The Day My Ego Lifted More Than My Body Could Handle

We’ve all been there — trying to impress someone at the gym.

You want to show your gym buddy (or gym crush) how strong you are, so you pile on more weight than you should.

You psych yourself up, crack open another preworkout mid-set, and somehow manage to get the weight up…only to feel a twinge in your back.

Uh oh.

I learned this lesson the hard way back in my college days.

I had a regular workout buddy named David who I hit the gym with 3–4 times a week religiously.

At first, it was great — we motivated each other, worked on form, and celebrated each other’s gains.

But after a few weeks, an unintended rivalry emerged. I wanted to lift more than him. He wanted to lift more than me. We pushed each other to up the weight each session.

One fateful shoulder day, David had just repped a new max and I wanted to prove to us both that I was getting stronger as well. With David’s unsolicited encouragement, I was “ready” to try for a new personal best. I got maybe 5 shaky reps in before a sharp pain shot through neck and right shoulder. I fought through the pain and completed my last rep.

Big mistake.

It wasn’t that bad at first. It felt like my neck and shoulder was simply sore. What I hadn’t realized at the time was that it created a chronic injury that would haunt me for years.

Not to mention that I was out of commission from working out for the next few months.

For what? All for an extra 45 seconds of feeling macho at the gym.

What did I learn?

Was it worth it? Heck no!

I learned soon enough that the gym isn’t about competing with others. It’s about being/doing your best without having to sacrifice your health and safety.

Ego simply has no place in the gym.

I had to learn the hard way to leave my ego at the door.

I hope you don’t make the same mistake that I did.

Take it from me. A few moments of glory is not worth risking your body and setting back your progress for months or even years.

Lift smarter, not necessarily harder!

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