Trainees in Australia?

[TomV]

G'day Guys and Gals,

Though it seems we're a minority on the board (and in our country), there does appear to be some Australian's following sensible strength programming (Squats, Pulls, Presses).
This thread is simply an attempt to make a "Roll Call" of any members from the board currently living / training in Australia. If you wish, you may also give a recommendation of a good gym (if you're lucky enough to train at one haha) or other things specific to Australia / NZ / Oceania (e.g. good supplement companies, places to buy equipment).

Here's an example of what we're looking for:

Name: Tom Vale
Location: Sydney, Australia (Wild, Wild West of Sydney to be more specific)
Approximate time training: Strength training for ~3 months. Crossfit for about 6 before that.
Recommendations:
I still train at a Crossfit Gym (Crossfit Norwest) as I find it has the best atmosphere of any gym in my area, even if it doesn't cater specifically for strength. The bloke that runs it is also a good mate and an absolute animal when it comes to training.

North Sydney PCYC has a great Powerlifting setup, with some strong, knowledgeable lifters training there as part of Heavy Metal Powerlifting Club.

I highly recommend getting supplements from BioFlex Nutrition. Well priced Protein Powder, Great taste and no delivery fees for most of Australia I believe.

[confuzzl3don3]

Well,
Name: Andy
Location: Sydney, Australia
Approximate time training: about 2 years mucking around at the gym, but not eating enough (anorexic at the time), doing machine work all the time, and massively high reps without increasing weight at all. Transitioned into SS about 6 months ago, but i guess i didn't follow it properly by not eating enough, resting enough, etc. But yeah trying to correct that now.
Height: 173cm
Starting weight: at the lowest weight (during anorexia) = 46kg, got literally forced to just spam eat but my fitness first PT only told me to work out once a week with him and it'd be fine, so my weight ballooned pretty fast up to 60kg. Quit PT and relapsed into slightly anorexic and beginning trainig for like over 2 hrs 3 times a week with insane volume so dropped back to 52kg. Slowly worked back up to around 55-56kg, where my friend introduced me to SS. Now i'm at 68kg.
Gym: Cycle between my home gym (basically just a powerrack, FID bench, and barbell which i purchased about a month or so ago) and the uni gym (UNSW)
Protein: i've tried Musashi P40, and now on ON whey.

I guess that's a bit of my history and where i'm at. But yeah i also just got to rant about today's workout. Dam for some strange reason i just didn't have the energy. After a poor form 3 x 5 sets ot 88.5kg squats, i failed to put up 57kg on the bench so i ended up dropping to 50kg, then finished with a 1x5 100kg deadlift because i failed to even lift 110kg (weight i did last workout) off the ground. I dunno why, i ate the same, slept the same. Sigh. Don't you guys just hate it when shit like this happens!!! :(

But yeah sorry about the rant just had to get it off my chest

[Kyle Aaron]

Name: Kyle
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Time training: 1992-96, Jan09-Mar09 bodywork, Apr09-present weights
Background: lifted in the Army, but gains limited by the crazy amount of fitness work we did.

Got into my 30s and got pudgy, decided to get back into things, began with walks, runs, stretches and bodyweight work. Went to the gym and did typical cookie-cutter routine for a bit, had to take it easy due to physio advice (scoliosis).

Been doing a proper squat-press-pull workout for the last couple of months, went too fast and strained myself!

Getting married at the end of the year, so unfortunately not a good time to make use of my copy of SS and bulk up, but in the new year will get into it ;)

Oh, and studying to be a personal trainer (to the Americans, it's a bit more regulated here than over there, still not sterling standards but...)

[tennisgod]

Name: Eric
Location: Bateau Bay, NSW
Time training: 1 year total; 4 months on SS (love it!)
Background: 50 yrs old; always been thin; but decided to get strong when I realised I was getting fatter and weaker and nagging little injuries started happening.

Nationally ranked tennis player in the veterans.

I have a home gym. Anyone know of a good power-rack here in AU?

