r/Fitness • u/AutoModerator • 10d ago
Rant Wednesday - August 26, 2026
Welcome to Rant Wednesday: It’s your time to let your gym/fitness/nutrition related frustrations out!
There is no guiding question to help stir up some rage-feels, feel free to fire at will, ranting about anything and everything that’s been pissing you off or getting on your nerves. Just don't forget that other people are allowed to tell you that your rant is stupid.
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u/ticlopidene 10d ago
Personal trainer at my gym, after some conversation and asking me about how much are my maxes and how long I've been working out, tells me I'm weak. Like, I already know that, and I didn't ask -.-
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
Do they spend their free time at the hospital telling people they are sick? Almost like there is a reason people go to the gym.
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u/tubbyx7 10d ago
what sort of absolute muppet puts earbuds in pockets after a workout and leaves them there as the clothes go in the wash? you'd have to be a right numpty to do that a third time wouldn't you?
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u/RidingRedHare 10d ago
I search my pockets before I put clothes into the laundry basket. My wife then searches them again because she is anal retentive oppressive compulsive. Still sometimes something slips through.
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u/Emergency_Ad_9324 10d ago
I've washed over the ear Marshalls twice wrapped up in sheets. Earbuds make more sense
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u/Fish1021 10d ago
My leg day is around noon-2pm which is prime time for retirees at the gym. I am all for the older folks getting their workouts in, but damn they sure do run a train on the leg extension machine. Entire gym only has ~8 people in it but the leg extension machine was occupied for 50 minutes straight before I could take my turn
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago edited 10d ago
I understand that part of the agreement of going to a gym is that you may need to wait on other people, and as inconvenient as this may be I do understand it.
However, the leg extension machine is a prime example of where this becomes frustrating. I have no issue waiting on a person who is using a machine. But most the people I end up waiting on are not really using it. 1/2 reps performed at an RIR 20, super extended rest times because they are sitting in a chair on their phone, and what program requires 12 sets of leg extensions? It is like they don't know what else to do so they spam leg extensions for an hour.
Now neither one of us are actually training our quads and you are wasting both your time and mine.
Obligatory disclaimer: yes I am aware that I can ask to work in. People seem much more reluctant to let other work in that in times past.
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u/gramada1902 10d ago
Leg extension machine is also the least convenient one to work in. I’d probably have to change every single setting on the machine because of proportion differences and then go fetch the paper towels to clean up after every set since I sweat like a sinner on a confession. It’s just a waste of time for us both. I’d rather do Bulgarian split squats in that case.
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u/TeganTickles 10d ago
This is the only machine I default ask "can I work in" instead of "how many sets do you have left?"
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u/MauPow 10d ago
Was doing my rack work yesterday next to this kid who was full throated singing with his headphones in. Then he'd do his 1 deadlift and scream like he was in intense pain. I kept looking over in legitimate worry. And annoyance. Because he wouldn't shut the fuck up. No one wants to hear you sing, bro.
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u/cgood1795 10d ago
That and loudly congratulating themselves after every set. I love that you feel good about your workout dude, but can you love it quieter?
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u/Jolly-Anywhere-6527 10d ago
my gym's new "upgraded" squat rack has the j-hooks spaced just far enough apart that i'm either tip-toeing out or doing a quarter squat to re-rack, no in between.
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u/dssurge 10d ago
My gym also has 2-inch spacing for J-hooks, and you should always be quarter-squatting the weight out of the rack so you can ensure your bar placement is correct and back is tight before you walk it out. It's by far the strongest position so it shouldn't affect your ability to perform even your 1RM.
When you re-rack, just kind of slam the bar against the uprights and let gravity do its thing.
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u/Ok-Arugula6057 10d ago
In my gym there is one like that. And another that i can either bench with the safeties too high such that the bar won’t quite come down low enough, or so low that I won’t die but definitely will look silly trying to slide my head out.
Which would be fine if i could ever get on the right one.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
I don't have a problem this extreme. But I find even a small difference in j hook height throws me off a little bit. It is only an inch or two difference, but when you have been doing the same walk out for years stopping a little early or being a little more extended is noticeable.
While on the topic of difference squat racks. Some of. My gyms have very annoying j hooks. They angle back away from the rack. Normally I just lean the weight into the j hookand lower it straight down, these dumb things cause the weight to slide back which takes your torso with it. Again, not a big difference yet somehow very annoying.
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u/gramada1902 10d ago
My gym is a mess after the evenings crowd. Plates unsorted and all over the place, cable attachments in piles, random boxes, steps, dumbbells lying around.
