Checked Out a Westside Gym Today!

[SecondsOut]

I was sitting here this morning browsing MaB when it occurred to me how much I hate my commercial gym. I Googled "powerlifting gym" and my zip code. There weren't many hits, but I found one. Almost zero information published on the web, so I called the number.

A guy picked up: "Hello?"
Me: "Uh...is this the gym?"
"Yeah..."
"Oh, okay...what are your membership rates?'
"We don't have membership rates. We're not a commercial gym. You have to go to LA Fitness or Bally's."
"Oh...so it's private? I can't lift there?"
"No, it's not private, but all lifting here is supervised."
"Oh..well, I'm interested in powerlifting and I'm trying to find a better gym. The gym where I am now is like LA Fitness. I'm not that strong, though [I told him my PRs, body weight, and age]."
He then seemed a bit difficult, like not inviting at all but not telling me to go to hell either. I asked, "Can I come there?"
"When do you want to come? We have a girl training here now who squats more than you."
"I'll come right over."
"Fine. I guess we'll see you when you get here."

Long story short, one of the trainers showed me the place, talked about Westside, and we watched the girl do her dynamic squats on the monolift. Dudes, they have E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G at this place! It's like a powerlifting/strongman playground! Tires, sleds, sledgehammers, farmer's walk things, a yoke, a slosh pipe, every kind of bar you can or can't imagine, a reverse hyper station (yes!), and of course tons of bands and chains!

Only thing is I won't be able to train however I want: I have to follow the gym's routine. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? My "tryout" begins Monday @ 4:00 p.m. -- speed bench day. If the owner doesn't like me, I'm not allowed to sign on.

[Hazzard]

Receptionist/dude that answered the phone sounds like a dick. Gym sounds awesome, it's just up to you whether you want to train on their schedule or your own.

Also, good use of GIFs, keep it up.

[Fazc]

First thing, walk in and nut the receptionist.

The gym sounds great though, good luck!

[BigJosh]

Awesome man! Sounds to me like they're giving you a chance and that is all u can ask for. Good luck.

[Soldier]

Well, if you believe in the system they're using, then go for it! There's nothing better for improving in a certain area than working with people who are ahead of you.

Screw the guy on the phone though. He speaks as if everyone who trains there never had to be weak before they were strong. We all started weak!

[gaspers04]

Im going against the grain to say I like the receptionists approach. If you let a phone call get under your skin you probably wouldn't thrive in the environment (that particular gyms environment). I hope that you smash your try out and kick some PR ass in the new facility. Congrats and Good Luck Buddy!

[cromlet]

Give it a shot. That is all you can do. If you do not like it then you know that it was not meant to be.

[jdmalm123]

It's their gym but after you play the game for a month or two, they may let you do more of your own thing....

So, they run Westside "by the book" without variations?

I can't imagine they have only one strongman routine, etc...

If you can join short term, give it a try....you'll learn something!

[SecondsOut]

Originally Posted by Hazzard

Also, good use of GIFs, keep it up.

thanks, i hope it enhanced your quality of life today

Originally Posted by Fazc

First thing, walk in and nut the receptionist.
The gym sounds great though, good luck!

Originally Posted by BigJosh

Awesome man! Sounds to me like they're giving you a chance and that is all u can ask for. Good luck.

thanks guys. yeah, that's my feeling. i'll just do my best and see what happens.

Originally Posted by Soldier

Well, if you believe in the system they're using, then go for it! There's nothing better for improving in a certain area than working with people who are ahead of you.

they seem legit, and they have some sort of authorization directly from Louie Simmons (he had to come out to spend time with the gym to see how it's run) to call it a "Westside" gym. apparently a lot of athletes train there, and there are also lots of hot powerlifting/figure competition chicks there hah.

Originally Posted by gaspers04

Im going against the grain to say I like the receptionists approach. If you let a phone call get under your skin you probably wouldn't thrive in the environment (that particular gyms environment). I hope that you smash your try out and kick some PR ass in the new facility. Congrats and Good Luck Buddy!

yeah, he wasn't very kind, but i'm too old to notice stuff like that lol. they can razz me all they want as long as i get access to that awesome gym.

Originally Posted by jdmalm123

It's their gym but after you play the game for a month or two, they may let you do more of your own thing....

that's a good way of looking at it.

So, they run Westside "by the book" without variations?

I can't imagine they have only one strongman routine, etc...

If you can join short term, give it a try....you'll learn something!

well the trainer didn't spill the beans on everything, but the girl's routine looked to be pretty standard Westside. as far as i could tell, this was her w/o today:

dynamic effort squats (they always squat to a low box, which i dislike immensely. i like my hamstrings-to-glutes form): 10 x 2 x 55% 1-RM (115 + orange bands [80 lbs. resistance])

deadlift (with bands on some weird multi-purpose machine): ? x 4-5 x 100 + 1 orange band

GHM

wide-step sled work (she had 2-35-lb. plates on it)

She is 5 weeks out from a meet in Ohio. Another girl from the gym competed at RUM. The trainer guy who I talked said he went from skinny to squatting 700 (with briefs + belt) over the years while at this gym.

[SecondsOut]

oh yeah, forgot to mention that the dude suggested i watch the "So You Think You Can Squat/Bench/Deadlift?" videos by Matt Winning/Elite FTS on YouTube as a preview of the kind of feedback i can expect to get on Monday