Post: #51

Health, strength, challenge.

Also, therapy. Nothing gets your mind off something faster than heavy squats.

Post: #52

I feel so good when I lift regularly. When I sit down afterwards to eat the food tastes so good and Im so relaxed with a big smile on my face.

That said: Im still rehabbing a shoulder surgery but its getting close to heavy lifting again. I'm going full bulk. Ive been an extreme hard gainer my whole life but Im going all in. I want to gain 20 lbs, most of it muscle. Ill give myself 12-18 months.

Post: #53

(01-20-2016 12:18 AM)ball dont lie Wrote:  I feel so good when I lift regularly. When I sit down afterwards to eat the food tastes so good and Im so relaxed with a big smile on my face.

There are few greater pleasures than sitting down to steak and potatoes while your entire body is still exhausted after knocking out heavy squats.

Post: #54

(01-20-2016 09:26 AM)Horus Wrote:  

(01-20-2016 12:18 AM)ball dont lie Wrote:  I feel so good when I lift regularly. When I sit down afterwards to eat the food tastes so good and Im so relaxed with a big smile on my face.

There are few greater pleasures than sitting down to steak and potatoes while your entire body is still exhausted after knocking out heavy squats.

I think I'm addicted to that feeling, when you just feel spent and you sit there and stuff your face feeling like a lion eating it's prey. Steak is especially amazing right after a taxing workout, it feels like exactly what my body needs. Fuck a protein shake, I need blood.

Post: #55

I lift because I thoroughly enjoy it, both during and after, and because it's pretty much the only activity in my life - aside from taking care of my basic needs, and reading - that I've never really gotten tired of (might have had a combined total of 2-3 years break in the 23 years I've lifted, counting off time longer than 3-4 weeks).

I've never taken any supplements more potent than creatine (I'm 39 now, I won't rule out looking into TRT after my mid 40s) and I've long since accepted that I don't appear to have the genes to "get jacked" naturally or set any kind of bench press records, but I'm pretty satisfied with an athletic body (may or may not have influenced my primary clothing style, which is casual with a fitted v-neck t-shirt) and feeling good when I lift.
I still try to push myself with heavier weights, but since my mid 30s it's been clear that I have to be more careful with my joints these days - elbows and shoulders in particular. Switching to more dumbbell exercises have allowed me to push forward again.

Post: #56

Not gonna lie, my initial why was "to get better girls," which still applies, but now that I feel the health benefits, that's also become a reason.

Post: #57

Why I lift?

I lift for my health. Mental health and physical health.
Those are the top values in my life along with family.

I've seen what taking care of your health can do for your life first hand.

My grandfather on my mothers side. 93 years old. Still golfs 9 holes 3 times a week every week in the spring and summer. Still walks to the barber shop, bank, library, post office. Better mental and physical shape than most 73 year olds.

My father. 65 years old. Looks and has the energy of man in his mid 40's. Absolutely no health problems when high blood pressure plagues his brothers and his father died from a heart attack due to high blood pressure.

My mother. 64 years old. Looks and has the energy of a woman in her mid 40s. Still works and walks with her friend daily rain, sleet or snow. No health problems other than low iron in her blood.

Post: #58

Honestly? For girls, no lies about it.

Post: #59

I want to feel good.
I want to look good.
I want to fuck good.
I want to be strong.

Post: #60

Delete

Post: #61

I have no shame in admitting I've always began working out from a place of insecurity. In high school, I weighed about 120 pounds (about 5'6-5'7) As far as my body, I looked like a victim of starvation. Even standing up you could see my ribs. I was soft. In tenth grade I saw a girl rubbing on some other guy's abs and the thought wouldn't leave my head that I had to get abs if I ever wanted any kind of success with women. So, I started doing 100 crunches and 100 pushups everyday. I knew nothing about fitness and had no concept of rest days; every day I'd do 100 of each. As the weeks went on and it hurt less I moved up to 200, then 300 daily. Right now I'd kill myself if I tried that, but back then I was in such a zone and my sole motivation was to have the best eight pack and lean body possible. By the next summer, I was regularly doing 1,000 of each a day. No rest days, no other workouts, just that. I achieved great abs and a toned upper body. Then what happened? I remained a virgin and girls couldn't even tell I was in shape because I was still so skinny.

I realized being skinny with abs would never get me what I wanted, so I started doing more intense body weight work outs. Again, the motivation was pure insecurity. I started doing dips, squats, and chin ups then eventually moved onto things like muscle ups and human flags. At times, I was able to impress girls with my strength. Still, that was it. It didn't improve my life. Girls only seemed to only want bigger guys. I was still insecure.

