Lifting weights can seem like a waste of time to some people. “So, you pick up a heavy thing and put it down again? Lots of times? Is everything okay at home?”
Getting ready to do some bicep curls
I was speaking with a client recently, who is pretty new to training and he told me his personal anecdote (which involves the word “train” defined as both a travel vehicle and a planned exercise programme, so I’ve clarified both meanings at the risk of insult to the reader’s intelligence):
“The escalator was broken as I came out of Liverpool Street Station. I had my heavy suitcase, which I had planned to rest on the perpetually moving step. I lifted my suitcase up and said to myself “this is what you train for” and carried it up the stationary stairs. When I arrived onto my choo-choo train (not an exact quote), I was able to lift my suitcase up to the top compartment, another reminder of why I choose to train.”
We build resilience in the gym so when life requires us to lift something heavy, we can. “When do I need to lift 120kg off the floor?”. Not that often, but if you can lift 120kg, how easy do you think lifting a sack of spuds on special offer would be? Did I need that many potatoes?
We’re mostly going to be eating potato based meals this month, kids.
We have a saying in our house which is “this is why we train”. You may hear us shouting it down the road when we’re late for something (an all too common scenario) and we have to run to get there. We always make it, because we train and we’re physically able to.
Training isn’t just for the kids, it’s for you. To train is to feel empowered, capable, and to bring about an independence you’ll want, right into your later years. Of course, it’s not just physical improvements, but mental too. If you show yourself that you can deliberately practice “voluntary discomfort” (as suggested by the Stoic, Seneca), you will become a more resilient human being.
There will be many moments in your life where you’ll be thankful for the consistent work you’ve put in year after year.
Unlikely But Not Impossible Scenarios:
- You trip up on the edge of the white cliffs of Dover – You pull yourself back up and continue eating your beef jerky (Pull ups)
- A girder falls onto your friend Mr. Wayne – You lift it off his chest so he can continue his Billionaire lifestyle (Deadlift)
- You fall on the top stair in a public place – To avoid embarrassment, you land on your hands and push yourself back to vertical like nothing happened (Press Up)
- You have a large tuna fish and only one high shelf available – You lift it overhead on the top shelf in your walk-in refrigerator (Overhead Press)
This fish asked to remain anonymous.
I hope you found that helpful, and if you need any guidance, just drop me a message.