A groundbreaking study released this week by the Midwest Center for Exertion Acoustics has confirmed what men at Iron Paradise Fitness in Kokomo, Indiana, have long suspected: a loud enough grunt adds an average of 40 pounds to any lift, as long as at least one other person is looking.
Researchers fitted 312 male gym members with decibel meters and found that 77.3% of their grunts occurred during the first warm-up set, with the loudest single noise, measured at 104 decibels, recorded during a seated calf raise using no weight at all.
“The grunt is how a man tells the barbell who’s in charge,” said lead researcher Dr. Troy Kessler, who conducted the study from the smoothie bar. “We did observe that the effect disappears completely in an empty gym, which suggests the weight itself may be shy.”
Study participant Brent Sowalski, 46, demonstrated the technique for reporters by curling a 15-pound dumbbell while producing a noise one witness described as “a moose losing an argument.” “That was basically a 55-pound curl,” Sowalski said, breathing heavily. “The extra 40 is internal.”
The study also identified a so-called “reverse grunt effect,” in which men lose roughly 60% of their perceived strength upon noticing a woman at the next rack lifting more than they are. Researchers found this happens at Iron Paradise approximately every 11 minutes.
That woman, gym regular Tasha Linwood, deadlifted 285 pounds for five clean reps during the study period without making a sound. Asked about her technique, she removed one earbud, said “I just breathe,” and went back to her set.
