Are you ever "unimpressed" with someone's lift?

[Citruscide]

I'm usually not an ASSHOLE... well... heh heh... about lifting that is... and if someone tells me "Hey, I just benched 135lbs!" I'm totally stoked for them and happy they set a new PR... no matter what the weight.

But are you EVER unimpressed with someone who say... Squats 405.... on the Smith? Or Benches 350... on the Smith... or does military press with 225... on the Smith?

For some reason... I'm more impressed with a squat of 225 free bar than I am of 405 with a Smith... I don't even COUNT smith as a lift really? I mean, I do 4 plates on each side of the Hammer Strength front military press... I'm not even impressed by it. I could care less about it... I'm FAR more impressed when I hang clean 225lbs... or knock out a set of lat raises... ya know?

Smith, Hammer, Cybex... I don't they should count for "lifts" -- I agree they may have their place in "workouts" but to compare 400lbs Hammer to 200lbs free... it's not even close.

C-ditty

 

[Lord_Suston]

I am unimpressed with people who do 400lbs on bench but can barely get 225 with horrible form squating. You need to have all around strength. I am more apt to aprecciate a guy who does a hard set with 100 deadlifting then a guy who do one or two reps with 200. to me it is how hard you work.

 

[strider364]

I see that all the time at my gym C and Lord Suston, they can talk the talk, but can't walk the walk. Very few individuals at my gym I see even attempt squat and deadlift, and forget about proper form, that's out the window!

 

[PolishHammer1977]

I am equally umimpressed as well with the Smith. It is a however a starting point for some people. I don't necessariliy think that the Smith should be used as the primary muscle building agent. Free bar all the way.

 

[jerkbox]

yeah.....i work with someone who is always telling me about his squatting.....then I found out he uses the smith...which I imagine varies from machine to machine as far as how much of the load one will actually bear.....so, i told him to get a life and do some real squats.

 

[c-sharp minor]

I have a friend who is 6'4" and wieghs around 140lbs, (well, he wieghed this at the time).

He could barely bench the empty bar.


Sad but true.

 

[Lord_Suston]

I have a friend who is 6'4" and wieghs around 140lbs, (well, he wieghed this at the time).

He could barely bench the empty bar.


Sad but true.

I would be more impressed if this guy kept at it and gained weight and learned how to bench 135 with proper form. I see people bounce the bar and go only half way down, it makes me sick.

 

[MsBeverlyHills]

theres a couple dudes at my gym that use the SMith to do incline pushups-- looks kinda silly but great view of their glutes...

 

[gettinlarger]

I see a guy at my gym. Every week, he will bench 405. But ... he lowers it slowly, until about 2-3 inches off his chest, and he bounces it off. I looks like he is going to break his sternum one day ...

That, to me, is not impressive.

 

[Thaibox]

I agree with you C. It makes it so much worse when you're doing the real lift at the same time as that person is on the smith. Sometimes my leg day would match with these 2 college dudes and we would do squats at the same time. Except I'd be in the cage and they'd be using the smith. The whole time, they'd be looking over at me and trying to do more like its a competition between us doing the same lift. They'd pile on the plates and not even go parallel while I'm going ass to the floor. The worst part is after they're done with their psuedo-squats, they strut by me with air lats thinking they did more than me.

 

[javaguru]

I agree, I congratualte everyone on a new PR with free weights and good form. What annoys me is when a conversation goes something like this;

him: "How much is that?" (in reference to my squat)

Me: " 470 plus the bar."

Him: " I can leg press 700." (actually half leg presses)

 

[the People's Champ]

if anything, it is seeing someone in the power rack doing quarter reps(this is about 95% of those that squatin my gym) with at least 3 plates on each side, and even the pt's condone this. but hey, more power to you.

 

[louden_swain]

I really don't care what others are doing. . . .I am more focused on my own workout!!

They are building their bodies. . . .I am building mine.

I don't even look at others when I train, my time is spent stretching and psyching myself up.

