A quick Google images search of the word "Pride" will summon some very NSFW pictures, particularly if your "safe search" is off, #wheresthefilter. If curiosity gets the best of you, just know that you've been warned.
Gay festivals aside, there is a real issue here that NEEDS to be discussed. Allow me to start by saying this: guys, you're not as BIG as you think you are. I've worked in gyms for the last 3 years and have been exercising in them personally for many more years than is relevant, and I can say with complete certainty that your lats and pecs aren't as huge as your posture says they are. We've all seen these dudes waltzing around the gym, probably benching, curling or drinking something from a gallon jug...doing anything really, other than lifting legs. They range from the smallest of frames to even fairly large guys, who just don't seem to realize that we can all tell they are puffing their chest out. If you don't know what I'm talking about, there are only two options as to why. One, you can't remember the last time you saw the inside of a gym, or two, this article is about you and your self-awareness sucks.
And so it is these gentlemen that have driven me to write this article, and to bring up the interesting discussion of pride. Since I was a kid I've been told multiple times in numerous situations to be proud: proud of my accomplishments, proud of who I am and where I came from. Obviously this situation portrays pride as a good thing, a character trait fit for any self-respecting human being. In fact, you could even define pride, in this sense, as self-respect or even self-esteem. On the other side of that coin, pride is also defined as "a high...opinion of one's dignity, importance, merit, or superiority" (courtesy of dictionary.com). A high opinion of one's superiority - the absolute opposite of humility. That definition seems more suited for our friends at the gym.
There are many places this conversation could go right now. For instance, I could mention that pride is one of the 7 deadly sins and that every self-aware christian has seriously contemplated how to treat this knowledge. However, I am not here to discuss religion, or politics, or any other controversial matter you're not supposed to talk about at the dinner table with grandpa. I'm here because I'm tired of pretending I didn't notice Matt Meathead inflate himself like a balloon and waddle across the gym before doing curls in my squat rack. The staff is laughing at you, the girls are avoiding you, and everyone else is looking the other way to avoid the awkward situation that is you.
- Become Self-Aware A lot of people lack the ability to be completely and brutally honest with themselves. If you don't think you are one of those people, let me prove it to you. Think about the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror. Did you automatically suck in your stomach and stand a little taller? Maybe you pull your shoulders back to make your chest look bigger, or stick out your bottom jaw to hide that lovely double-chin. If you want to know what you really look like give yourself a good shake, close your eyes, take a deep relaxing breath and look again. There, now you've seen yourself the way everyone else does.
- Get Comfortable In Your Own Skin Now that you've seen yourself as you really are, you need to start accepting your body in its natural state. That being said, please keep in mind that accepting your body for what it is doesn't mean you have to be satisfied with what it is. Of course your shoulders/pecs/arms aren't as big/toned as you wish they were; clearly you're in the gym for a reason (hopefully that reason isn't to show everyone in the building how big you are).
- Walk Like A Normal Human Walking is a simple process: you put one foot in front of the other and repeat. Unless you're a slow learner, you picked up on this skill before you were 2 years old. As far as the mechanics are concerned little to nothing has changed, so for the love of God, stop complicating the process. Seriously, no one gives a shit about your so-called "swagger"
- Be Friendly & Respectful This is a no-brainer but so many people suck at it. Unless it's 2am Sunday morning you're probably not the only person in the gym, so please start acting like it. As members of a fitness center we have a duty to treat the facility and it's members as if it were our own gym. If you sweat on it, wipe it down. If you un-racked it, re-rack it. If someone wants to use a particular piece of equipment, accommodate them the best you can. There is too much to say in one paragraph about being friendly and respectful in the gym, so keep your eyes out for a follow-up article. Until then, use your best judgement.
- Out-Work Me In my opinion, the best way to earn the respect of your fitness peers is by out-working them. I go to the gym for one reason, and one reason only: to try and tear my body apart. Whether I'm lifting or getting in an intense cardio session, I push the limits of my body every time. As a fitness professional, I love to see people buzzing around at full speed, sweating and breathing hard. I usually go out of my way to let them know that their hard work didn't go unnoticed. Those are the people that make this job so enjoyable, and I have great respect for all of them.
Be proud of who and what you are, but leave your ego at the door.