[tescott]

Name: Tim Escott
Location: Sydney, Australia
Training History: Early 2008 - Stronglifts 5x5; most of 2008 and 2009 - Crossfit, with some SS over the summer of 08/09; Now, back onto SS for the last month or so, after farting around with MEBB and Wichita Falls CrossFit.
Progress: Up from 73kg (end of 2008) to 98kg. Squat 86kg > 125kg (a lot of frustrating technique stuff going on..) ; Dead 115kg > 157.5kg; Press 45kg > 67.5kg; Bench 66kg > 93.5kg; Power Clean 62.5kg > 76kg (form stuff going on here too).
Gym: I do all my training in my garage, so no recommendations from me. Though, I have found GymDirect.com to be the best supplier of gear.

[TomV]

Name: Eric
Location: Bateau Bay, NSW

I have a home gym. Anyone know of a good power-rack here in AU?

check out Toronto barbell for equipment needs, all well made stuff, Hand manufactured in Australia.

[confuzzl3don3]

Name: Eric
Location: Bateau Bay, NSW
Time training: 1 year total; 4 months on SS (love it!)
Background: 50 yrs old; always been thin; but decided to get strong when I realised I was getting fatter and weaker and nagging little injuries started happening.

Nationally ranked tennis player in the veterans.

I have a home gym. Anyone know of a good power-rack here in AU?

Like tescott said, i bought my gear at gymdirect. I bought one of the power rack packages (number 4) and got a 5% discount off that too and tacked on two extra 20kg plates that they gave me a discount on as well. So i'm using a Muscle Motion Power Rack, though i don't know how great that is, but works for me

[Bleve]

Carl Brewer, Melbourne (Vermont).
L1 S&C coach with the AS&C assoc
L1 (soon to be L2) cycling coach
Track (sprint) cyclist, masters age (MMAS2)
I've got my own studio gym : www.powerhaus.com.au (http://www.powerhaus.com.au/)
(and all Rips books, of course .. :) )

[Bleve]

Name: Eric
Location: Bateau Bay, NSW
Time training: 1 year total; 4 months on SS (love it!)
Background: 50 yrs old; always been thin; but decided to get strong when I realised I was getting fatter and weaker and nagging little injuries started happening.

Nationally ranked tennis player in the veterans.

I have a home gym. Anyone know of a good power-rack here in AU?

The best I've found is this one :

http://www.gymdirect.com.au/item/HPRSP-Commercial-Power-Rack/355.htm

I've got one. You can always get Rip's plans and build your own, but the one above is bombproof too, just it's around $1,300.

I've got Australian Barbell Co. barbells & bumper plates too, they seem pretty good quality. The cheap Chinese barbells are no good.

[Dragar]

Name: Amnon Kogon

Location: Perth, Australia

Approximate time training: on/off since mid teens (now 31). Only seeing the light and focusing exclusively on compound lifts the past 6 months or so, with a couple of injuries holding me back atm

Recommendations:
I don't know of a decent gym anywhere near where I live (7km north of CBD). I'm at a local council gym which has the advantage of being within walking distance and reasonably cheap

[cannibal.horse]

Name: Oliver
Location: Newcastle, Australia.
Approximate time training: 10 months, 20kg put on (95kg), 5RMs - 167.5/105/185
Recommendations:
Strength training in australia is weird, everything is completely backwards.

I built my own home gym, considering most gyms in newcastle dont even had a rack I'd recommend you do the same. The powertec set-up from samsfitness is a great start.

Milk, WPC off ebay, maccas and steak are the cheapest foods around.

also check out ausbb - good australian forum with a friendly vibe.

[tescott]

Do any of you guys know any good coaches in Sydney? Especially who will coach in Rips squat style.

[cannibal.horse]

Do any of you guys know any good coaches in Sydney? Especially who will coach in Rips squat style.

powerlifting.com.au

ask to go along to a few of their sessions.

[PMDL]

I was up in Darwin for awhile.

Now I'm over in Auckland with the sheep.

[cycomiko]

Rams?

[PMDL]

Rams are carriers of horrible diseases.

