Why we lift

[cherrydrpepper]

Do you ever feel like you lift because its the part of your life that you can truly control? Its like you can own it you can dominate it you can beat it you can make it do what you want you can control the outcome. Just life lately I keep coming back to lifting and cardio and diet and its the reason I get out of bed in the mornings lately its the thing keeping me sane.

[Tron3219]

I lift because it controls me lol I'm simply addicted to it

I don't work out to be health, I work out to look sexy as fvck naked!

[JohnnyVegas]

I lift because of body image issues.

[red_hulk]

If I don't lift or train martial arts I'm usually on edge. So for me it's a great stress reliever and keeps me from snapping lol

[kronik420]

only started seriously lifting 2-3 years ago

and i cant see myself stopping... ever

unless i end up a paraplegic or dead...

its hard not to go to the gym 7 days a week.. try to limit myself to 5-6

[Shsm]

The constant strive for improvement and escape from normality keeps me motivated.

There are no greater euphorias on this earth than setting a new PR in the gym, to the disappointed look you receive from skinny guys that think they're swole's faces at the beach and watching them become nervous and uncomfortable.

The facial expressions from broads when you take your shirt off is pretty satisfying also.

[kronik420]

The constant strive for improvement and escape from normality keeps me motivated.

There are no greater euphorias on this earth than setting a new PR in the gym, to the look you receive from skinny guys that think they're swole's faces at the beach and watching them become uncomfortable.

The facial expressions from broads when you take your shirt off is pretty satisfying also.

x2..

[--->>405<<---]

Ego is pretty much the center of it. Whether its looking good naked, girls, or trying to lift more than i did yesterday. All driven by ego and whatever screwed me up mentally by being a fat kid.. LOL.

I am always happiest when i feel like im burning fat!

[Brick]

Do you ever feel like you lift because its the part of your life that you can truly control? Its like you can own it you can dominate it you can beat it you can make it do what you want you can control the outcome. Just life lately I keep coming back to lifting and cardio and diet and its the reason I get out of bed in the mornings lately its the thing keeping me sane.

100%. No one can take away what I do or accomplish in the gym

[jpowell]

some people are good at basketball, baseball, football...

me, i excel at bodybuilding. I am in complete control of my fate here. nobody controls my gains, or can take away my gains. not one person i grew up with has this passion that i have for the iron, more sports that are mainstream.

i used to have low confidence b/c i was fat...but after solid time put it, i started seeing results.

I like to be the guy that walks into a place, and literally have people coming up to me like "holy ****, your big af, you work out? etc"

it feels good. I like being a 240 guy in november, and by march coming in at 220--making everybody envious and want these results.

and most importantly i love the attention i get from bitches (sorry ladies).

[bigZthedestroyer]

I like to be big, manly, and intimidating!

[pipper0916]

I lift because it controls me lol I'm simply addicted to it

I don't work out to be health, I work out to look sexy as fvck naked!

this

[kronik420]

well id love to stay and chat

but i gotta go to the gym and lift

chest/tris and bi's feeling strong today..

[frank13]

I lift because of body image issues.

me too

[gearbox]

Not sure the main reason a bunch of.little ones all tied.together.
I like being strong or feeling strong
Love setting goals and achieving them
Yes the look.from ladies when I am in a tight shirt or top less is a huge one.

[Honkey_Kong]

I started lifting weights mostly because I allowed myself to become a skinny weak wimp. The purpose has changed some over the years. It's helped me so much with my back pain that I don't need any pain medication at all now. I still hurt, especially on some days, but the difference was night and day. I mostly like lifting weights now because of the challenge in it, the burn and the feeling of being strong. Plus that euphoria post workout makes it all worth it.

[austinite]

Because being out of shape sucks.

[DSM4Life]

I lift because it controls me lol I'm simply addicted to it

I don't work out to be health, I work out to look sexy as fvck naked!

Need someone to verify your progress?

[Tron3219]

Need someone to verify your progress?

U can't handle it! Lol

[DSM4Life]

U can't handle it! Lol

That's what Haz said but im still here.

[Tron3219]

That's what Haz said but im still here.

No....
I mean u would die of laughter lol

[DSM4Life]

No....
I mean u would die of laughter lol

Oh...*Goes back to surfing the web

[Tron3219]

Oh...*Goes back to surfing the web

Smh....

[Dpyle]

This quote pretty well sums up my passion for the gym.

"The Iron never lies to you. You can walk outside and listen to all kinds of talk, get told that you're a god or a total bastard. The Iron will always kick you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in the pitch black. I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds"
-- Henry Rollins, on working out. (via intelligentfrivolity)

[paulzane]

I have been training reasonably consistently for nearly 40 years and I still love it when guys at work say they can see that I train and how fit I look. It is also nice when my girlfriends always say that I have a great body. One of the wives out here told the guys that I had the perfect body and all her friends were lusting after me ..... lol

I train to keep young!! It is the elixir of life!!

[kelkel]

Wow. Great idea for a thread and some great answers above.....

I started lifting because I was tired of being skinny. Once you see progress it motivates you even more. I see the majority of people my age and many much, much younger and can't imagine looking as they do and leading such an unhealthy existance. Basically they're just aging rapidly and wasting away in my opinion. There's no reason you can't maintain a great physique into middle age and beyond! The bodybuilding lifestyle has been nothing but positive for me and has opened so many doors in my life, both personally and professionally. I will be forever thankful I chose this path.

