Thinking of Quitting

Training Bodybuilding
41

Well I once quit lifting too. It was in 1972 and I did not like the things I saw creeping into the sport. So I let myself go, and got back into the gym, in 1984. Thing is the old love of lifting came back, and I got back into competing and you know now in my mid 50’s it is better than when I was young.

My wife is now involved in keeping in shape, and goes to the gym. I have involved her in my training and helping with diet and other things.

I know lots of lifters who when they get married and have kids drop out for several years then when the kids are grown get back into it.

You have to adapt the program and life as things change. Hey, if you weren’t lifting you would have to change things. Let me tell you too, from when my kids were in their teens, they gym was best way to destress.

You have discovered there is such a thing as a life. Too many guys in the gym are just like the folks standing outside theaters for weeks to see Star Wars. They have no life.
What I have discovered is this, you can have a life, and lift, and have interests too. You have to learn to balance it all.

[quote]old powerlifter wrote:
Thanks for the replies, guys. I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with me. It started when work got hectic this year and I wasn’t able to get into the gym at the beginning of the week, so I’d say to myself, “I’ll go in next week when I can put in a full workout cycle”. The time off just got longer and longer. Of course in the past, I’d just work harder during my busy times at work and put more time in when I could.

Right now, I have an appt to see an orthopaedic doc to see about my shoulders. Maybe (I tell myself) I’m putting off the gym there to see what he says about that.

Its weird, the gym used to be ALL that I was about. I had no other hobbies, I spent all my free time in the gym. I was addicted to lifting as big as I could. The gym was my church and the weights my god.

In the last 4 months I haven’t added any new hobbies, I just spend time talking to my daughter when she gets home from school and then fixing dinner for the family.

My wife likes the fact that I’m home when she gets home and frankly the gym has always been a sore spot between us. Yes, I have gained some bodyfat lately but she keeps telling my I’m not fat, blah, blah, blah.I know she’s being nice but…

I don’t know where I’ll go from here but if any younger lifters are reading this thread…take it from someone who lived in the gym for a lot of years…be careful about what you say regarding your future in the gym. You may end up eating your words.

Take care.[/quote]

42

If you are thinking of quitting, you have to try it for real, 100%. 3 Months, whatever you do, don’t be tempted to go to the gym to see if the fire’s back. Stay out for 3 months. Then, decide if something’s missing from your life or if you have the passion again.

If you are looking for an alternative way to train, pick three exercises that you are weak in and are not too similar to the power lifts. Say, snatches, Chin-ups, or some strong man event that doesn’t kill your shoulders. No PL’s for 3 months, but try to get as good in those three weak things (that you identify) as possible.

43

http://images.t-nation.com/forum_images/./1/.1119064063450.ripper.jpg

[quote]Hieronymous wrote:
2. thyroid problems… likely cause: america’s obsession with fluoride. it’s a toxic, non-nutrient that has been directly linked to hypothyroidism. do some research. ephedra in the amounts consumed would not likely have caused this, so don’t blame yourself!
[/quote]
General Jack D. Ripper: "On no account will a Commie ever drink water, and not without good reason…Water is the source of all life. Seven tenths of this earth’s surface is water. Why, you realize that seventy percent of you is water…And as human beings, you and I need fresh, pure water to replenish our precious bodily fluids… "

(Mandrake chuckles nervously)

General Jack D. Ripper:
“Mandrake, have you never wondered why I drink only distilled water, or rain water, and only pure grain alcohol?..Have you ever heard of a thing called fluoridation? Fluoridation of water?.. fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face.”

General Jack D. Ripper: Mandrake, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk… ice cream. Ice cream, Mandrake, children’s ice cream.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Lord, Jack.

General Jack D. Ripper: You know when fluoridation first began?

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: I… no, no. I don’t, Jack.

