My journey as a dedicated lifter is like most gym rats. I know, everyone dislikes douchebags, but it is about time a gym douchebagexplained themselves to the common people of the world. We all (lifters) have a misplaced reputation, all lifters know it. Since a lifters literacy is slightly removed from that of common english, I will explain what jargon is.
A gym’s culture is unique. I remember, when I was a gainless (aka muscle diprived), insecure teenage girl, I hated gym goers. I looked at them as self absorbed, petty and judgemental. I went to the gym anyway, because as an insecure teenage girl I thought I was fat, and the grain of rice that tipped the scale was my father telling me about why I have to eat healthier and exercise. I loved
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Then, I knew for sure I never wanted to stop. I was not addicted to lifting because of how it made me look or that I could eat a lot; those were just bonus’. I was addicted because it made me feel great, not just when I lifted, but afterwards when I was so exhausted, even the morning after when I was sore. Soreness meant I achieved my goal of tearing my muscle fibers. When I felt the pump, I was in heaven. After the lift, I would focus so much better and I would get to sleep much faster and sleep with much more quality. It is hard to explain, but I became mentally healthier. Before I lifted, if I got angry, I would hide in my room and eat junk food, or if I got frustrated I would cry. But since then, I would just bottle up my emotions and use them at the gym, use the negativity to achieve something positive. I was at my peak …show more content…
We look at ourselves to see our physical progress and fruits of our labor, as well checking on our form. Lifting will make you mentally healthier partially because of the physical exertion and because you will no longer be with the status quo of normal people. You no longer compare yourself to pretty celebrities because your new outlook on beauty is now about muscles and yourself. A lifters mentality is different: we have lifting partners that we will compete with at the gym, but our biggest competitor (and person we often compare ourselves to) is one’s self. That is why lifters are often staring themselves in the mirror, that is why they take so many pictures of themselves and that is why they have a heighten sense of self confidence. They believe they are winning, not against you, but themselves, and that is why they are healthier mentally. One of my most saddest times was when I took a two month break from lifting to heal my broken joints and I walked in the gym to see I could not lift nearly as heavy as I once could. The closest feeling I could describe it to is when someone in your life, that you always wanted to be just got a promotion or are on a nice vacation after you worked just as hard as them. Just
In “Cruelty, Civility, and Other Weighty Matters” by Ann Marie Paulin, she was trying to get across a very important message: skinny doesn’t mean happy. The main idea was about how our culture in America encourages obesity because of the food choices they offer, how expensive weight loss pills and exercise bikes is, and etc., yet the culture also is prejudice against these same fat people that they encourage. It’s a constant back and forth in America between what is convenient with the little time we have in between everything we have to do each day and working out to be skinny enough for everyone to not judge you. Ms. Paulin wrote this article for literally everyone, this article was for skinny people to show them like hey, you’re not all
Entertainment has been an established part of the American culture almost since its founding. The types of entertainment that most Americans enjoy in today's world are going to the movies, going out to eat, and exercising. Different forms of exercise vary from running and playing sports to weight lifting. Those who enjoy weight lifting can choose to do so in the privacy of their home, in a community center like the YMCA, or in a health club. At a health club one can expect to find a wide variety of people; however, some of these people add to the downside of working out at a local health club because they can be annoying and obnoxious. Three types of these annoying, obnoxious people found at the weight room of a local health club are the show-off, the know-it-all, and the wanderer; these types can be identified by their physical appearance, their social behavior, and their attitude.
The gym is a place where a typical American college student goes to work out their bodies. Based on the fact that I personally could be considered a gym rat, a stereotypical name for someone who spends a lot of time in the work out area. This is partially by choice being on the swim team requires the strength training equipment that is available to our disposal in the gym. While I have been to the gym many times I haven’t really taken the time to take in the other people around me. Within this ethnographic exercise I will explore the college gym norms within Roger Williams University.
You’re where you belong and you’re right on time. Whether you've been training for 20 years or wondering about getting back in shape for 20 minutes, you now have at your fingertips the most complete blend of training information and motivation for every level of participation. In a world full of confusion and hype we need straight talk and encouragement more than ever before. We don’t have the time, space or tolerance for anything else.
When people see a barbell most of them think of this subculture because it is one of the main items bodybuilders use like in bench press or squats and also deadlifts and shoulder press and other workouts. Being the most commonly used weight among bodybuilding I think that the barbell is the perfect icon for this subculture because anyone would think of th...
