Bench pressing- being spotted

Sangre

Just a quick question.

If you are bench pressing, do you get someone to spot you in the gym or do you do it alone.
I can never push myself fully without someone to spot you, but in a proper gym is it common practice to do sets with someone?

Mutz

I'm the same.

Feel kinda akward aking some other guy with bigger muslces than me to spot me..... sounds kinda weird eh?

Jak

Your muscles breakdown and subsequently achieve most growth when they are pushed past their limits. In order to give it your all safely you need to be spotted.

It all depends on what you are going for, if you are just doing a little light workout for whatever reason or you train more to stop your muscles going into atrophy rather than getting any progress, you should with a little preparation, be able to design a program you can complete 100% and safely on your own.

Nowadays it is very common for people to train in pairs or ask for help. There are just innumerable benefits to training with someone else as opposed to alone.

If you feel awkward, well I don't know what to say. Get over it.

Lots of people feel awkward and out of place in a gym, stick with it, get to know people, get to know your routines and you'll be fine. Do ask for help though if you are unsure.

There is nothing worse than seeing some halfwit seriously injure himself or others cause he didn't want to appear like a newbie or whatever.

JAK.

Sangre

Originally posted by Jak


If you feel awkward, well I don't know what to say. Get over it.

Its not that I feel awkward. I've been bench pressing in my very well equiped school gym, Ive taken a break for the exams so Im gonna resume after the Leaving.
Just wondering if its common place, I dont want to interupt someones training or seem rude even. If its the done thing, Ive no problem.

yellum

Being spotted is very common. More common in places where people have a clue what they're doing. Never be afraid to ask. You put your health at risk if you push the limits and don't get a spot.

Make sure the spotter knows what they're doing and will barely spot you. You get the idiots that just take the full weight of the bar and put it back on the stand. That is very annoying.

I've seen guys seriously **** themselves up when they didn't get a spot.

The ones I hate spotting are the guys that do dumbell shoulder presses and want to be babyfed the damned dumbells.

Jak

The ones I hate spotting are the guys that do dumbell shoulder presses and want to be babyfed the damned dumbells

You try swinging 2 100lbs dumbells up to your shoulders. I always get handed one because swinging the dumbells into position can very easily cause neck,back, wrist etc. damage with even the slightest mistake.

There is nothing wrong with getting help.

JAK.