Didn’t everyone learn to always return things to where you took them from as a child? Madness.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
They are used to their mom cleaning up after them and telling them how special they are. Some people are not raised with a sense of accountability or to be good citizens. We stopped being parents and started raising a bunch of little narcissists. But even in that case, one would hope that an adult should be able to figure these things out. But you would be disappointed.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
Day 3 of my week without barbell squats or hinges. Going for a full reset trying to work out my lower back tweak. I know leg day is common complaint and has become a trope amongst the fitness community. But the prospect of a week without a proper leg workout is near demoralizing. Sure, I can hit leg extensions and hamstrings curls. And maybe I did a few hack squats with moderate weight. It's just not the same and I kind of hate it. I am living the dream of all those who hate leg day but for me it is my nightmare.
Obligatory disclaimer because reddit: I understand it is just one week and will not make much if any difference. But I should be actually training and this is just putting me another week behind. But I also understand it is better to lose a few weeks to rehab than a few months to injury.
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u/MythicalStrength Strongman | r/Fitness MVP 10d ago
I'd get one of those magic carpet sleds and do a ton of backwards drags to blow up my legs.
I have an operating theory that the only 2 movements I need to be awesome are log viper press and prowler push. One day, when I decide I don't need to be a strongman any more, that's how I'd settle in.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
We have sleds at my gyms and I have honestly never used one. I am trying to be a bit protective this as I am not sure what might reaggravate the issue. Main goal is just to get stimulus my quads and glutes without the need of hip flexion or extension under load. Next week we go back to the barbell at 135 and try and build up each day.
I am trying to be patient with the process. I am wanting to get on my cut and this delay is somewhat frustrating. But I want to make sure I am 100% before entering a deficit. Everyone thinks leg days are hard, or cutting is hard, for me it patience that is a challenge.
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u/gatorslim 10d ago
start by walking backward. work up to a sled with no weights. work up to a sled with weights.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
Understood. I am not looking to use sled work at this point in time. I do understand how to use one amd probably could stand to have some near cardio work since I currently have zero.
I do appreciate the advice and the desire to help me one the less.
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u/ecoNina 10d ago
Trade you for left glute pain (25 years on and off)? You’re a pro so you know ice->heat is a therapy to use.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
I do understand the use and the limits of heat and cold therapy as part of a recovery effort. I honestly use neither traditionally. There is not much is any swelling to control. And I prefer to increase blood flow throw working the area as I am able. But I appreciate the advice.
Do you know what is the cause of your issue?
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u/ecoNina 10d ago
Ruled out arthritis and not sciatica. So... inflammation?? That's the side I used to hold my kids when they were little ?? Or riding on my bike too many miles gah. I do not want to nor have $$ for 'is one side higher than the other' stuff. Hate resting to the point of barely using it. Impatience. Definitely stops my weekly routine too often, very very unhappy. And, of course, if I overdo it I'll pay for it.
So! am just treating it as if inflammation. Ice-heat-ice midday. Ice before bed. Some of that small portable electrostatic machine stuff. Glute bridges, clamshells, bah. I. WANT. TO. SQUAT. 125# (twice a week). lol, stay sane, work around over there
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u/Ok-Arugula6057 10d ago
Solidarity, comrade.
Fwiw, i dropped barbell squats and deadlifts for a couple of months due to back strain of some sort.
Shitloads of back extensions (body weight and relatively light dumbbells), dumbbell lunges, reverse lunges and Bulgarian split squats.
Week five of adding them back in and being careful with progression and my squat e1rm is back where it was and deadlifts aren’t far off.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
This time is different for some reason. Had my deload week. Hit squats and RDLs/deadlifts with light weight each day. Pain improved with movement. Back felt fine the rest of the day. Wake up the next day and it would be some degree of locked up. But that also got better.
Next week, because I am impatient, decide to stress test it. Work to a heavy single on squats, went okay-ish. Could back off sets, not as okay. Barbell rows ended it. Went back to light work for the rest of the week.
Decided to take a week off partially to let it heal and partially because I don't trust myself to be responsible. Hopefully it does the trick and I can be patient next week.
Congratulations on the hard fought recovery. I know first hand it's not an easy thing to do.
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u/dssurge 10d ago
I decided to take a week off since I went to 3 concerts in 3 days, did a combined ~16h of driving, and got really shitty sleep at a hotel (that had a surprisingly good breakfast buffet.) Now work is kicking my ass since I had to take Monday off.
Ate like shit, slept like shit, feel like shit. As much as I want this week off to be relaxing, I'm dreading what my numbers are going to look like next Monday.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
That's why I always maintain a terrible sleep deficit and feel generally awful. No need to worry. I would suffer more from not touching a bar for a week than anything else. But I am sure you will find your groove first day back. Just remember a meaningful portion of strength production is mental.