Two years ago I started lifting heavy several days a week. This wasn't long after discovering this forum. Being so scrawny in the first place, I made quick and noticeable gains. At around 145-150 pounds, I started getting attention from women. I was happier than ever before, I was getting laid, and it was all because I was big. Today, I'm about 165 pounds, trying to reach 170 ( I want to say I put on 50 pounds) before cutting a little bit to probably between 160-165. I'm just looking at how much I've written, and its admittedly mostly ego stroking and because I'm slightly buzzed, but the point is I realized recently that I don't lift out of insecurity anymore. I realized it wasn't just my size increase that improved my game; it was the discipline, mindset shift, and confidence increase that came from lifting weights and getting bigger. It took me forever but now I don't lift because I'm insecure, because I think it's the only way to get laid, or because I'm afraid of being a twig again; I lift now because it's who I am. I lift because to me nothing feels better than hitting a new PR, the feeling you get when you've exhausted yourself and you can lay down with that great soreness that only comes from a tough workout. I lift because the physical and mental discipline it has taught me has made me into twice the man I was years ago. I think anyone who begins lifting primarily to attract women, if they stick to it, will eventually come to realize that lifting improves nearly every facet of their life. That's my why.

Post: #62

I've always been a skinny/weak kid when I was younger. I hated it. for some reason it was a real soft spot for me - being called skinny/thin/scrawny,etc. Looking back I know if someone called me that they didn't mean I was a scrawny weakling (I don't think) they just meant I wasn't fat. Regardless, it's always something I hated about my own self image.

I decided I want to be big and strong. I want to look and be strong. I think it's finally happening. People notice that I have the mass that comes from working to be in shape.

On top of that, I've also decided I'm not doing myself any favors but not seeing what my body is capable of physically. How far I can push myself. What my genetics can do - use my body to it's full potential.

Post: #63

I started when I was 15, because I didn´t have anything else to offer probably and wanted to feel good.
9 years later I am still working on myself. It still makes me feel good and actually keeping fit is part of my job. It´s not so much lifting, as it used to be when I was younger (now I try to run as much as workout), but I´ve fallen in never-ending circle of self-improving.

Post: #64

I want to be able to do a one armed chinup.

I want to hit a double bodyweight bench press or at the very least, get within shouting distance of it.

I want to hit a triple bodyweight deadlift.

I want to be able to swing 200 lbs for 50 reps, and not bullshit hip jerk reps either.

I want to get to an advanced level of strength that I can mostly maintain into my old age without turning into that guy

Oh yeah well when I was in highschool I was benching twice what you're benching now

Gee I used to be 230 lbs lean and I'd hit the gym three hours a day

You'd never know it but I could bench four hundred pounds

One time I squat lifted seven hundred pounds

If I didn't have this beer belly I could do thirty chinups

Shit when I was your age if they didn't put three hundred pounds on the bar I could throw that fucker 'cross the room

Post: #65

Because I've seen so many relatives disrespect their bodies and get fucked over by biology for it that I want to be their opposite.

Because I like feeling big and strong. I'm 6'3", so I have a good few inches over most people on the street; after two weeks of SS, I noticed the new way people moved around me on the streets. I am sure I didn't look different, but the attitude I was putting forward changed completely, and people picked up on that without the need for me to say a word.

Post: #66

(06-22-2016 10:19 PM)Frank Underwood Wrote:  Because I've seen so many relatives disrespect their bodies and get fucked over by biology for it that I want to be their opposite.

Because I like feeling big and strong. I'm 6'3", so I have a good few inches over most people on the street; after two weeks of SS, I noticed the new way people moved around me on the streets. I am sure I didn't look different, but the attitude I was putting forward changed completely, and people picked up on that without the need for me to say a word.

My story is very similar to yours. In addition to having severely ill relatives, during a relatively short period a year and a half ago I had to go from hospital from hospital, from one doctor to another, and undergo a lot of checks because I had an unusual case of tinnitus (slight buzzing in the ears). My physician wanted to exclude all serious potential causes such as brain tumor, clogged arteries etc.

During all those medical checks I saw a lot of old, sick people in the hospital hallways. I couldn't help but noticing that they were all fat and weak. I gave it some thought and realize I'd better get my ass to the gym, or risk ending like them one day.

Post: #67

Paraphrasing Eric Liddell...

I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me strong. And when I lift I feel His pleasure.

Post: #68

Because I remember all those people in the hospital that will never lift, let alone walk again in their lives. I do it for them.

Post: #69

I lift because its a nice supplement to my boxing training which i just got back into three months ago. Its mostly different variations of deadlifts and deep squats with bodyweight drills for my chest and upper body. I honestly do not give a fuck about my appearance compared to most people. I just want to reasonably athletic and not powerless in case im forced to defend myself.

Post: #70

When I was a kid, I used to watch World's Strongest Man each Christmas/New Year and get psyched up like crazy.

I wanted to be like Kazmaier... I watched him state he was the strongest man ever to have lived. I wanted to be able to say something like that.

From the age of 17, I realised before I could say that, I had to be able to legitimately say I was the strongest in my school. Next I had to tick off strongest in my local area, and on and on.

At 41 y/o, I'm still on that journey, but now the journey has become just as important as the destination/goal. It's brought me friendships and even paid work, and I hope it's part of my life until my kids order my coffin in 4XL.

