What does Gym it mean?

We have been writing Gym it posts for a month now and it's just dawned on us that we have not explained what Gym it is, its origin and what it means to us.

Stephane:

Gym It, the phrase created over four years ago. It started as nothing but a sarcastic joke used to mock one another when brute strength was used in replace of skill (more times than not I was the one with the lack of skill). After a while this sarcastic joke slowly turned into motivation as we found that 'gyming it' turned into to be a metaphor for pushing boundaries and exceeding limits, which in turn grew into a way of life. Gym It.

Gym it, to me; is a way a life, a mantra. It’s the thing that I tell myself when I am working out on my own, two reps down, muscles burning, on my last set, feeling to give up but then determination kicks in saying “Gym it.” It’s the thing that Stef will say when I am on my last pull up, fingers, forearms and shoulders in pain, about to fail “what you doing? gym it!”. It’s what you say when you are in a situation and your out of logical answers so GYM IT and break through.

And this is what I want to share with the world, two words which convey optimism and confidence - always - jokes and banter so you can laugh at yourself because we live in a world where unconfidence is prominent and the aim for us to eliminate that and replace it with belief.

Stephan:

When I was in college, I was very active. From the gym to outside on the football field, I did a bit of everything. One phrase that was constant from the gym and throughout (although it was used as a joke) was ‘gym it.’ Lifting a weight you've never lifted before…. GYM IT. Throwing an American football as far as you can… GYM IT. Hitting the crossbar from the halfway line… GYM IT. Seeing the ping pong ball bounce at eye level for you to return… GYM IT. Throughout all of these examples, I never told you if it was successful or not. It just gave us the motivation to try.

Even outside of college and outside of sports and my active lifestyle the joke continued. How does gym it relate to that? Well imagine walking to the bus stop and watching the bus go passed you. Instantly you have two choices either admit defeat or attempt to run to the next stop and watch it. Because of my active lifestyle I'd always choose to run… well 95% at least. But as you run your friend would say to you “we're not gonna make that.”And my instant reaction was “GYM IT.” Playing an online pool game. “he plays this like he plays pool in real life. He GYM's every shot.” Even eating. You know them burgers that are so big you can't even for in your mouth. So big that they have to put one of those wooden sticks through it so it doesn't fall apart. You instantly assume that whoever has it on there plate aren't gonna finish that. Well when I look again and see the plate empty, I instantly go as if he GYM'd that burger.

From the college onwards the joke stuck. Using it in everyday situations as well as during my active lifestyle… But let me rewind a little… was it actually a joke?

In my sports it gave me the motivation to try harder. To push my limits and to abolish self doubt. In everyday life it gave me the motivation to combat self defeat before it had even begun. To push my limits in everyday life. So is it really a joke? Or is it motivation? Is it a way of life?

 

We want Gym it to be more than a phrase. We want it to be a lifestyle, a mind set. We want it to be everywhere sending out a message that depicts achievement and greatness. Nothing is impossible, when we believe in ourselves anything is possible. Gym it!

What is GYM IT to You?