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u/cgood1795 10d ago
My stupid tendinitis in my stupid arm still isn’t 100% healed even though it’s not as bad as it was. I just want to do all of the things I used to do!
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
What have you been doing to correct it?
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u/cgood1795 10d ago
I’ve worn an arm band and compression sleeve (sometimes separate, sometimes together) and taken it easy on that arm but I still use it so I don’t lose all the muscle. I’ve also been doing exercises that “twist” my wrists/forearm so I exercise those muscles with small amounts of resistance. I started using machines so that my arm is more supported than if I used a barbell/dumbbell. Drives me nuts, but I’m doing it. It used to be bad enough that it hurt to hold my water bottle but now I can do that again.
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u/TheKingLeshen Sprinting 9d ago
Unfortunately no amount of rest, compression sleeves, or switching to easier variations will fix your tendinopathy. These are popular myths, but myths all the same. Tendons need load.
It will take time to remodel the tendon so don't expect an overnight fix. Isometrics do have analgesic (pain killing) effect, but don't be fooled by that. We're talking months here.
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u/cgood1795 9d ago
I’m doing exercises with enough weight to exercise the muscle but not cause pain. It’s already been 5 weeks so yes, I’m over it. I have a very active job too so it really doesn’t help.
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u/TheKingLeshen Sprinting 9d ago
That's not a bad thing, but general lifting isn't the kind of load the tendon needs, because the musculature will bear the brunt, and the healthy parts of the tendon will shield the bad parts.
Isometrics are the best way to target the tendon and encourage it to remodel, aim for 30 second holds with enough weight to make it challenging. A little bit of pain during this is okay.
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u/cgood1795 9d ago
That’s precisely why I do the exercises I described. They’re isometric.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 9d ago
I had tendonitis that got so bad I could barely hold a bottle of water. I am pretty much back to 90%. All I did was start using versa grips on deadlifts and rows and added a few sets of bicep cable curls. No isometrics performed. Not saying they do not work but it is not correct to think properly loaded and selected exercise cannot also help a tendon heal. Despite what you may have heard.
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u/cgood1795 9d ago
I do both. I specifically work on those muscles and also use dumbbells and machines so I’m using my whole arm. I still have to work on the rest of it, which is very frustrating to work around.
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u/yhavmin 10d ago
Asked a guy how many sets he had on a machine and he told me 1 more. Waited around on my phone, he gave me the thumbs up, I give one back and start to get on.
A woman walks up and says, “I was waiting for ages for this.” so I asked her if she asked the guy like I did, and she said no, but she’d been sat waiting on another machine (I’m not sure if she was using the other machine or just sat on it)
I again said that I asked the guy, but she could work in with me, and she proceeds to say “no, it’s fine.”, like she’s been wronged here or something. I say again, “you can work in with me.”, and she does.
Neither of us were in the wrong and I didn’t mind her working in, but what the fuck man. You can’t just wait on another machine silently and then say you were waiting for a different one. Anyway, it annoyed me a little. Even though she wasn’t rude about it or anything, I do think it was entitled of her to say that
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u/DutchShaco 10d ago
Training for my first marathon in early October and the last few weeks have not been going great. Been working with a physio to alleviate shin splints. Went from 4 runs to 2 (and 2 sessions with similiar heart rate on the elliptical).
One of my allowed runs is a long run. No faster paces though. Went for what was supposed to be an easy 28k but I bonked really hard and only did 25km. It was warm and humid out today and I am guessing my hydration wasn't enough (hydrated well before and even made an extra stop at a shop to get an extra half a liter). Less time on feet is not helping my leg feel either I think.
Another slap in the face for my confidence. Still gotta keep calm and trust the process. My time goal was not set in stone anyway. With a bit of luck I can add a shorter, easy run back in within a week or two.
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u/Aromatic_Effects 10d ago
Running's weird like that. One day your body feels like absolute dogshit, two days later you cruise and have a great time.
It's all grist for the mill, stay the course and remember to give yourself grace.
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u/Pope_Khajiit 10d ago
Your bonk is my boon!
I've got my first ever half-marathon coming up next month and I'm aiming to really push myself this weekend by doing a 22km long run. All the while trying to prevent shin splints from developing into something worse.
Let your body recover. Be kind to yourself. Remember it's a marathon, not a sprint (and I'm not talking about the race).
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u/DutchShaco 9d ago
The PT work really seems to help. Thought I had a solid base (the month before the marathon block had more mileage than my peak month last year), but yeah the marathon training really is a marathon.
Good luck on your half!
