Weird Experience at the Gym
 

No this did not occur in the locker room. I'll head that off early.

I recently switched gyms. I worked out at the same place for the last 8 years. Apparently, I've become very conditioned to their equipment.

I went to do my heavy bench presses today. I loaded the bar up with 325, bugged someone to spot me, I got it off the bench and my wrists were wobbling/shaking. I lowered the bar to my chest, and couldn't get it back up.

I was stunned and embarrassed. I tried again with 295, same problem. I widened my grip, I narrowed my grip, nothing worked.

Finally, I spotted another bench on the other side of the room that looked similar to one from my old gym. (I'm still getting familiar with the layout of the equipment.) I give it a try. I immediately notice the bar is a thicker diameter than the one I had been using...and it feels right. I also notice that this new bench is much wider than the one I had been trying to use before. I had been spacing my arms from the side rails and my grip is now much wider than it was at the old bench. I beg another spot and WALLAH! Finally I complete my sets.

Sounds like your old bench allowed more of the pecs to work becuase you were able to get more of involved by starting out lower? 325 is alot. Do you keep a tight grip or somewhat light?

I thought I had a tight grip, but the muscles in my hands were apparently conditioned to a thick bar.

Ahhhh the memories. I used to bench 350 for 6 reps and I loved to look of the big guys faces when a little 5'8" tall guy that weighed 160 lbs did it.

Fast forward 10 years and I am sitting in a sports medicine docotrs office looking at x-rays with him and he is diagnosing me with the onset of arthritis in my shoulders.

Biggest Culprit? Bench Presses.

I never benched again. Now I stick with dumb bells, better pump and more solid workout IMHO.

I wish I could bench. 2 ruptured disks in my lowers back. I do bench, but I do it on an upright machine. Not one of those cable jobs, one you can sttack plates on. I can put up about 325 on the machine, but that probably translates down to like 265 on a real bench. I freaking hate it. It takes SO long to get results if you can't do free weights.

I don't bench, but I'm pretty good at lifting a fork.

AGE

This thread is useless without pics. And not the girl-ones this time...

Edit: not quite the above though...

I can't imagine "paying" to work out. Situps, chinups, kneebends, pushups and a jog down the road all seams easier to just do at home when in the mood. I guess if you are a professional athlete, maybe you might need to have some sophisticated equipment, but I have never understood the whole "going to the gym" thing.

Oh well, not my money.

YOU BENCH 325?!?!?!?!


Note to self: be nicer to Legion!


CC, I thought you loved us for our minds :D ;) :D :p


Me, I work on those 12 ounce curls... on a good day may some 16's

That's what you get for thinking. :p

LOL

I tried lifting those weights. Man, those things are heavy!!:)

1. peer support
2. motivation
3. hot babes


Well, more like.

1. hot babes
2. peer support
3. hot babes
4. motivation
5. Did I mention hot babes

LOL

Seriously though, going to the gym motivates people who may not find the same motivation at home....

Unfortunately true...father time is the opponent who beats us all...

I would get too distracted to finish a workout if I attempted it at home. I know this because I tried for a while and I got too distracted... :D When I go to the gym, I know my time is dedicated to working out.

Scott, I hide it very well. I'm 6'1" and 240 lbs.

Keri, there is one picture of me floating around PPOT. I do have a six pack...it's just buried in the keg.

I have a pretty nice home gym. I use it more for hanging clothes on now. One night I decided I wanted to work out so I moved all the clothes. I was so tired after all that I just drank beer and ate doritos.

Every once in awhile I break out the suzanne summers thigh masters. I put one on each arm and go through a bag of chips.

I soon realized it is easier complaining about my weight than actually doing something about it.

:D

I was a serious weightlifter for almost 20 years. In the 70's Arnold was just starting, Lou Ferrigno, Rocky. Big was better. I lifted 6 days a week for at least 10 years in a row. I don't know what I was thinking. I reached my peak size when I was finishing College (6' 230lbs). Since then I have been playing a roller coaster of working out, dealing with the pain (mostly in my shoulders), after a few months, and then recovering from my (working out). Torn biceps tendon, torn labrum, and just this winter, torn rotator. Seems the "working out" to keep in good shape has actually been the culprit in my injuries. Go figure. In moderation, I suppose it wouldn't of been as bad. I did way too many of the wrong exercises (behind head presses, weighted dips, and of course flat benching.) I still am in fairly decent shape (I weigh about 185) now and people keep asking me how I find time to work out. Little do they know I'm just living off the work that I did for 20 plus years. Time to try Yoga or Pilates!;)

My downfall came not with the bench, but the inclined bench. Was lifting 300, moved and went to another gym. Was trying the equipment out at 250 and felt a pop in my left shoulder...hasn't been the same since. I finally got a consult to physical therapy (the whole point here), the guy says the incline press provides a good portion of his business. Something like the exercise is out of synch with shoulders. Like a couple others now, have gone to dumb bells, but the shoulder still hurts every day, lifting or not.

I have found that specialized movements done continuously produce the injuries that are discussed here. Try varied compound movements like olympic lifts or workouts like Crossfit.