I'm sure when I started there were a myriad of reasons. Too skinny, weak, poor self-esteem, who knows!. As you continue your reasons for lifting evolve.

I lift because it makes me, well me. I do it for no one else.


kel

[BUTTERYGOODNESS]

Self esteem. Addiction. Self conscious. Confidence.

[evander87]

There are many reasons I lift but yes one of the main reasons is the control thing. I to think I control stuff at my job but ultimately I have to answer to the client so no real control there. With women? Oh come on. No control there what-so-ever. Motorcycle riding? For the most part I have control. But every once in a while a deer will jump out in front of you reminding you that again you're not completely in control.

Weights though I feel very in control of. Should I do one more set even though I'm tired and sore? Oh he'll yeah. That bar loaded and ready to go? It's gonna be me that moves it, or not.

Sure there are added benefits to lifting. Better sleep, more confidence, more attractive, heck being shape has given me the tools to go after another career. But in the end I'm in control of my fitness and that's a huge part of why I do what I do.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum

[gearbox]

I forgot to add I recently got married and my little brother in law (wifes little brother) who is a senior in high school and runs cross countryteam is 5'9 weighs 127. I would rather die then look like that!

[kelkel]

You will be near death if he reads that statement! Doghouse at least!

[CLAVHAMMER]

Im 31 and I know some of my posts sound juvenile but I do sometimes lift for 2 hours not just because it feels so good but because I wanna see how far I can push myself to the limit. I have been working out like this for years and I have never seriously injured myself, tho I do have a chiropractor app Monday to make adjustments.

[krugerr]

It started for me as a hobby, it meant as a kid I got to go with my dad to the gym. At 15 I was stacking most of the machines at the gym, although I must admit it was a fitness suite gym!

Now I lift because Im 6'4, I don't want to be that lanky streak of piss, or that tall fat guy. I want to be the guy that people stop and stare at because I'm just so ****ing big! I already get funny looks when I load up the bar for deadlifting at then pull 190kg.

My next goal, if you haven't seen my log, is to get to that beach body level. It seems that all I'm thinking about is eating, training and sleeping. It's a major part of my life!

[jklipouse]

Been lifting for last 2 years couple of months ago i stumbled across this website...hit the nutrition section and i must say i have seen better results in a few months than i have seen in a year and a half...i may not post all the time but i can say i read every single day i really get motivation from a lot of you guys here! Thanks! Its funny when i cant make it to the gym that day/days because of kids girl etc! Iam in the shitest mood ever crazy how that works i have a whole new outlooks on life/dieting/gym!

[lstbred]

I started this not to long ago (consistently), I started training because I needed/wanted to get in better shape for my BJJ to be able to hang with the youngin's, BJJ 98% and looks 2%. Now that Ive done it for awhile my attitude has changed a little. I only get to the gym 2-3 days a week, I find that I can spend 2 hours there and it doesnt matter, pretty enjoyable, my 2% looks has now went up to 5-10%. I dont think I'll compete in BJJ (right now) to much so I'm not real worried about weight, maybe I'll go for 240 (sitting 215 now) see what happens

[jklipouse]

Been lifting for last 2 years couple of months ago i stumbled across this website...hit the nutrition section and i must say i have seen better results in a few months than i have seen in a year and a half...i may not post all the time but i can say i read every single day i really get motivation from a lot of you guys here! Thanks! Its funny when i cant make it to the gym that day/days because of kids girl etc! Iam in the shitest mood ever crazy how that works i have a whole new outlooks on life/dieting/gym!

Reason why i started to lift was to stop smoking went from one addiction to another lol!

[austinite]

^ I'd say that's a pretty damn good trade-off.

[milky01623]

I started lifting as I was bet I couldn't stick the gym for 6 months

Well I'm still here 5 years later although I've only got really serious about 6 months ago but I can't ever see me stopping now

[GirlyGymRat]

for health reasons initially but i can't go back. clothes look better, fit better in a size 2 then a size 12. for that matter, EVERYTHING is better much better!!!!

i am having WAY too much FUN plus i have always been a bit vane

[MD2B]

I require the mental outlet. That moment when you are straining maximally under a barbell the mind is clear and your whole being is focused on one task at hand. Any benefits other than what I get out of it other than that are secondary.

[JohnnyVegas]

I have been lifting on and off since I was 16. Younger, if you count doing only curls in my room.

I have always felt self conscious about my body, even when I look good. I have been a very fat 235 (no lifting and unhappy marriage) and a very thin 160 (eating disorder when dieting from 235 after divorce).

Now the body image issues are worse than ever despite looking almost as good as I did in my 20s. I haven't been seen shirtless by anyone but my wife (two of them actually) in decades and I keep that to a minimum. I change out of my tank top immediately after getting home from the gym because I feel like a poser while wearing it.

Sometimes when I am out, I notice what normal guys look like and I can see that I look bigger and better then them, but when I am by myself in from of a mirror I look out of shape and small.

I keep pushing myself in the gym (I have been back for two years after a long back injury layoff) in the hopes that one day I will look in the mirror and see something that matches my expectations.

Damn, it sounds sad to say all that, but I am sure I am not the only one.