The amount of weightlifting and people just going to the gym to work out has seen growth recently at FHC and in general.
Over the past few years, the number of gym goers has been increasing and is set to continue for many years. This is for a variety of reasons, such as social media and the benefits that are becoming more well-known.
US gym memberships grew 20% between 2019 and 2024, and more people at FHC are weightlifting at FHC than ever. Tristan Theron is one of these weightlifters.
“Monday I do push day, Tuesday I do legs, and Thursday back,” says Theron. “I train low reps with heavy weight.”
The main gym of choice for most weightlifting at FHC is the YMCA. This is because it is close, and it is a relatively nice gym. But after Crunch Fitness opened, more and more people started going there, because of either proximity or price, as it is cheaper.
A reason why so many people are going to the gym is the benefits for their mental health, which will be discussed later, and their physical health. A study found that having adults with around 200 minutes a week of physical activity can lower the risk of all causes of death by more than 20%.
For some students, the gym has become more than just about health and strength, but more about their daily routine. Theron has to say this.
“The gym isn’t just a place to get stronger and healthier. I found that training every day made me feel so much better,” says Theron. “If I’m having a bad day, and then I have a nice lift, I just feel amazing and accomplished. At first, going to the gym felt more like a task in my day, but as I got stronger and just in general got better at lifting, it turned from a task to the highlight of my day.”
Another big way that students are introduced to and continue weightlifting is through sports; the majority of sports have weightlifting in practice. Jack Porter is a kicker for the JV Football team.
“We have a lift on Friday where we just do some workouts. For football, we need to work out because it’s important to be strong for football, and these lifts make us stronger.”
Social media plays a big part in why Gen Z is going to the gym more than any other generation. Popular platforms for students at FHC, including Instagram and TikTok, promote and exemplify healthy habits, such as regular gym attendance. Teens are looking at influencers and being influenced to try out and continue their gym journey. Justin DiGennaro, an avid gym has a take on this.
“Seeing other people’s physiques can motivate me, ” says DiGennaro. “Seeing how much they lift also makes me want to train harder.”
A big reason why the gym is growing is the social side of going there. People, often teens, go to the gym with their friends and often have a lot of competitiveness between each other, which can encourage them to go more and to work harder when they go. Peers often hang out together at the gym, and it is one of the main ways that friends can hang out with each other outside of school. Justin has something to say about this.
“It’s fun to hang out with friends while being productive and not being on our phones. It is a good way for me to hang out with my friends after school while still being good for us in other ways, like being healthy.”
However, even though the gym is a great thing for anyone who goes there, there are downsides. Making gains at the gym takes time, and that time can be difficult for students who have to juggle the gym with both school and maybe a sport or a job. Tristan Theron has to juggle the gym with other activities.
“The gym can be pretty hard to balance some days, school already takes up half the day, then many people have to go to sports or other stuff, leaving little time to go to the gym,” says Theron. “I myself sometimes can’t get to the gym because I have many things to do throughout the day.”
Injuries are another thing that drives people away from the gym and is a big reason why students or parents may be hesitant to allow themselves or their students to go to the gym. Grayson Porter is one of these gym goers who has had injuries.
“I strained my trap muscles last year in strength and conditioning class. This was during my track season, so it really affected my ability to practice and compete,” says Porter. “It took me about 3 weeks to fully recover, and I’ve learned to stretch more before workouts to prevent injuries.”
