Why can't I lift more weight? - that guy who grunts and screams and almost drops weights on himself.
I've been writing "Inside Fitness" for four years, and I have had my share of rants and raves. This is going to be my last one. After this, I promise I will go back to the boring, dry, step-by-step descriptions of how to perform the proper external rotation or why it's anatomically incorrect to perform exercises behind the neck.
I understand ego lifting. Massive egos abound at just about every gym you'll find, but they never cease to amaze me. Sacrificing form for weight is the cardinal sin of proper strength training. If weightlifting were a religion, ego-lifting would represent the unholy.
I am not talking about a little bend in the back to get that last rep when doing curls, or the slight butt-lift that is so common when struggling on a bench. Nor am I talking about the guys who just miss parallel on the last couple squats because they are afraid they might dump the weight. Those are understandable and - dare I say it - acceptable. I am talking about the idiots who load four plates on each side of the squat bar, wrap their knees, and do reps with the same range of motion that a paraplegic uses (read: NONE). I am referring to the geniuses that bench press by breaking and straightening their elbows in a spastic fit of muscular contraction. Guys, what are you doing?
I could ramble through the list of dangers of working out that way - injury, broken equipment, reduction of flexibility, etc. I won't elaborate further because I am sure it will fall on deaf ears (or blind eyes, as the case may be). Instead, I will try another approach. Obviously, these people suffer from low self-esteem. In an attempt to inflate themselves (literally and emotionally), they sloppily throw weights around the gym that a professional weightlifter would fail to handle with decent form. However, instead of just trying to quietly lift heavy with awful form, these dudes feel it necessary to scream in time with their reps. At times I wonder if I have suddenly been transported to a room full of howler monkeys instead of intelligent people. These brainless gym wonders are obviously grunting and shrieking under obscene loads for a reason that goes beyond simply feeding a famished ego.
I will venture a guess and say I think they want attention - which is exactly what they are getting. Maybe if I tell them that instead of the manliness they are trying to exude as they strain and sweat, they give off the impression of extreme ignorance and, in some cases, mild insanity. Want to make the gym a better, safer place? Pass this on to your favorite meathead: Please guys, drop the weight and learn how to lift properly. Heavy weight with awful form will not be worth a torn pec or being crushed under the squat bar.
If you have seen yourself described in the previous sentences, don't be embarrassed. Think of it as a way of telling you that there's mayo on your lip instead of letting you walk around with it. You'll be thankful, believe me.
I am getting bored with my chest routine. It's flat bench, incline dumbbell, cable fly. Any suggestions? - Lauren McGivern, 21 Walker St.
If lifting weights is getting repetitive, then take some time off from the iron and opt for body weight exercises. In terms of chest, there are plenty of them that are more difficult than the standard push-up. Some variations include one-handed pushups, push-ups with your feet elevated, or push-ups with your hands and/or feet on a plyoball. Another strategy would be to perform flies, one side at a time (make sure you use light weight). Take the exercise slowly and concentrate, making sure to maintain a stable base for the movement. Try this method for a few chest workouts, then go back to the weights. You should feel refreshed and ready to attack the iron.
