In Genesis, it is said that "in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" and later that God rested on the seventh day in commemoration of his creation. Many people have told me before that I go to the gym like it's my religion and I have to say... it's hard to argue with them. A greater power has influenced me to shed light on how going to the gym is a religious experience in nine particular instances.
Let's crack the Gym Bible open and bask in the words... of Dom Mazzetti.
1. You worship people who are bigger and more powerful than you.
People go to church because they love and fear an all-powerful God. People go to the gym because they love and fear guys or girls who are bigger than them or those who literally look like Gods. We gymgoers look up to our bodybuilding and fitness idols for advice and inspiration, much like religious people look up to a greater power for guidance.
2. It involves somewhere to worship a diety(s) or greater power.
People go to churches consistently, see the same people, and work on bettering themselves. Lifters go the gym consistently, see all the gym bros and fit chicks and work on bettering their bodies. We go to our respective churches and gyms to better ourselves and to help others.
3. There's a divine potion dedicated to personal growth.
The Catholic church celebrates with breaking bread and drinking wine, and honor the sanctity of holy water. Lifters honor the lifting Gods with a cherished potion (preworkout) and consuming a meal (protein shakes, chicken and rice, etc.) after visiting church (the gym).
Forgive me father for these gains I'm about to receive.
4. You lose focus sometimes and commit sins.
Those of faith may lose sight of their religion. They lust or become greedy, two of the seven deadly sins. Lifters may lose sight of their gains as well. They cheat on their diets with a whole stack of brownies and too many calories, or they will halfway commit to their workout.
We must repent, aka workout twice in a day to make up for missing yesterday.
5. We can have a tendency to skip and make excuses.
You roll out of bed on Sunday morning and you're sick, so you skip church. Lifters roll out of bed and they are tired and sore, so they skip the day's workout. When other people ask where you were at, you construct a plethora of reasons as to why you weren't there instead of admitting you didn't have the grit to suck it up and go.
6. Your "religion" may restrict your diet.
Many religions prohibit certain foods, like pork or meat in general, in people's lives or people may choose to fast on certain days to show their devotion. Serious bodybuilders prohibit sugars and alcohol in their diets, as well as maximizing and minimizing particular macronutrients.
Additionally, lifters may reduce the amount of food they are eating in a cutting phase, much like fasting in a religious context. Eating clean applies to both types of religions here.
7. There is a single text that you visit over and over again for guidance.
The Holy Bible, the Quran, the Shruti, the Hebrew Bible... whatever your religion might be, you read from that text to pull purpose and meaning into your life. For lifters, we read fitness articles, follow our lifting idols' fitness plans and scour the internet for new exercises and lifting tips. Regardless of the religion, we all read to find the meaning.
8. Guilt is your motivation to commit.
A lot of people like to say they go to church because it makes them feel good and gives them inspiration, and although this may be true, others don't like to admit that it is guilt that motivates them. People go to church to ask for forgiveness because they are guilty.
The same can be said for the guys and girls who commit to a fitness and dieting regiment. We can all pretend that lifting heavy ass weight and eating cardboard chicken makes us feel good, but we're actually guilty about being lazy and eating poorly.
9. You debate with people who don't believe as you do and try to convince them to convert.
Religious wars have been around about as long as religion has itself. In today's society, much of Christianity is founded evangelistic practices and getting other people to see the way you do. Converting atheists to Christians, Christians to Muslims, etc... it's all part of the foundation of each religion.
Lifters come in all shapes and sizes. Powerlifters versus bodybuilders. Clean eaters versus weekend warriors. Gym rats versus crossfitters. All naturals versus injectors. Everyone is constantly arguing that the way THEY do things is better than the way OTHERS do things. And no matter what, they are never wrong when they are arguing.
I would continue on why lifting is a religion, but I have committed a swolly sin of skipping leg day and must go lift for forgiveness. Gainz be with you!
