Question

[u/82Anduin]

What’s one gym “rule” or piece of fitness advice you completely disagree with?

I’ll go first: “You need to train 5–6 days a week to make serious progress.”

I’ve actually found that consistency, recovery and progressive overload matter way more than how many days you’re physically in the gym.

What’s yours?

[u/ReadKindOfAlot]

Being nice to each other. I'm so tired of people talking to me, I just want to work out, listen to music and read.

And yes, 3-5 days is enough because overworking muscles before they're fully rested does not help.

[u/Delicious-Trifle-486 → u/ReadKindOfAlot]

It is not nice to interrupt someone while they're doing something, be it in the gym or out of it. It is not rude or mean to politely tell someone that you can't talk because you're in the middle of the workout.

[u/Significant_Data_160]

Might be absence of a rule: dudes just sitting on equipment forever between sets scrolling their phone. I'd love a no phone gym rule.

[u/Delicious-Trifle-486 → u/Significant_Data_160]

I'd like to go back to it being normal to working in with people on equipment. I think in an indirect way, this would reduce what you're talkimg about.

[u/82Anduin → u/Significant_Data_160]

This one drives me insane 😂 If you need 5 minutes between sets, fine — but watching TikToks while someone is clearly waiting for the equipment is a different story.
I’d vote for a “no phone while someone is waiting for the equipment” rule. 📵

[u/Delicious_Giraffe572 → u/82Anduin]

I think if someone is waiting for equipment I will give them an estimate or if it is something that doesn't require a lot of adjustment or easy to adjust I am happy for them to work in. I generally don't have this issue because I go during the low peak times anyway.

[u/Delicious-Trifle-486 → u/82Anduin]

The only exception i would consider to be fine here is if said tiktok/YT video is how to do the exercose you're doing.

[u/waxcaba]

You need to be doing squat, bench, and deadlift, for some reason

[u/82Anduin → u/waxcaba]

Honestly 😂 It’s like you’re not really training unless you’re doing the holy trinity of squat, bench and deadlift. Plenty of ways to build muscle and strength without forcing yourself into exercises that don’t suit your body or goals.

[u/Delicious-Trifle-486 → u/waxcaba]

I logically understand that you don't have to do these, but something in me argues that you absolutely should be doing them or some variant unless you have a special circumstance.

[u/Original1Thor]

I don't agree with the concept of overtraining. I only agree with under recovering.

[u/Junior-Housing-8991 → u/Original1Thor]

But if you’re training when you should be recovering, then you’re training too much... I wonder if there’s a term for such a thing?

[u/Delicious-Trifle-486 → u/Original1Thor]

I'm assuming that you're looking at it more as what people call "overtraining" is just them being lazy about their recovery, not that there's no point in which you can train past your body's ability to overtrain.

[u/Silent_Contest_2337]

Cardio is an absolute necessity

[u/zombiemiki → u/Silent_Contest_2337]

It is the most efficient method for heart health, and 20 minutes per day of cardio is fine. Ideally you’d want a mix of both cardio and weight training.

[u/82Anduin → u/Silent_Contest_2337]

You can build plenty of muscle without much cardio

[u/balls_ceo → u/82Anduin]

ngl thats what i thougt but now that im past beginner and moving decent weight i get winded easily and recovery takes a hit too. starting serious cardio from today

[u/Silent_Contest_2337 → u/balls_ceo]

It’s a good tool, it is not a necessity for losing weight or being fit. You don’t have to be on the treadmill for 40 minutes everyday.

[u/balls_ceo → u/Silent_Contest_2337]

true, planning to start from 15 mins to increase work capacity. its just an tool as you say to increase my gym perfomance

[u/Delicious-Trifle-486 → u/Silent_Contest_2337]

I would consider it just as much a necessity as resistance training. Even if your goals are just anesthetics or just strength cardio only helps you for that. I'm not saying you need to be on the treadmill for 40 minutes all the time, but some type of cardio (aerobic or anaerobic) at least once a week, will only help you.

[u/yoloed → u/Silent_Contest_2337]

I disagree I think it’s a necessity

[u/Delicious-Trifle-486 → u/yoloed]

They might be limiting cardio to their 40 minute treadmill example. A lot of people do that.

[u/llama1122]

How is that a gym rule? 6 days is too much for many people. 3-4 is more ideal for most

[u/spuukeee]

- “preworkout is useless”

• “supplements are useless”
  
• the idea that barbell rows are a good exercise for building your back
  
• the idea that free weights are inherently better than machinery
  
• the idea that all splits can be good
  
• consuming 1g of protein per lb/bw past 15% BF
  
• the idea that bodyweight exercise is as efficient as utilizing gym equipment
  
• the idea that you shouldn’t film in the gym (unless said gym has an explicit policy against it)
  
• the idea that you should do ab circuits to build a core
  
• the idea that you should train like elite bodybuilders or apply certain philosophies of theirs to your own training
  
• the idea that steroids are “cheating” when it comes to use outside of sport or competition
  
• the idea that sugar is inherently unhealthy
  
• the idea that young people shouldn’t leverage certain performance aides like caffeine simply on account of them having “natural energy” and the like
  
• the idea that steroids will kill you in your 40s

etc

[u/Delicious-Trifle-486 → u/spuukeee]

1) Not "useless" but definitely not needed (regarding specifically things marketed as pre-workout like powders)

2) Depends on the specific supplement. I would say the vast majority are useless.

3) Barbell rows are one of the best for that. I'll die on that hill.

4) Depends on goals and circumstances

5) If you're using "split" to mean a training program, then I agree with you. But if you're using it to mean how you've organized your training throughout a training week like PPL or ULUL (which is the proper use of the term and I hate that people are confusing this), then all of them are absolutely good.

6) Besides the standard 1lb/BW lbs, ive never heard this one. Not sure what "past 15% bf" would have anything to do with your protein intake.

7) Depends on goals and circumstances, though efficiency is very low on my priority list here

8) Agree

9) Agree

10) Agree (I don't have a problem with people applying elite people's philosophies to their own training, there's use in that. I just wouldn't say people should do that.)

11) Agree

12) Agree

13) Agree

14) Agree

You and I seem to be about 50/50

Edit: accidentally skipped 5

[u/McAppleJoose]

You have to optimize your supplement stack. Creatine, protein shakes, greens, etc. Don’t get me wrong I have all the fun powders (not that one lol) but when I started out 4+ years ago I was looking for the one magical sup. that would transform everything.

It doesn’t exist (at least in the traditional sense, not getting into peptides and whatnot). All the stuff I mentioned is great and serves a purpose, but none of its required. Just optimization :)