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2003/09/02, 12:02 PM
How do you stay focused to go in the gym day after day time after time? For some it is health issues, to look good. For some it is to be strong or for sports. But what about the average joe? I think of myself as one and therefor know a little about the reasons we got back. I call it the Ability to do things Easily. What does this mean? It means that I can use these muscles for everday use. I can lift that rock in the yard. I can move most if not all furniture by myself. Carrying 14-20 plastic grocery bags in one hand and a 40lb bag of dog food over the other should is not out of my range. I see other guys and gals that most would label fit hardly able to open doors to buildings in a stiff wind. Not me it just comes right open. My wife says that I am not normal and it is not good to say "I can not believe that guy needed help to lift that" I do that a lot. I think that a small part of me is vain and I love that. I know that not all can lift a 200lb chunk of concrete, but hey I did work to reach that point. There is a trend to get that flashy "show" muscle/body. Some old time Bodybuilders like Franco and Arnold were not only great body builders but also world class powerlifters. They had the shape of the muscle but also and functionality of it as well. So if to look good is you prime drive to be in the gym good but do not forget the everyday value of being strong and fit! I think for a lot that is something being missed. I see it a lot in my gym, those always doing bench and curls. hardly any do deadlifts, squats, cleans etc. So take advantage of the gym for all its ascepts and lift hard!!!
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Eat More, Drink More, and Lift Harder than you thought you could, welcome to Becoming!
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2003/09/02, 01:23 PM
Hehe, I couldn't agree more. When people would ask my why I go to the gym everyday I would tell them "You never know..."
I mean you never know when your going to need your strength, endurance or speed to pull yourself out of a tight spot. It may even save your, or even someone elses life.
Imagine finding yourself falling off a dock near the ocean, just as the tide is going out. All you have to save yourself is a rope someone threw down to you. The current is incredibly strong and an out-of-shape person would have ran out of strength by now, but you who spent hours in the gym training are able to fight the currents power and pull yourself to safety. Yeah, its an extreme circumstance... But you never know.
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- Its never about how much you can lift, or how many reps you do. Its just about doing it, and doing it right.
~Brad~
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2003/09/02, 01:35 PM
Yeah, it was pretty cool helping my husband break up a cast iron tub this weekend and carry out the debris with more ease than I expected. I would look at a huge chunk of tile and concrete and think ' this is going to be a bitch' and then, to my suprise, I would lift it right up and caryy it out with relative ease.
I may not look like a physique model, but at least I don't have to ask anyone for help carrying those big bags of dogfood.
I stress the importance of function in strength and fitness to my clients, weight loss and appearance are great side benefits, but being in your sixties and carrying your own groceries up 3 flights of stairs with ease means a lot more. (my client in her sixties, not me...)
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Challenge + Consistency = Results
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2003/09/02, 02:58 PM
It feels good to be in this body - I remember the old one too well. Its also a head game - can I increase the weight I lift?, can I lose 2 pounds?, can I gain 2 pounds?, can I run another mile? And it pisses off some people who tell me I work out too much - funny they don't mention that when they ask me to carry stuff for them.
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2003/09/02, 03:42 PM
lol. I have always said there is a lot more to exercise than the asthetic benefit. It lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. It is a natural tranquilizer, great for stress. It builds up muscle mass thus making you much less frail as you get older. It builds bone mass. We get energy and strength. A million benefits.
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