Weights are Honest

This weekend I was lifting and thought about something...The weights tell you where you stand. They don't lie, they don't lighten up when things are tough, they don't go away. They are there when you want them and they will be 100% honest with you about where you stand and what you are capable of in that moment. There is something special about the relationship we have with the weights.

I couldn’t agree more.

The weights are honest, but are you honest with yourself? Once you start ego lifting with bad form it’s game over. You can’t progress. If you half squat with 405 for 3 reps you will never get stronger on a real squat. Maybe if you swallow your pride and you are real with yourself, your max is actually 345. If you continue on from there then you’ll make progress. Weights, mirrors and video are honest. Your partner, if you have one, needs to be honest too or they’re just useless. The point of having a partner is to make each other better, not to allow each other get away with BS.

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Originally Posted by Cellardweller

The weights are honest, but are you honest with yourself? Once you start ego lifting with bad form it’s game over. You can’t progress. If you half squat with 405 for 3 reps you will never get stronger on a real squat. Maybe if you swallow your pride and you are real with yourself, your max is actually 345. If you continue on from there then you’ll make progress. Weights, mirrors and video are honest. Your partner, if you have one, needs to be honest too or they’re just useless. The point of having a partner is to make each other better, not to allow each other get away with BS.

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100%

Beano you might enjoy giving this a read, if you haven't already

https://www.oldtimestrongman.com/art...henry-rollins/

"It took me years to fully appreciate the value of the lessons I have learned from the Iron. I used to think that it was my adversary, that I was trying to lift that which does not want to be lifted. I was wrong. When the Iron doesn’t want to come off the mat, it’s the kindest thing it can do for you. If it flew up and went through the ceiling, it wouldn’t teach you anything. That’s the way the Iron talks to you. It tells you that the material you work with is that which you will come to resemble."

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Originally Posted by Gooners85

Beano you might enjoy giving this a read, if you haven't already

https://www.oldtimestrongman.com/art...henry-rollins/

"It took me years to fully appreciate the value of the lessons I have learned from the Iron. I used to think that it was my adversary, that I was trying to lift that which does not want to be lifted. I was wrong. When the Iron doesn’t want to come off the mat, it’s the kindest thing it can do for you. If it flew up and went through the ceiling, it wouldn’t teach you anything. That’s the way the Iron talks to you. It tells you that the material you work with is that which you will come to resemble."

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Fucking A...thank you for this. Not only do I love me some Rollins but this speaks to me. There are so many gems in this. I am sure they will continue to resonate in my mind as I kill arms tonight. Thank you Brother...much appreciated

Honesty with yourself is surprisingly (at least to me) uncommon in so many gym goers. Maybe it is something that came about for myself from years of competing, but being able to accurately assess where your lifts are is an integral part to making a plan for your future training.

Everybody has an ego about their lifts to varying degrees. However if you can't accept that your lifts suck, then you won't have any reason or drive to get better.