[TomV]

A bump of this thread is in order!

Any new trainees in Australia kicking about? I hope you've been reading and paying attention to Justin Lasceks articles and I see you at a PL meet sometime soon!

[aussieluke]

Yo

I'm from Perth, but I've been living in the UK since 97

moving back to Perth later this year. Hoping to just get a bar and a rack at home.

Or ate there any decent gyms in the northern suburbs?

[TomV]

Yo

I'm from Perth, but I've been living in the UK since 97

moving back to Perth later this year. Hoping to just get a bar and a rack at home.

Or ate there any decent gyms in the northern suburbs?

I'm not quite sure of it's location within the city but Muscle Pit is in Perth and is one of the strongest gyms in Australia...

[51M0n]

A bump of this thread is in order!

Any new trainees in Australia kicking about? I hope you've been reading and paying attention to Justin Lasceks articles and I see you at a PL meet sometime soon!


Name: Simon
Location: Canberra, Australia.
Approximate time training: Since June 2009.


Going to do my first PL meet in June, will be happy if I can total in 400's.

[xzcion]

name: Zeke
location: burnside, melb.
training: not long

wtb gym on west side of melb city :[

otherwise enjoying the info here. ty for the bump, else i would've missed it.

[GripAU]

Simon, what gym in Canberra u at?

[TomV]

Name: Simon
Location: Canberra, Australia.
Approximate time training: Since June 2009.


Going to do my first PL meet in June, will be happy if I can total in 400's.

What meet will that be mate? There's a few very bloody strong lifters training in Canberra atm, Nathan Jones especially.

[TomV]

name: Zeke
location: burnside, melb.
training: not long

wtb gym on west side of melb city :[

otherwise enjoying the info here. ty for the bump, else i would've missed it.

Apollo / ESP. Along with Muscle Pit probably one of the strongest gyms in Australia. It's in Footscray.

Lifters in both CAPO & IPF including Stephen Pritchard who last year squatted 365 @ 125.

[51M0n]

Simon, what gym in Canberra u at?

Used to train at uni gym, but moved to elite physique a few weeks back.


What meet will that be mate?

First meet will be the in-house 'battle of the gyms' comp that elite holds.

[TomV]

Sounds good mate, once you've had a crack at that one you should have a crack at a Powerlifting Australia Comp. For more aussie specific info you could also check out powerlifters.com.au, there's a few Canberran's in the forum too, including one bloke that squatted 300@106 a few weeks ago (raw).

[Don Stevenson]

Name - Don Stevenson
Location - Hills District, Sydney.(uncomfortably close to Rips #1 Aussie fanboy TomV)
Occupation - Olympic Weightlifting, Kettlebell and Strength and Conditioning Coach
Training Background BS bodybuilding at uni back in 1998-2000, Kettlebell training from 2003 including doing the RKC in 2004 and running KB courses in Aus ever since. Crossfit and Olympic lifting from 2005 and now compete in Strongman comps and do a lot of squat, bench, DL and OHP.

Looking to set up a new gym in the Hills in the next few months to cater to athletes, powerlifters and olympic lifters

[tennisgod]

Name - Don Stevenson

Looking to set up a new gym in the Hills in the next few months to cater to athletes, powerlifters and olympic lifters

Do you do one-on-one training, Don?

[Don Stevenson]

Most of what I do these days is seminars and workshops but I do the occasional one on one session and when the gym opens up it will offer small group training and some PT.

[SamKeyworth]

Has anyone done CrossFit in Australia, or would like to share some of their experiences?

[Don Stevenson]

Crossfit in Australia is like Crossfit anywhere else, some places are good, some are full of idiots (like all gyms though)

I used to do a bit of Crossfit and was part of starting up CF Sydney back in 05-06 but not really involved these days.

I'm still in contact with the original affiliates out here, all of who are pretty good trainers and more thinkers than outright meatheads.

[TomV]

I'd agree with Don. Some great people in it, some idiots in it. Expensive as whiping your arse with $50 notes however.

