Proper Form Squats – The secret to becoming a lean machine

        Do you want results? Then do proper form squats.  Get your ass to the grass.  Squats are key to getting big, strong, and lean.

         Squats are the best way to burn fat and increase lean muscle mass.  Since they workout so many muscles in your body you can basically consider it a full body exercise.   Everyone who goes to the gym to get big does weight lifting, but it’s the ones who do squats who actually get the body they want.  But taking it another step forward, is the people who do proper form squats who achieve the best results.  By proper form I mean get your butt to the ground.  By going all the way down will increase your strength and allow you to overall lift more in the future.  It will also strengthen your knees and will help you avoid injuries.

     If you need help with any weight lifting techniques, or even tips on using weight lifting machines then let us know! We are here to help!

                                                         ©Licensed under Creative Commons: Brett Jordan (2011

Altitude Masks… - The worst gym apparel ever

              Altitude masks … I’m already at a loss of words before I even start typing.  Okay, they make the oxygen thinner so you get a better workout, but really? You are going to go to the gym to bench press with it? 

           Okay, altitude masks are okay if you’re training for a marathon or an event, but not if you’re at the gym lifting weights.  I’ve seen people at my local health club do chin ups, bench, deadlifts, and curls wearing altitude masks and I just don’t understand why.  It’s probably some of the dumbest gym apparel I’ve ever seen.  Like I’d rather wear a Hawaiian shirt as workout clothes than be seen at the gym with an altitude mask.  If you don’t know what an altitude mask looks like, just think of Stormtrooper helmets from star wars.  As soon as you see one you will stop, look, and be like “why, just why?”

        What is the wackiest kind of gym apparel you’ve ever seen someone wear at the gym?

                                                      ©Licensed under Creative Commons: USASOC News Service (2011)

Breaking Equipment And Leaving The Gym

Have you ever seen someone break a weight lifting machine and just walk away without notifying anyone especially the people who work there! Everyone at the gym should have good etiquette regardless of the event.

                                © Licensed Under Creative Commons : Paullete 2011.

People who work at the gym and use the weight training equipment should use at their own will and should have good etiquette because broken weight lifting machines will not only cause a problem for the gym, but also will ruin workouts for other people planning to use the machine. I remember at the gym once the rowing machine was dysfunctional because someone dropped the weight to quickly and I had to find a substitute for my back workout, I had to ask one of my fellow gym members for some tips as the weight lifting machine was broken. To conclude, have good etiquette in the gym will make it fun for everyone and will also benefit you and other gym members!

What Do You Guys Think Of The “Pad”?

            You know that thing called the “pad”? Not the one I know your thinking of, but the one you find in the gym.  The one that protects your back when doing squats or lunges. 

                There are many people at the gym who use the “pad” to protect their back when doing squats and other workout equipment.  And to be honest, I’m one of them.   I don’t think it’s a bad thing to use it but a lot of people look down on it.  People put that in the same category as using gloves and altitude masks.  But in reality you won’t hurt your back when lifting heavy weights or using strength training machines.  So here’s my question for you, our readers, do you agree with using the pad while working out?  Also, if you have any fitness tips to share, feel free!

                                                        ©Licensed under Creative Commons: Usodesita (2007)

      

 What about gloves and altitude masks? Do you do any gym exercises with those?

How Your Sweat Affects Not Only You! – Wipe your fitness equipment

There are so many times when I walk up to a machine and its sweaty and gross.  There’s a reason why health clubs have sanitizer and wipes next to the fitness equipment!  Clean your dang machines when you’re done with them!

If you ask anyone who goes to their local health club, one of their number 1 pet peeves are when people don’t wipe up their sweat when they’re done with their gym workouts.  It is considered horrible etiquette and manners in the gym to not clean up after yourself.  I remember when I was in high school and heard the horror stories about the equipment.  There were a couple times when they had to close down the high school weight training area because people kept getting ringworm.  This is a parasite that you can contract from using contaminated gym equipment.  If only the students would have wiped down the machines when they were done with them.  That whole situation might have been avoided.  So wipe the darn equipment folks!

                                                          ©Licensed under Creative Commons: Heather Kennedy (2005)

  Do any of you have horror stories about people not cleaning up their fitness equipment?   

Is It Appropirate To Yell At The Gym?

Ever wondered why people at the local gym yell while they are lifting their weights? There are many gym articles that explain this reason but certain people yell at every rep that they do.

                                © Licensed Under Creative Commons : CNS 2008.

We all go to the health clubs and gyms in the area only to see that one person with their headphones on and yelling at the top of their lungs while lifting there weights. All local gyms have the one person and we all ask ourselves. Is it appropriate to yell while working out? The answer is no. The reason being because it is a distraction to others around you and will ruin others workouts as they will have to listen to your antics while they are trying to pump some iron. Certain gym articles state that it is fine to yell because it releases tension and pressure while lifting weights and will relax your muscles while finishing your rep. To conclude, it is not okay to yell at the gym while lifting weights or whenever for that matter as it is a distraction and considered weird for other people at the gym.

How Do Sleeveless Shirts Increase Lifting Power?

Have you personally tried different workout clothes and sports clothing to see if your performance in the gym has changed? Well it has been proven that with the right gym apparel, including sleeveless shirts.

                                        © Licensed Under Creative Commons : Zazzle 2010.

Having proper gym apparel such as a sleeveless shirt can help performance at the gym because it will decrease resistance and increase flexibility. A shirt with sleeves will constrict your arms and will keep you tensed up and it will make it more difficult to life weights. Purchasing workout clothes and various sports clothing will enable you to perform better and help you at the gym. Furthermore, having a sleeveless shirt will help you overall by keeping away resistance, if there is too much resistance while lifting weights, you will not get the results that you are looking for and this will be disappointing!