Um, I wanted to look better than everyone else?
Because the “emaciated look” is not hip…
Got to agree that this is more than just some insecurity thing. It kind of irritating when people ask me why I “do this to myself”, like you can pin-point just one thing. Or when people say you look great the way you are (although a complement, it’s more than just what you look like too).
I’ll still be doing this when I’m “elderly”. I’ll still be doing this when things get in the way. I’ll still be doing this if I lost my legs haha. One of the main reasons why I’ve stayed away from steroids is with long term lifting in view (would like “normal” testosterone production etc). You don’t just drug yourself up for 2-3 years and not think about the future (not while young anyhow). I don’t know how I’ll feel about hormone therapy when I’m middle aged, that’s a bridge I’ll cross later.
If you’ve loved the whole muscle/strength thing even since you were 9 years old (filling empty milk cartons with stones and dads scrap metal in the garage), you can’t just shake it out of you like some sideline hobby.
//End boring my life post
fat and weak… now im fat and strong!!
[quote]Professor X wrote:
I hope most of you in this thread have anything resembling that “spark” in ten years.
I find this thread “cute”…and that isn’t a put down.
I am saying that because there are always THOUSANDS who claim they have the fire for this in the first few years of training.
It is extremely rare to see even a 10th of those same people truly pushing hard at it ten years down the road.
That is what separates the guys who jumped in, gained a few pounds and then stagnated for years after that from the guys who literally make so much progress childhood friends wouldn’t know who they are.
Once again, that isn’t a put down to anyone here…but very few in this thread have been training upwards of five years total seriously or dealt with the shit life will throw at you once you are no longer a STUDENT.
We’ll see who has made jumps in progress 5 MORE years from now.
It’s easy to be fired up as a newb and even an early intermediate…especially when you haven’t even entered the “real world” yet.[/quote]
Professor, I completely agree. For me my motivation started in the form of self-consciousness like most people. Even today, I do not consider myself anything more than an Intermediate because I’m only 19 and have been lifting for 2 years. However, lifting has become something so much more than trying to look better. For me, it’s a daily battle to improve each workout.
As long as I am not complacent with maintaining the gains i have made in the past two years and try to “beat myself” each lift, I can definitely see my training motivation to remain this high for many more years. To me success is addictive. The other day I saw an ex-girlfriend who asked me if i’m trying to scare people with arms like mine.
All that does for me is give me a little pat on the back for my hard work, and then ignites my desire to achieve even more success. I could never be complacent, and that is why i don’t think i’ll stop lifting hard anytime within the next few decades.
According to Gavinhenson, it is because I suffer from a Napoleon complex, aka “shortman/angry man” syndrome. I don’t think there is really any one reason though. There are probably quite a few. But I think you’d be hard pressed to find an effective argument that it isn’t better to be stronger.
I do it because of you Bob.
For me I still need that “oh shit” moment like in another thread that was created. Recently I’ve gotten back on the horse as I’m just getting over a break up. I have tons of time for myself to focus on work and the gym. I like the extra coinage to buy food for myself since not having a gf.
I was bulking and got up to 165lbs in April from 140lbs in Jan (not a large difference in weight and never thought I was huge). I lost some weight due to exams and my break up. Like I said I’m just getting back into in and feeling great. Taking it more seriously now. Even then I still have room to take it more seriously (if that makes sense)
I was a chubby bitch and made it to my 21st birthday still a virgin…I don’t think I’ve ever felt as terrible about myself as that.
I was 5’3 and 180ish pounds in middle school.
I was 5’10 and 130 pounds as an anorexic sophomore in high school.
I wrestled with self-image for a long time growing up and found that muscle and strength was the missing part of my equation in getting the body that I wanted and admired.
wanting to look like a super hero and do good deeds around the world
http://images.wikia.com/dragonball/images/e/e0/DragonballZ-Movie04_1308.jpeg
I had a barbell and weights in front of my house, and when my friends discovered it they yelled at me for never telling them about it. They ended up making me come out everyday and lift, and we pushed our selves hard. After I started seeing results in both strength and body, I fell in love and became addicted.
I don’t think I can isolate just one factor as being the catalyst for my passion for lifting, rather it is the result of several influences. Starting with the era I grew up in where the larger body-type was the iconic ideal (Arnold Schwarzenegger and his run of 80’s-90’s action flicks, He-Man and his Master’s of the Universe etc.). Cinema and television aside, I also think that lifting allows me the opportunity to tap into my primitive inner warrior, one that would otherwise be left dormant due to technology (remote controls, 9-5 office jobs, video games- virtual reality sports, etc.). Last but certainly not least, my gym has the sickest, most scantily-clad women around and they are pure eye candy in-between sets (what’s not to love and be passionate about here)!
[quote]GILLONDON wrote:
my gym has the sickest, most scantily-clad women around [/quote]
Always some nice motivation 
S
At first it was my hatred of being scrawny. Now I just simply enjoy it, it is one of the few things I do that I can truly focus on and clear my mind. A time when I’m finally at peace with myself.
With that said I echo Professor X’s comments. As a beginner myself I hope in 5 to 10 years to have earned your respect through my hard work.
teh bitches.
Apart from the obvious (health, size, etc), it’s also a family thing for me. My father used to compete in shows, and he introduced my brother and I to the weight room. My parents actually have a very nice gym setup in the basement of their home. Dad still trains every day.
Simple.
I wanted to look like a super-hero.
I also wanted to be the ultimate soccer player.
No bitch will ever make me lift or not lift. The pussy isnt worth it.
When I was 18, like most of us here I assume, I bought a bench and some weights and started
“benching and curling” like a brah every day.
About 2-3 years later I decided I needed bigger legs to be a real super hero and I invested in a
PT to teach me how to deadlift and squat. I still see the same PT once a week.
I remember my first meeting with my PT when he asked what my goals are. I replied “i want to have big
legs”. He looked at me strangely and then just smiled. The rest is history.
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