Gym rats or should I say meatheads are just a few words to describe what most outsiders call the guys that workout at the gym 6 to 7 days a week. On the contrary, the titles that should be held under their names are dedicated, strong, healthy and smart young men. Many people are quick to judge the guys that hangout at the gym by their appearance because of their sturdy and macho built, but these guys are actually very smart for their addiction for a high maintenance health regime. I’ve rounded up a series of questions and sent it out to 8 guys starting from the age 19 to 25 and what they have to say is quite enlightening. While many people spend their time bad mouthing these guys, calling them names referring to how much time they spend lifting and the way they walk, the `gym rats’ are keeping their heart healthy, maintaining their blood pressure and getting all the double takes from the girls. According to the guys I have questioned, their motivation is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to be able to have more energy throughout the day. According to a wrestler from San Jose State University his motivation started when he was quite young, “My step father worked out a lot, and he set up some weights for me. As I got older and kept working out, I found it made things in life easier, I had more energy, and it was easier to move around” (Brandon Homrighausen) As for a soccer player from Evergreen Valley College, he quotes, “My motivation towards going to the gym is so that one day I’m fit enough to play on a professional soccer team, the "Earthquakes".”(Eddie Esquibel)So you see these young men are not going just for the OH’s, AH’s kind of attention but they are going so they can feel good about themselves not only on the outside but inside as well. When asked if they were addicted to the gym many of them said that they had started a fitness routine at a young age so working out wasn’t quite an addiction, it was a way of life. They are the hard core one’s, they own weight lifting gloves, wrist wraps, shakers, blenders, whey protein mixes and more. They push themselves almost every day for that intense level of satisfaction while striving to be the biggest and the best. As one can tell, competition also plays a major factor in this health regime they have going. Mike Martinez another wrestler from San Jose State University exemplifies this when he says, “I feel cruddy when I don’t get a workout every day. I also feel like I’m falling behind knowing that my opponent will probably be working out hard.” Moreover, when asked for reasons for working out Esquibel states, “I want to stay in shape & I like the feeling. Also, I play soccer so I want to me better than everyone else.”
#When I asked these guys about their eating habits and whether or not they were cautious about what they eat I realized that these guys don’t mess around. They don’t just go work out then come home and relax and eat cupcakes not worrying about their abs. They have diet plans! They make their own protein shakes, they take vitamins, and they memorize grams of protein in cans of tuna and chicken. They really are their own nutritionists, “I eat lots of eggs, chicken, tuna. I drink lots of non-fat milk” (Homrighausen) “I will try and consume as much grams of protein as I weigh so 150 grams of protein a day; I stopped drinking sodas and eating junk food. I have only one day a week where I can eat whatever I want I usually have that day on a Saturday since I don't work out that day.” (Esquibel)
Before interviewing I actually had the mindset that these guys were just doing it to get attention and that they were completely full of themselves. For example, I would see guys at my local gym bench pressing with tiny tank tops and making grunting noises during there last rep. It was hard not to question their intentions. All in all I have come to realize I was once one of those outsiders who only made judgments based on their appearance. The amount of respect has definitely increased compared to my initial thoughts. Learning how to build and shape your body is not an easy task, by learning more about supplements and how your body digests and handles different food they are able to sculpt themselves into what they want. Determined and eager to perform their best is always on their mind so even if it means eating on a strict diet or pushing themselves to do one more or like Martinez does, mutter, “‘cmon cmon’” to himself while lifting they will do it.