[Dragar]

I'm not quite sure of it's location within the city but Muscle Pit is in Perth and is one of the strongest gyms in Australia...

Muscle Pit is in cannington, southern suburb. I'm not aware of anything in the northern suburbs. I make do with a local fitness gym. They have one squat rack, thankfully it's rarely in use

[TomV]

Muscle Pit is in cannington, southern suburb. I'm not aware of anything in the northern suburbs. I make do with a local fitness gym. They have one squat rack, thankfully it's rarely in use

Perth's not that big is it? :P
If I were you I'd make the effort to train there.

[Don Stevenson]

I've been to the muscle pit and if i was living ANYWHERE in WA i'd make the effort to train there at least occasionally.

[Dragar]

Perth's not that big is it? :P
If I were you I'd make the effort to train there.

you'd be surprised.. it's just not viable to go there for me, i struggle to find the time for gym as is, and I can walk to my local in 8 minutes. It is probably worth going occasionally for some inspiration and technique help, there's no-one at my gym to ask. Had to endure 10 minutes of a 20 yr old PT girl trying to educate me on maintaining a more vertical back angle on my squat last night..

[TomV]

I trained at a globo for the first time in a while last night, PT's are ridiculous and most should be ignored at all costs. Literally, don't engage in conversation with them.

It's unfortunate that you can't train at Muscle Pit but yeah, I'd definitely suggest trying to find time even on a weekend to go and train over there.

[Draz]

Nothing wrong with "globo" I go to.
I have the power rack all to myself.

Name: Draz
Location: Sydney, Australia
Approximate time training: 10 weeks.

Will be interested in attending some powerlifting meets, hopefully compete next year. Anyone aware of any meets apart from the ones advertised on Powerlifiting Australia website?

Cheers

[TomV]

Nothing wrong with "globo" I go to.
I have the power rack all to myself.

Name: Draz
Location: Sydney, Australia
Approximate time training: 10 weeks.

Will be interested in attending some powerlifting meets, hopefully compete next year. Anyone aware of any meets apart from the ones advertised on Powerlifiting Australia website?

Cheers

Whereabouts in Sydney do you train, Draz? Any reason you're not interested in the Powerlifting Australia Meets? The only other Fed I know of in Australia is CAPO, who have even fewer meets than the IPF.

[Draz]

I train in Brookvale.
Nothing against Powerlifting AU but the frequency of the meets not that great, was hoping there would be few other places to go to get bit of understanding/feel for the whole shebang.
My totals are embarrassingly low so I have a way to go still before I'd be competitive but wanted to go as a spectator for few times.

[TomV]

I train in Brookvale.
Nothing against Powerlifting AU but the frequency of the meets not that great, was hoping there would be few other places to go to get bit of understanding/feel for the whole shebang.
My totals are embarrassingly low so I have a way to go still before I'd be competitive but wanted to go as a spectator for few times.

Ah right, not sure I know anyone training over in Brookvale atm.
Powerlifting AU is the biggest fed in Australia with the most frequent meets by far mate. Next comp (aside from the one in Toronto tomorrow and Singleton in May which are a bit of a trek) is the Bondi Beach lift in June. That'll be a decent sized comp with quite a few lifters their I'd predict. It's a shame the nationals aren't here like they were last year.

Maybe go as a spectator for one meet but get in to competing mate, don't worry about comparing yourself to others just look to better yourself (I did 410@100kg last November, I was outlifted by people in the 67.5kg class... By a lot). You learn more and meet more people by competing.

BTW not sure if you read back in the forum but as far as getting advice or meeting up with other lifters in Sydney, I'd recommend getting on to powerlifters.com.au

[Draz]

Thanks for the info Tom.
I will definitely attend the Beach Lift (missed the one in North Sydney recently due to family commitments).

I am not to concerned about being outlifted by the guys in 67.5 kg class, I am however worried about the girls in the 49Kg class!

Thanks for the link to powerlifters - yet another forum to read/join.
Cheers

[tennisgod]

Hello... does anyone know a good physio-therapist in the Sydney area?

