Millions of people around the world have used the Starting Strengthmethod to train in a wide variety of gyms. They have done theirtraining either in a Starting Strength Gym, in an affiliate gym, intheir home, or, for many of us, in a commercial gym. Let’s behonest, Starting Strength stands in diametric opposition to nearlyeverything about a commercial gym, but this does not mean you cannotbe highly successful training in such an environment.
I personally have hadmemberships at globo gyms, non-profit gyms like the YMCA, and even ahigh-level barbell club that turned out a national champion in rawpowerlifting. I have also had the pleasure to drop in at the SS Gymnearest to me a few times. Over the years I have learned that howyou train is more important than where you train. Nonetheless,some challenges and insecurities can arise when you are training in acommercial gym. The following is my best advice to motivate yourself,overcome challenges, and ultimately to be the person that everyoneelse at Globo Gym envies.
Assumptionson Equipment
Before I proceed, Imust remove the assumption that you have a perfect gym in which totrain. You must have available to you a good barbell, appropriateplates, a quality power rack, a suitable bench, a level platform, andbe allowed to use chalk. If your commercial gym is deficient in anyof these, cancel your membership immediately and find another gymthat meets your criteria. If the gym has all of the equipment butdoes not allow chalk, you may be able to carefully chalk your handswith your own chalk over a trash can. I have done this and no onecomplained because I was respectful, and they all saw how much I wasdeadlifting compared to everyone else in the gym. Avoiding eyecontact and ignoring everyone else helps get by the rules, too. Wipeor brush the chalk off the bar at the end of your workout and it islikely that no one will complain.
BeSelf-Confident
Many people can beself-conscious when going to a new place, or when trying somethingnew in a familiar place. If trying something new in a new place, itcan double the apprehension one may feel. This is especially truewhen there will be an audience. No one bought a ticket to watch yousquat, press, and deadlift at the local Globo Gym today, but stillyou may feel like everyone in the weight room is watching yourperformance. Well, good. Let them. Let them see what you are doing.Let them be enlightened.
I discourage anyone from hiding in the rack in the corner or beingquiet with their deadlift out of fear of drawing attention tothemselves. Be confident, but not loud. You are doing the rightthing, and what others think does not matter. If you are followingthe Starting Strength method, you are working on – or have alreadydeveloped – the best lifting technique there is. If you arefollowing the Novice Linear Progression or a custom program from youronline Starting Strength Coach, you are making progress in yourstrength and body composition. What you are doing will be differentthan what others at the Globo Gym are doing, but know that what youare doing is superior.
Recently at my gym, awoman approached me on a busy Saturday morning and exclaimed, “Ilove how you own this gym! All of these men around youand you don’t care.” She’s right; I don’t care about anythingbut good training.
Filming Yourself
If you are working withan SSC online, you are likely to be filming your workouts. Evenself-sufficient lifters like myself will film all or some sets forour personal use. Filming at Globo Gym seems to make people anxious(the people filming themselves, that is). Let me remind you to beself-confident in what you are doing, and that includes filmingyourself for the purpose of improving your technique. You are notfilming yourself doing leg curls in booty shorts like an Insta-thot.You are not a wanker whose friend is recording him doing preachercurls to get likes on TikTok. Perhaps TikTok will not be around bythe time this article is published, so sub in the name of whatevervideo app the gym bros are using at the present time.
As a Starting Strength lifter, you have a legitimate need to filmyour lifts. If anyone at Globo Gym asks about filming or makes acomment, just say, “I film everything for my coach.” Just usingthe word “coach” at Globo Gym makes most people shut up and moveon because they don't have a coach, and now they will think abouttheir life choices (“I don’t have a coach. That lady has a coach.Should I have a coach? Where would I even find one?”). Yes, you maycall yourself coach if you are coaching yourself.