 

[crew9]

My friend is the king of the squat. Or should I say quarter squat. He just started squatting 2 months ago and he's already "squatting" 435 x 6. Granted my friend has incredible genetics and was very blessed in this department but I can't help but smile when he squats. It's funny when he talks about how bad it must be for me to only be squatting 225 for 5 or 6. I know it's not a lot but it's ATF and I just started serious squatting after having my knee basically reconstructed. Oh well give me a few months and we'll see who's legs have gotten more muscular

 

[Citruscide]

I agree with you C. It makes it so much worse when you're doing the real lift at the same time as that person is on the smith. Sometimes my leg day would match with these 2 college dudes and we would do squats at the same time. Except I'd be in the cage and they'd be using the smith. The whole time, they'd be looking over at me and trying to do more like its a competition between us doing the same lift. They'd pile on the plates and not even go parallel while I'm going ass to the floor. The worst part is after they're done with their psuedo-squats, they strut by me with air lats thinking they did more than me.

I notice this as well. I take my head phones off sometimes, and once I heard a guy talking near the smith machine to his girl about how he's squatting 315 then he looked at me and smirked... I was only doing 225 on front squats for 5-6 reps.

How can the two be compared??? I mean, really though. To me 100lbs on a front squat is far more impressive than 315 on smith... especially when they go down with their legs in front of their bodies.

And the guys I'm talking about aren't the "Beginners" they are people who use the smith because they say they are injured, or guy who have been working out, but use smith because they can use more weight... wrong. I find the smith to be completely ineffective compared to free bar ... but that is just my opinion... so when somone says they squatted 405 on smith, I'm like "so what?"

Louden - I understand what you are saying, but being a personal trainer, I notice these things around me... I don't like seeing people WASTE their time in the gym... whenever I see WASTE, it ticks me off... which makes my lift that much more intenst EVERY time I go to the gym.

 

[Tarheel]

I am pretty oblivious to whatever someone does on an isolation exercise.

I could care less what someone does on the cable crossover, leg extension, tricep pushdown, concentration curl, lateral raise, etc.

No Smith where i lift at so I dont have to worry about that. There was one where I used to lift at but no one used it though.

 

[Lord_Suston]

How can the two be compared??? I mean, really though. To me 100lbs on a front squat is far more impressive than 315 on smith... especially when they go down with their legs in front of their bodies.

And the guys I'm talking about aren't the "Beginners" they are people who use the smith because they say they are injured, or guy who have been working out, but use smith because they can use more weight... wrong. I find the smith to be completely ineffective compared to free bar ... but that is just my opinion... so when somone says they squatted 405 on smith, I'm like "so what?"

lol, I had a guy size me up in gym today, I started to do warmups all the way down and he tryed the same thing. I never saw anyone shake so much with 155. He looked at me funny and went right to the smith machine and proceeded to put on 405 . I just kept working along getting my full reps and sets in.

I just use those peole for motivation

 

[Rich_S]

I always crack up when I hear the pro football players talking about how they bench 600+. I saw a video of that one lineman do it last year. He had three spotters - one on each end of the bar and one right behind him. He basically just bounced the bar off his chest and then all three spotters STRUGGLED to lock it out for him. What a joke.

 

[louden_swain]

Like I say WHO CARES what everyone else does???

I stay focused to my training.

Sounds like certain trainers are easily distracted.

If people want to train like crap. . . let them!! It is worth it for them to learn their own lesson.

 

[spatts]

A PR's a PR.

 

[danielson]

only if

a) they brag about it afterwards, putting others down etc
b) they start screaming out reps on their warm ups, or on the first rep of a 8rep set
c) they feel the need to throw the weights down to make a really big noise when they could EASILY control it

basically u know the type of guy, he;s the one who tries to intimidate newbies to gym's by doing this sort of stuff, then trying to force others of their benches and stuff. drives me mad


if i see someone rack what i know is a heavy weight for them, kudos. im not that strong, so i'd hate to think others are laughing at me

 

[Citruscide]

A PR's a PR.

True. Like I said... I'm happy if someone is excited about a new PR...

My biggest problem is when someone compares 405 on a smith to 405 on regular squat. It's not the same, no where close. When someone tells me "My PR on squats is 405" -- then I find out it is Smith... It kinda makes me like "Oh... smith". If someone tells me "Yeah, I did 405 on Smith Squat" -- it kinda tells me they know the difference.

