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Keenan Nakagawa
Li-Anne Delavega
Eng 100
9 March 2015
Weight Lifters: Self-Centered or Self-Driven?
In the U.S. alone, there are over 50 million club memberships to fitness centers (“About
the Industry”). People of all walks of life gather at the gym in order to achieve a mutual goal of
self-improvement. Whether one’s objective is to slim down for their new skinny jeans, or to put
on some muscle to attract that special someone, fitness enthusiasts of all ages and experience
levels congregate at the gym, generating a uniquely diverse community. Unfortunately gymgoers, or specifically weight lifters, are often perceived as conceited, with their only intention
being to boost their own self-image. Contrary to popular belief, the weightlifting community is
not comprised solely of self-righteous, egotistical people, but rather individuals who exhibit
passion and discipline.
While the differences between the physical characteristics of gym-goers are easily
distinguishable, another aspect of the weightlifting community that adds to its diversity are the
different types of lifters. Weightlifters are typically grouped up into three main categories:
powerlifting, bodybuilding, and crossfit. Powerlifting is a competitive branch of weightlifting
that focuses on strength building, particularly in the three main lifts which are the squat, bench
press, and deadlift. These three lifts are the focus of powerlifting due to their emphasis on three
major bodily components: legs (squat), upper body (bench press), and lower back (deadlift).
During competition, powerlifters are judged on how much weight that they can do for a single
repetition in each lift. They are given three attempts per lift and are judged in comparison to the
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other lifters at the meet who are in their weight class. In contrast, bodybuilding is the concept of
utilizing weights in order to increase muscle size. Rather than focusing on specific lifts,
bodybuilders target individual muscle groups through the use of an endless list of exercises that
allows them to precisely chisel their frame. Bodybuilders often use lighter weights as well as
strict form while performing exercises in order to maximize the stimulation of muscle fibers,
facilitating muscle growth. Compare this to powerlifters, who utilize momentum and leverage in
order to move as much weight as possible, which is the polar opposite of bodybuilders who
minimize these factors in order to let the muscles do all the work. Bodybuilders also tend to be
much leaner than powerlifters, as bodybuilders focus solely on appearance while powerlifters
often eat as much as they possibly can. This is because strength and bodyweight are directly
proportional. Lastly, we have crossfit. Crossfit is a newer form of weight lifting that combines
endurance and strength training together to create a high intensity, cardio-like form of
weightlifting. Crossfit can be considered a sort of powerlifting-bodybuilding hybrid, as the focus
is to move heavy weight while simultaneously cutting down rest time during workouts to burn
more calories. Crossfitters, like powerlifters, also make use of “compound exercises,” which
utilize several different muscles at once. Although these categories of weight lifting have very
contrasting elements, every weightlifter shares the commonality of wanting to better themselves
over time. While increasing your strength and refining your physique may seem rather pompous,
there are often personal reasons as to why weightlifters aspire to reach their desired goals.
Although American gym membership prices average at approximately 58$ a month,
millions of people still decide to purchase them (“Gym Membership Statistics”). Why is that?
Well, people often obtain gym memberships in order to alleviate themselves of personal
insecurities. The two most prominent short-term goals amongst those seeking gym memberships
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are weight loss and weight gain. First off, overweight people look to the gym in order live a
healthier lifestyle. They may make use of cardio machines in order to burn fat; however weight
training is proven to be more effective for long-term fat loss (Clark, Shannon). Weight lifting
increases metabolism due to the fact that muscular tissue burns much more calories to maintain
in comparison to fat. Secondly, people who are naturally skinny who seek a bigger physique can
also make use of weight lifting in order to build muscle mass to add on to their frame. Rather
than simply trying to look better, many people find weightlifting as an outlet that allows them to
fight personal demons through achieving the unachievable, and in many cases, proving the
bullies wrong. Although people may join for different reasons, the gym always seems to bring
people from opposite ends of the spectrum together.
Relationships and the gym go hand in hand. Finding commonalities between individual
weight lifters is easy and allows for strong friendships to be made between complete strangers,
often amongst those who would have never have met if it weren’t for the gym. Likewise, the
gym can also be used as a means to strengthening current relationships. Professional bodybuilder
Dana Linn Bailey recalls her experiences with her spouse during her Bodybuilding.com
interview. “My boyfriend (and husband-to-be) Rob was at the gym everyday and I didn't get
to see him much with school and work. So he told me if I wanted to see him more I should
just come to the gym.” This instance showcases what the gym can provide for an existing
couple, transforming a struggling relationship into a lifelong engagement. However, gym
relationships are not limited to the gym itself. Communication between weightlifters can be
made using forums that are specific to their field of interest (ie: Bodybuilding.com,
Powerliftingwatch.com, and Crossfit.com). YouTube and Instagram also have significant fitness
communities within themselves that also provide a sense of camaraderie. These niches allow
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lifters to live and breathe their passion outside of the gym, which is extremely important when
identifying weight lifting as a lifestyle rather than a simple hobby.
Diet regimens and workout programs are key components of every weight lifters life.
There are definitely specific foods that are associated with weight lifting; similar to how there
are distinct cuisines for various cultures. Some rudimentary fitness-related foods include chicken
breast, brown rice, spinach and broccoli. Weight lifters also try to rid their diet of any
unnecessary fat, resulting in meals that are often prepared with little to no seasoning. Most
people cave in after a few days of dieting while weightlifters follow these meal regimens year
round. The discipline required while sticking to this lifestyle is far more demanding than one
could imagine. In addition, the daily workout schedule that lifters must follow also puts a great
amount of stress on both the mind and body. Not only does your body get destroyed in the gym,
but also a great amount of time must be dedicated to working out. This means taking time away
from school, work, and friends. Not to mention the fact that progress in the gym is very gradual,
to the point that many people lose motivation within the first few months of lifting. In a nutshell,
the weight lifting lifestyle is extremely grueling and should not be overlooked when critiquing
one’s character.
There is a deeper meaning behind the gym rather than providing people with a method of
boosting their ego. Insecurities are dealt with, character is created, and relationships are
solidified all within the gym. Weightlifters are passionate people who truly cherish every minute
that they spend improving themselves, and judging them based off of their drive to progress is
simply unfair. Whether they are fighting against personal demons or are simply looking to be
better than they were yesterday, weightlifters manifest a type of discipline that definitely should
not be frowned upon.
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Works Cited
"About the Industry." IHRSA. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.ihrsa.org/about-the-industry/>.
Bailey, Dana L. "Dana Linn Bailey Q&A." Bodybuilding. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bodyspace-member-of-the-month-dana-linnbailey.html>.
Clark, Shannon. "Cardio Versus Weight Training!" Bodybuilding. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/fat_loss_training_wars.htm>.
"Gym Membership Statistics." Statistic Brain RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.statisticbrain.com/gym-membership-statistics/>.
"The History of Weight Sports" Breaking Muscle. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2015.
<http://breakingmuscle.com/olympic-weightlifting/the-history-of-weight-sports-howthey-evolved-since-1900>.
"What Is CrossFit?" CrossFit. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/what-is-crossfit.html>.