英國倫敦的Gymbox體育館最近推出了一項奇特的「人體啞鈴」鍛鍊項目，這些啞鈴不再是冷冰冰的金屬，而是幾個不同重量的大活人，其中包括兩個30公斤重和55公斤重的侏儒。據悉，當健身愛好者在體育館中進行鍛鍊推舉「人體啞鈴」時，這些「人體啞鈴」還會大聲鼓勵他們：「將我舉得更快些！」或者說：「你做得太棒了，看看你那些結實的肌肉！」


這些「人體啞鈴」中包括兩個侏儒：體重30公斤的32歲女子亞蒂·夏爾和體重55公斤的64歲男子邁克·愛德華茲。而對於那些肌肉強健、需要更重「人體啞鈴」進行鍛鍊的健身愛好者來說，37歲的「人體啞鈴」馬特·伯納德顯然不會讓他們失望，因為他體重高達155公斤！據悉這些「人體啞鈴」身上都穿著彈性纖維製成的緊身連衣褲，衣服前胸和後背上除了印有該體育館的名稱外，還印著他們各自不同的體重。

GYMBOX launches recruitment drive for human weights machines

With unemployment figures on the up and doom and gloom an everyday part of the job market, a gym chain popular with celebrities is bucking the trend in a most unusual way by employing five new members of staff as human weights. The 30% increase in the workforce is down to the launch of a new piece of weight training apparatus, the only one of its kind in the world, that uses real life people instead of dumbbells, being launched in GYMBOX’s new gym in Bank, EC1.

The human weights, which enable users to flex and curl by ‘pumping’ human beings, which will be available from 19th January in GYMBOX Bank, are being introduced to motivate gym-goers by allowing them to visualise what they are lifting. Experts in sports psychology agree that visualisation is a significant factor in improving performance and human weights are as visual as it can get.

The human weights are the latest in a long line of unusual initiatives from GYMBOX, who’s users include the likes of Orlando Bloom and Christian Slater. The gym were famous for introducing Boob Aerobics to the UK (the workout that can help increase bust size), Chav fighting (self defence for the modern world) and the WAG workout, a course on how to look every inch the trophy footballers wife (instructed by a real-life WAG).

Unlike regular dumbbells, the human weights will come with an optional ‘motivation feature’ where each human weight will shout words of encouragement to ensure muscles are worked to the max, at the gym goer’s request. Otherwise they will just keep quiet and keep still as they are lifted.

Members of GYMBOX simply need to select their preferred human weight and then they will position themselves on a machine that has been specially constructed for the purpose. They can then begin their work out. The apparatus has been built to provide a human weight work-out for the entire body but specifically muscle groups in the arms, (bicep, tricep and forearm), shoulders (deltoids) and back (trapezius, latissimus dorsi and spinal erectors).

The humans will be available in the following weights, with a 25-stone (155Kg) ‘Super human’ option available for those willing to take up the challenge:

The Dainty Diva: Arti Shah, 32, Middlesex – 30Kg (66.1Lb, 4.7 stone)

The Micro Male: Mike Edwards, 64, Middlesex – 55Kg (121.2Lb, 8.6 stone)

The Main Man: Ben Bidmead, 23, London – 65Kg (143.3Lb, 10.2 stone)

The Fine Female: Tracey Caswell, 42, Teddington – 75Kg (165.3Lb, 11.8 stone)

The Well ‘Ard Woman: Jo Rollin, 49, Reading – 85Kg (187.3Lb, 13.3 stone)

The ‘Super Human’: Matt Barnard, 37, London – 155Kg (341.7Lb, 24.4 stone)

GYMBOX instructors will be on hand to compare the performance of members on the human weights machine measured against more conventional weight lifting equipment.

Richard Hilton, the owner of Gymbox which also has branches in Covent Garden and Holborn, said: “Creating a mental image or intention of what you want to happen or feel is proven to improve physical and psychological performance. The human weight lifting apparatus we have installed here at GYMBOX is the ultimate embodiment of visualisation theory. We’re going to closely monitor the performance of our members and are optimistic that they will see better results from their work outs with our new human weight machine than they have seen with normal equipment.”