Before I begin, I feel like I need to address the controversy behind the “#Fitfam” stigma that is now popular among the 20-somethings of today. Most members of the “#Fitfam” are often college students who go to the gym exactly one week before school vacation with the delusion that they are going to get in the best shape of their lives within seven days. During this time, five-to-10-lb. dumbbells are nowhere to be found, usually because a group of five to 10 girls are hiding with them behind a wall somewhere because they’re (not admittedly) afraid of being judged for doing 10 diddly squats and then chugging a protein shake that they know nothing about. Don’t get me wrong, I applaud the effort. I do, however, lack sympathy for people who are all high and mighty because they followed someone on Instagram or watched a few YouTube videos. Those people are actually really offensive to those of us who view fitness as a lifestyle, not a passing fad. That being said, let me tell you why fitness is so important for the soul, not just the body.

First and foremost, the gym is one of the only places where you cannot be someone that you are simply not. You cannot fake how strong you are. You either pull the weight, or you don’t. You either bring the bar back up or you drop it; this in itself is a life lesson. You have to be honest with yourself. You have to curl what you can curl until it's time to curl heavier. If you want to succeed, you have to put in the work. Goals will never be achieved without patience and persistence.

Not only is it impossible to lie about your strength in the gym, it is impossible to move faster than you are physically capable. If you cannot maintain good form and a full range of motion, then you aren’t ready to move on. Just like with school, if you cannot solve a problem without help, you won't be able to ace your exam.

You will learn to remain humble. If you cannot lift as heavy as the person next to you, it is OK. You learn that being discouraged is not what is going to help you progress. Swallow your pride, drop a few pounds, and try again. Lifting weights can fill a multitude of voids in your life, as well as teach you that not all holes need to be filled. Learn to channel every ounce of your being into the pull; once you pick it up, you have earned the right to let go, savor the sound of iron hitting the floor below you. Feel the ground tremor below your feet, and live your life in the same way that you move the iron.