Are You a Gym Rat?

There seems to be a lack of deaf/hh people who enjoy going to the gym and work with the weights. After all obesity is a serious issue in America and more people do not take the time to exercise. A sad fact. But for those who do workout they don't exactly advertise that fact over the internet and I wonder why. Maybe it's because they are insecure talking about it? They don't want to spend the time to discuss weightlifting or other similar sports (e.g. strongman, powerlifting, bodybuilding competitions, etc) or share tips? Or perhaps they feel it's not worth talking about it because of the perception of not enough deaf/hh people like to exercise with weights and many are not really that serious (ie gym rats) in the first place.

There are two kinds of people who work out using weights. One is generally interested in keeping fit using weights and cardio to help tone the body, reduce bodyweight and achieve the ability to climb the stairs without passing out. And to use the gym to socialize. The other kind are the ones who are interested in going just beyond fitness either to add bulk to their size and/or strength. Typically those in bodybuilding aim for size, density, and definition. Though they are strong but are in a different class when compared to a power lifter or strongman/woman.

Ok. You're wondering what's a gym rat? Well, it's somebody who constantly go to the gym to work out at least several times a week, even going twice a day. As for me, I don't see myself as a "gym rat" per se nowadays. I did when I was younger. But I only work out about 5 days a week with the weekends off. Sometimes it's 4 days a week even though I'm known to get intense in my workouts. But if that makes me a gym rat, so be it.

I do believe there are deaf/hh people out there who really do enjoy working out with weights at the gym and get their nirvana high workout burn. And then there is the question of why there are very few forums dedicated to those who are deaf/hh and like to workout with the weights? Few have tried to start a forum specifically on working out with the weights but they have largely gone to the wayside and discontinued or show very little activity due to the lack of interest such as Deaf Weightlifting or Deaf Strength. The lack of interest certainly does raise a lot of questions. Perhaps with the increase interest in Matt Hamill's UFC fight will we find more deaf/hh people flocking to nearby MMA gyms and start exercising? Who knows?

The irony in this day and age is that we can blog or vlog to our heart's content on any subjects including weightlifting, bodybuilding, powerlifting or even strongman/woman topics. A platform to discuss weightlifting or gym exercise tips, information, and knowing which gym rat we have out there. For a deaf community who likes sports, there seems to be a shortage of these deaf/hh people who are hidden away, fearful to come out from the shadows and say, "Yes, I'm a gym rat."