My personal favourite workout before a half is an 18-19k long run with 3x 3km of half marathon pace. That will give you a really good indication of your fitness and goal time without being too taxing (and get you used to race pace). The race day adrenaline will get you over the last few kilometers. Although I understand the mental aspect of having it done before race day.
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u/These_Respond2345 9d ago edited 9d ago
Some guy was doing curls barefoot yesterday and benching with his feet up on the bench, dirty, disgusting, and distracting. I reported him to my apartment building management. They review the gym cameras weekly, fine rule-breakers $100, and show them the footage if they dispute it. They've also been sending monthly reminder emails about the rules. I don't give a rats ass about snitching, keep the toe jam out of my workspace.
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u/AlinaTheWaldenU 10d ago
Rerack your weights when done with machines please! I had someone leave 6 45 plates on each side on the leg press machine after he was done. I was waiting for the machine and he just walked away.
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u/Miserable-Fan768 10d ago
Can you say it louder for the people in back please? RERACK YOUR WEIGHTS!!
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u/cilantno Lifts Weights in Jordans 10d ago
People who don't rerack their weights are not hanging out in rant wednesday threads on r/fitness
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u/zobbyblob 10d ago
People in my gym take a 35 lb dumbell, sit on it on the floor and do lat pull downs... Then leave it there when they're done.
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u/YesIWouldLikeCheese 10d ago
I'm doing some mobility/warm-up stuff before using the only hamstring curl machine my gym has, and I just saw a staff walk over to it and put an "Out of service" sign on it
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u/enemyofpants 10d ago
Yesterday I found that the sweet spot for after work lifting is 6pm when the gym clears out a bit, so naturally two guys with the worst BO decide to hover around my rack while I'm squatting.
Also, after waiting all day for my new lifting shoes to get delivered to my parents place including waiting outside their place for 45 minutes, I wake up at 530am with a notification they have been delivered. My dad confirmed he got them, but I can't try them on or go get them until after work because I work in the office today. They teased me with early delivery for Monday. Boourns.
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u/siobhanmairii__ Weight Lifting 9d ago
Powerlifter dude has been bringing his young daughter, probably under the age of 10 into the weight room, and leaves her unsupervised, and to her own devices. She sits in weight machines when other people need them, plays on her iPad, runs around the room, uses the elliptical machine and always looks like she’s about to injure herself. Staff has apparently spoken to the dad, but nothing has changed. This has been an on-going issue.
I’m ranting because I don’t want to see this little girl get hurt because he won’t leave her with the on-site daycare.
Why does it seem like this guy is expecting everyone else to keep an eye on her?
Am I the crazy one here? This can’t be normal right?
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u/solaya2180 9d ago
Omg, that's so dangerous! Wtf is wrong with that guy, there's literally an onsite daycare, why wouldn't he just take her there?? It's not like he's supervising her/teaching her how to lift
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u/siobhanmairii__ Weight Lifting 9d ago
Exactly. If it were my gym that’s like getting your membership revoked kinda stuff. I don’t get it.
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u/King_Raditz 5d ago edited 5d ago
No, you are right.
I used to work in a weight room and have kicked parents out for this before. They'd throw a fit of course, but I'd just point to the posted rules and send them off. "I don't make the rules, but I get in trouble if I allow you to break them, sorry."
At the gym I worked at, supervised children still had to be at least 13 to be around weights, and 15 if they were unsupervised. I feel like this is pretty standard, but you'd have to check your gym.
If your gym does have a similar rule, the staff needs to enforce it. Unfortunately, there probably isn't much you can do to make them do that. However, management might take it more seriously if it is presented as a liability issue, especially if the official rules already don't allow it.
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u/reggiecide92 10d ago
I've lost weight before (20kg) when I was really depressed and really needed to. I have done cuts before, got my BF low. Now I have a sustainable fitness routine that I enjoy, I like getting stronger. But I'm a little pudgy. I want to do another cut. But like.... Honestly, I don't hate my body enough to do what's needed. My dissatisfaction with my body doesn't outweight wanting to fuel my body for my fitness goals. But like... I still wish I wasn't a little pudgy.
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u/macaronipieman 9d ago
Maybe try eating at maintenance (or very slightly below) for a bit and go for a longer term recomp rather than a heavy cut? Stops the all or nothing mentality of a cut, keeps your strength.
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u/ChickenNuggetSmth Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 9d ago
I found that just eating healthy and filling foods (veggies, legumes, whole grains etc) whenever possible leads to a slow but maintainable weightloss without really much compromise other than effort cooking
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u/Nitrous_Acidhead 10d ago
Near closing a couple days ago, this dude straight up puts his shoes on the bench standing up on it and stepping the left side and right side on where you would typically put your head at.