It's just not all about the weight... and the Smith-guys are usually about that. I TOTALLY understand if there is some other reason (confidence or what not) that people use Smith... or Cybex or whatever... but to hold it out as equally... it don't fly for me.

Like with my front military on the hammer machine. 8 total plates... if I told someone that I Front Militaried 360... it'd be an impressive lift... especially for 4 reps... but Hammer? I mean, I don't even Like telling people about that...

C-ditty

 

[edgecrusher]

To be quite honest, I am unimpressed with a lot of the so called records that have been set as of late. Many of the lifts have been questionable at best, and the amount of supportive gear and steroid use have made the sport of powerlifting more of a circus side show then sporting event.

 

[louden_swain]

My biggest problem is when someone compares 405 on a smith to 405 on regular squat. It's not the same, no where close. When someone tells me "My PR on squats is 405" -- then I find out it is Smith... It kinda makes me like "Oh... smith". If someone tells me "Yeah, I did 405 on Smith Squat" -- it kinda tells me they know the difference.

Why does this matter? Why is this such a problem to you? Does it affect your training somehow? Do people actually waist the time to brag about the weights they use? At Golds where I train in OKC people don't do this. I have never had a guy come up to me and brag about his poundages.

I am just trying to question the reason for giving a damn what other people do in the gym.

Nothing against you my man. . .. I know you bust your ass in the gym.

 

[Citruscide]

Why does this matter? Why is this such a problem to you? Does it affect your training somehow? Do people actually waist the time to brag about the weights they use? At Golds where I train in OKC people don't do this. I have never had a guy come up to me and brag about his poundages.

I am just trying to question the reason for giving a damn what other people do in the gym.

Nothing against you my man. . .. I know you bust your ass in the gym.

It's not IN the gym I think about this stuff... it's OUT of the gym. I don't talk to SHIT while i'm there... I train, and training is what I do... I do notice some shit.. don't bother me MUCH while I'm there... it's AFTERWARD I tihnk about this. Or if I'm talkig to someone about my PR on Deadlift for 405 and someone says Yeah, I did 405 for 3 (but on Smith) and they say "looks like I'm stronger than you eh?" --- no they aren't.

That's my point... I guess I should give a fuck, but i threw it out there to see if anyone would be thinking the same thing.

C-ditty

 

[velvett]

Form always beats size.

 

[Sebass67]

I agree, I congratualte everyone on a new PR with free weights and good form. What annoys me is when a conversation goes something like this;

him: "How much is that?" (in reference to my squat)

Me: " 470 plus the bar."

Him: " I can leg press 700." (actually half leg presses)

Just tell him he could do 400 easy load it up and leave the poor sucker there. See what happens..have a cell phone handy...

 

[Citruscide]

Form always beats size.

????

Form breaks down on PR's... ? I'll sacrifice a little form to get up a PR... but good form on a smith machine? Unimpressive, in my opinion.

Hey, if someone is totally happy lifting on the Smith... so be it. But I'm really unimpressed with anything to do with smith,cybex, or hammer... None should be used to set "PR's" in my own opinion...

C-ditty

 

[SeanHolmz]

Just tell him he could do 400 easy load it up and leave the poor sucker there. See what happens..have a cell phone handy...

LOL. Hell yea...

 

[velvett]

I was making a little joke there Citrus.
Read it again there darlin'...

 

[Citruscide]

I was making a little joke there Citrus.
Read it again there darlin'...

Oh, joke... heh... I turn off my joking mode over here in the training forum... it's like my religious forum for me... and my temple

I leave all my joking in chat usually

C-ditty

 

[GRIT]

I totally agree Citruscide!!! In my gym I see all these 17 year olds squatting big weights on the smith but not even going parallel and doing like 1 rep with a spotter!!! And then they look at me and smirk (I am squatting 115) but hell at least I am going all the way down and working my ass off!!