I've got some muscle issues that are not going away. Thanks.

[Blah3]

Draz! Im in the area... I train up at Narraweena. Where about in brookvale you train? Fitness first?

[Draz]

Draz! Im in the area... I train up at Narraweena. Where about in brookvale you train? Fitness first?

Sorry, wasn't paying attention to this thread, just got your PM.
I am at Definition. Responded to your PMs.

[Andrew78]

anyone know the cost of membership for muscle pit?

[TChase76]

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone could recommend any good gyms for me to train at when I'm on vacation next month? I'll be in Brisbane from May 5th-9th and then I'll be in northern Queensland from the 10th-20th...mostly the Townsville area I believe.

A friend said there's a bodybuilding gym in Townsville called Muscle and Fitness that would be good enough for what I need. Does anyone know anything about this place? Their website is shit and the only picture there shows treadmills and machines.

[CThomas]

A friend said there's a bodybuilding gym in Townsville called Muscle and Fitness that would be good enough for what I need. Does anyone know anything about this place? Their website is shit and the only picture there shows treadmills and machines.

Haven't been to M&F, but I've trained at Tropical Bodies on the mall, and at Kickstart Fitness in Kirwan. They're both absolutely packed after 5PM. Both have a single squat rack and a bench, and a few C2 rowers plus all the usual stuff.

Kistart Fitness (http://maps.google.com.au/maps/place?cid=11127297110771086363&q=kickstart+fitness+kirwan&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:pplink&ei=y-LQS7CXFKCajQOQ_pS_DQ)

Tropical Bodies (http://maps.google.com.au/maps/place?cid=8475928191830933993&q=tropical+bodies&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:pplink&ei=8-PQS5jKHpHosAPy7K3vDQ)

I prefer Kickstart. $8 casual entry, the C2s are in good nick and if you go there during working hours or the weekend it is usually pretty quiet. Also a legitimate MMA school there. Don't know what Tropical Bodies costs since I usually get complimentary entry from staying at the Holiday Inn. Tropical Bodies has KBs if that's your thing.

EDIT: Hope you're going to see the reef when you're in Townsville. Weather in May is pretty much perfect.

[Mojo]

Hi tchase76, when in Brisbane, try Sassoms Fitness at Wooloongabba. It's a more old-school gym. Squat racks, heaps of bumper plates, and chalk provided. $11 for a one-off visit. I've been training there for over a year, doing SS for the last few months (I've seen the light). Cheers, Mojo.

[TChase76]

Haven't been to M&F, but I've trained at Tropical Bodies on the mall, and at Kickstart Fitness in Kirwan. They're both absolutely packed after 5PM. Both have a single squat rack and a bench, and a few C2 rowers plus all the usual stuff.

Kistart Fitness (http://maps.google.com.au/maps/place?cid=11127297110771086363&q=kickstart+fitness+kirwan&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:pplink&ei=y-LQS7CXFKCajQOQ_pS_DQ)

Tropical Bodies (http://maps.google.com.au/maps/place?cid=8475928191830933993&q=tropical+bodies&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:pplink&ei=8-PQS5jKHpHosAPy7K3vDQ)

I prefer Kickstart. $8 casual entry, the C2s are in good nick and if you go there during working hours or the weekend it is usually pretty quiet. Also a legitimate MMA school there. Don't know what Tropical Bodies costs since I usually get complimentary entry from staying at the Holiday Inn. Tropical Bodies has KBs if that's your thing.

EDIT: Hope you're going to see the reef when you're in Townsville. Weather in May is pretty much perfect.

Thanks, I appreciate it. I'll check them out. I'll be visiting family so I'm not sure if I'll make it to the reef but I definitely plan on bringing my daughter to the aquarium.



Hi tchase76, when in Brisbane, try Sassoms Fitness at Wooloongabba. It's a more old-school gym. Squat racks, heaps of bumper plates, and chalk provided. $11 for a one-off visit. I've been training there for over a year, doing SS for the last few months (I've seen the light). Cheers, Mojo.

