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Egos and Heroes

By Robert Morrison

The hero with the ego. I've seen it. And so have you. It's the one, the one that you aspire to be, the person that seems to make the most gains, win the medals, change their physiques dramatically. It's the person who can do no wrong, or can they?

There was a time, when I would go to the gym confused at my progress, looking for that fitness answer. Until that is, I analysed what was really going on. That however, was not until I had wasted many hours taking the advice of so called experts on the ground. The gym heroes. Then I stopped taking their advice, and educated myself on proper exercise application. Then I finally started making progress!

I bet there are thousands, possibly millions around the world who are still confused with their training. And they are often the ones who flock around the local gym hero. Yes he's Mr.Big, with the ego to match. The guy who has those arms that you would die for, the six pack you would try absolutely anything to get. Alternatively, it can also be the professional athlete that breaks the records or wins the game. Now, this is all fine and great for them, but what for the ordinary trainee on the street. These heroes are the ones doling out advice on the secret to their success. Quite often though, they are a victim of their own success! How? We'll when you progress more than others around you, there is often a scenario that they think they must be right, that no other method works. How could they be wrong? if they are so successful. Well try this:

  1. Most people who make exceptional progress are genetically gifted and would make progress on ANY routine. The cream always rises to the top after all!
  2. Most people in this scenario really don't know why or how they made this progress. Ask them for definitive evidence that a particular method resulted in great progress. Even better, ask them why they are choosing certain rep ranges and set quantities. If they can answer both, which is doubtful, they may actually know what they are doing! In some cases they do some regular routine, given to them by coaches. Others have simply read a muscle magazine and tried a random routine
  3. Success builds confidence and Ego. This always blunts someone's openness to try something new. So a training routine worked for them, it doesn't mean it will work for you or anyone else. It also doesn't mean that something else wont work better! Results are not optimum in many cases, even for the heroes.

The solution,

  1. Seek out the advice of an Experienced Personal Trainer, or if that isn't for you then...
  2. Seek the advice of the person who progresses most over a long period of time (no quick fixes which usually indicate substance use) AND uses a structured and detailed training plan. He/she probably won't have the ego, won't have the flock of hero worshippers around them. Most of all, when taking information from any other gym use always use this motto. Trainee Beware!

About the Author:

Robert Morrison is a Certified Fitness Clinician with the IART. He operates RM Health & Fitness in Cork, Ireland. He has been published in Synergy 2006 and is due to be published in Synergy 2007. He can be contacted via his website www.rmhaf.ie