Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ms. Hamby
English 1101-19
October 5th, 2014
A Day In the Life: Gym Junkies Edition
Introduction
What is a gym junky? Another, more commonly known, name for a gym junky
would be athletic trainer or gym enthusiast. The operational definition of, said, gym
junky is one who actively participates in activities which enhance, define and strengthen
muscular ability in a gymnasium type setting, also known as a gym, ring, athletic club or
center, floor, pit, field house or recreation center. Gym junkies spend at least nine to 15
hours exercising each week. Weight training is an internationally known and popular
sport. This discourse community is one of incredible diversity simply because the only
thing you need is your body, a workout routine and a hardworking work ethic. One thing
the entire world can wholly agree on is that our health is one of the most important things
we have and lucky for us, athletic training is free. There is not often a certain political
leaning that is particularly prominent within this discourse community as a whole.
Occasionally, in more competitive sub communities there will be more of a conservative
standpoint rather than liberal, but ultimately, a community of athletes does not have a
particular political leaning. More often than not, you will find men are the predominant
sex within this discourse. Since men are commonly thought of as the stronger sex, it is
relatively unusual to find a woman practicing the same routines that men do (although it
is not unheard of). Gym enthusiasts range from but is not limited to the ages 12 years and
above (Hesson, James L). Although gym enthusiasm is recommended for all people of all
ages, most children dont partake in gymnasium type exercise until a post pubescent age.
The Gym Junky discourse is a broad community so, what makes up the gym junky
discourse community? The two most common or well known are weight training and
crossfitters. So, whats the difference between the smaller communities? What are the
similarities?
Methodology
For my research, I interviewed one person. My interview was with Jacob Starnes, a
first year student at UNC Charlotte. On the afternoon of September 24th, 2014 we sat in
the library and I asked a series of 25 questions all of which pertained to the gym junkie
community and his experience as a gym junkie. As expected, he had an aura of
confidence, he sat comfortably in the wooden library chair, rocking back and forth clearly
not worried about falling. I took notes by my laptop accompanied by the recorder
application on my IPhone. During our conversation Jacob answered my questions without
much hesitation; he knew exactly what he wanted to say proving he was a part of the
discourse community. During my observation I acted as a participant. I accompanied
three people to Belk Gym located on campus for about one hour. While observing I noted
several differences. They became more inclined to push themselves to fatigue and were a
lot more confident in the gym and in communicating with each other as well as other
athletes in the gym. Their personality changes almost entirely while they're in the gym. In
contrast, while observing crossfit gym members I noticed that a lot of more outwardly
people became focused on their own workout and did not interact much with anyone but
their team coach. Although cross fit is technically a team sport, it is primarily a sport for
personal health improvement and work ethic.
Analysis
The common goal of the gym junky community is to strengthen your muscles
and improve your overall health and flexibility. The goal is community wide, but the only
difference is the how the common goal is accomplished. For example, the main goal for
cross fit athletes is to push your body to the breaking point. Each time the breaking point
no longer challenges the body the athlete increases the intensity or weight and so forth.
For regular weight trainers the goal is to create a routine that meet the needs of ones
fitness and to use it continuously and on a schedule. Most often, members of the gym
junkie discourse communicate within the gym area. For people who want to follow other
gym athletes who are more successful or have created workouts that fit their fitness
needs. Gym junkies have created apps, message boards, Facebook pages and other means
of communication to share workouts, experiences and new ideas. Every category of
gymnasium athletes use the same means of communication and reasons for
communication. For example, my personal favorite mode of communication with the
gym junkie world is via an app called Spitfire Athlete. This is an app for women who
are looking for leadership and help with their workouts. It is a convenient way to see
what other women are doing and to keep track of the workouts you are doing.
Crossfitters dont usually communicate in terms of workouts; each cross fit gym has its
own coaches and everyday a new workout is given to the athletes. Each Crossfit gym is
Conclusion
Ultimately, the goals and values of each sub-discourse community are the same. A
few goals within the smaller communities deviate from the overall goals of the entire
discourse; one of the cross fit goals is to push the body and mind past thresholds that are
prevent athletes from achieving their personal goals. The basic jargon is different and
means of communication for the same reasons. Regardless of the small differences, the
gym junky discourse community follows the six guidelines for discourse communities.
Each community within the gym junky community also follows the guideline.
Citation Page:
Hesson, James L. "What, Who and Why?" Weight Training for Life. Tenth ed. Belmont,
California: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2012. 6. Print.
Interview Questions:
Jacob Starnes
1. Do you consider yourself a gym junky? yes, I spend between 7 and 14 hours in the
gym each week.
2. how do you exercise differently in different environments? Gym is mostly heavy
weights at home it is less intense. You use more of your body weight when you're not
in the gym.
3. could people with different goals or styles of exercise come into a gym and just go at
it like a gym junky? it depends on what their background is. before you go in you
have to learn things. But its easy to pick up.
4. Do you consider gym junkies to be a kinkd of community or group of people who
can relate to each other or even form relationships via their gym junky
status? absolutely, I've done it. a lot of the people in the do.
5. what language do you use in the gym that non gym users might not
understand? name calling to get something up, like getting swole yoke etc.
6. what do you think the definition of a gym junky is? an avid gym member. not in the
sense that they go sometimes, mores someone that has a passion for it.