I used to use ego lifting as an insult.
Some dude is loading all the plates onto a bar, and deadlifting with a rounded back?
Curling and putting his hips into it?
But now the tables have turned, and I am arguably the ego lifter.
I love to do a heavy lift for the gram.
Im happy to show off cool-looking stuff that doesnt reflect how I train most of the time.
What is ego lifting, anyway?
Colloquially, ego lifting iswhen you have a go at show off in the gym.
But my more cynical side sees it differently.
Sure, there are people doing unwise things in the gym.
Maybe youll get some ideas for your next workout.
But when you get out of your comfort zone, you learn something about yourself.
If you see somebody doing a weird or cool lift, give it a try.
Maybe youcando that thing you thought would be impossible.
And maybe you cant.
But when you try, you learn something about yourself.
The first time I deadlifted 135 it was because my husband asked me to give it a try.
Its good to do things you are proud of
There is nothing inherently wrong with showing off.
Every competition is an invitation for people to show off, and I dont just mean weightlifting or powerlifting.
Professional basketball players show off by playing in front of crowds instead of at their local park.
it’s possible for you to do things you are proud of, too.
If you run a race, just post a photo of yourself smiling at the finish line.
If youve built strength in the gym, go ahead and show us what that strength is good for.
If youve practiced a skill, show us all how your hard work has paid off.
I love this stuff.
(Im serious,tag me on Insta, I want to see it!)
Its good to do things you are proud of.
Its good to work toward doing things that youwantto be proud of.
Thats the nature of training, after all.
Youre pursuing a goal.
If you max out your bench press every week, your bench gains will plateau pretty soon.
Prioritize the long term over the short term.
Most days, you should just be putting in the work, the boring stuff that gets you stronger.
And on occasion, you could enjoy a little ego lifting, as a treat.
Hurting yourself in the gymis a lot harder to dothan armchair coaches like to pretend it is.
But all bets are off if you do something that is drastically different from what youve trained for.
Try new things, for sure, but be smart about how you approach them.
Consider whetheryouare proud of your accomplishments before deciding they are worth celebrating with others.
Its truly up to you to decide what youre proud of, though.
Just ensure youre prioritizing your goals foryourselfover what you want other people to think of you.
But I think that makes perfect sense.
Ego lifting is ultimately about yourself, and its valuable to think about what accomplishments you value and why.
Its up to you where you attach your ego.