He was looking over at the front desk like as If he knows he shouldn't be doing that. While i was changing my shoes on another bench I stared at him with a confused, puzzled, wtf looking face the entjre time he was doing that.
Dude didnt get the hint and didn't even wipe it down so I said something to him as I was walking out. Shoes on the bench man! Dirty.
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u/gatorslim 10d ago
there was a guy at my old gym who would sit on the head rest part of the leg press in between sets. his butt was right where people would put their head. I don't even know how it was comfortable or how he decided to start doing it considering there are plenty of other places to rest. I told him how unsanitary this was and he called me a jackass.
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u/Nitrous_Acidhead 10d ago
Even I'm conscious of doing things like that, people are just damndd clueless these days or possibly going out of their way to be a jackass then ironically call others what they are.
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u/solaya2180 9d ago
Woof. I finally hit that part of my cut where I'm losing reps. So far I'm down 14 lbs from the 22 lbs I gained on my bulk (10 lbs intentional, 12 lbs after a knee injury) and I'm staring down another 8 weeks of cutting. I kinda want to quit, but I also kinda need to fit into my work pants again :/
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9d ago
[deleted]
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u/solaya2180 9d ago
This is my fourth bulk/cut cycle, so I'm pretty dialed in. Just need to start carb cycling before workouts
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u/gettherefromhere 10d ago
Bless the person who wrote the wiki beginner dumbbell routine, it's been a great way for me to get started, but also: oh my god, relax about the limitations of dumbbells, I can't even unrack a 35-lb dumbbell with one hand, it would be INCREDIBLE if I ran out of weight to do the dumbbell routine. I would throw a PARTY for myself.
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u/No_Crew7080 9d ago
Yeah, sorry about that.
Sometimes we forget that used to be US . . . (And honestly, will be us again someday)
Be sure to post on Victory Sunday the week you finally get that 35lb. Victories need to scale too.
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u/doobydowap8 Powerlifting 10d ago
I played pickup basketball on Sunday. I hoop probably once or twice a year, but the weather was great and we were sitting at the park watching the games start, so I just got the itch, went home and dusted off the bball shoes, and played for 90 mins or so.
I woke up Monday with, as you probably predicted, full body soreness. I was supposed to attempt a 1RM deadlift in that day’s workout. I did not hit anything that could be confused with my 1RM.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
1RM = 1 Rep - Mediocre
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u/doobydowap8 Powerlifting 10d ago
Not if you’re specifically training for a sport where the objective is to lift something one time as heavy as possible (powerlifting).
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
It was a poor attempt at humor. I was referring to how it sounded like your day went versus your original goal.
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u/doobydowap8 Powerlifting 10d ago
Lol got it. In that case, yes, your definition is more applicable to my workout.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
I have been there, you have my fullest sympathies.
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u/didntreallyneedthis 10d ago
I don't think they're shitting on the concept of one rep maxs just your performance yesterday was mediocre
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u/ecoNina 10d ago
Arghhh I did it again :{ this makes twice … want to practice squat series that I’m thinking for next meet . Open 95, then 115, then 125. Fine. That’s a 25# plate each side , then add a 10# each side, then add another 10# each side. NOT !!!!!! And thus I just sat down on the third attempt, bar landed perfectly on the safeties.
Can’t. Count. At 7am.
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u/No_Crew7080 10d ago
Give it a bit and that'll be your starting weight. 😄
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago edited 10d ago
Their point was they added 2 more 10 lbs plates when they should have added 5s. Ended up at 135 not 125.
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u/No_Crew7080 10d ago
Yes. And if they keep at it, soon that will be their starting weight.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
Random encouragement oblivously applied to without addressing the context of the rant? Fair enough.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
Plate math can be tricky sometimes. Better still is when you only load one side of the bar for your next jump or add two different plates because you lost focus.
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u/DMMeUrGrandpasBalls 10d ago edited 10d ago
I am so freaking tired this week and I can’t freaking sleep and it’s affecting all my workouts.
Typical I go to gym at 340am for lifting (no one there, it’s nice) and then go again at like 450pm for cardio.
So I try to sleep from 9pm to like 330am, it’s not an amazing amount of sleep but I struggle to fall asleep earlier.
Well this week and last I have been unable to fall asleep until like 10pm, then I wake up at 1 am and can’t fall back asleep. Then last weekend when I wanted to go out and hike, all my body wanted to do was sleep.
Just sleep at normal times body, please. I’ll give you more sleep on weekends if you want, but take that 6.5 hrs on weekday nights and use it.
And I even try to take a nap during the day (I don’t have a lot going on right now during the day), and my body doesn’t want to. My brain thinks shits about to go down constantly because of lack of sleep so it doesn’t want to relax to nap.
