I’ve been weightlifting at the gym with my brother at least 2-3 days a week for the last 2 months. I recently noticed a week or so ago, after my workouts, the soreness has decreased in the days following, tremendously. No longer am I walking around with locked knees because my legs are going to give out, or with T-rex arms because my biceps are locked up solid.
I love the feeling I get after I come back, and my body feels totally relaxed and used up. I have noticed I get anxious if I go more than a couple of days without going.
Physically I’ve noticed my muscles have started getting harder, like they are flexing even when they are at rest. I’ve started losing weight, my wife has mentioned it multiple times, and when I feel parts of my body throughout the day, it feels like certain places where fat had built up are now “smaller”. I also notice that just moving around has gotten easier. Getting up from seated, while squatted, climbing stairs and ladders, moving furniture etc, has all gotten a little bit easier. I haven’t gotten on the scale, but I suspect I’ve lost maybe 10 pounds, but it might be more. I’m still probably 40 pounds overweight so there is plenty more room to improve.
Mentally, I’ve noticed my confidence has grown and I feel much more comfortable with my body. I have the confidence to start limiting my calories in a meaningful way now, and I’m also currently psyching myself up to start running on my off days.
I used to dread gym days, but now, I get excited to push myself and crave the broken down feeling it used to give me when I was more out of shape.
I think the drive that keeps me going back, is the fear of losing what I’ve gained.
Anyways, what has kept the rest of you going? How long have you been going and how long until you feel like you started hitting your goals? Any advice for someone like me in this early stage?
Much love, thanks everyone!
Discipline in the beginning. After 9 months it has become a habit.
You are right! It’s ALWAYS discipline because motivation only drives you some of the time. Motivation = I want to go Discipline - I have to go even thou I don’t feel motivated.
I tell people that want to start that motivation is overrated. If you wait until you feel motivated you may never go. I don’t wash the dishes because I’m motivated to do so. I do it because it has to be done. If you want the benefits of going to the gym the work has to be done.
This goes for anything. For example, if you want to make a video game, you’ll probably lose motivation half way through because of the struggles and the time it takes. With discipline, you’ll work your way through it. My motivation usually wavers a lot for anything, so discipline really helps me until it becomes a habit after doing it so much.
It’s changed over time and will probably keep changing.
When I first started off in high school, I was primarily driven to get stronger for sports I played at the time i.e. (American) football and tennis. In college, my drive was mainly for vain reasons. I liked the way weightlifting made me look and that brought confidence in myself. After college, the vanity aspect was still there but I also started really getting into Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting, so that pushed me to get stronger in cleans, snatches, squats, etc. Now that I’m a parent, my drive is mostly to push off the “dad bod” stereotype from happening and making sure I stay physically fit enough to keep up with my kid, who’s relentless and won’t stay still. I’d love to be able to hit the gym with him once he’s a bit older.
Besides from these things that drove me, like others have said, it really just became a habit and part of my daily routine.
Oh brother I am living what you actively stave off. It’s no fun having your kid run laps around your tired old ass haha
Thanks for the insight friend
I am but a simple creature. I get some kind of primal satisfaction from going to the gym and lifting heavy things so that I can lift even heavier things in the future.
I’ve worked out every day the last few years. At this point the habit is so strong, it’s not about “what keeps me going” but “what could stop me from going” – I’ve had all the excuses in the world to miss a workout. It’s just a part of who I am now.
Aside from the health benefits, for me it’s probably a lot of vanity. I like looking good because it makes me feel good!
I will wholeheartedly admit it’s easier for me because I grew up in a weightlifting household, so I also just enjoy moving progressively heavier things…
Happy for you and your gains.
I go first thing in the morning so I feel like I’ve achieved something already. It’s the simplest part of my day.
I keep going as it’s my routine and I’d like to get the changes you described.
Same. The later it gets, the less likely I am to go so I just get up and go first thing. It’s amazing how fast you can break the gym habit if its not part of your daily routine.
I didn’t want to get a stereotypical dadbod. Then I got powerlifting blackpilled and ended up fat af anyways. Cutting down lately and doing more bodybuilding stuff.
