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Post by Rich on Jun 1, 2007 12:34:10 GMT -5
My brother wants to train with me. He's trained before, both with a trainer and with me, but never for very long, and not seriously. He may or may not be ready to commit for real this time, but I have no way of knowing.
Now I would love to have a training partner. I miss training at my old gym where my friend Alex and I used to kill each other every morning at 5:30. And my brother and I get along very well. I'm just not sure if this would be a good fit.
Pros
1. I get a partner
2. If he's successful with sticking with it, I will be proud of him
Cons
1. He's a beginner and may not know what training really means
2. He wants to train 3 days/week, but I am on a 5-day split, so I'd have to adjust his workouts to a 3-day that overlaps enough with mine so that we are mostly doing the same exercises
3. I have to change my training time slightly (later in the day) to accomodate his schedule. If he bags on me I'll be pissed knowing that I could have trained earlier.
Any thoughts? Ideas on how to deal with con #2 would be mucho appreciated!
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Post by beckie on Jun 1, 2007 17:58:37 GMT -5
I think it sounds a bit too complicated personally. you have COMPLETELY different goals and splits and I think trying to adjust your schedule to fit his may only leave you feeling frustrated in the long run.
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Post by Karrie on Jun 1, 2007 20:57:13 GMT -5
I would suggest maybe going to the gym with him a few times....get him into a routine and get him comfortable with form. exercises etc and then let him go on his own. Like Beckie said, your goals are completely different and what not. OR you could give it a trial run, with the understanding that it is a trial run, and if it does not work then no longer train with him. My 2 cents. ;D
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Post by youngblood on Jun 1, 2007 21:07:55 GMT -5
I think Beckie is correct, too much contrast and the two of you may not "gel" too well.
BUT- with that being said, I think Karrie is also correct and the two of you could show up at the gym at the same time, and you do your routine, and watch over him and sort of tell him what to do. Do this for a little bit of time, and that way, he doesn't intrude on your workouts, you see how serious he can be, and at a later time you can decide to really take him on should the two of you mesh well.
You could also sit him down and tell him "Look, training to me is like going to Church for some. I find it relaxing, it's MY time, and I enjoy it like nothing else. You do anything to disrupt these feelings at any time, and the partnership is terminated <like that>."
In other words, you can try to have the best of both worlds at the start; freedom and maybe a training partner to spot you here and there.
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Post by Rich on Jun 1, 2007 21:22:25 GMT -5
I hear you guys.
One thing I didn't mention though is that I train at home in my basement, so going to the gym for me is going downstairs. He'd be coming here.
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Post by mrky03 on Jun 2, 2007 6:21:49 GMT -5
I agree with everyone else, I wouldn't let it interfere with your training to any large extent. Just work with him and help him get started, who knows he may take off and eventually become a great training partner. Most people that I've tried to help usually don't have much passion for training and I always end up carrying them though their workouts.
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Post by Intensity on Jun 5, 2007 10:05:59 GMT -5
Just to play the devil's advocate here, I would give him a chance… Tell him your conditions and what you expect from him if he wants to train with you… and if he fails at it, it will never be too late for you to return to your current training habits! At the opposite, if you never give him a chance… you'll never know if he would have done a good training partner!
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Post by Tim Wescott on Jun 5, 2007 12:25:46 GMT -5
Just to play the devil's advocate here, I would give him a chance… Tell him your conditions and what you expect from him if he wants to train with you… and if he fails at it, it will never be too late for you to return to your current training habits! At the opposite, if you never give him a chance… you'll never know if he would have done a good training partner! Good post Mo..........just tell him how it has to be and go for it.......hopefully he takes to it like a duck to water,if not,you`ll still be training hard so I see no problems that can`t be ironed out once you get started and develop a training groove. |
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Post by Rich on Jun 5, 2007 16:30:09 GMT -5
Thanks again everyone. We trained together last night for the first time. I've decided to keep him on a 3-day split that just leaves out direct biceps, triceps and delt training. So he'll train chest, back and legs with me, and I'll do arms and delts when I'm alone. I think the indirect work he'll get will be enough for now. If he wants more later, fine.
So last night we did back. He was dragging ass a bit when I called him to confirm he was coming, but by the time he arrived he had the right attitude going, and did everything I told him to do without complaining. Actually, he did complain when I made him stop short of failure a few times! I just didn't think repping to failure is a great idea on day 1.
I also had to educate him on the fact that I am not his plate bit*h. LOL! He was watching me load and unload plates for a few sets. I "gently" informed him that he has to unload more than me so he can catch up for all the plates I've loaded/unloaded by myself! To his credit he hopped to it.
So I guess so far, it's good!
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