interesting compliment at the gym

TheMasu · #1 September 8th, 2004, 05:03 AM

I just joined a new gym in downtown Baltimore. My old gym was attached to the University of MD graduate school so the clientell was usually med, law, nursing, and pharmacy students. This new gym is more centrally located and attracts "grown ups" who live in the city because they want to, not because they're stuck here purusing an education.
Anyway, yesterday at the gym there was a guy, massive guy, who was benching around 290lbs with two 25lb plates stacked on his chest. He was grunting a lot, making a big, loud deal of himself, and then throwing the 25lb plates on the floor when he was done. I hate that. It's very distracting, and potentially dangerous if one were to be startled or surprised by the noise while holding a weight. Anyway, the dude tops off at 290lbs and comes over to me and says "do you mind giving me a spot?" I said sure. After he was done he said "thanks, you get to a point where you realize you're lifting too much for most of the dudes around here. Not many guys here are big like you and me." I'm definitely no where near as big as him, but it was a nice compliment.

Mdlftr · #2 September 8th, 2004, 10:32 AM

Being included in the "you and me" group of big guys is a nice compliment! Bet you're still smiling about that one....

Mdlftr

P.S. Why don't 'cha ask him about the 25# plates on his chest? What's all that about----the Salem-Witch-Trials-death-by-pressing-with-stones-Bench-Press?

Mine hisforical fwo cenfes....

brent · #3 September 8th, 2004, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mdlftr

...
P.S. Why don't 'cha ask him about the 25# plates on his chest? What's all that about----the Salem-Witch-Trials-death-by-pressing-with-stones-Bench-Press?
....

Funny! I'm curious about that too. Maybe you can ask him sometime? This guy could be a good friend if you can get over the noise thing. He obviously knows how to grow, can stay motivated, and might be a good workout partner. Congratulations on being one of the big boys!

ottomun6 · #4 September 8th, 2004, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brent

Funny! I'm curious about that too. Maybe you can ask him sometime? This guy could be a good friend if you can get over the noise thing. He obviously knows how to grow, can stay motivated, and might be a good workout partner. Congratulations on being one of the big boys!

Yeah!,...what he said!

RadRx · #5 September 8th, 2004, 02:47 PM

I'm curious as well.

Is there a chance he used poor form and bounced the bar off his chest? I've seen guys with phone books and towels on their chests to disperse the energy of the bar when it strikes.

TheMasu · #6 September 8th, 2004, 03:06 PM

I'll be back there on Friday at the same time, if I see him I'll ask him. Tonight I'm meeting with the personal trainer... you get three free sessions when you sign up... they're overly basic and time consuming, but keeping a positive attitude -- you can always go back to basics.

glammaman2000 · #7 September 8th, 2004, 05:57 PM

(accessories make the outfit)it could be an attempt to limit the range of movement;like on a power rack.i knew this huge,Greek,power-lifty dude.he could bench humongous poundages,but his chest was so big,the bar was only moving about 6 inches!then again,your friend could just be nuts(it happens)

Notbigenuff · #8 September 14th, 2004, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMasu

I...thanks, you get to a point where you realize you're lifting too much for most of the dudes around here. Not many guys here are big like you and me." I'm definitely no where near as big as him, but it was a nice compliment.

That certainly is a good compliment--it's exciting when you start to realize that you are one of the "big boys" after all. I had a similar compliment when once upon a time I was working out with my "on again--off again" lifting partner (gains come easy for him so when I get too big he starts to work out for a few months to catch up then lays off for a while--both exciting to watch and maddening at the same time, but I digress) when another guy asks for a spot from one of us. We end up with a brief conversation and asks how long we've been lifting. I said something to the effect of "not long." And this guy says, "oh come one, you didnt' get this big overnight." I think that it was the first time that a stranger acknowledged my size--kept me in a good mood all week!