Andrew's Gym and Fitness Rants: Issue 004 Being the Strong Sam not the Greedy Gollum

Gym and Fitness Rants: Issue 004

30/09/2019

Family Guy is my Inspiration for this lmao

Hi Everyone

I hope all is well

This is a new mini series within Strength is Never a Weakness titled "Andrew's Gym and Fitness Rants".

Short and to the point with a bit of humour around the experiences/stories I have seen or been aware of over my time spent in the fitness industry.

Hope you find them funny

Enjoy!

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Rant 004:  Being the Gym Gollum not the Strong Sam

In this rant we are looking at one of the most common gym sins committed

This happens at least 4 times in any gym across the country every day.

To explain this we will be using the characters of Gollum and Samwise (Sam) from the infamous

Lord of the Rings (LOTR) films.

Gollum & Sam

via GIPHY

Gollum looks like the gym dude who forgot to take his protein shake during the anabolic window.





Sam is a Powerlifter, strong, stable and a lover of potatoes. What's not to like.

Image Credit: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/507358714243064663/ 

Back to the Gym Rant.

This sin I am referring to is hording all the gym equipment (or a silly amount of implements) for

personal use.

See example below; 

Image Credit: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/413064597064625519/ 

Gollum is a horder of gym equipment.

Like look at him;

Image Credit: http://www.quickmeme.com/p/3w2ua4 

How I imagine what lightweight bodybuilders look like on a cut ^


If you horde gym equipment such as 3 barbells, 4 sets of dumbbells and 2 benches for a "circuit" in

peak gym times.


There is somewhere you belong.

That is;

Image Credit (without text added); https://www.learnreligions.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-hell-701959 

My Suggestions to not be a Gollum but be a Sam

• Sam is a team player so be like Sam. Share your bench, dumbbells or barbell. Allows you to rest as another trains. 
• Creates a work:rest ratio to better time sets and hit your goals training with someone.
• From this you may end up developing the beginning of a training partner or even a friend down the line. 
• Just like Frodo and Sam the best Bromance 

Image Credit: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/215117319682128134/ 

Post Leg Day for these two Legends ^

This has been Andrew's Gym and Fitness Rants: 004

Thanks for reading, please like, share, comment and follow the page!

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Andrew Richardson, Founder of Strength is Never a Weakness Blog

I have a BSc (Hons) in Applied Sport Science and a Merit in my MSc in Sport and Exercise Science and I passed my PGCE at Teesside University. 

Now I will be commencing my PhD into "Investigating Sedentary Lifestyles of the Tees Valley" this October 2019. 

I am employed by Teesside University Sport and WellBeing Department as a PT/Fitness Instructor.  

My long term goal is to become a Sport Science and/or Sport and Exercise Lecturer. I am also keen to contribute to academia via continued research in a quest for new knowledge.

My most recent publications: 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1752928X19300216

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1752928X19301076 

My passion is for Sport Science which has led to additional interests incorporating Sports Psychology, Body Dysmorphia, AAS, Doping and Strength and Conditioning. 

Within these respective fields, I have a passion for Strength Training, Fitness Testing, Periodisation and Tapering. 

I write for numerous websites across the UK and Ireland including my own blog Strength is Never a Weakness. 

I had my own business for providing training plans for teams and athletes. 

I was one of the Irish National Coaches for Powerlifting, and have attained two 3rd places at the first World University Championships, 

in Belarus in July 2016.Feel free to email me or call me as I am always looking for the next challenge. 

Contact details below; 

Facebook: Andrew Richardson (search for)

Facebook Page: @StrengthisNeveraWeakness

Twitter: @arichie17 

Instagram: @arichiepowerlifting

Snapchat: @andypowerlifter 

Email: a.s.richardson@tees.ac.uk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-richardson-b0039278 

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew_Richardson7 

Andrews's Gym and Fitness Rants: Issue 003 Sounding like a Whale giving Birth!