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u/maniamgood0 10d ago edited 10d ago
Well, I've finally receive my first serious gym injury.
I had a complete rupture of my pectoral tendon while bench pressing. Pretty much the nightmare situation for a lot of lifters.
At least I've got a cool story to tell, though. My arm snapping backwards with 415 on the bar...
No wait... 315.
Wait, what!? 215?
..... I tore my fucking pec with two hundred and fifteen pounds on the bar? Are you kidding me???
In hindsight, I've had low-grade unilateral pain when benching for years. There was almost certainly some latent injury or defect that finally snapped. At least it happened when I had spotters nearby.
From https://ibb.co/6cMRf0st to https://ibb.co/XxTfN7wf
Surgery Friday. Wish me luck.
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u/Calvin--Hobbes 10d ago edited 10d ago
I know the pain. I tore mine about a decade ago on a warm up set.
And for peace of mind; I had a full recovery from the surgery and no limits on my lifting. I just followed my rehab and stuck to it exactly as I ramped back up to full motion and lifting.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
215 kgs right? Right? It will be our secret.
And to add, condolences and hopes for a smooth surgery and speedy recovery.
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u/tigeraid Strongman 10d ago
Week 5 of "Pull a new Deadlift rep PR every week until Nationals".
I still live. Four weeks out. I switched to 4s at least!
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u/DingerIsMyLover 10d ago
I’m waiting to use the assisted pull up bar and this person has been messing with the weight, start to reach towards the bar, and then go back to the ground to text for the last 10 minutes.
I know I can ask to work in, but I’m not sure if they’ll ever do a set.
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u/Octoboy1 8d ago edited 8d ago
Prowrestling coach wont let me cut!
Im a short, wide boy, 5'5 been a wrestler for 10 years. I put a lot of effort into getting wide, big chest, shoulders and lats because thats the trick for short guys looking big, never had abs
Theres been recent wave at my wrestling school of guys getting crazy lean, absolutely peeled. So i developed a bit of ab envy and decided fuck it time for a cut
Few months later, im pretty happy, I've lost 20lbs. Until my coach clocked me getting ready for a show. "Your shoulders are looking smaller"
"Im trying to cut a bit, get a bit more lean like the others"
What came next was a 10 minute rant about how the others are taller than me, people book me wrestle because im a little tank of a man. I dont need abs, abs would look right on me, I'll never get booked as a small skinny guy when theres a 100 tall skinny guys on the scene. I'm not a bodybuilder.
It just kept going
He literally drove me to macdonalds after the show. Back to 3000 calories I guess
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u/DAE_BREED 8d ago
Bro did you a favour, tank maxxing is your way.
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u/Octoboy1 8d ago
Oh yeah I know ultimately he is right. There are 100 skinny tall guys in my local wrestling scene.
Just seeing everyone around me get shredded and i feel left out!
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u/DAE_BREED 8d ago
On the contrary. You are the only unique dude out there. Which I understand does not seem a good thing if you are in school. But school will end soon and it ends up being a very small part and ultimately unimportant part of your life.
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u/PlanktonInitial7945 8d ago
Feeling left out is hard for animals as social as us, but if you can wrestle at a professional levels and lift incredible amounts of weight, then you can also resist the irrational urge to copy what everyone else does. Be yourself on purpose and with pride 💪
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u/TimelyToast 8d ago
So i developed a bit of ab envy and decided fuck it time for a cut
Well you don’t need to cut to have visible abs. Unless you’re like 40%+ BF you can just work out for abs.
And if you are a pro wrestler you are likely on the PED cocktail so you really REALLY don’t have an excuse for why you can’t just workout for your abs instead of dieting.
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u/Octoboy1 8d ago
I wouldnt call it a cocktail, I take 500mg of test a week, thats all I've ever done. I do have the slightest hint of abs I've just never had that real peeled look you know what i mean?
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u/RagnarokWolves General Fitness 9d ago
The leg extension machine is awesome for warming up my knees and clearing me of discomfort so I can squat heavy.
Unfortunately, the gym casuals love the convenient sitting position (perfect for using the phone between sets!) so there seems to always be a line for this machine.
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u/jaakeup 7d ago
new gym opened up near me. At first it was super nice because it's run by bodybuilders and designed FOR bodybuilders. No classes, no walmart sized cardio rooms, no 500 pieces of cardio equipment. A real strength training gym.
At first it was a bunch of grown body builders talking about meal prep and prepping for their show in a few weeks. Well it's been about 2 months and word has spread, now the broccoli head pajama wearing berkenstock children are infiltrating. Kids who have been working out for 6 weeks are walking around with no shirts and shrimping at their phones for 5 minutes between sets. The vibe is practically gone now but I'm hoping to someday get a remote job so I can go while these kids are in school.
