I was tired of having size XS shirts be loose on me. That and I finally realized that I did not resemble a man whatsoever. How can I be expected to product my loved ones if it looks like a gust of wind might blow me away. This all happened at the age of 16. I still wish I started lifting earlier, under a proper coach or something.
dude, you really can’t ask for better than this lol. 16 is SOOOOO young.
I’m grateful I started when I did haha, I’m just saying that I wouldn’t mind starting earlier or with more guidance.
That’s exactly how lifting is impacting my life. The discipline in training is spreading to other parts of my life and it’s been a noticeable difference.
Super heroes, Arnold, Bruce lee, and most notably goku. I was watching a lot of dragonball Z when I caught the iron bug. As bad as dragonball is, looking back at it, I’d still like to look like Goku and it still makes me want to go bust ass in the gym seeing their training montages.
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Looks like superheroes are a popular reason for many of us.
One of my first memories involved been out with my parents at a food court when I was about 4 years old. After dinner my dad bought me a Spider-man figurine from a nearby store.
I have wanted to be, and look like Spider-man ever since.
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Not if you walk through my door… Lol just fuckin with ya, your a beast. I can definitely relate that it helps to have your focus on strength goals rather than physique. Looks follow form IMO.
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What inspired me to lift?
As a young bloke getting into martial arts I always wanted to be physically good at everything. Through school I was decently fit and muscled but just lost it after school. I woke up one morning a few years ago and was appalled at my tiny legs. I could literally wrap my hands around my thighs. I joined the gym and started squatting later that day.
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To prepare for a fight in high school. Though after a year or so I realized that having visible muscles was a major deterrent for young punks looking for a fight/brawl…except for one time when one guy just wouldn’t quit and started pushing/shoving me in the hallway. I hit him square in the mouth and knocked him out. Definitely no more incidents after the majority of the school witnessed that.
I stopped lifting while in grad school and found that when I went out there was a greater chance that some a-hole would try to start something.
Started lifting again after I graduated and same phenomenon…no one tries to ‘shoulder bump’, less road-rage incidents once they pass my driver’s side and can see an arm probably the size of their legs, less dick-head behavior in general I would say.
I’m a non-violent person and prefer to avoid these conflicts all-together. Having muscles definitely helps in that regard…also being able to pick your woman up and throw her over your shoulder while walking to the bedroom is not a bad thing.
I had a bad breakup with a girlfriend and mean things were said by both but she said a couple things that stuck with me. She said that I was so skinny that if I turned sideways and stuck out my tongue I would look like a zipper! She also said that I was a pirates dream, a sunken chest. That was 30 years ago and 40lbs ago. I was 5’6, 130lbs with a beer belly. Now, 5’6" 170lbs lean. Saw hers years ago at class reunion and I thanked her for her feedback.
Goku, really…
Were you dating the beach bully from the Charles Atlas ads?
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Unstable childhood, abuse, seeing mother get beaten several times.
You realize just how weak and helpless you are in those moment. I always strived to be a protector, big and strng enough to protect my mother and loved ones.
In the end I realized that weightlifting also protects me. It’s therapy, a healthy way to explode and release frustration and anger while becoming bigger and stronger.
And also I was getting fat so…
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