Unsolicited Advice - Y/N?

Is it ever acceptable to give unsolicited advice at the gym?

  • Yes

    Votes: 17 68.0%

  • No

    Votes: 8 32.0%
  • Total voters
    25
  • Poll closed .
I'd say if the person is at risk of injury because of what they are doing, then it's ok.

Also, if you've held conversations with the person on prior occasions and can approach the issue without looking like a smartass, it would be ok in that situation, too.

Just piping up and commenting on someone's exercise out of the blue, though, I think makes you look like an ass. ^_^

My 2 cents.
 
I think you should take a different 'tough love' approach. I think you should walk up to her next time she's squatting and throw down your water bottle. Then you'll point at her and say "Oh my gawd! If you'd grow some traps you wouldn't have to use that b1tch pad."

And then start laughing and comment on her poor lower back and core strength for letting the bar go forward.

She'll appreciate the approach.
 
evolution said:
I think you should take a different 'tough love' approach. I think you should walk up to her next time she's squatting and throw down your water bottle. Then you'll point at her and say "Oh my gawd! If you'd grow some traps you wouldn't have to use that b1tch pad."

And then start laughing and comment on her poor lower back and core strength for letting the bar go forward.

She'll appreciate the approach.
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Best answer

Women respond well to ridicule
 
Just go up to her and say ''squat on this b1tch''

Nah seriously though i think its good to say something, but you've got to say it in the correct way - thats the hard part.
 
I voted yes, although I'm not sure the original post scenario is one where I would interject.

Personally, as a fitness professional with special certifications in biomechanics analysis, I feel very comfortable approaching anyone (trainer or hobbyist alike) if I see them doing something incorrectly.

I have never been poorly received in my own gym or in others except for one time (but the guy was an idiot... I should have let him hurt himself). I do take a quick read of the situation first though to see what would be the best approach.

If you are not a professional, I would really hold back on doling out advice. If it's wrong (not saying that yours is Focus), then you are exposing the gym to liability because you are not a representative of the gym and should not be giving unsolicited advice. Gym owners like myself usually frown upon people trying to coach people on the floor.

I recently had to send a pretty menacing letter to a man at my facility who was hitting on every attractive woman who walked through the door. He was conducting many evening group training sessions and sending them workouts of the day via email. First of all, his workouts were an embarrassment to this profession; second, he was showing them horrible form; third, he was only coaching young women who were new, and this WOD was just a way to scam their email addresses. After he gave them a few of his stupid workouts he would start to veer off the topic of fitness and send emails that were more "Whassup?".

I sent a letter to his house requesting an immediate end to that behavior or I would kick him out of my gym completely. I'm sure his wife was happy to read that one. He's been real quiet ever since.
 
jpfitness said:
I recently had to send a pretty menacing letter to a man at my facility who was hitting on every attractive woman who walked through the door. He was conducting many evening group training sessions and sending them workouts of the day via email. First of all, his workouts were an embarrassment to this profession; second, he was showing them horrible form; third, he was only coaching young women who were new, and this WOD was just a way to scam their email addresses. After he gave them a few of his stupid workouts he would start to veer off the topic of fitness and send emails that were more "Whassup?".
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Is he one of your staff?!?

Either way, that's a great scam, I'll have to give it a try :)
 
Absolutely NOT. In fact, in the same month I had to fire one of my trainers for making advances on female employees and clients. I don't put up with that **** for one second. That is the kiss of death to a business.
 
LMAO, so he was just some guy approaching women to be added to his mailing list? Man, that's pretty desperate

p.s. I didn't know Tony worked for you! Is that why he works for himself now? :D
 
I don't know if unacceptable is the way to put it. But alot of people don't appreciate when you give them advice (in my opinion anyway), they always think they're right and personally I realized that i dont' really care if someone else is screwing themselves over.

but it's good that you want to help someone. Give it a shot, it's not often that you see girls doin squats.
 
I think jpfitness has the right approach.

Focus, I know why she is using the pad. It's because the raw bar hurts most girls because we don't have enough beef on our back. I'd rather feel the bar than use that ridiculous pad, regardless of how much muscle I have or don't have. I could never seem to get the bar to sit at the right spot on my back using the pad.

Danger_Dave is right -- you don't see very many females doing squats. Notwithstanding, if that girl was me, I'd have asked a trainer or somebody who was experienced to watch me and correct my form the first time I did it. And I'd appreciate being corrected again and again and again until I had perfect technique.

I'm sure that by now, almost every guy in the gym knows they can approach me and correct my form/technique as well as giving me advice because that's the only way I'm going to challenge my body. I'm very accustomed to being a piece of clay to be molded by a coach, therefore, I'm very open to people who know more than I do critiquing my form/technique, workout, etc. I don't take things like that negatively. But I'm a technique freak (surprise, surprise).
 
[Focus] said:
Always unacceptable, or do intentions matter?

There's this chick I see every Tues when I'm doing dynamic lower, and she's the only girl I've seen doing squats at the Y.

And the glutes on her...:drooling1: But that's not what it's about. See, she uses the pad thing, and though her form is pretty good, she is doing them wrong. She's bending at the waist instead of sitting back, partially because the pad leaves the weight too far forward. I want to let her know what I've noticed, recommend she ditch the pad, learn to carry the bar on her traps, and really focus on keeping her core tight and her self upright, widening her stance a bit if she has to.

But, it's poor etiquette, isn't it? Your thoughts, please. :)
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Just say it like you said now. Don't just say it out right or say she's wrong. Try to offer her some advice but don't mention that it is the "correct" way and then see if she likes it. If she does, then continue from there. If she finds it harder to do or whatever, then say, "Well see ya later."
 
Honestly though, if someone tries to grab me or starts touching my stuff, I take a 5 pound weight throw it across the room and say, Fetch. So basically don't grab her or try to touch her. Just simply offer the advice without saying that what she's doing is wrong. I usually try to tell people about the pull ups without wrapping the thumbs. I just simply stand there, then say try it without the thumbs. Then they go wow, that was easier, and I say cool. I never tell them they did it wrong or force them to try it my way.
 
Dallen said:
Honestly though, if someone tries to grab me or starts touching my stuff, I take a 5 pound weight throw it across the room and say, Fetch. So basically don't grab her or try to touch her. Just simply offer the advice without saying that what she's doing is wrong. I usually try to tell people about the pull ups without wrapping the thumbs. I just simply stand there, then say try it without the thumbs. Then they go wow, that was easier, and I say cool. I never tell them they did it wrong or force them to try it my way.
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Oh, of course. And very sensible of you both, thanks. :D

I have people skills, I promise. Might see her in a little bit, here. Will let y'all know how it goes. I will be most discrete and gentlemanly, I assure you. Gonna try to get in between sets while she's working to do my speed squats, and see if she maybe notices on her own. It'd be cool if I don't have to say anything at all, as suggested by some. :)
 
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