General Jack D. Ripper: Nineteen hundred and forty-six. Nineteen forty-six, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It’s incredibly obvious, isn’t it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That’s the way your hard-core Commie works.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Uh, Jack, Jack, listen, tell me, tell me, Jack. When did you first… become… well, develop this theory?

General Jack D. Ripper: Well, I, uh… I… I… first became aware of it, Mandrake, during the physical act of love.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Hmm.

General Jack D. Ripper: Yes, a uh, a profound sense of fatigue… a feeling of emptiness followed. Luckily I… I was able to interpret these feelings correctly. Loss of essence.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Hmm.

General Jack D. Ripper: I can assure you it has not recurred, Mandrake. Women uh… women sense my power and they seek the life essence. I, uh… I do not avoid women, Mandrake.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: No.

General Jack D. Ripper: But I… I do deny them my essence.

44

zap branigan,
brilliant.

off-topic: but fluoride is an industrial by-product… what better way to get rid of it…but by dumping billions of tons of it in our municipal water?

mr. burns would be proud… “just think smithers! it’s brilliant… no dumping fees… in fact, we’ll charge them!”
“mr. burns… have i ever told you that you are more brilliantly evil than dr. strangelove?”
“aah, but who can we possibly get to do it, sir”
“hmm… how about… simpson… homer… that boob in sector g… why he looks so surly and corruptible…he’s the perfect stooge” :slight_smile:

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Hieronymous wrote:
2. thyroid problems… likely cause: america’s obsession with fluoride. it’s a toxic, non-nutrient that has been directly linked to hypothyroidism. do some research. ephedra in the amounts consumed would not likely have caused this, so don’t blame yourself!

General Jack D. Ripper: "On no account will a Commie ever drink water, and not without good reason…Water is the source of all life. Seven tenths of this earth’s surface is water. Why, you realize that seventy percent of you is water…And as human beings, you and I need fresh, pure water to replenish our precious bodily fluids… "

(Mandrake chuckles nervously)

General Jack D. Ripper:
“Mandrake, have you never wondered why I drink only distilled water, or rain water, and only pure grain alcohol?..Have you ever heard of a thing called fluoridation? Fluoridation of water?.. fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face.”

General Jack D. Ripper: Mandrake, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk… ice cream. Ice cream, Mandrake, children’s ice cream.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Lord, Jack.

General Jack D. Ripper: You know when fluoridation first began?

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: I… no, no. I don’t, Jack.

General Jack D. Ripper: Nineteen hundred and forty-six. Nineteen forty-six, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It’s incredibly obvious, isn’t it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That’s the way your hard-core Commie works.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Uh, Jack, Jack, listen, tell me, tell me, Jack. When did you first… become… well, develop this theory?

General Jack D. Ripper: Well, I, uh… I… I… first became aware of it, Mandrake, during the physical act of love.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Hmm.

General Jack D. Ripper: Yes, a uh, a profound sense of fatigue… a feeling of emptiness followed. Luckily I… I was able to interpret these feelings correctly. Loss of essence.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Hmm.

General Jack D. Ripper: I can assure you it has not recurred, Mandrake. Women uh… women sense my power and they seek the life essence. I, uh… I do not avoid women, Mandrake.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: No.

General Jack D. Ripper: But I… I do deny them my essence.
[/quote]

45

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Excellent riff from Dr. Strangelove
[/quote]
Just yesterday I got a circular from the Portland water dept., which included the obligatory (by law) accounting of what all is in our drinking water here, from minerals right on down to organisms. I was surprised to notice that Portland does not add flouride to its water.

