Can you remember the first time you discovered your love for strength sports? I definitely can.
My dad, an ex-college football player, used train me when I was growing up. I was 13 when he bought a bench press, dumbbells, and a harness for tire sprints. At the time, I never processed how much this first exposure to training would shape my life. Now, the more I grow and develop in my fitness-oriented career, I continue to call my dad and say thank you for starting this love. Thanks, for the obsession that continues to lead to great relationships, personal growth, and passion.
Everyone who immerses themselves in the strength sports world always have one thing in common – passion. There’s something to be said about those who prioritize developing themselves and others over most activities. And let’s face it: You don’t dive into strength without passion to back it up. Strength training in itself – whether it’s your career, sport, or hobby – can be severely frustrating and even uncomfortable at times. The passion and obsession is what keeps us going. Strength sports can take the form of career, hobby, and even sport – no matter the case you’re in love and can’t get enough of the strength world.
1. Daily Thoughts
You constantly think about your current lifts, areas you could improve, and what your next goals will be. Every other thought you have is about your next step in the strength world. Whether you’re a casual gym-goer, athlete, or have a career in fitness, it doesn’t matter. Your mind is consumed by the strength sports world. You physically and mentally can’t get enough.
2. Nervous Energy
It feels overwhelming knowing how much information there is in this industry. With so many great media outlets, coaches, research, and methods – how can one person consume it all? In reality it’s impossible, but we can try. When you’re driven by passion, growth is a main priority. You begin to prioritize and create methods of digesting information on a daily basis. All of this leads to an excited, anxious feeling that has you constantly wanting to train, develop, and grow.
3. Always Curious
Curiosity comes in the form of continually watching others in the industry. This could be updating a site you follow adamantly or constantly scrolling your social media. “Who’s doing what, what’s happening now, and what am I missing,” begin to lead most of your daily actions when searching for information. Things happen so fast, there becomes a want to never miss a beat.
4. “I Could Lift That.”
Throughout your day normal activities begin to transpire into strength sports thoughts. If you’re taking the stairs at work you begin to think about how you’re moving, or my personal favorite, take off in a dead sprint and time yourself. Every activity turns into something athletic or a competition, anything that relates to your passion with strength.
5. You Notice Others
You begin to notice things about strangers in normal life, this could be watching how someone moves and even other’s muscular statures. As you dive deeper into the strength world and learn more, there becomes an innate sense of the people around you.
6. You Talk A lot
Whenever something gets brought up in conversation that can even remotely could be spun into a strength conversation, you take it there. Before you know it a conversation that started about a football game this past weekend has taken a turn towards training concepts you’re currently learning about. In reality, those outside of the strength industry don’t want to hear about how you’re planning to hit your next deadlift PR – it doesn’t matter – you’re going to tell them about it.
7. You Build a List
This list contains all of the people you inspire to be like. Everyone has athletes, coaches, and influencers they keep tabs on and align with. You’re drawn to these individuals for whatever reason and they help shape your outlook and philosophies. Whoever it is, there’s an energy that creates excitement behind keeping up with what they’re doing.
8. Create a Community
Overtime there’s a shift in the people you surround yourself with on a daily basis. This could mean hanging out at your gym more, meeting new people who have similar goals, competing in competitions, and even attending fitness networking events. No matter the scenario, you start to morph your daily life into a strength sports world.
Editors note: This article is an op-ed. The views expressed herein are the authors and don’t necessarily reflect the views of BarBend. Claims, assertions, opinions, and quotes have been sourced exclusively by the author.