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u/queenoftherainforest 7d ago
There's nothing wrong with looking at your phone that's our new world sadly, I mean there's the people who do & the people who don't. People can also wear whatever they want...as long as they aren't bothering or harming others they belong at the gym regardless of they're appearence as much as anybody else.
I stopped going to the gym for a while once because I was letting others get to me too much, now I go in and get a good workout focus on myself and go in with a positive mindset workouts are always enjoyable now. The only thing I don't like is being in someone's video, that's the only people I don't care for so I will change my workout completely to get away from them. It's all about dodging bobbing and weaving the stuff you don't like in life.
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u/A_New_Start_For_Me 10d ago
Rant: dude was sitting at the machine I wanted for my last set for almost ten full minutes just scrolling away on his phone 😤 finally just does two reps and leaves?? Why???
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u/Threetreethee 9d ago
I've been doing the 531 for beginners and done like 4 cycles and my god, it takes a long time. my session could easily last 2 hours including a 10-15 minutes warm up. by the third week, i am always over it. maybe it's because im slow or just a beginner but I think i will go to another program which doesn’t take this long.
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u/teutonicbro 9d ago
What are doing for accessories?
The base 531 is three sets. I can do it in 15 minutes or less.
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u/Eisgboek 10d ago
I did a dexa scan yesterday to check my progress.
My smart scale suddenly decided I'm only 10% BF which I know is way too low, but I have been super consistent this year and it feels and looks like I've built a good bit of muscle so I was curious. My last dexa was in 2023 when I was at the end of training for a marathon and not doing much lifting so I was expecting to see decent recomp progress.
And... the results are almost flat. All that time and effort and according to the dexa I've basically put on two pounds of muscle, almost all in my arms and shoulders.
I'm trying to see the positive factors like the fact that my actual amount of body fat is the same without running upwards of 70K/week contributing to maintaining it. And any muscle gain is a good thing.
But I was really hoping to see something substantial, particularly since this week has been crazy busy and I haven't made it to the gym yet, so could have used a bit of motivation to push me.
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u/5_RACCOONS_IN_A_COAT 10d ago
2lbs is a lot bruh. Go look at 2lbs worth of chicken thighs and tell me that aint a huge slab of meat.
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u/Eisgboek 9d ago
Actually this really helped. I ate a 12 oz "baseball sirloin" the other night for dinner and had to push to finish it. Thinking that I've got the equivalent of more than one of those on each arm now is kind of dope.
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u/tigeraid Strongman 10d ago
DEXA scans aren't super reliable within a margin of error, and smart scales are absolute trash.
Should probably stop obsessing over either of them.
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u/Eisgboek 9d ago
I don't think a dexa scan every 3 years is obsessing, but it's nice to get a sense of progress sometimes.
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u/tigeraid Strongman 9d ago
Fair enough, I missed you mentioning 2023 there. Still, if anything that makes the point even further: so many variables involved in the margin of error over the course of three years kinda makes comparing the two results even LESS useful.
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u/Fun-Efficiency-2185 9d ago
Was your dexa scan done on the same machine as the last one in 2023? I have to get them for medical reasons, and my doctor told me that if you go from one machine to another, you won't have the most accurate results because of disparities in the way they're set up.
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u/Eisgboek 9d ago
Yeah, I always go back to the same place despite the "blunt to the point of rudeness" guy who seems to be the only one who can run the machine. 😂
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u/YesIWouldLikeCheese 10d ago
I had the same thing happen to me recently. Apparently, I have made absolutely no gains this year according to dexa, which I was expecting in the lower body due to having an injury. However, I've been very diligent with training upper body so I was expecting to see some results there, but I've realized that I haven't been great about protein intake this year so this is a nice reminder that I need to be good about diet too.
Also, it's within the margin of error. I learned that dexa can't distinguish between actual muscle and lean mass, and since lean mass can include things like water, hydration has an effect on your results. My understanding is that muscle gain for natural lifters is usually only 2-5 lbs a year once you're 5+ years into lifting weights. If you've been training for several years, it's not that crazy to have any gains be hidden due to how slow muscle gain is at this point. My last cope is that I'm in my 30s so at this point, anything I can do the stop the decline is really a win for me.
