Basically, I believe I need to buff up a little more, to seem a bit more attractive then I already am. The problem I have, though, is that right now I lift so little compared to others my age that I would be embarrassed going to the gym with other people to help spot me, so I was wondering what you guys think about lifting without a spotter. Is it a good idea? Bad idea? Please, help.

Do yourself a favor and dont do what most of these fools do when they enter a gym do some research Ive posted alot of tried and true techniques on this forum.

Of course it's a bad idea.

But the great thing about the gym is that it's a fantastic equalizer. The person who puts in the most effort (both in terms of workout and in terms of diet) is the most successful regardless of genetic predisposition.

I can't imagine anybody making fun of you, but even if they do, the same people will be asking you for advice once you surpass them. The trick is, you have to dedicate yourself to achieving that goal.

Your boy,
870

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Do what you gotta do
Most gyms have floor trainers that will assist in spotting and what not

If you lift without a spotter, you wont be able to push yourself as much as you want and your gains wont be as significant...

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You want to push yourself to muscle failure, so you need a spotter for certain exercises. Without one you can still do machines, power rack squat/bench press, and free weight exercises where the weight won't get dropped on you.

I work out alone, so I don't do regular squats and bench presses. I find I can do the military press safely, I squat with a power rack, deadlift, and do dumbell instead of barbell bench presses. With the dumbells I find I still have the strength to lower them to my sides in a controlled manner once I can't raise them anymore. The caveat is I pick a relatively low weight, working at 8-12 slow (6-10 seconds each) reps. At higher weights, muscle failure comes on faster and it gets dangerous.

Use supplements too if you can afford them. I use NoXplode, ErosFactor, ChromeMate, and a multivatamin, and with all that and lifting weights I put on 15 pounds of muscle in 2 months. Gains are leveling off now though. Drinking a gallon of milk a day also seems to help.

If you are just now starting out, a spotter is important. Once you've been working out for a while, you know what you're capable of and can safely lift just shy of that without a spotter. Most times, I work out alone and just do a little less weight, say 20 pounds less on bench press. Yes, you are sacrificing a marginal amount of muscle gain, but you'll buff up nevertheless.

Personally, I am against machines. Free weights don't just train your primary muscle for strength, but they also teach you control and balance, thereby training all the small supporting muscles. If you don't have a workout buddy, just ask random guys at the gym to spot for you. If nothing else, it's a good way to get over AA if you need it.