46

sounds promising…at least some politician in oregon didn’t get paid off… yet…

i live in christchurch, nz… and we have the best quality water in the world… all filtered through granite artesian wells form the southern alps… we are the last large municipal water supply in the country that does not add it…

but, i read last week that the dodgy politicians are beginning to fold to industrial pressure.

if they do, i’ll be the first to install an alum filter on the tap and request the city council re-imburse me through a rate reduction (yea, right :slight_smile:

[quote]endgamer711 wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
Excellent riff from Dr. Strangelove

Just yesterday I got a circular from the Portland water dept., which included the obligatory (by law) accounting of what all is in our drinking water here, from minerals right on down to organisms. I was surprised to notice that Portland does not add flouride to its water.[/quote]

47

My initial reply was going to be, “Go ahead and quit you fucking pussy.” Then I remembered how much testosterone replacement therapy helped me. Look into it.

How many hours can you spend being a house husband and talking to your daughter? Man up and take care of business.

48

boy I can tell your having a tough time.
Gray does that. He takes time off and doesn’t even look at our gym for weeks at a time.
Then he goes back. He doesn’t really quit just relaxes for a while. You will get past it. It just takes time. I was forced to stop for health reasons. It was absolutely the worst 2 yrs of my life. Now I’m coming back.

You will too. Don’t worry so much about it. As we get older our ideas about things change and it really gets hard to look at all the hard bodies with young faces and it makes it feel like you’ll never be who you were and never revered the way you were. That’s all once apon a time. What you are is facsinating to the younger lifters. Really a icon of how they want to be when they get older. They are the ones shocked that you do what you do.

Everything you have learned in life and everything you are is good. You have the knowedge to pick it up when your ready and the knowledge to know when you shouldn’t…Pride and integrety are major strengths. Don’t loose that. Just think of yourself as “On vacation”. Easier said than done. But with what you have achieved in your time remember who you are. THE POWERLIFTER.

49

Old PL’er,
Far be it for me to give advice to a complete stranger, BUT, I think what you are looking for is a complete re-evaluation of your life, your goals, possibly that office job you have, where you see yourself in 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 years and then set some realistic short- and long-term goals that will give you a fighting chance of reaching your personal, professional aspirations.

Taking into account, your physical, emotional, mental, & even spiritual dimensions, you have to find a happy balance. PLing for me never put food on the table or a roof over my head, it was just a hobby I enjoyed. It never became the focus of my life - my family came first, friends, work, all a close second. You don’t have to be a PLer to enjoy a workout in the gym or elsewhere.

You can set something up in your house if you choose, or you can go outside and make use of what man and nature afford you, or you can pay and rejoin your gym. Whatever you decide, the motivation must come from within YOU! If you are going through a crisis or are depressed, make a game-plan and see if you can overcome it either alone or with help, even professional help.

Try to find the things that make you happy, and those around you will be happy as well. If you are sad, they will be sad too! Don’t despair or give up; look for a way to balance all the aspects of your life. Good luck to you…the road ahead may be long, and you may fall every once in awhile, but pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving in the intended direction. All the best to you and yours…let us know what happens, OK?

50

that was spirited. Good advise for alot of people…Your to cool Quartertonner.[quote]QuarterTonner wrote:
Old PL’er,
Far be it for me to give advice to a complete stranger, BUT, I think what you are looking for is a complete re-evaluation of your life, your goals, possibly that office job you have, where you see yourself in 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 years and then set some realistic short- and long-term goals that will give you a fighting chance of reaching your personal, professional aspirations.

Taking into account, your physical, emotional, mental, & even spiritual dimensions, you have to find a happy balance. PLing for me never put food on the table or a roof over my head, it was just a hobby I enjoyed. It never became the focus of my life - my family came first, friends, work, all a close second. You don’t have to be a PLer to enjoy a workout in the gym or elsewhere.

You can set something up in your house if you choose, or you can go outside and make use of what man and nature afford you, or you can pay and rejoin your gym. Whatever you decide, the motivation must come from within YOU! If you are going through a crisis or are depressed, make a game-plan and see if you can overcome it either alone or with help, even professional help.

