Several years ago my friend Will introduced me to the ski movie Claim and it’s concept that team sport athletes consistently claim their achievements with high fives, fist bumps, group hugs, and signature dance moves; while skiers finish off an intense run or massive air with a cool shrug. No more! Claim that ski run!

I was thinking about this on my way to the gym yesterday knowing that I would be attempting an unassisted pull-up for the first time in years. I used to be able to do them. In fact, I still remember my first time. Does everyone else remember their first unassisted pull-up? It felt great didn’t it?

I got up to five unassisted in a row at one point, but in the last couple of years I put on a bit of weight and didn’t put in as much work in the gym. I’m not saying this as some trite “I fell off the wagon but now I’m back on it and you can be too” garbage. I’m saying this as an in addition to being a trainer, I’m also a human being and so my good and bad habits cycle in and out of my life in degrees over weeks, months, and years thing. Currently I am in a period of eating a bit better and working a bit more, and as it turns out there is one particularly pleasant side effect: I got to experience the awesome I can do an unassisted pull-up feeling again! In my opinion it’s the best feeling in the gym. In fact watching my clients accomplish their first unassisted pull-up is probably the best part of my job. We share big smiles and high fives upon completion, and everyone else in the gym also congratulates them. I’ve even thought about getting a major achievement bell for the gym for such occasions.

Despite being alone in the gym when I re-joined the world of the pull-up-able yesterday, I totally claimed my achievement…

I think those of us in the gym world should take a lesson from the movie and get excited about our exercise achievements. Claim that deadlift PR! Claim that first push-up from the floor! Claim that body weight squat! Claim that seventy second side plank!

Got an exercise achievement that you’re proud of? Share it! Anticipating an exercise achievement? Capture the after-feeling with an #ExerciseClaim selfie!

Elsbeth Vaino is a personal trainer in Ottawa, Canada.