I do not surround myself with weight lifters. I do not feel the need to hang out with people who share the same passion for the gym that I have. Therefore I do have many friends who have never stepped foot inside of a gym and many of them are not afraid to present negativuty towards those who do.
I don’t know if this happens because they are jealous because they see other people in better shape/bigger/stronger. I don’t mean this in an egotistical or self-centered manner but in my experience when people lack something they find desirable they cover it up by hating on it. Just my experience though. Whatever the reason may be, people come up with many misconceptions about the gym.
Everyone in the gym is a musclehead. If you have seen the planet fitness commercials in which my blog title is referring to you will have seen the stereotypical weightlifter.
This could not be further from the truth. Sure, there are roided up juice heads dumber than a bucket of shrimp but to have that opinion for everyone who enjoys staying in shape is nothing other than ignorant. The Marines in my unit are some of the most intelligent individuals I’ve ever met, not only academically but also with real world experience where being an idiot gets you killed. Every single one of them has an affinity for physical fitness, many preferring weight training as well.
I have met many, many people in the gym, male and female, and there is not direct relation between the gym and a lack of brains. In fact, I’ve met more “less than gifted” people, relatively, that have never entered a gym before than people who frequent a gym. Now I do not want you to think that I am doing the very thing I am arguing against. Obviously if you do not weight train I do not assume you automatically have these negative opinions. However, I do find it extremely unfair to criticize and generalize in these ways as many people do.
What do you think?
I know where you're coming from and I think you're on the right track. It is easy for some people to associate big muscles with little brains because they feel justified in the fact that although they don't have big muscles themselves, they do at least have a brain. I don't have big muscles, and I'm not even a man but I have seen and heard what many people think of those that do frequent the gym. As a woman I dont have to face this stereotype or worry about what people who see me in gym clothes think about my intellegence, luckily, but I do believe that some men are judged for wanting to take care of themselves and lead a healthy active lifestyle. My advice to you is to say screw it and keep doing what makes you happy, not like you weren't doing that already anyway!
ReplyDeleteYea I agree with what you're talking about. There will always be a stereotype that all weight lifters are not very smart people. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that most of the people that weight train are athletes in a various sport. And athletes as well as weight lifters share the same perception.
ReplyDeleteYeah it's the sad reality of it but it is what it is. Obviously I can not change everyone's minds. Not only am I trying to show people the truth but also give beginners the confidence to continue what they're doing no matter what they hear.
ReplyDeleteI had a weightlifting class my Senior year and I remember being really apprehensive about going my first couple days. I was afraid that I would look weak (which I was) or get made fun of. But then I realized half the class was just like me. There are a lot of truths to this post. I find myself judging people even though I try not to. Do you think girls might have it easier because all that most guys care about is how attractive they are?
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