It has been my career for the better of seven years now and with anything you can fall in and out of love with it. I'm not out of love yet but there is a bit of beef between myself and the fitness industry and here's why:
1. We've taken a very positive thing and made it negative
Here's the deal, working out is for everyone. We are reaching the place where people are saying things like "I have to get in shape first before I go into the gym" For fear of what people are going to think of them. As someone who has worked in gyms for nearly a decade, PEOPLE DON'T CARE. Most are so consumed in their own little world they won't even know you're there. Terms like "gymtimidation" are actually being used today. With all the false bravado that goes on in the weight room you should look at it more as a comedy show than scary.
2. You don't have to post it
Noah Lyles may post his workout and what he's eating that day, because chances are there is a sponsor asking him to so he gets paid. If you're running the local 10k at the end of the month, you don't need to start a full on YouTube series about it. Just go run.
3. There is beauty in simplicity
HIIT classes offer a great way to sweat in a collective effort with your peers. That is an extreme positive we have seen. The downside is that you are often working against the clock in a class that is chock full of other sweaty individuals and only one coach. It is survival. You mean to tell me I have squat to press for the next forty five seconds with no rep scheme in mind? This is when you see 200lb men using 12lb dumbbells. There is no gain there. Classes often have difficult and non effective programming for the needs. Mix in some boring old strength work and you'd be surprised at the gains.
4. Ice bath freaks
Ice baths came onto the scene a few years ago and now they seem to be everywhere. You can go to 7/11 and take a plunge in the back. While they do offer great recovery benefits, remember people you need something to RECOVER FROM. You still have to do the heavy lifting and cardio to see the maximum results from the cold tub. You can't just wade into the cubes everyday and expect to see your goals hit.
5. Making the gym your whole existence
There is a great big world out there that's meant to be lived. Part of the reason you are working so hard in the gym is so you can enjoy the real life. So do that more.
6. Understand "Suffering"
"We must never forget that we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation......But let me make it perfectly clear that in no way is suffering necessary to find meaning.....however, the meaningful thing to do would be to remove its cause, be it psychological, biological or political..There are situations in which one is cut off from the opportunity to do one's work or enjoy one's life; but what can never be ruled out is the unavoidability of suffering. In accepting this challenge to suffer bravely, life has a meaning up to the last moment, and it retains this meaning literally to the end."
These are quotes from Auschwitz survivor Viktor Frankl who wrote the impactful book Mans Search for Meaning. With the heavy topic being human suffering. Real life suffering is overcoming a terrible situation and not letting it break you. Suffer has become a trendy word in the fitness space but according to the definition put out by Mr. Frankl people should then eliminate working out because it causes suffering. I think the word itself turns many people away.
Using the words of CrossFit athlete Pat Vellnar in the wake of the tragedy of the 2024 CrossFit games "This isn't war, this is sport"
7. The Golden Rule
We've all seen the Planet Fitness videos of wild behavior in the weight room. Look if people are being blatantly rude or harmful to others step in. If someone appears to be struggling there is no need to film them. You also don't need to try to do unsolicited personal training. If a pile of unkempt weights bothers you, pick them up don't just leave it to the next person.
8. Return to having fun with it
It seems everyone is an influencer these days or a professional athlete but we all know its not true. The gym used to be the "Third Place" for most where you can unwind and spend one or two hours engulfed in movement. If you're scrolling go look at some pro athletes pages, they love training. Almost more than the actual competition itself. They have fun with it, dancing between sets joking with their team, take the training serious but you will remember the moments between reps.