Are you saying though for you that the harder training gets (and I mean hard) you like it more rather than less? I am talking about the actually training itself, not how you feel after, not any sense of accomplishment after but in the moment when you trying not to puke.
1 Like
Yeah kind of. I enjoy harder sessions MORE than easier sessions, but I enjoy easier sessions than none at all.
For me itās just mindset though, which has definitely changed over the years.
I wonder if because Iām not training for a specific event, but rather to position myself to be more effective at work (which I can notice the carry over in many situations) if that makes a difference compared to someone training for a competition?
Maybe because I ācompeteā on a weekly basis my training remains enjoyable
2 Likes
A good example is that I absolutely used to hate running. And now when Iām running a 600m or a mile time trial or whatever I LOVE the feeling of pushing myself to the limit and feeling my lungs burst in the moment. And itās almost a let down when itās over and you catch your breath.
Not because I love pain but because feeling yourself at 100% is such a rare and wonderful thing and I wonāt be able to do it forever
2 Likes
This is a nice way to think about it and a great positive mindset to have. Usually when I am running an 800m at full pace I am not able to think at all, I am just trying to breath and keep going.
1 Like
I canāt speak for what it takes to get results when youāre at the level of someone like @T3hPwnisher or @ChongLordUno or any of the other strong af guys, but I donāt think training has to suck to reach a level that for most would be a lifetime goal, like a 405-440 lbs squat, a 315 bench, an 185 lbs ohp ect (assuming youāre not too light)
Sometimes I feel like training sucking has way more to do with people looking to wear pain as a budge of honor. Not wanna sound judgemental though, train as you like and view it as you want, not my place to tell you what to do
Also views like ādo not program hopā do not help either. Especially as a newer lifter, though you shouldnāt be changing routines more often than underwear, I feel like if you hate your plan you should try something different. After all, progress also comes from training hard, especially in an earlier stage, so even if you decide to hop around a bit itās not like your progress will be lost
2 Likes
If progress comes from training hard, does doing training that is hard enough to suck give more progress ?
1 Like
If youāre at an elite level and competing, yeah it probably does have to suck. Not just the lifting part, but everything else - being constantly on top of food intake, sleep, mood, etc.
For the average person to get to a point to be considered āstrongā by most people, I think it can be done pretty painlessly. If youāre not competing and itās not your livelihood, I donāt see the point of torturing yourself in the gym if you donāt enjoy it.
3 Likes
Thank you! I agree - good strength programming can be simultaneously effective and not grueling/sucky.
Side bar - I define āsuckyā as both emotionally/mentally and physically difficult, with the emotional component carrying greater āsuckā weight.
Yep, I get the same pre-workout jitters before a particularly intense session that also has high volume. I wouldnāt describe that as āsuckyā though, not in the sense of a marathon calisthenics/ barbells/ and running mixed session can be.
1 Like
So here is an interesting question for those that enjoy training, enjoy the feeling of suffering and pain, and in turn, enjoy overcoming challenges.
Are you really doing the latter if you are doing the former?
Again, my perspective is that of a hedonist rather than a masochist. I enjoy feelings of pleasure rather than pain. Eating nachos, for me, is joy. I love the feeling of eating nachos. Were I to eat a lot of nachos, in no way would I claim to have overcome a challenge or bettered myself in anyway. I find betterment to be a process of asceticism: denial of the self of pleasure and exposure of the self to discomfort for the sake of growth.
If you enjoy training, wouldnāt self-improvement necessitate the DENIAL of training?
I will admit, these thoughts came to me at 0600 this morning in the middle of a hellish front squat based conditioning workout where I had said āf**k meā about a dozen timesā¦man I want nachos.
4 Likes
#humblebrag 
1 Like
To answer the questiinL IDK if training necessarily requires going āto a dark placeā to see results. I managed to hit a 3x bodyweight deadlift doing everything wrong and never going to a dark place like @T3hPwnisher or @ChongLordUno and Iāve heard many coaches advocating for sub-max effort when lifting. For ābest resultsā Iām really not sure
On a (related) tangent
Iād say I āenjoyā training, not because it feels good but because it keeps me present (if only for an hour) and I feel worse not doing it.
Iāve never regretted completing a session, but have regretted skipping/procrastinating. Also, Iām novice enough to still think heavy squats are āfunā. heavy 10x3 or 10x5 are my new favourite
With that said, I feel kind of in a funk lately, not really pushing to a dark place and just tired. My dream would be to be able to be a couch potato for a bit and not suffer consequences, but it doesnāt really work like thatā¦
You frequently describe what many would consider to be depression-like symptoms.
2 Likes
No, because training isnāt, to me, something that needs to be āovercomeā. I like training, and itās self-improvement through make me stronger, faster and healthier.
So do I, training is simply a pain that I enjoy. Taxes and housework, on the other handā¦
Without expanding this topic beyond its borders, there are some things where this need not apply. Such as training. Denying myself of training doesnāt really āimproveā me. It may for a short time in the form of healing or learning patience, but there are very quick diminishing returns through the loss of health.
Same. Still havenāt tried your bacon nachos yet.
1 Like
In such a case, I imagine you werenāt among those I was addressing. I saw a few folks mentioning that they enjoyed the feeling of overcoming. It sounds more that youāre seeing training as practice, which is absolutely a great approach.
And man, I had an opportunity for some more bacon nachos the other day. Had to avoid it, haha.
1 Like
This dude!
Okay, now I must dive deep into my thoughts. If I enjoyed it, did I overcome a challenge? I donāt alway succeed. I failed today on the BB military press. Failing does suck. Sometimes the challenge is the rep range. 100 100# deadball over the shoulders being the challenge. It hurts, sweat is dripping, HR is 150 plus. Iām suffering, but, Iām still enjoying it. Reverse hacks, the weight is at 600+, The challenge is 5x5x5. Iāll of course see how many more I can do. If I accomplish it and donāt break, then I enjoyed the challenge. I will be in a world of hurt, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every hard rep. The feeling of the burn in my legs, etc. I know at that weight if I fuck up, Iām fucked. The first time I pulled 405 off the floor, I felt like my insides were going to come out, I felt every muscle screaming, but I still enjoyed it and the feeling of accomplishment.
However, today on my DB curl presses. I was going to 8. I was cussing out loud as my shoulders were burning and I didnāt think I would get to 8 on the last 2 sets, but I pushed through. Maybe the challenge wasnāt enough since I got it. But Iām also at a place where I know that I have to reel myself in check. I will do something until I break. People who have known me for a while always tell me I need to back off. Iām too 0-100. And I enjoy pain from lifting. Edit: I donāt enjoy all pain. There is a chick that gives me deep tissue and that shit hurts and I donāt enjoy it at all.
I just struggle to see where the overcoming is in doing something you enjoy doing. Whenever I observe someone doing something they enjoy, I donāt think āthere is someone overcoming somethingā.
1 Like
When I used to tournament fight, I didnāt always win. and even when I did win, I took damage in the process. I enjoyed it and kept signing up for more.
When I do sled pulls, my HR is 150-160ish, Iām blacking out while doing it. I have to drop to the ground after each trip and lay there until I recover. I enjoy that. I look forward to it.
1 Like
Yup. I donāt understand it, haha.
3 Likes
Applies to the concept of āthere is no courage without fearā. I spent a lot of time doing things I was afraid of, and I initially envied people who didnāt seem to be afraid at all until I realized there was nothing special about doing something you werenāt afraid of.
3 Likes
EXACTLY! Thatās what Iām trying to get at. These all sound like very hard thingsā¦but if theyāre being enjoyed, itās missing out on one of the key elements of overcoming.
3 Likes