If you’re lucky enough to land here before you post at your first workout, there’s a few pro tips you should heed for a successful experience. If you’re reading this after your first workout, that means you didn’t die, and you’re probably coming back. We’re glad you’re here.
Lexicon
For FNGs, the swirl of inside lingo and jargon used at your average F3 workout can be a bit confusing, but don’t let it intimidate you. Like, for instance, “What’s an FNG, and why do people keep calling me that?” By the way, FNG stands for Friendly New Guy, or something like that.
Common lexicon we use on a daily basis:
- 2.0: Your kids
- AO: Workout location
- Backblast: Workout recap
- Beatdown: Workout
- Coffeteria: Post-workout gathering
- Coupon: Cinder block
- HDHH: Hump day happy hour
- M: Your wife/significant other
- Pax: You, a member of F3
- Post: Show up for a workout
- Q: Leader of each workout
- SYITG: See you in the gloom
- TClaps: Triple claps (in admiration)
- YHC: Your humble correspondent
- HC: Hard Commit
Note: There’s a LOT of specific terminology in our Lexicon. Don’t let it overwhelm you. You’ll catch on quick. It’s easier than learning Pig Latin or html code.
Exicon
We call “normal” exercises ridiculous names. For example, push-ups are “Merkins.” Call ‘em push-ups and you might have to do a few extra Merkins. Seems fair, right? Trying to make sense of what your body just did? Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it!
Note: You are not expected to know every exercise by name, but you’ll learn a lot of them over time. Pro tips for your first few Q’s: 1) Search for exercises in batches according to their “tag.” 2) Pick a word, e.g. “STRONG,” then theme your workout around exercises that start with each letter of that word.
Your First Q
F3 is peer-led. We’re building leaders, not followers. As soon as you’re comfortable, step up, and lead us, too. We like to see everyone Q at least two workouts per month. The first one’s always a little rough around the edges, but that’s okay—it’s how we become sharper.
The dialogue below is how we call exercises. No shame in fumbling, but expect pax to hold us accountable. That’s how we all get better.
Note to Qs: Use your OUTSIDE VOICE so pax can hear you. And, be prepared to give demonstrations on everything you instruct. Just because you know the drill doesn’t mean everyone else does. Lead by example.
Q: The next exercise is __________.
Pax: __________ [acknowledge by repeating said exercise]
Q: In cadence [or] On your own. If in cadence, practice your count in advance. Unless you prep pax before the exercise, your count/pace should be at a 3 (on a scale of 1-5). If you push too fast without warning, pax can have a tendency to cheat form (and risk injury) in order to keep up.
Pax: __________ [acknowledge by repeating “In cadence” or “On your own”]
Q: Starting position, move. [allow pax time to get into position]
Pax: Get into position
Q: Exercise!
Q: If in cadence, Q counts movements or gives specific direction (e.g., if SSH, Q counts 1, 2, 3, or if Merkins, Q says, “Down”)
Pax: Count reps out loud so everyone knows where we’re at.
Q: If in cadence, INFLECT voice on last exercise so pax know when to HALT.
Pax: If in cadence, you should hear Q’s voice INFLECT on the last rep. Instead of counting that last rep as a #, speak up and announce, “Halt!”
Rinse & Repeat
Q Source
Leadership is a skill that a person must learn and master during their lifetime rather than an attribute of their character with which they are born. Use F3’s Q Source as a resource for the timeless principles of leadership and their effective application in our workouts and lives.