So here's my gripe. I have been weightlifting and doing minor body building since I was 15. I'm now 21. I have been lifting for quite some time and even love it so much that I went into the field of pre-physical theraphy so I could work more with the body. What bugs me the most happens when I lift every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Rec Center. There are a rather large amount of boys that drive me crazy with the way they act in the weight room.

1. I know a lot about how the body works through my physical therapy classes, and I understand how to work certain muscles properly and how to get the right workout. Everyday I see kids who are doing exercises that make no sense and they are actually hurting themselves doing it. I don't care if it is what your high school football coach had you doing — it's still stupid to do it (which by the way, most football coaches have not even read a single book on strength training or understand the body). When I correct these guys, I get everything from resent to why is this kid saying this to me, who does he think he is? For once stop and listen if someone bigger than you offers their help, because they are bigger for a reason — they know what they are doing.

2. The weight room is a place to work out and do exercises, not a social gathering. I went through a whole workout of my back and shoulders before this group of boys even picked up a single weight. I watch kids walk around and talk and give dirty looks to people who are working out. Here is a hint, hypertrophy doesn't happen from standing around talking — pick up a weight and do something with it.

3. Working out is a tiring activity, you are going to sweat and clothes will get dirty. I always see this one boy who has his hair gelled and wears an Abercrombie & Fitch full attire with the sleeves cut off to expose his tiny little arms. It's also obvious that he tans about six hours a week. This kid walks around, does a few reps, checks himself out in a mirror and spends most of his time staring at the girls on the cardio machines. Don't be like this boy. The only thing I do with my hair on my head before I lift is shave it off. I just want to say to this guy if he would spend half as much time lifting as he did tanning, then he would have a little bit more muscle.

The above are just a few problems I see in underclassmen, but not everyone is bad. I have respect for the kids that do try, and the ones that even approach me and ask my advice on how to do a certain exercise. But please, if you want to socialize, show off your very feminine tan, or do all the exercises wrong, please, just stay back at your dorm — it's hot enough in the Rec Center.

This viewpoint was published in The Marquette Tribune on October 11, 2005.