Showing off or legitimate workout (and why?)

There is one guy that comes into my gym every once in a while. This guy is unbelieveably huge though he's maybe only 5' 6" tops. His arms have got to be at the very least 21". The really funny thing is that when he comes in, he doesn't do any kind of heavy workout (or medium for that matter). He'll do a standing military press of 95 lbs with perfect form and never more than that (not a whole lot of reps either) and some other small exercises like that with relatively small weights when he looks like he could lift every plate in the place at the same time. I wouldn't even think he'd break a sweat.

So my question is: is this something that many of you really big guys do? If so, why? I wouldn't think you could do a maintenance workout with that little of weight for that much mass. Maybe this guy is just pumping up a bit because he can't go to his regular place? Or is he just there to show off? I've only seen one other person do the same thing, and he was just as built as the first guy I mentioned above though he was an even shorter, smaller-boned guy that looked like he competed. Maybe there's something they know that I don't, and I'm trying to lift really heavy for no reason? Someone please explain this phenomenon.

Jealous? :laugh:


I know what you mean though, there used to be this really short asian guy at one of the gym's I went to. Thick as hell, no doubt. He'd have two of his buddies hand him the 125 dumbells when he was on the bench and then press out 4 or 5 of them.

Everyone in the whole gym stopped what they were doing to watch him. He was a good bro' though. Gave lots of good advice and was always willing to be a spotter etc.

sounds like he is geniticly gifted! must be nice!!

Nice indeed. The thing of it is that this guy doesn't do 125 lb dumbells, he does 50 lb dumbells--no kidding! If he does build off of that he has some fantastic genetics for sure!

There was another guy built like the guy I described that came in once or twice, and the whole place stopped to watch him do the large dumbells too. He _was_ showing off because he knew everyone was watching him.

bro i think u need to go heavy to get where you want to be but then you dont always have to go heavy, i myself for long periods of time will also do maybe 35-45 lb dumbell curls or shoulder press 50-75 lbs, its all in the form and the body needs change bro to grow

so no i highly doubt he is there showing off, its all about form and where ur at in ur season of bodybuilding

another possibility is he's coming off an injury and just trying to get back into the swing of things... I'm not huge but in pretty good shape and I get looks when I'm struggling benching under 200lbs. because I'm coming off a shoulder and elbow injury and being super careful

Too many variables to know for sure, only way would be to ask and most won't do that. I know for myself I have some nagging parts that don't allow me to go very heavy still.

Interesting comments...I guess I have agree with Presser then. The guy must be doing it on purpose to practice form or some other reason (he doesn't look like he has an injury though). Maybe he always picks that time to come to my gym when he does that particular workout. Maybe that is what I'm 'missing' in my workout...I should back off going heavy for a couple of weeks and then go back to heavy again.

tonykemp said:

Interesting comments...I guess I have agree with Presser then. The guy must be doing it on purpose to practice form or some other reason (he doesn't look like he has an injury though). Maybe he always picks that time to come to my gym when he does that particular workout. Maybe that is what I'm 'missing' in my workout...I should back off going heavy for a couple of weeks and then go back to heavy again.

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i personally take a week or two where i just go to the gym and get a fairly good pump, not really straining in any of the lifting. i think you can only push yourself as hard as you can for a few weeks, then your body needs a rest. i do this every 6-8 weeks i think, i usually go by feel.

I have a guy like that in my gym but he is coming off an injury now he’s throwing some dumbbells around. Best thing to do is ask the guy.