A person must have the self-confidence and approval for themselves before they even have the right to look at others and judge them. That self-confidence must be gained through self-reflection and a positive environment. Most people believe that low self-esteem and not having confidence is just a person being “bummed out”. However, it is actually viewed as an official mental health and thinking disorder by many doctors and universities across the globe. “Once [A low self-esteem] is formed, this negative view permeates every thought, producing faulty assumptions and ongoing self-defeating behavior.” (Insert citation). Low self-esteem is most common among high school age students or teenagers who are plagued by the judging from dozens to hundreds of other students. All of these students were raised that it is okay to blatantly judge others in a sickening way. This judging can lead to depression, self-harm, and sometimes even suicide. According to (Author 3), “Among high school students, 44% of girls and 15% of guys are attempting to lose weight. Over 70% of girls age 15 to 17 avoid normal daily activities, such as attending school, when they feel bad about their looks.” (Insert Citation). If programs were made and enforced upon to encourage all body types in a positive way, self-love would be encouraged and people could attempt to lose weight in a much healthier
It's about not giving up. It's about being motivated even angered by those that can do something you can not. In life those of success often exploit their strengths to allow them to succeed. Weight lifting works differently it's about exploiting one's weaknesses towards a desire to improve. To turn a weakness into an evolving strength motivated by a fear of former weakness is the essence of weightlifting at its purest form. When you finish a weightlifting session, you may feel happy, relaxed, and proud of the work you have accomplished due to the release of endorphins. It takes a lot of mental strength but you gather all of your determination then you’re under the bar, and the final set is done. You take this focus and determination into other walks of your life, too, whether it’s tackling a stressful work project or a difficult situation at home, and you know the extra level of determination you sometimes need to work through rough patches in order to reach your goals. Those successful mentally, socially, and economically perhaps might gain the most from a weightlifting regimen. Its another field of battle to compete against yourself and win at. Something is always gained from success of this sort. For those who lack success of any sort in life at all weight lifting can be the one thing they are equal to all others at in life. While some people may have been born stronger, or faster, almost anyone can improve their lot in life
Black, Tamara. 2008. Exercise and Fitness in a U.S. Commercial Gym.Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms International.
Not many sixteen years olds can say they can lift three times their body weight and over five hundred pounds. Many will create a image of a six feet, sixteen year old who weighs over two hundred twenty pounds. However in my case I'm a five-seven, hundred fifty two pound Hawaii powerlifter who started in the seventh grade summer. Powerlifting is a small growing sport of who can lift the heaviest weights based on how much you weigh. I currently am a seven time WABDL world record holder and numerous state and national record holder in Powerlifting. I compete in many Powerlifting competitions and after 3 years, i'm considered one of the more successful powerlifters in Hawaii. However success in powerlifting did not come easy, it took dedication, drive, and a skilled coach. Without these key elements I personally wouldn't have been
... They don’t realize that in order to lose fat in that area, they have to lose it everywhere else first. Misconceptions such as these lead to the disheartenment of many trial gym-goers, creating an even larger gap between those who are in shape and those who aren’t. All in all, the rise of the fitness industry has impacted almost everyone in America, whether it means being more health conscious, body conscious, or fitness-a-phobic. This new fitness movement, if it continues growing at the rate it has been, will keep coming out with innovative ways to motivate the unmotivated into leading more active lifestyles.
Firstly, it is vital to note that anxiety, motivation, and concentration tremendously influence people's self-confidence and their performance at the long-run (Damon & Raedeke, P 188). Higher self-confidence reduces anxiety. The vice versa is also true. This is based on the fact that optimally confident sports people experience fewer doubts on self. Their worries reduce and give room for concentration in their activities. Additionally, motivated athletes are in a better position to strive towards achieving their goal. Motivation enables sports people to combat negativity and low self-esteem as they focus more on their goals other than obstacles. Therefore, it is fundamental to note that coaches and sports people must collaborate in finding any mechanisms that could stimulate and uphold self-esteem since it is, directly and indirectly, impactful to their
In previous articles I have talked about some of the things that I feel the Crossfit revolution has brought to the table in the strength sports world. A marked rise in the availability of equipment, at a variety of prices. More opportunities for access to the best minds and coaches in the world. Most important is the rekindling of fascination with the classic strength sports like Olympic Weightlifting. There is a new wave of intense interest in Weightlifting crossing the United States. Much attention is being paid to how the US is currently performing on the world stage. Much is being said about the inability of America to win World Championships and Olympic Gold. Recently I had the opportunity to talk to 2012 US Olympic team member
The gym where I train and workout, the Dubuque Martial Arts Group, is a place where I know who I am. It is a place I can go to escape my problems for a while and release some stress. It's not the actual physical building, but rather the events that have occurred there over the years. It's where I have formed some of my closest friendships. It is the place I have invested years of hard work for many of my accomplishments. To some it may seem odd that a place associated with sweat, blood and physical pain mean so much to someone. However, in my eyes it's almost like a second home.
...things like Hamburger or sausages, than to peel and boil potatoes, cook vegetables and make a meatloaf. Finally, poor people don’t have enough money to join fitness centers. Fitness centers as everyone knows, cost a lot. Especially that he or she needs a personal trainer, which will also coast them much more money to pay. In addition to that, anyone who joins a fitness center needs to go on a certain diet, and this means those poor people need to buy healthy special food, which they certainly can’t afford.
For men, they are convinced that they need more muscle and to be lean. If a person took a survey of how many boys and men attend the gym on a daily basis, they would find that the majority of them do. Men spend hours at the gym to build muscle. For some it is for sports or athletics, but for others it is just because they do not feel confident about their body (Quenqua, 350). Some boys will take supplements and steroids in order to achieve the flawless muscular body. It is very dangerous for teenage boys to take supplements because they do not know a lot about them (Quenqua, 350). For women, they feel like they need to be skinner in order to be pretty. The majority of women tend to diet in order to feel good about their bodies (Farrar). The effects of dieting and going to the gym every single day are miserable and