Entering the gym as a beginner can be a terrifying experience for many. Foreign to weightlifting, beginners are unsure about proper form and what lifts they should attempt. The huge variety of choice does not make the decision any easier. The brave beginners, though, bite the bullet and move to the free weight section.[Source 1]

Beginning a new writing assignment parallels the experience of initially visiting the gym. When I begin to write, my head is filled with options and questions. How should I phrase my introduction? What sources should I use? What should I write about? I struggle, yet I dive straight into writing and create a draft. I am brave.

I approach the power cage. The location where many lifters deadlift and squat. The form of these lifts are crucial. Beginners often injure themselves by incorrectly attempting a weight that they cannot handle. To stay safe, lifters must remember to keep their core braced and back straight during a squat/deadlift.

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When I begin to write, I try to define my goal very clearly. Just like how there are specific locations to perform different lifts, there are specific writing styles for different purpose. If I try to complete my writing in one day, the final result of the writing would be horrendous. I allow stronger ideas to develop when I give myself more time to complete the assignment. The fundamental techniques of lifting can also be applied to my writing. When I start typing a paper, punctuation, sentence structure, and grammar are all consciously running through my mind. These fundamentals keep my writing strong.

Compound lifts are lifts that require multiple muscle groups to perform. Compound lifts also display the overall strength of the lifter.  A single weak muscle group can compromise compound lifts.  Lifters perform isolation lifts to strengthen these specific weak muscle groups.

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Compound lifts can be thought of as the major papers that I write. Major papers display the overall strength of my writing. They require application of the skills I have obtained through other writing assignments. I use critical responses as my isolation lifts. They strengthen the weakness in my writing and are excellent source of practice.

Building strength is not an over night process. You must continue to work and train each and every day. Even when your body is crying and aching from yesterday’s training, you must persevere. You will not see growth every time you go to the gym. It is when you take a step back after true dedication that you will see the fruits of your effort. Slowly and steadily, you’ll see yourself transform into a healthy individual.

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Becoming a better writer does happen over night either. You will want to quite and give up on a paper. It is important to keep trying, keep fixing your rough drafts, and keep utilizing your skills. Your growth as a writer is not quantitative. Soon, though, you may find that your writing is more concise, your ideas are more clear, and your style is more unique.

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Citations:

[1] Weight Room. Digital image. Complex. MeganKFitness, 17 Dec. 2014. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.

[2]Warrene, Steve. I May Not Be There Yet But I’m Closer Than I Was Yesterday. Digital image. Activerain. N.p., 27 Dec. 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.

[3]How To Squat: Layne Norton’s Squat Tutorial. Perf. Layne Norton. Youtube. Bodybuilding.com, 19 Mar. 2015. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.

[4]How To Deadlift: Layne Norton’s Complete Guide. Perf. Layne Norton. Youtube. Bodybuilding.com, 24 Sept. 2015. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.

[5]How To Bench Press: Layne Norton’s Complete Guide. Perf. Layne Norton. Youtube. Bodybuilding.com, 24 Sept. 2015. Web. 16 July 2015.

[6]Jamison, Jimi. Eye Of The Tiger. Survivor. Frankie Sullivan, 1982. MP3.