saddened that people actually do this crap in fitness centers across America.
The YMCA is notoriors for being known as a "beginner's gym". I advise that if you still workout at a YMCA after 2 years, you need to get out and join a "real" gym. I CAN SAY THIS becasue I MANAGED A FITNESS CENTER in a YMCA for 2 YEARS! Thankfully, I have resigned and have found a new job.
After managing for a YMCA the last 2 years, I can vouche that they're personal training staff is not "up-to-par" with alot of whats new in the fitness field--including unpoken gym etiquiette. I am not surprised reading your post and saddened that people actually do this crap in fitness centers across America.
The YMCA is notoriors for being known as a "beginner's gym". I advise that if you still workout at a YMCA after 2 years, you need to get out and join a "real" gym. I CAN SAY THIS becasue I MANAGED A FITNESS CENTER in a YMCA for 2 YEARS! Thankfully, I have resigned and have found a new job.
I'm going to pipe up and say some of us have no choice!! I wish I did but the gyms out here are geared for guys: translation- no where for my kiddies to go!! So you make due with what you can.
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"My darling," she said at last, "are you sure you don't mind being a mouse for the rest of your life?"
"I don't mind at all," I said. "It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you."
You know what I would have done? At the FIRST FUCKING SIGN of that MORON coming over I'd have been like "Would you mind holding on a moment? As soon as I finish my set I'll get that for you. I don't want you or me to get hurt." That would have shown that beotch.
I am a Personal Trainer at the YMCA, and I am not offended at all these comments on the lack of proper etiquette at the Y. It's just true. The only reason my Y is better is because of ME. :p
Just work to make your training facility a better place. I agree that talking to the fitness director is the right course of action. Just let them know you are concerned with safety.
The Y IS a place for beginners and everybody's got to learn somewhere.
I had a guy bump into the weight as I was doing back squats. I looked at him like "You do see there's a couple hundred pounds on my back, right?"
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There's no love in fear. Staring down the hole again. Hands upon my back again. Survival is my only friend. Terrified of what may come. Just remember I will always love you, even as I tear your fucking throat away. But it will end no other way.
I'm going to pipe up and say some of us have no choice!! I wish I did but the gyms out here are geared for guys: translation- no where for my kiddies to go!! So you make due with what you can.
Amen to that. The parents aren't going to pay for another gym membership just for me. And I'm not paying for one until I need to.
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Quoth David Banner: "Like a pimp"
It's not a beer belly. It's a gas tank for a sex machine.
Amen to that. The parents aren't going to pay for another gym membership just for me. And I'm not paying for one until I need to.
Agreed, there's just one problem with my gym; it doesn't have six 20kg plates, only 4. It's got two 25kg I guess, but that's a pain in the arse when I go for a 305lb deadlifts...I can't!
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Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.
After a very long day of yardwork, my erector spinae are a bit sore today from having to bail on that weight.
Is a foam roller OK for use on the lower and mid back?
I think I remember reading somewhere that you don't want to "loosen" up the tightness accumulated from deadlifting, squatting, and other heavy spinal loading, because you'll risk injury when returning to the lifts. Any thoughts?
__________________ You're not the only one improving yourself... I worked out with a dumbbell today -- I feel vigorous!!!
Name the time and place...I am going to be eating a burrito here in about 15 minutes so I will be primed and ready.
This is really messed up though. You really should go to someone in charge and let them know what is up. Its just dumb and really really unsafe to get anywhere near someone with a loaded bar on their back.
Danny
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Limitations are for people who have them.
While I agree someone should talk to management about this, the time to talk beef was when it happened. If you see someone coming up to you during a set, you tell them to stay put, and that you will be done in a minute.
It is very unreal that people think this is okay to do in a gym. I guess when you use a Smith Machine, danger is the least of your worries...
Sorry to rant, but WTF is wrong with some people...
I have had similar experiences at my Y too, but I said something right away. It still makes me cringe when I think someone might come along and do something really stupid like that!! I agree with JP go to management.
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