There are good reasons to park your egos at the gym door
During my recent experience with physical therapy and a professional introduction to the gym by my physical therapist, I also learned more about the pitfalls of “ego lifting.”
As you might imagine just by those two words, it’s about trying to work out with more weight than you should, in order to keep up with the “other guy” or impress someone. As is often the case in such a situation, the motive is misplaced, the objective (getting in better shape) is rarely achieved and we can harm ourselves in the process.
I have never previously worked out in a gym – all of my workout experience has been in my home, so I have really never encountered the pressures of ego lifting.
The idea that I cannot lift as much as the next guy, however, has helped keep me out of the gym. I did try to work out at a resort fitness center one time. Just three people were there, counting myself. We were all doing essentially the same circuit, based on the layout of the gym. The woman in front of me was probably in her late 70s, so I was constantly changing the weights or resistance on the equipment. The guy behind me was very well-built, so he was constantly increasing the weight I was using. And then the woman would change his weight… The whole routine reminded me of a scene from The Three Stooges — I couldn’t stop laughing and eventually just gave up and left the gym! This was probably 25 years ago, and I have not darkened the door of a gym since.
I supposed this was my introduction to ego lifting. I recently learned more in-depth that the amount of weight or resistance is much less important than the form, anatomical positioning, and activating the correct muscle.
It was humbling to see my therapist lower the weight I thought I could use during dumbbell presses, for instance. But when I practiced using the correct form, the results were incredible. I quickly forgot and/or was able to ignore the guy near me.
I also often use TheraBands, which certainly don’t match the mental image of “pumping iron,” but these resistance training bands get the job done. What I want is for my biceps, lats, or glutes to burn, tone, and grow. I don’t want to impress someone at the gym.
As noted in my last article, this is not to say in any way that I have transcended vanity or insecurity. Rather, I’m telling my story to encourage readers of the Learning Centre articles on the Functional Medicine 411 website not to make the same mistakes I did.
I follow a guy on Facebook who practices and advocates for calisthenics. He recently featured a segment on ego lifting and showed the poor technique that sets in when we try to lift too much weight — very appropriate for my recent knowledge.
It is against human nature and instinct to not pay attention to our surroundings, and in many settings, it can be dangerous. But the whole “monkey see, monkey does” attitude in the gym and ego lifting (the words of my physical therapist, not mine) are not in our best interest. Focus on what you are doing. There is enough to pay attention to — with correct form, anatomical positioning, and breathing — that you won’t even see anyone else in the gym.