Gym and Fitness Rants: Issue 003

22/09/2019

Family Guy is my Inspiration for this lmao

Hi Everyone

I hope all is well

This is a new mini series within Strength is Never a Weakness titled "Andrew's Gym and Fitness Rants".

Short and to the point with a bit of humour around the experiences/stories I have seen or been aware of over my time spent in the fitness industry.

Hope you find them funny

Enjoy!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rant 003: Sounding like a Whale giving Birth!


So hahaha

Before reading this I know there will be friends, colleagues and associates who already know what

(or whom) I am referring to.

Don't spoil the party just yet for everyone else.

Lets begin!


Now first of all, I expect and encourage noise at any gym. Especially when working hard. The gym

isn't a library and should never be quiet. It is a space for stress release and working hard and hitting

your fitness goals.


I wish more gyms where like Steel City in Middlesbrough where the music is pumping and everyone

is pushing each other. Another example is Westside Barbell in America. We can all agree on that.

We can also all agree on the odd grunt and loud noise during a max attempt or a final drop set. Video

is Westside Vs The World movie which explains this culture more.

However...........

What I do have a pet peeve is someone moaning or making sexual noises every rep, every set on

every exercise.


Due to one's ego wanting to make everyone around you believe you are working harder than them.

When in fact you shouldn't be focusing on anyone else but yourself when training.


You may be asking;


Reader: What does said noises sound like? They can't be that bad 

Me: see video below 

This video is a prankster making "sexual noises" in a gym but I swear on all my lifting equipment

and love of powerlifting that this is literally what I (and others) hear in the University Gym on a

daily basis.



I know training releases Endorphins but it may also be realising something else for these fellas 😉

when they are doing lateral dumbbell raises being spotted from behind by their "bros".

I couldn't decide on one image that summed this up so here is two I found lol

Image Credit: https://twitter.com/colossusfitness/status/362031982781280256 

Image Credit: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/570549846517297865/ 

Takeaway Points

• Work hard in the Gym, turn the music up and motivate training partners (but don't be rude or childish when training)
• DON'T MAKE SEXUAL NOSIES WHEN TRAINING. You can breathe normally and make a grunt here and there but calling out shamoo for some afternoon hokey pokey behind the gym lockers is uncalled for. 

This has been Andrew's Gym and Fitness Rants: 003

Thanks for reading, please like, share, comment and follow the page!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Andrew Richardson, Founder of Strength is Never a Weakness Blog

I have a BSc (Hons) in Applied Sport Science and a Merit in my MSc in Sport and Exercise Science and I passed my PGCE at Teesside University. 

Now I will be commencing my PhD into "Investigating Sedentary Lifestyles of the Tees Valley" this October 2019. 

I am employed by Teesside University Sport and WellBeing Department as a PT/Fitness Instructor.  

My long term goal is to become a Sport Science and/or Sport and Exercise Lecturer. I am also keen to contribute to academia via continued research in a quest for new knowledge.

My most recent publications: 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1752928X19300216

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1752928X19301076 

My passion is for Sport Science which has led to additional interests incorporating Sports Psychology, Body Dysmorphia, AAS, Doping and Strength and Conditioning. 

Within these respective fields, I have a passion for Strength Training, Fitness Testing, Periodisation and Tapering. 

I write for numerous websites across the UK and Ireland including my own blog Strength is Never a Weakness. 

I had my own business for providing training plans for teams and athletes. 

I was one of the Irish National Coaches for Powerlifting, and have attained two 3rd places at the first World University Championships, 

in Belarus in July 2016.Feel free to email me or call me as I am always looking for the next challenge. 

Contact details below; 

Facebook: Andrew Richardson (search for)

Facebook Page: @StrengthisNeveraWeakness

Twitter: @arichie17 

Instagram: @arichiepowerlifting

Snapchat: @andypowerlifter 

Email: a.s.richardson@tees.ac.uk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-richardson-b0039278 

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew_Richardson7