Thanks Mojo. Sounds like my kind of place...maybe I'll see you there. Good luck with SS. I'm actually taking the SS seminar and then hopping on a plane to Australia the next day.

[51M0n]

Mentioned in this thread that I was going to compete in my first powerlifting meet soon, well I did it today and it was fantastic. My best lifts were 175 kg in the squat, 80kg in the bench (my bench needs a lot more work) and 195 kg in the deadlift (total 450).

The deadlift was 25kg above my gym PB so I was stoked at that, and it went up so fast I could have probably got 200. Have definitely been bitten by the powerlifting bug, can't wait to compete again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQrZN3fLNgQ&feature=player_embedded I got a nice video of my second deadlift attempt @ 172.5kg.

[tescott]

Nice work! I planned to compete this year, but not gonna happen... things I can't get out of when the comps are on in Sydney and Central Coast... Anyway, there's always next year!

BTW was that commentator annoying? That would put me off big time...

[51M0n]

BTW was that commentator annoying? That would put me off big time...

The commentator was really good, he helped get the crowd into it, and once I got up on the stage I was so reved up I didn't hear him anyway. It was a great starting meet since it was in my gym and a number of guys were also first timers.

Don't know when I'll be able to compete next, possibly not till next year, although there is a CAPO deadlift only comp in December that might be fun (would also give me something to train deads for).

[Leakey]

Hi Lads,

Name: Matt Leake, 32 old.
Location: Sydney, Australia (Southern Area)
Approximate time training: Strength training for 12 months (SS seriously for about 6 months)
Recommendations:
Not any really, I won $1,000 worth of weight equipment from Workout World in a raffle, and with an extra $500 built my garage gym (squat rack, barbell, plates, power tower for chins/dips). My only recommendation would be to avoid paying $200/month or $20 a session to attend a Crossfit gym, seems way too expensive to me.

Love lifting, have been learning the hard way (not enough eating at times etc), have just had my first child (son named David), love being a Dad, will compete at some stage.

Take it easy!

[james_grahame]

Name: James Grahame
Location: Melbourne. (but in Scotland just now)
Approximate time training: 18 years. Powerlifting, Strongman, Highland Games and Grip

Recommendations: concentrate on the basics and add weight while maintaining good form. Enjoy your training.

I also run the www.aussiestrength.com website and forum. Although, it tends towards PL/SM/HG there is a lot of sensible general advice and training logs available there for reading.

Also, if anyone from Oz wants to promote sensible training, and starting strength there, then I am happy to help them at no cost.

all the best

James

[shanuea]

Name: Shaun, 27 old.
Location: Perth, WA, Australia (Scarborough)
Approximate time training: SS consistently for 4 weeks
Recommendations:
I go to a Community gym that is quite cheap and has the equipment I need. Only one powerrack though, so sometimes have to wait till someones finished.

What Suburb are you in Dragar?

[Squidy]

Name: Squidy
Location: Adelaide (hills)
Approximate time training: 3 months of SS, 2 months of stronglifts before that (at least it got me on the right path), 5 months of clueless shit before that (bodybuilding splits)
Recommendations: deck out the shed and talk a couple of mates into getting amongst it. Nothing is even close to primo quality; just hunted around for racks and shit like that from closing down gyms or people who have plates and barbells collecting cobwebs. Hands down the best thing i ever did, got away from the hapless bastards in most gyms telling me squatting deep is bad for my knees and now I just concentrate on getting strong with a couple of the lads.....brilliant.

[Dragar]

Hi Shaun, I'm in Dianella, train at the aquatic centre nearby on Alexander Drive (used to be the Inglewood pools, now called Terry Tyzack Centre)

[shanuea]

Anyone in Brisbane?

[Starofflorida]

Yep.

I train at the Goodlife in the City at lunchtimes.

[porphyry]

The Mrs and I are from Australia (Kalgoorlie and Geelong respectively) but we lived most our lives in Perth.

We used to go to GloboGym and engaged largely in unfocussed activities I'm too ashamed to call training. I started training in October last year when we moved to Houston.

