As a lifelong bilingual, I think in two different languages. It’s hard to explain, but if I’m speaking Spanish, I don’t think in English and translate in my mind; I somehow just think in Spanish. It’s like my brain has two sections for language and I can just use one or the other. The same thing does not occur when I try to use the kilogram plates at my gym.
The gym has two styles of racks: a full power rack and a squat stand. Along one wall are four power racks, and mounted on that wall are the KG plates in all their colored glory. On the opposite side are three squat stands, and the plain black LB plates adorn that wall. I prefer using the racks, so if one of the four is open when I arrive, I set up shop there. I am then faced with a dilemma: use the KG plates that are so tantalizingly close, or walk across the gym and back carrying the LB plates. It’s really not much of a dilemma as I’m too lazy to walk back and forth carrying heavy plates, so KGs it is. However, I think in LBS. I can’t look at the KG plates and just think in KGs. I have to do the conversion in my mind. I know a KG is roughly 2.2 LBS, but if I put 30 KGs on a 20KG barbell, I don’t know how much I’m lifting! How much is 50KG? Well, it’s 50KG. But my brain won’t accept it and has to know how many LBS that is.
It’s quite fascinating for me to consider. I know that 100 KG is 220 lbs, but why do I make the conversion? When I’m speaking Spanish, I don’t think about the sentence I just spoke and convert it to English! I am curious to see if I ever reach the same point and my mind will develop a KG section and a LB section. I have my doubts, but at least I’m starting to remember the combinations of plates and don’t have to use my conversion app for every set. I mean I do, but I almost don’t have to.
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