---
title: 'You''re Probably Making At Least 1 of These 3 Gym Mistakes'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=PxFea941FpE'
video_id: 'PxFea941FpE'
date: 2026-07-24
duration_sec: 286
channel: 'PictureFit'
---

# You're Probably Making At Least 1 of These 3 Gym Mistakes

> Source: [You're Probably Making At Least 1 of These 3 Gym Mistakes](https://youtube.com/watch?v=PxFea941FpE)

## Summary

This video highlights three common gym mistakes that may hinder progress: training on an empty stomach, neglecting to record your lifts for technique analysis, and using the wrong type of barbell. Each mistake is backed by scientific reasoning or practical experience.

### Key Points

- **Mistake 1: Training on an Empty Stomach** [00:37] — Eating before a workout provides more nutrients and reduces hunger, which can improve performance. A study showed subjects performed 10% more reps in back squats after consuming a thicker shake, even with equal carbs, suggesting hunger affects performance.
- **Mistake 2: Not Recording Your Lifts** [01:31] — Recording yourself lifting helps correct technique more effectively than relying on feel alone. It can lead to better form and potentially more reps or weight.
- **Mistake 3: Using the Wrong Barbell** [02:13] — Different barbells (e.g., power bar vs. weightlifting bar) have distinct features like center knurling and whip. Using the wrong one can affect performance, though the impact is usually small.

### Conclusion

Avoiding these three mistakes—eating before workouts, recording your lifts, and choosing the right barbell—can help optimize gym performance and progress.

## Transcript

which, for the most part, we figure out pretty quickly. we keep making for a very long time. So, to help you out, we’re
Hi, for those of you that don’t know me, my name is PictureFit. by a little bit of science, a little bit of experience, and a whole lotta bit of badly drawn animations. And I know it seems strange
to take fitness advice from a cartoon character, but I can assure you that I’m just as much photoshopped as every other fitness influencer on the internet. Anyway, let’s get right to talking about mistakes that you’re absolutely definitely
maybe still making at the gym. First, if you normally go to the gym before lunch or before dinner, then you might be making a mistake. Yes, by eating beforehand, you will have more nutrients available
focus on is actually hunger. It’s possible that going into your workout feeling less hungry can improve your exercise performance.
That’s at least according to a study that showed a group of subjects performed ten percent more total reps in the back squat than another group, even though both groups consumed a pre-workout shake containing equal amounts of carbs.
The only difference is that the better performing group consumed a thicker shake, while hungry, then you might wanna sneak in a little snack beforehand. Otherwise, you might be unexpectedly holding yourself back at the gym.
As far as the exercise itself, we all know how important it is to lift with effective and good technique, especially for bigger compound lifts. if you are not regularly recording yourself lifting.
No, this is not about posting your amazing PR videos videos on your Instagram story. It’s simply the fact that, unless you’re working directly nothing can teach you more about your technique than seeing it
Sure, it can be awkward to set up a tripod at the gym or ask a bigger bro to record you, but this will be to your own benefit. And when you do perfect your technique, don’t be surprised if you get a few extra
clap emojis on your IG story that aren’t just from your mommy and aunties. which I would think you guys wouldn’t realize most of all. If you are not paying attention to the type of barbell you’re using,
then you might be making a mistake. There are different barbells all which share a similar Olympic-standard form factor Now, most gyms usually have just one type of barbell, which is the basic
bar. But it’s becoming more common for gyms to have barbells dedicated for specific lifting stations and exercises. However, with people’s fascinating obsession with randomly shuffling around gym equipment,
chances are that these dedicated barbells are left in places they don’t belong. Now, I won’t go over every type of barbell out there, but definitely look it up if you’re interested. But, I’ll quickly go over the two most common barbells,
and they are, again, the power barbell, and the weightlifting barbell. Now, to tell these two bars apart, you wanna pay attention to two things: One is the knurling, or etched lines, across the center of the barbell. Two
is the whip, or the flexibility or bendiness of the bar. A power bar has that center knurling, which is useful for exercises like the back squat, A power bar is also more
rigid, which is great for the stability needed in most exercises. A weightlifting barbell is, of course, designed for weightlifting movements, to avoid scraping the crap out of your chest during a clean and jerk,
a weightlifting bar does not have a center knurling. A weightlifting bar is also more whippy, which improves weight transfer progression and momentum needed in weightlifting exercises. Now, these differences between the barbells
can make a difference in your lifts. A big difference? Probably not, you lifted a certain amount of weight but the next session you couldn’t.
next time, before each exercise, all you gotta do is quickly check the bar you were making. But, if you did know, then congrats, you made the mistake
of watching this video. Either way, I hope this has been helpful. If