Rick

Post: #71

(07-29-2016 10:39 AM)Snorse Wrote:  When I was a kid, I used to watch World's Strongest Man each Christmas/New Year and get psyched up like crazy.

I wanted to be like Kazmaier... I watched him state he was the strongest man ever to have lived. I wanted to be able to say something like that.

From the age of 17, I realised before I could say that, I had to be able to legitimately say I was the strongest in my school. Next I had to tick off strongest in my local area, and on and on.

At 41 y/o, I'm still on that journey, but now the journey has become just as important as the destination/goal. It's brought me friendships and even paid work, and I hope it's part of my life until my kids order my coffin in 4XL.

Rick

I look forward to reading your posts. Welcome to the forum!

Post: #72

Like probably many of you guys were, I used to be a scrawny kid. I was by no means ugly (I still could attract girls, but not of the caliber I wanted) and charming...but I was nowhere close to the most popular guys (who were athletic and smart). Yes, I felt some kind of envy and jealously towards them (which is perfectly natural), but I can say that I never hated them, or committed any harm to them - unlike many.


I was bad at sports too. I was never called to play.


Instead of society and the school system kicking my ass, and having balls to TELL ME that I really need to start working on myself (that is, by going to the fucking gym), they told me the usual lies that led many good, innocent kids to their doom, emphasized in a single sentence - BE YOURSELF!!!


THAT sentence caused Elliot Roger to commit what he did, for example. If someone told him the TRUTH, he, and his victims would be still alive. If someone told ME the truth, I would not have suffered as a kid.


Thank God, at the end of the high school, I discovered the gym. Through years of training (and playing war, in real life), I have become what I am today... .



A young man who is not ashamed of himself.

A man who is not a pushover.

A man who has fully embraced what he is, regardless of all the bullshit we hear 24/7.



My journey has just begun. I WILL achieve greatness. I WILL succeed. I will NOT be the scrawny kid who nobody took seriously never. ever again. I will never become a poor schlub with a beer belly at the ripe age of 26 (like many of my friend are becoming, sadly). I WILL be an inspiration that EVERYTHING is possible if you dedicate yourself to something.


And that is why I lift.


And that is why I will lift, and will keep lifting. It is addicting, like some drug or MMORPG. People will say that I am too big, and that I should stop. But I'll say - no...I will never stop trying to reach perfection. I want to be an unstoppable force of nature.


Don't let anything stop you guys. If I have managed, you can manage too!

Post: #73

(06-22-2016 11:45 AM)Hannibal Wrote:  I want to be able to do a one armed chinup.

(Brevity)

Shit when I was your age if they didn't put three hundred pounds on the bar I could throw that fucker 'cross the room

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This belongs in the hater lounge.

I fucking hate those guys. Unbelievably dishonest and full of shit.

Every time people talk about lifting to other people their bench press goes up to three plates bare minimum and they can squat a Volkswagen no wraps or belt.

Post: #74

I lift for a variety of reasons. They've changed over time.
I've always been tall. In the grade school class photos i was the tall kid in the back.
But damn was i skinny. At the high school i as 6'3 and around 125lbs, probably lighter honestly.
Then somehow i got fat by the end of high school around 300lbs (read i worked at burger king for nearly a year).

At this point i lifted to not be fat

I eventually lost the weight and leaned up and started getting more attention from girls. I wasn't a virgin but if i got a girl it was due to my personality(this was before i knew about game or pua)

Then i figured out that along with martial arts being strong was a great way to deter people from fucking with you.

I lifted to be able to defend myself better

After a while i realized girls responded better to guys with good bodies. Up until this point i never seriously lifted. As a result of not lifting i lost a lot of weight to drop me down to around 135.

I stopped lifting

Then i made the choice to get "big". I didn't have a specific goal weight in mind though.
At 6'3 nobody was intimidated by my size. I wasn't wide enough. Nobody moved out of my way. I fully admit this was a major insecurity for me back then.
I wanted guys to see me and move out of the way.
To quote CT Fletcher, i wanted to be "A sidewalk cracking motherfucker"

I lifted to be intimidating

I started to look online for body types I'd want to have. For example i'd see guys that are all delts and have tiny traps. It didn't look good to me and the balance was off.

As i got bigger i noticed more people were looking at me. I thought guys wanted to fight me etc.
Eventually i figured out that the guys were admiring me and the girls were checking me out.
Getting girls became easier and easier the bigger i got.
Im 219lbs now. I like where i am physically.

Now i just lift to maintain

Post: #75

I lift because:

1) It's like putting money away for the future. Each time you train you build up a little more muscle and conditioning and strength that your body will one day have to call on, whether in sickness or old age.

2) It leaves me too exhausted to think. If I have too much energy I sit around thinking and rationalising shit. Having trained drains the excess energy and leaves me feeling spent and satisfied mentally.

3) I love what it does to my body. I love the physical aesthetic and the ability to manhandle my girls. They love feeling small and petite and the rest.

4) I like the gym environment. I like being around fellow athletes. Got to choose the right gym though - too many retards around gyms these days.