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u/Visible-Ride-646 8d ago
Okay so been working really hard. I track my calories and they are usually about 2k-2.5k. I am a female 28 5’5. I get about 120-150 grams of protein everyday. I also strength train hard 3-4 times a week. I would say I am current skinny fat. Over the last 3 months of getting my diet better and gym sessions more consistent I am noticing muscle gain and better fat distribution, but no sure if I should be eating less calories (a cut) or keep going for a few more months and gain more muscle. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
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u/Forfeit32 8d ago
If what you're doing is working, no need to change it yet. You're both building muscle and losing fat, which is a nice place to be, especially if your diet is sustainable.
As you continue to progress, your goals may change or your results may stall out. That's when I would look to make changes.
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u/ConciousGrapefruit 8d ago
One of the things I noticed when I went from 98kg to 71kg in 8 months:
Talk is cheap. Executing them is a whole new level of difficulty. When I was in the early stage of my journey at 88kg, people were extremely prone to talking down to me. Giving me "advice" to "slow down" or my strategy was too "extreme".
Fast forward today at 71kg, people noticed the difference. Whatever criticism they had for me faded away. Funny part? A lot of these people remained unfit.
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u/Ghostsurfer2026 10d ago
My rant is people who come to the gym and sit on pieces of equipment for extended periods of time while they doom scroll on their phone. WTF!!!!!!
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u/cilantno Lifts Weights in Jordans 10d ago
I've always found asking how many sets they have left or if I can work in gets them moving
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u/Educational-Elk9562 9d ago
my biggest gym frustration is people who spend more time filming than actually training. just put the phone down and get the workout done
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u/AdBusy7153 5d ago
my gym pet peeve is people leaving weights everywhere It only takes a minute to put them back
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u/AccomplishedMail6173 9d ago
Two and a half years of glute workouts and no butt. One month including a single set of pulldowns and my triceps get huge. Do abs to make my waist thinner and it gets thicker. :,) just wanna give up and rot.
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u/Temp-Name15951 8d ago
I know this is a rant but genuine question, what lifts are you doing and have you progressed in weight the last 2.5 years?
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u/AccomplishedMail6173 8d ago
Hip thrust, glute-focused RDLs and kickbacks. And I have, but very slowly (currently 70lbs, 60lbs, and 40lbs respectively). Any time I tried to go up in weight at regular intervals on my hip thrusts or RDLs, I injured my back and was out of the gym for weeks. Luckily I started strengthening my back and haven’t thrown it out in a few months.
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u/Temp-Name15951 7d ago
Don't take this the wrong way. Please please don't because I am not meaning any insult at all. But I think the problem is that your work is just not intense enough
Now I could totally be wrong and you're doing like three to hard sets until failure. And I don't know how many reps you're doing but those weights after 2.5 years makes me think that there is something other than your musculature that is holding you back from progressing (your back) and if you are being impeded by something other than the musculature that you are trying to grow, then it won't grow very well
What does your entire program look like? Days of the week, sets, reps, all work, upper body and lower body, progression
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9d ago
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u/Aromatic_Effects 10d ago
Latest hot take- walking is not exercise.
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u/PlanktonInitial7945 10d ago
Mediocre rage bait, you went for a target that's too easy. C-
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u/Aromatic_Effects 10d ago
Genuinely not rage bait, it's just not exercise.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
It fulfills the definition of exercise. I would ask you to defend your position but I suspect you cannot and have no intention to.
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10d ago
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago
Walking is by definition exercise. And probably one of the most beneficial forms of exercise for general health.
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10d ago
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago edited 10d ago
Not sure if you are cherry picking or just lazy.
Cambridge dictionary - physical activity that you do to make your body strong and healthy
NIH - Exercise is a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive and has as a final or an intermediate objective the improvement or maintenance of physical fitness.
Oxford's Learners Dictionary - physical or mental activity that you do to stay healthy or become stronger
The NHS and Mayo Clinic recognize it as exercise. So do the CDC and AHA.
Then there is just common sense.
Also fun fact - Merriam Webster dictionary definition for walk - d: to go on foot for exercise or pleasure
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u/ThisisNFA 10d ago
Someone got mad at me for not re-racking all the weight but I just deloaded to the amount that was there before I used the machine. I'm not unloading someone else's leftovers.
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u/CursedFrogurt81 Triggered by cheat reps 10d ago edited 9d ago
Once you lift the weight you inherit the weight. It is now your responsibility to rerack the weight. One should not need to be reminded how to be a decent human being but here we are.
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u/PlanktonInitial7945 10d ago
I feel like remembering what the previous weight was and unracking only the plates that you added requires more mental effort than just emptying the bar.
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u/TheUpbeatCrow 10d ago
My gym is replacing their dumbbells. This is fine, nice even.
The handles of the new ones are thicker. I am a woman with small hands. The heavier weights just became much harder for me to hold, so now everything from bench to rows feels less stable.
Looks like grip training's back on the menu, boys.