One odd thing I noticed at GloboGym when we lived in Melbourne (Bourke St / Central / QV) last year - the men there (a) never put their shit away (b) spend an incredible amount of time making kissy faces at themselves in the mirror. You couldn't get to the dumbell racks because of the wall of Melbournian men that would form in front of the mirrors. Not that it mattered because you could never find a matching pair of dumbells anyway.... I don't know if that's representative of all Melbourne Gyms but it was strikingly different to the gyms in Perth and pretty much every other one of the GloboGyms at which we've been members (we had worldwide memberships and I've lived in a few cities throughout Asia).

[Kritas]

Name: Nick
Location: Sydney, Australia
Approximate time training: about 1 year mucking around at the gym, and only recently did a mate of mine introduce me to strength training. He also suggested taking a look at Rips videos which is why i'm on this site. I've been Strength training now for around 6-7 weeks, and my gains have been awesome :) 50kg bench to 80kg in 6 weeks. 60kg squat to 100kg(yesterday). 80kg deadlift to 130kg. Struggling on Presses atm, but I sort of expected that.
Height: 180cm
Starting weight: Around 95kg or so... Not 100%. Slowly been dropping off weight for a couple of years now, my max weight was 124kg. Roughly at 26-28% BF atm.
Gym: Titans Gym in Rockdale, Sydney. It's shit, don't bother. I'm currently looking at setting up my own home gym with power rack and lifting platform. All made by myself :)
Protein: All The Whey Protein Blend from my local BodyPro shop. It's only $140 for 4.5kg, mixes great and tastes even better. If you use milk instead of water it tastes like a thickshake from maccas.

[Kyle Aaron]

I don't know if that's representative of all Melbourne Gyms
It's the CBD, lots of tossers, what can I say.

[OCG]

You sure it's just the CBD?

[Kyle Aaron]

The particular kind and dominance of tosserdom he describes is just the CBD, yes. I mean, you get tossers everywhere, but a whole gym full of them is not usual.

It sounds like it was a foreign chain gym, too. I strongly doubt it was for example the CBD Doherty's (http://www.dohertysgym.com/), Fitness First or Virgin or something seems more likely.

[Justinnnnnn]

Hi Nick (Kritas) - If you don't mind travel to Caringbah, Shire Speed and Strength is absolutely the best gym south of the city for our style of training. The owner/coach is very experienced and will be more than happy to help you progress, and the atmosphere there is nothing like fitness first or other globo's

http://shirespeedandstrength.com.au/

No I'm not the owner, just a guy that goes there and loves it :)

[Josh306]

Hey Kyle, which gyms do you train at mate?

[porphyry]

The particular kind and dominance of tosserdom he describes is just the CBD, yes. I mean, you get tossers everywhere, but a whole gym full of them is not usual.

It sounds like it was a foreign chain gym, too. I strongly doubt it was for example the CBD Doherty's (http://www.dohertysgym.com/), Fitness First or Virgin or something seems more likely.

Nailed it - Fitness First. It's a megachain gym so full of tossers yes, but I've never seen one as bad as the three in the Melbourne CBD. Every visit would take me 15 minutes longer than in Perth just because of the time spent putting away other people's weights.

We lived opposite the MCG so they were the closest gyms to us (also I was still working part time in Perth) but I think there's a Doherty's near the Flinder's St station that I might have to check out.

[Kyle Aaron]

Josh, I train people in Kew/Hawthorn.

porphyry, you will find Doherty's much better. Lots of bros and bodybuilders, but the place has a reputation for having some trainers who actually know how to coach squats and so on. That said, in most gyms - even Finance First - you'll find there's one or two trainers who know this stuff, even if they don't often coach it - they're responding to demand from clients and members, rather than encouraging them to more productive training. It's just a matter of finding that trainer amongst all the others.

Not saying you need that trainer, but once you know who it is and talk to them, you can work out at the same time they're there, and they'll introduce you to other gym members who train like that. It becomes much easier to tolerate the tossers when you know a few sensible people.