Have you ever found yourself looking around the gym, noticing phone tripods and pajama pants, and wondering, “Where the f**k am I?” If so, know this: you’re not alone. Trust me, there are thousands of people like you. You’re not a throwback, you’re not a dinosaur, and you’re definitely not obsolete. If any of these thoughts have crossed your mind, don’t worry—you’ve found the right place. Let’s get into this…
“Where the f**k am I?“
This thought runs through my mind as I look around the gym between sets and see people with tripods, filming themselves working out with light weights and throngs of kids in pajama pants—either blocking the dumbbells or idling around the equipment while glued to their phones. If these kids complete two sets in ten minutes, it’s an amazing feat.
Now, don’t get me wrong…
I’m all for the youth and the social media enthusiasts getting fit—I’m not against it in any way. But when I receive a stink eye for “walking through your shot” or I’m forced to wait 20 minutes for the only hack squat machine in the entire gym, I’m bound to get a bit perturbed. Odds are, you’ve seen this happen in your gym too. In fact, I’m willing to bet that if you’re reading this, you’re probably nodding in agreement.
This isn’t a localized problem…
It’s a worldwide epidemic.
What’s worse? They see US as the problem. They think we emit negative energy because we suffer under the iron in silence. They think we’re jerks or unfriendly because we keep our hoodies up and our hats pulled down over our eyes, and keep conversation to a minimum. “How many more sets do you have?” or “Are you using those dumbbells?” might be the only words we utter during a 90-minute training session.
Let’s be honest…
They think we’re assholes.
I get it. We don’t say much, we don’t smile often, and we really only take out our phones to change the music in our headphones. If I were a teenager or one of these bubbly influencer types, I’d probably think I was an asshole too. I can see how it might be intimidating to encounter someone, man or woman, dressed in a hoodie or a heavy metal cut-off tee, looking like they’re ready to destroy the world.
Obviously, we don’t want to destroy the world (well, most of us don’t)—we just want to get through our workout with as little distraction as possible. We’re not there to dance, we’re not there to film, or even to be seen—we’re there to work. We have a vision of what we can be, and we’re taking the necessary steps to turn that vision into reality.
Even more so, we know exactly what we need to do to reach our goals. We know that there are no shortcuts. It takes work, time, and sacrifice…
And the sacrifice can be the most painful aspect of chasing your dream.
Our goals and dreams are the reason we don’t hit the drive-through every night. They’re why we don’t stay out at the bar until 2 a.m.—because we know we’ve got to get up in the morning and hit legs. They’re why we miss the big game… why we spend a bit more on grass-fed beef rather than ground chuck…
They’re also why we don’t rush out to buy the newest Air Jordans, preferring instead to spend that money on protein powder and creatine.
We also know that anything worth having in this world is worth working for.
We understand the price we have to pay—and are willing to pay it, day in and day out. This price, a part of our journey, is part of the reward when all is said and done. For us, nothing is ever truly finished. We can always improve. We can always do better, from now until our bodies return to dust. There is no end…
And this is something some people will never understand.
We’re not punishing our bodies for likes, views, or comments. We’re not here to fit in with friends or to stand out. Given the choice, most of us would prefer an empty gym. We don’t need anyone to know our intentions or measure our progress.
We don’t need to take pictures. We know by how our clothes fit, by the weight we need to add to make the lift more challenging, and by the number on the scale that shows all our hard work and sacrifice are paying off.
That being said, I must admit…
I don’t mind getting the occasional sideways glance.
I don’t crave it, mind you—but every now and then, it’s somewhat satisfying to see a sea of pajama-wearing kids part as I walk through, like a pack of dogs parting to let the lone wolf pass.
If any of this resonates with you—if any of this rings true—let me just tell you: you’ve found the right place.
You’ve found the right community. The best part of this community is—we don’t even need to talk to understand each other. We don’t need to whine or complain to each other, nor do we need to have heart-to-heart conversations about what’s going on in our lives. We’re a tribe that supports each other—just by knowing that others like us exist. Sure, there may be fewer of us these days—but I also know we’ll never die out.
Each generation has people just like us.
When I see them at the gym, I don’t say a word and neither do they. We don’t need to. We recognize others of our tribe easily—because we’re the ones that stand out by not trying to fit in. Ironic, right? We see each other and exchange a nod—then get back to the quiet work that connects us.
Through the years I’ve spent under the iron, I’ve learned many lessons…
The biggest lesson was best articulated by one of my childhood heroes, the former lead singer of one of the greatest punk bands of all time, Black Flag—Henry Rollins.
He said, “I see them move from their offices to their cars and on to their suburban homes. They stress out constantly, they lose sleep, they eat badly, and they behave badly. Their egos run wild; they become motivated by that which will eventually give them a massive stroke. They need the Iron Mind.
Through the years, I have combined meditation, action, and the Iron into a single strength. I believe that when the body is strong, the mind thinks strong thoughts. Time spent away from the Iron makes my mind degenerate. I wallow in a thick depression. My body shuts down my mind.
The Iron is the best antidepressant I have ever found. There is no better way to fight weakness than with strength. Once the mind and body have been awakened to their true potential, it’s impossible to turn back.
The Iron never lies to you. You can walk outside and listen to all kinds of talk, get told that you’re a god or a total bastard. The Iron will always give you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in the pitch black. I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds.”
That’s right… the iron never lies to you.
Your boss may lie to you, your friends, your family, your spouse—even your kids might lie to you—but the iron never will. It’s the arbiter of truth, and in a world full of phonies and clout chasers, it’s crucial that we have something real that we can rely on.
Let the rest of the world wallow in lies and fakeness…
We’ll be the representatives of the truth…
We’ll be the iron’s avatars so the world still knows that REALNESS exists.
“The wolves knew when it was time to stop looking for what they’d lost, to focus instead on what was yet to come.” – Jodi Picoult
Editor’s Note: Are you one of the wolves? Are you an avatar of realness? If you are – then you’re one of those that stands out for not trying to fit in – and you’ve found your tribe. Not only have you found your tribe – but you’ve found your brand. Nutrex has always stood out by NOT trying to fit in. We never really cared about being “cool” – just real, building a reputation on innovation – not trends. We’re glad you found us… welcome home.
