Welcome to Houston

So, what do they say about Texas?

You guessed it. Everything’s bigger in Texas. A saying that I heard several times walking around the Houston Gym. Apparently, they really want Californians to know that. So, I promised I would come back and bring that home for them. I'll say it once more, just to make sure. Everything's bigger in Texas.

Now, that I fulfilled that obligation, how about we get to my experience with my Iron Brothers in Houston?!

I learned my lesson from Scottsdale and phoned ahead to speak with Matt in Memberships. This guy was awesome. He was very accommodating and extremely open to the experience. In fact, he let me know they would put me up with one of their big guys. This guy is a nationally qualified power lifter and very up for the challenge of putting me through a workout.

I definitely had a thought or two scurry across my mind that I had, perhaps, bitten off more than I could chew!

I arrived early Thursday morning and met up with a big, surly faced slab of meat that had his game face on. We exchanged some obligatory “you look goods,” and complimented each other in a vanilla sort of way that we could save face if the other kicked our ass. I had a nagging shoulder pain, but opted to not share it with John. I didn’t want to have any excuses and to John’s credit, he didn’t share any ailments with me.

I feel it is important to share any athlete, at any time, is probably in some sort of pain. Baseball players, football players, mma fighters, runners, tennis players, and definitely lifters have pain at any given time. But, that’s what makes a great athlete. Having the ability to listen to your body, understand your limits, and push through them regardless is what will differentiate you from your competition.

John, as my host, cordially allowed me to pick the body part. I politely encouraged him to pick the body part and lead the way, as he is the host and I’m a guest in his house. He inquired to what I had already done this week, and I give him the option of picking shoulders (please, no!) or legs. I had already been warned that I would be coupled with a NATIONALLY QUALIFIED powerlifter. So, I wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit to take him on in legs, either.

As a powerlifter would, he opts for legs and asks me to lead the way.

We walk over to the squat rack and I can tell, Thursdays, like Thursdays in all gyms all over the world, are shoulder days. So, we have the squat rack to ourselves. He gives nods to those around and I can see the smirk spread across his face. I stretch my quads and hams for a bit, while I see him hold court with some of the regulars. He introduces me to a few friendly faces and I smile and shake hands. He seems to have a lot of admirers.

Yeah? Well, me too, in my gym, Johnny.

John asks if it is okay if Kyle works out with us, but next to us, as he won’t be doing our weights. Of course, the more the merrier, Kyle.

I slap on a plate to each side (135 lbs) and begin my warm up set. Kyle smiles and asks if maybe he and I should share the same rack. Kyle’s got jokes!

John decides to wait until my second set when I add a second plate (225 lbs), to begin his warm up. We each power through 15 reps and I can feel the blood surge through my legs. I come up fast on the last rep and begin to see stars. I remember to pace myself, as I slap on the third set of plates (315). I push through 12 and see John has no issue keeping up. 405, we each hit 8 reps. I stretch my legs and add a 5th plate (495). Kyle’s jokes have gotten REALLY quiet! I push 8 out and see John’s face take on a new look of determination. He pushes 6, but between you and I, they were a shaky 6. I really felt that last set and if I was at home, I might have been considering stopping there.

I’m not at home. I’m in Houston, Texas. Things are bigger here, I hear.

I grab quarters this time to take me to 545 lbs. I feel every rep and am concerned my form falters a bit, but after squeezing 6 reps, I know I’ve started my legs well. John looks at me, looks at the rack, back to me and asks me to strip the quarters to take him back down to 495. I smile as I do so, but encouragingly tell him to “PUSH!” as he moves through his set. Between lifters...we both knew I won.

Kyle stands silently beside me as John works. When John gets through 3 shaky reps and I help him rack his weight, Kyle asks me how long I’ve been lifting and what I eat. I'm slowly stealing John's admirers!

John asks what we have next, and assures me he is game for whatever I throw at him.
By the end, we did squats, front squats, dead lifts, lunges, leg presses, leg extensions, stiff legged deads, and leg curls. John’s game seriously fell off and he went white halfway through. Three quarters the way through, he threw up. That’s when we lost Kyle. I dry heaved, but maintained composure. Kyle was sure we had some serious issues.

I came to this gym with some high hopes and I was not disappointed. John was a gamer and an a savage. Even after giving up his breakfast, he pushed through.

Houston Gym was a fantastic gym and an independently owned one. The staff was amazing and everyone was extremely hospitable. I fully endorse the gym and encourage anyone who is in Houston to go by and give them a try.

Having said that...this time, everything was not bigger in Texas!