I’ve
been training over 25 years now so I guess you could call
me “old school”. I started working out before
the big fitness boom in the 1980’s when gyms were
mostly hole-in-the-wall establishments that didn’t
make any attempt to appeal to the mainstream. Most of
the training in those gyms was hard and brutal. It was
a place filled with tough, strong men and if you didn’t
put in the effort and train hard, you were not shown much
respect.
We
now live in a different time and the gyms (“fitness
centers”) have changed dramatically. The gyms that
could have been called dungeons have now been transformed
into gleaming fitness palaces filled with treadmills,
stairmasters, stationary bikes, countless televisions
suspended in the air and more exercise machines that could
have ever been imagined back in 1980.
The gym (fitness center) that I train at now has an employee
who is constantly vacuuming, mopping and cleaning the
gym. The gym I trained at 25 years ago was NEVER cleaned
up. The carpet was torn, the mirrors were broken or smudged
and the new members were constantly on the lookout for
the gym mascot, a huge pit bull that loved to welcome
visitors to the gym by humping their legs when they laid
down to do vertical leg presses.
Over
time, I have reluctantly accepted the change in the fitness
industry and I’ve adapted fairly well by still having
hard and heavy workouts at my local fitness center. After
I walk past the rows of treadmills and make my way through
the maze of new exercise equipment, I settle in to the
free weight area at the back of the gym and proceed with
my old school workouts.
However,
despite my focus towards serious, free-weight workouts,
I can’t help but take notice of the growing trend
in today’s fitness center world – The Girly
Man Workout!
The first indication of the GMW (Girly Man Workout) is
the growing emergence of slippers in place of gym shoes
for the workout. I first noticed this trend last year
when summer was just ending and fall was right around
the corner. I thought it was because the weather was still
warm and some of the members were stopping in for a workout
after lying around the pool or walking away from the barbeque
grill.
For
the life of me, I don’t understand how you could
feel ready to tackle some heavy weights with footwear
that you would normally use after stepping out of the
shower. Yes, it’s true that the King of Bodybuilding
himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, used to train barefoot
when he was training to win the Mr. Olympia in the 1970’s.
However, Arnold was Arnold. He could squat with over 400
pounds in his bare feet and not feel a thing. The guys
I see at my gym (fitness center) walking around in their
flip flops don’t look like they’re ready to
take on Sergio or Franco at the next Mr. Olympia contest.
Another qualifier of the GMW is the constant use of the
cell phone in the gym. I realize that the cell phone is
an absolute requirement in today’s quick paced society
but is it really necessary in the gym? If you’ve
just busted your butt doing 15 tough repetitions in the
full squat with a substantial poundage, what kind of conversation
are you going to have on your cell phone after walking
away from the squat rack? If you did those squats correctly
and with enough intensity, your main concern should be
gasping for oxygen, not dialing digits!
I
remember the story of when Jim Lorimar, Arnold’s
long-time partner in promoting bodybuilding competitions,
phoned Arnold at the famous Gold’s Gym in Venice,
California way back in 1970. Jim was organizing the Pro
Mr. World competition in Columbus, Ohio and he heard that
this Austrian kid was one of the top bodybuilders in the
world so he wanted to invite him to compete in his contest.
At
the time, Arnold had yet to win the Mr. Olympia and was
training like a madman to overtake the current king of
the sport, Sergio Oliva. When Jim Lorimar called Gold’s
Gym that day, Arnold was in the middle of another grueling
workout designed to transform his already magnificent
physique into that year’s Mr. Olympia winner. Arnold
answered the phone and began listening to Lorimar’s
invitation to compete in the Mr. World competition. Jim
promised worldwide exposure due to the event being covered
by ABC’s Wide World of Sports as well as $1000.00
cash prize to the winner.
Arnold
listened for a minute or two and responded, “I don’t
care if it’s one thousand dollars or one million,
I’m in the middle of a workout!” and slammed
the phone down. Lesson for all you cell phone addicts
– leave the phone at home and pay attention to your
workouts. Your muscles will thank you!
The final sign of a Girly Man Workout is what I call The
Stare. I’ve noticed this phenomenon more and more
at gyms (fitness centers) around the country. This is
when a member of the gym sits at an exercise machine (usually
an arm curling machine) and takes a very long break between
sets. The member then begins to stare at his reflection
in the mirror during their extended rest period.
I’ve often wondered what the hell they are staring
at but I can’t quite figure it out. Are they visualizing
the intensity they are going to use in the upcoming set?
Are they psyching themselves up to use more weight than
they have ever used before? Or, are they wondering what
is on TV tonight and do they have enough milk at home
for breakfast tomorrow?
I
certainly don’t mean to poke fun at the Girly Man
Workout Crew. I guess I should give them credit for taking
the time to show up at the gym (fitness center) and put
in a good workout. After all, this country is full of
obese couch potatoes who do no exercise whatsoever and
are rapidly eating themselves to an early death.
However,
I can’t help but think of a time not too long ago
when entering the gym floor was like walking onto a battlefield.
The war was between your body and the weights. You built
your character as well as your physique by pushing yourself
to the limit with intense, heavy workouts. Was it hard
work? Yes! Was it worth it? Definitely! Because without
the effort and without the challenge, there is no excitement
or feeling of accomplishment.
The
next time you step into the gym, be aware of the danger
of the Girly Man Workout. Leave your slippers and cell
phone at home and bring your intensity and sense of purpose
instead. Instead of staring at yourself in the mirror
between sets, concentrate on the big set in front of you
and give it everything you got. We only go around once
in life and it goes by much too fast to waste time being
a Girly Man.
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