What Fuels Your Workouts?

[firestorm]

I started training for football. I don't believe anger ever entered my mind. I just wanted to be the best ball player. Bigger and stronger then the guy on the other side of the line. so the adjective I'd have to choose would be "neccessity". Later in life after football, my training was altered for my military career. I trained for conditioning and my body was nothing more then a tool of my trade. My goal was to ensure that when I needed to carry a wounded man a mile on my shoulders if neccessary that the strength and stamena were there. If I needed to run 5 miles to an extraction point carrying weapons and equipment that I'd be able to do so and even shoot over my shoulder if required. My thoughts while training were to be a machine. Later I got into bodybuilding and goal was be bigger then the compition. My training partner was a professional bodybuilder so thought processes that assisted me were competitive. 1 more rep then partner on this and 10 more pounds on bench then he just did and so on. Now I train to just stay healthy and fit, add a little muscle in the process. When I walk in the gym now my thought processes are moreso, ok lets get this done then go and clean the bathrooms.

 

[nanook]

I have a theory which is everyone who is self concious of something has an addiction to something directly related. I am self concious of my body and I love to eat. I am trying to get over this self concoius thing. Also I love the pain the next day where it hurts to walk. also a given is the girls

 

[Flex]

Originally posted by nanook
I have a theory which is everyone who is self concious of something has an addiction to something directly related. I am self concious of my body and I love to eat. I am trying to get over this self concoius thing. Also I love the pain the next day where it hurts to walk. also a given is the girls

BB's are prob. the most self conscious people there are. We see ourselves as too skinny/fat and want to change that. Therefore we eat only good foods, kill ourselves in the gym, and all the other good BB stuff.

But hey, at least its a good addiction....

 

[firestorm]

5 points to flex for that answer.
Flex quote:
"But hey, at least its a good addiction...."

 

[Dante B.]

If anger is your sole fuel of desire, either you will force yourself to be pertually discontent, or you will expire once you achieve happiness.

For me, it's a constant reminder that I have many options, and many paths to choose from. It's a way of living, thinking and being that is relevant to my life as a whole.

Success in this area, if I choose to see the connections (consistently, if not constantly), is a reminder that success is achievable in all other pursuits if I hunt them with the same drive. There are ups, downs, times when everything flows together, and moments where everything falls apart.

If you stick with it, and still manage to progress, irrespective of your circumstances ("genetics," injuries, so on), making the best of it without making excuses------it's spectacularly inspiring and soothing.

That, and the post-workout high is more profound than any drug-induced rush imaginable. Part chemical, part consciousnes---knowing that unlike a person who smoked a bowl (and I do love weed), but never actively pursues their high, you earned the euphoria.

Some additional thoughts here:

http://www.avantlabs.com/magmain.php?issueID=9&pageID=26

Not happy with the article as a whole, and this was done over a year ago (and I'd certainly make changes if doing it again). But the In Extremis segment basically sums it all up (for me at least).

Anger will only get you so far, and it is useful if managed and channeled. But, it is ultimately limited in its applications, and it cannot replace the true love of something.

 

[PreMier]

I BB because I love it. Like Dante says, "the post-workout high is more profound than any drug-induced rush imaginable."

I wish Dante were still around.

 

[target99]

I began lifting weights seriously this past september in my freshman year. I lifted alittle bit in hs for football but never quite enjoyed it @ all..I hated it. I also loved to run a lot, bc im self concious of my body which meant that i would be skinny. But one day, one of my friends called me a "skinny fuck." I was quite offended by this and those 2 words gave me inspiration and made me wanna get big and prove him wrong. I also wanna get big bc it gives me more self confidence, and i saw all big guys gettin girls so i wanna get some girls too. But now i love weightlifting to the maximum. I feel i am doin something productive in my life compared to other pple who do shit like just watch tv and relax. Also i love the compliments that pple give me by sayin i got bigger. THat is why i got into weightlifting!