I am more apt to aprecciate a guy who does a hard set with 100 deadlifting then a guy who do one or two reps with 200. to me it is how hard you work.

hehe! That reminds me of a story!! I was doing this deadlift set, 1x20 with 95 lbs!!! Well that was a LOT of weigh for me, I was really struggling!! And this huge dude came up and tol dme my work ethic was better than all the schmucks in the gym, and to keep at it, etc!! He said he admired how I was sticking to form instead of going for 1 or 2 form-less reps at 200 or so (which i can do, I've tried)!!! So It was a good compliment to me!!!

 

[makovnik]

I usually don´t pay attention to others but åast night something got my attention. Two guys were doing behind-the neck-presses with a 225 barbell, bouncing the weight off their head, while screaming and spotting each other so ferociously I thought they gonna a pop a hernia.
It doesn´t bother me I just thought they were funny.
Oh, and of course I was unimpressed.

Pete

 

[danish424]

I don't understand why people always bitch about the Smitch machine here. Sure, if you do everything on it you are wasting a lot of growth potential, but it still has it's place. I sometimes do inclline presses on the smith and you know what? It works just fine. You can go heavier and take the set further (if you have no spotter). Obviously I do free weights for pretty much everything most of the time, but the Smith still has it's uses.

 

[Y_lifter]

I rarely notice the amount of weight someone is lifting unless it is
seriously huge..

Mostly I notice the form, Or, lack thereof they are using if I notice anything at all...

Yes, machines have a place.
For me it is to finish up and get a real burn safely.

 

[saint808]

well i guess if someone was bragging about it it might irk me but then i hate when people are out and out arrogant... it's a fine line between confidence and cocky. I will say tho no matter how strong you think you might be... somone is always tronger, bigger, faster, better... that's the way it goes.

 

[eastarr69]

I am unimpressed with the guys that that have big guns...wear those nice sweats with there cool chains, on the cell in the gym, no everyone and get down and press 225 for like 3...very unimpresswed and i want to choke tose preppy little bitches while i anally sodimize their chicks while they watch helplessly and i cum in their face whaen i pull out of their chick and then proceed to stomop a mudhole in them and walk it dry...those fucking faggots....argh.....

E

 

[gmanlax7]

the people or 'group' that get on my nerves the most are college kids. I myself am a college, but an Elite informed one, so definatly not the norm. What i saw today in the gym especially got to me and immediately made me think of this thread. 3 dudes rolled in and one said the others ' so what do you want to do today?" BI's and TRI's !!! one yelled and they got all fired up. So they all started taking turns doing cable rope curls. More than making me annoyed with them, i felt bad for them, knowing if i offered advice or my opinion on their routine , they would be hard pressed to accept it. Luckily i only had one set left, did it and got the hell out of there.

 

[guldukat]

Absolutely. Anytime I see someone doing a half or quarter squat with a lot of plates I'm thoroughly unimpressed.

There are a couple of guys at my gym that my training partner and I call "Partials" and Partials, Jr. It's not as if they're working on lock out power; they just do partials ALL THE TIME! And yes, Partials at least moves some weight, but when he does ass to the floor squats with a slow tempo (say, 5/1/5), he'd be lucky to get 8 legit reps with 225. With a normal tempo, I'm all but convinced he'd struggle to squat 315 for 5.

Then we've got clowns who think curls are reverse power cleans. Some poor cross-eyed dude with a big underbite likes these. He was repping out with 155 though he looked like he was going to break his back in the process. He probably doesn't understand why he has maybe 15" upper arms that just won't grow.

And, naturally, guys who leg press all of the plates the machine will hold yet can only manage quarter reps never impress. I asked to work in with one of these types once. After lowering the weight well into my armpits, pausing, then cranking out about five more reps, Quartermaster asked me, "How do you DO that?!" I think I was polite and just laughed, saying, "I don't know."

People in the gym can be funny.

 

[Fancyman]

gmanlax7, the same thing goes on at my school (I am also an Elite informed college student). If I have learned anything from this site it is form and deadlifts. I was never taught deads, so I leaned about them on Elite, now they are the base of my training program along with squats. Everybody else around here just does their chest, bi's, and abs. It's kinda nice cuz' the squat rack is always open.