Try to find the things that make you happy, and those around you will be happy as well. If you are sad, they will be sad too! Don’t despair or give up; look for a way to balance all the aspects of your life. Good luck to you…the road ahead may be long, and you may fall every once in awhile, but pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving in the intended direction. All the best to you and yours…let us know what happens, OK?[/quote]

51

Don’t quit training altogether, you should at least train recreationally, for maintenance. Just like brushing your teeth… nobody thinks it’s fun, you do it to maintain health.

Modify your schedule so that you do abbreviated workouts… never train for over an hour, on this schedule (including warmups). One hour only. Have fun in the gym if you possibly can. Do movements you don’t usually do, rep patterns you don’t usually do. The main thing is to just show up at the gym, move your body through space, handle some weights. Some guys think that if they aren’t training at a very high level, then they should quit training altogether. Don’t think like that. That is a mistake. Training should not be all-or-nothing.

Quitting cold turkey is something you want to avoid, if possible.

I wonder if your daughter might be interested in training, as a father-daughter activity. Maybe there is a sport or activity you can do together, if she is completely not interested in weights.

There was plenty of good advice already covered, so I’ll leave it there. Keep your head up!!!

52

“I’m on thyroid meds now.”
Being on thyroid meds could be a partial source of your problem and lack of motivation.
My wife had thyroid cancer and had her thyroid removed and consequently was put on Synthroid. She still has to be monitored frequently to have her medication adjusted. If her dosage is too high she becomes hyper active and if it is to low she becomes lethargic. You body constantly adapts to the medicine and therefore, your dosages need to be adjusted.Ask your doctor to test you and adjust your meds if needed.I think that will make a big difference in how you feel. Good Luck, I hope you find the right balance in your life.

53

[quote]old powerlifter wrote:
I haven’t been in the gym for almost 4 months and I’m thinking about not going back.

I’ve been in the gym an AVERAGE of 4 days a week consistently for the last 11 years. That means some times I’ve been in as much as 6 days a week and as little as 3 days a week. I’ve been thru the whole gamut. In the beginning, I kept a food log, ran 30 miles a week, rode my bike to classes, and spent time in the gym. I couldn’t WAIT to get to the gym. My wife used to make fun of me because I always said I was going to be late for the gym, even when nobody was waiting for me. I’ve gone from lean and strong to fat and strong. I used to do dualathalons, and trail runs until my shins and ankles went out. After I finished college and had to work in an office, I moved to powerlifting eventually pulling a 515 dead a 425 squat at 185 pounds.

But now I’m tired. Both of my shoulders hurt, my ankles hurt and my thyroid is shot (from long years if ephedra use, I think). I’m enjoying my time at home with my wife and daughter and don’t feel the old pull of the gym.

Your comments are appreciated[/quote]

You need to consider your Values. My number one value is “health, strength and vitality”. This means i jump out of bed almost every day and head to the gym to train, knowing there’s little i would rather be doing. If i didnt train i wouldn’t be able to fullfill some of my number one value, because i wouldnt be able to get stronger or stay as healthy. In other words, i would feel pretty miserable. Maybe your values have changed. At one point you clearly enjoyed training. Now you lack the desire to hit the iron.

The point is, are you happy not training?? If the answer is yes then quit by all means. However, if you feel like a part of you is missing(your training) and another part of you is dying(your strength) then you better fix it. Make all the things you used to get from training your number one value and you simply will have to get back to training again! What most people do not realise is that if they do not feel their top 4 or 5 values every day they will not be completely happy. Feel your top values every day and you will be happy. Its that simple.

Bottom line…if your happier now than ever before and you do not miss training then simply see it as a chapter of your life that was good but now you no longer need it and you will find another hobby/interest/sport instead.

If, however, you feel you want to train again but cant find the motivation, make training and strength your number one value and you will definitely get back in the gym straight away.

Ps i read all about values in Awaken the Giant Within. The trouble is very few people are aware they have values, let alone know what they are. The good thing is, i’ve now told everyone where to read about them