 

[CowPimp]

I started because it seemed more interesting than regular physical education in high school. I was amazed at the amount of strength I gained in 9 weeks of training. Later on, my motivation was to lose weight, which I did successfully. Once I lost weight and started to get some pussy I lost my motivation and got lazy. Recently, I started again because a friend of mine started lifting and made a whole lot of progress. It inspired me.

I got back into lifting, and remembered how much I loved it. I really enjoy weight lifting. Also, I am an anxious person and I release a lot of nervous energy in my workouts. It makes me feel better, look better, have more confidence, and even stimulates my appetite in a better way. I eat a lot healthier simply because my body craves nutritious food.

 

[twizted110]

i guees you could say for me that its outta the fact that i get alot of people saying that i'm obsessed with training and the way i look and blah blah blah. thats one reason that makes me wanna keep on going back. that and i know every time i step in the gym i'll come out a little stronger. but i will admit i use the all the anger and stress that builds up through the week to help keep me going and to help me get those few extra reps in.

 

[Flex]

Originally posted by PreMier
"the post-workout high is more profound than any drug-induced rush imaginable."

ain't that the truth. you should see what's its like on juice

 

[plouffe]

I wanna be the baddest mother around. I wanna be huge, I wanna be strong. I want people to be scared of me, and plus I want pussy.

 

[Phred]

Well most of the reasons are selfish. For one, I am an introvert. It is how I recharge my batteries, working out in my garage by myself. When I travel for work and workout in a gym, I do onot talk to folks. I just go in and lift weights. I am not there to socialize. Weight lifting is one thing I can do well. You can measure progress and you are competting with yourself. I am not gifted at many sports and I have always been able to do well in strength area. I also want to look better and my perception of a healthy male is to have low fat and muscle. Skinny is anemic (sp).

Phred

 

[DFINEST]

Muscle is sexier than bones and....
A woman that I cared deeply about DUMPED me and...

The addiction of seeing my body surpass
previously never before thought of feats
of fitness (strength, agility, endurance) and
how I rarely never get ill as I always see
others getting sick, get injured because
stressing their usually inactive body, and
I like the way my clothes fit me

 

[DFINEST]

Firestorm buddy, I'm with you as far as being fit
while on active military duty...
Nothing pissed me off more that seeing people unable to complete a physical fitness test.....

In the Army, you had 2 minutes to do a minimal of
40 push ups, 40 sit ups,
and 18 minutes to complete a 2 mile run....

I far exceeded this standard because I knew we were
in the WAR business and I wanted to be able to do my mission
with my equipment on my back and to be able to help a fallen soldier in any situation.

 

[mervin]

My working out started with love for my wife and three kids. I have a history of heart disease in my family and everyone had a H. A. before the age of 40. I wanted to be responsible and be around for my wife and kids. I started just doing cardio and then thought why not start throwing the iron around since I was already in the Gym. Now i work out for my family, because I want to look good and I just like the way i feel.

Mervin

 

[Fitgirl70]

This really is a good question.

First and foremost for me -- my health. My family has a rather large history of heart disease and obesity......how I ended up the only one with ONLY high cholesterol is unknown to me.

Secondly, to be the best I can be and look the absolute best I can. So I guess you could call it half pride, half ego!!

 

[22"bi's]

HATE

towards who...i dunno....

almost everyone i think....

 

[aztecwolf]

metallica is my energy source, ride the lightning baby
but to be real it is the challenge for me, i don't have the anger/rage thing going don't need that stress, i just like to challenge myself to go to levels i have never been. the worst thing i believe someone can say about you is that "you are normal" always strive to be greater then normal, i mean who wants to be average challenge yourself to be the best

 

[Vieope]

Ego/Vanity/Pride. The reason is in this scope.

 

[Akateros]

Not anger. Not really vanity, either, for all that I am presently training for comp.

There is no one lifting but me. I am my own test. Each time is a dare -- can I? lift harder, higher, more? The muscle is the visible sign of my strength.

That's what I want, strength, roots. I want to know that my body will do what I ask. I want to ask more, and do that.

It is a quiet adventure for me. I'm a lone warrior in my basement.