Invest in a tripod.When making a purchase, remember that you get what you pay for. A $10tripod from buycrap.com will disappoint you out of the box, andlikely will not make it through one workout without breaking. A $200tripod from the local camera store is unnecessary because you aregoing to the gym, not on a safari. Tiny tripods usually will not giveyou a good angle if they sit on the floor. If you have to put atripod on a piece of equipment to make it the right height, you willrightly be accused of hogging equipment. Most lifts need to be filmedfrom hip height, and a short tripod cannot do that. Neither can aphone propped up on a water bottle. Just buy a decent tripod withadjustable height.
Where you put thetripod matters to your coach or whoever will be using the video.Finding the right distance, angle, height, etc. takes time to figureout. Just keep experimenting. What makes it more complicated at GloboGym is the presence and movement of other people. Avoid having otherpeople in your shot because they may give you a hard time about it.Avoid setting up your camera in a place where someone may walkbetween you and the camera.
The best place to set up a tripod is at the corner of the platformthat is attached to the power rack. If your gym does not have aplatform attached to the power rack, just visualize in your headwhere the corner of a platform would be. Once Globo Gym members seeyou doing serious training they are unlikely to complain about yourtripod.
Askingfor a Spot
Much as already beenwritten on spotting in SSBBT3 and at startingstrength.com. Always use a spotter for high intensity or limit bench presses. Usingthe pins or safeties at the proper height in the power rack istypically all you need for a safe squat, bench, or press. There isno point in having a spot for deadlifts, power cleans, or any otherexercises. If someone offers to spot you on an exercise that does notrequire a spot, tell him where to go.
In the context of GloboGym, it is most important to find someone who you trust to spot yourbench press. Typically I ask the gym staff for a spot. The staff hasa very good reason to ensure a safe bench press: their jobs andreputation. If the staff is not available, assertively ask someonethat you have seen benching for a spot. Whether it is a staff memberor a fellow bench presser who spots you, clearly and conciselydictate how many reps you are doing and that the bar is only touchedif absolutely necessary, which means that you are indeed really stuckor in real danger of getting hurt.
Howto Handle Unsolicited Advice
There is no shortage ofunsolicited advice about lifting at Globo Gym, and it often comesimmediately after you got that spot for which you asked. The“personal trainers” on staff are looking to start a conversationwith anyone who will listen in order to get new clients. Members whohave been there for decades want to tell you how they did it “backin the day.” Do not listen to anything these people say. You havein your SSC one of the very best in the industry. If you are workingyour way through the NLP on your own, you have the best method knownto man and everything you need to know is in The Blue Book or atstartingstrength.com.
I have heard the mostasinine advice while working out at Globo Gym. Let me share some ofthese gems so that we can all laugh at them together:
“You should squatwith plates under your heels.” – Someone who startedbodybuilding in the 70s
“Warming up withresistance bands helps you lift more.” – The personal trainingmanager thinking he was teaching me something
“Your hips are toohigh when you deadlift.” – A person who doesn’t know anythingabout deadlifting
“Exhale as you push.” – Someone who lifts less than I do
“Touching the bar toyour chest on the bench ruins your shoulders.” – Someone whothought I should listen to him because he “used to play football”
“Don’t pause yoursquat at the bottom; it makes it harder.” – Ok, that is true, butwhat the commentator did not know is that my SSC programmed pausesquats for a specific reason: to make it harder.
I share these examplesnot only in jest, but also to prepare you for the deluge offoolishness that awaits you when you undertake serious training atGlobo Gym. Be self-confident and do not allow their comments toinfluence you. If people are bothering you, wearing headphones sendsa great signal that you do not want to talk. If someone talks to youwith your headphones in, just ignore them. If anyone gets a word inwith you, just say, “Thanks. I already have a great coach,” andkeep training. Whatever you do, do not get discouraged.
Doing serious trainingin a commercial gym with your SSC or following the NLP on your own ispossible. Make it happen and do not let any situation in yourenvironment deter you from training. If you keep trainingconsistently for many months you will put a lot of weight on yourbar, you will get strong, and eventually you may develop a sort offan base at Globo Gym. You will get compliments on your strength,your form, and your dedication to training. You will be askedquestions about how others can replicate your results. Remember thathow you train is more important than where you train.
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