10 Surefire Ways To Tell if You are a Gym Noob

Written by James C., M.S.(C), PT

| Published on

Fact Checked

Welcome to the gym, newbie! It’s great that you’ve decided to embark on a fitness journey and take charge of your health. But, let’s face it, you might be a gym noob if…

You squat in the Smith machine and use a squat bar pad aka “Pu**y pad”

The Smith machine might look like a handy piece of equipment, but it’s actually doing more harm than good.

Using a Smith machine for squats puts unnecessary stress on your knees and doesn’t engage your stabilizer muscles.

Get off that machine and squat like a real athlete in real squats.

The bad you use to protect your fragile back/neck is also not making you look good, have you ever seen a real lifter use this stupid pad?

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I am guessing you haven’t because it’s made for noobs.

You Do Heavy Leg Press and Skip Squats

A surefire way to tell if someone is a gym noob is when they brag about their heavy leg press records, but when you ask them about their squat they do no squat regularly.

The leg press is one of the most ego lifts in the gym, guys go to this machine because they can load it up with a lot of plates and do quarter reps, they think they are strong but in reality the struggle with squatting 2 plates in a standard squat.

You drink BCAA supplements

while working out BCAAs might be the trendy supplement of the moment, but they’re not essential for a good workout.

If you’re looking for an energy boost, try a cup of coffee or a pre-workout supplement instead. BCAA supplements are a complete waste of money.

You do forearm curls

We get it, you want to look like Popeye, but doing forearm curls is not the way to go.

Your forearms will get plenty of exercise during your regular workout, so save the curls for a rainy day.

Guys focusing on forearm curls are usually gym noobs that skip compound movements, you work you forearm in so many other exercises such as pullup and many other back exercises so why bother wasting time on a complete waste of time exercise.

You are not able to deadlift double your body weight

If you can’t deadlift double your body weight, you might think you’re weak, but you’re actually just a beginner.

Deadlifts are one of the most challenging exercises, so don’t worry if you’re not lifting heavy right away.

Just keep practicing and you’ll get there, if you can’t deadlift 2x body weight you are definitely a beginner.

You drink mass gainer shakes

Mass gainer shakes might seem like a shortcut to gains, but they’re really just a shortcut to a bloated stomach.

Focus on eating a balanced diet with plenty of protein and healthy fats, and the gains will come naturally.

Mass gainers are usually filled with cheap carbs, garbage protein powder and a complete waste of money.

Your gym icon is a TikTok influencer nobody

If your gym inspiration is a TikTok influencer who’s never lifted a weight in their life, it might be time to re-evaluate.

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Some of these guys that are “Influencers” are one-timers that haven’t achieved much in their careers.

Look to athletes and fitness experts for guidance with big impressed track records such as Mike O’Hearn, Cbum, or Jay Cutler.

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You don’t know who Ronnie Coleman is

Ronnie Coleman is a bodybuilding legend and if you don’t know who he is, you’re missing out.

Take some time to educate yourself on the greats of the sport, and you’ll gain a new appreciation for the dedication and hard work it takes to build a great physique.

You follow a bro split

If your workout routine consists of chest and arms on Monday, back and biceps on Tuesday, and so on, you might be following a bro split.

While it might seem like a good idea to focus on one muscle group per day, it’s not the most efficient way to build muscle.

Try full-body workouts or a push/pull/legs split instead.

You train with 2 or more friends

Working out with friends is great for motivation, but if you’re constantly chatting and not pushing yourself, you’re not getting the most out of your workout. Try going solo for a few sessions and see if you can challenge yourself to lift heavier and push harder.

So there you have it, 10 surefire ways to tell if you’re a gym noob.

Don’t worry, we all started somewhere, and with hard work and dedication, you’ll become a gym pro in no time. Now go hit those weights and show us what you’re made of!

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