 

[165r]

I'm no body builder by any stretch of the imagination. Never will be. But I love walking downtown with my daughter and hot ass wife biceps a blamo, shades on, and confident that I could take out any mofo that wants to f with me.

I hate that about me but this is an unavoidable biproduct of weight training. God hates vanity.

I guess this all goes back to my freshmen year in HS when that one asshole f'd with me everyday. Well I'm 32 now and that shit doesn't happen to a 32 year old man. But maybe this is my indirect revenge, I see that guy now and he's a sad fat old looking dude.
Whatever fuels you, be it confidence, vanity, health, keep it in check because you will be judged by every deed one day.

 

[Diesel]

thats the same reason i started firestorm was for football. i guess u could put me in the hope catagory though. i live in a really behind the times shit hole town and i started to lift weights for football so i could get really good and get out of this godforsaken town and make something of myself cause if u have big dreams this place is not the town ull be able to fullfill them in.

 

[Spitfire]

Simply I just like to see myself change for the better. Really when I look in the mirror and I see that line or cut or see mass where there was none before, that is the greatest feeling. When people say have you been working out, or when females walk by and smack into a pole cuase they were not looking where they were going, I love that, well except for when they hit the pole or something like that, then I feel bad, but hey thats not my fault.

 

[camarosuper6]

Carbs fuel my workout

 

[glassman]

I'll tell ya what got me into it. Basically it is anger. Alot of people seem to think that they are big shit and they are not. So I'd like to be bigger and badder than them. Also its for my wife. I'm sure she'd like a more muscular me. I remember a so called friend of mine was saying that I'd better put some meat on or my wife may leave me for someone more...desirable. I know deep down thats not true. But it really pissses me off. Another time I needed a few more weights so I went down to the local "Play it again sports" where they have a whole assortment of that. And as I was walking out the door with them, I already paid for them at that time mind you, the asshole owner (who is quite a big guy...but more fat than anything) pinched at my bicep and made some stupid comment (I cant remember what). You know what I'm talking about. So yes health , being strong and looking good is a major factor. But the main reason is to be a big bad mofo when I go to jail for beating the living tar out of the people who have done me wrong. LOL Just kidding about the jail bit...but I can fantasize cant I?

 

[glassman]

Oh I forgot also I love the after feeling! Beats drugs! And way to go 165r!!! I wanna stand outside and scream "YeeHa" fer ya. I think I will!

 

[Little Wing]

bump. i noticed the what made u start working out thread n remembered this one. both are great threads.

i like feeling healthy n strong but have to admit looking good is my main motivation, think that ties in to hope and love.

 

[KentDog]

Being angry or stressed out sometimes helps my workouts. Or looking forward to going out with a special someone later in the week or just looking good for a certain event coming up (spring break, summer, etc.). When at the gym and doing cardio, girls watching makes me step it up, too.

 

[Yanick]

weight training is the love of my life. no other way to put it. It has helped my life in more ways than i can even count, i don't know where i would be if i had never begged my parents to by me a bally's membership when i was a fat fuck. i love looking back and seeing the incredible progress i have made, psychologically and physically. it is all thanks to lifting.

certain events in life, like girl problems, fuel me for a limited amount of time but in the end it all goes back to me being in love with it.

that and i want to be an insanely big and strong guy, i want to deadlift cars for fun when i'm drunk with my buddies.

also there is this feeling you have when you know you have this insane brute strength. example is me and my brother fighting. we don't fistfight but we start wrestling/grappling, and since he used to wrestle he used to always beat my ass into the ground. recently though my brute strength has suprised, as an example he tried to get me into a crucifix hold but i just good morning'ed him right up and dropped him on his back...the look on his face was great! made me feel powerful as hell!

 

[eastbaylifter]

For me it's being in control. I control the movement of the weight, I control my laser-like focus, I control the burst of speed on the concentric movement or the slow eccentric movement, and I control how my body looks. It's very empowering and I carry that with me during the rest of the day when I deal with people at work, etc. They can see the confidence I have. It's the best self-confidence drug out there, and yes I'm hopelessly addicted.