What does ‘powerlifting blackpilled’ mean?
According to Urban Dictionary:
The Blackpill is basically the ultimative and hardest to swallow Redpill.
It is about realizing nothing matters and there is nothing you can do that will change anything, it depraves you of all positive thought and makes you want to get some sort of meaning out of this limited time we have.
Basically extreme nihilism. That’s why its not a called a red pill, since beyond that. “John took the blackpill recently. He is depressed since that…” “Tell him to just take the Bluepill then” “Impossible. once you go black you’ll never go back”
I reckon @[email protected] realised they were not going to be Kaz, got depressed then put on (bad) weight.
Thanks for the detailed explanation, Lem-friend. So this means some people think lifting is pointless?
Well, clearly some people do. If not everyone would have a squat rack at home
I think that in this case it means that the person who “gets blackpilled” is getting disappointed, to the point of depression, with their perceived lack of progress. Even if that “lack of progress” is because they are not a once in a generation genetic freak.
Im pretty much going to the gym 6 times a week. Still a lot of fat to lose, but it has become a habit now. Started 8 weeks ago and now, it feels strange NOT to go to the gym. Habits > motivation
In terms of vanity, my wife likes the results and so do I. I also recently had a general checkup and the doctor found exactly nothing, which is pretty rare for a guy the wrong side of 40. As an aside, I am in better shape than when I was in my 20s which is pretty encouraging too.
I also give myself no excuses. I do not pay for a gym membership, I work from home and my squat rack is right next to my desk. If I have a “read-only” meeting I can bang a bunch of deadlifts while listening. I have an awesome employer who has no problem with me fielding meetings from my phone in the woods (as long as I am sensible, which I am) while running.
I wasn’t consistent for a long time. I recently started back, because I know that it’s all down hill from here and if I want to continue my streak of never having broken a bone, I need to get lifting.
To be a good influence. My 7 year old wants to start weightlifting to get stronger for her gymnastics classes, so I’ve been teaching her the basics, stuff to do with dumbbells because I don’t have a bar she can lift yet, as well as yoga and good eating habits. Honestly, sometimes she’s a better influence on me to get out there.
I’ve been lifting 2-3x per week for a few years now. First it’s intimidating. Then it’s exciting and builds confidence.
But after a while it becomes routine. I don’t think about it much- it’s a thing I do, just like doing the dishes and laundry, as a part of my week that keeps my life on track.
I’ll admit my goals may be different- I don’t generally max out weight, and my goal is to maintain or slowly build muscle for other tennis, rock climbing, and overall aging well. But I’m able to do those things because gym time and building strength is as important as clean clothes and a clean kitchen.
I started lifting weights before the birth of my 1st son. I wanted to be a strong fit dad and not a fat dad my son would be ashamed of. It’s worked so far. 3+ years in and I am in the best shape of my life. Workout 3 times per week between 5:30AM and 7AM, as it’s the only time slot compatible with family and work. We’re all gonna make it!
I’ve not had a gym membership since before COVID. Despite being vaxxed, boosted, and having had it once before, I don’t see myself ever becoming comfortable with the idea of joining an indoor gym. I also hate (American) fitness culture, a view that COVID solidified, so there’s zero desire to be around anyone else anyway. I just want to be able to age well and maintain my independence.
What got me to start working out: Almost 10 years ago, I went from doing manual labor (warehouse, construction, etc) to writing code for a living. It has its perks, like no longer being near the poverty line and having a consistent work schedule. But I knew that a desk job is the fastest way to end up sick and out of shape, a suspicion that was 10000% confirmed when I met my first boss. Dude was 5’10” and easily 400 lbs. After my first day at that job, I joined a cheap gym and bought a pair of running shoes. A few months later, I’d completed my first 5K. After couple of years and a few injuries and stern lectures from my chiro, I started strength training.
Why I do it now: Admittedly, I’ve not been 100% consistent over the years because of injury/illness (outside of my control) and work (something I need to get better about, as the company is only concerned with money, not my well-being). I couldn’t run or lift much for two years because I had a suprapubic catheter and I was one of those unlucky people who pees blood if I run or even walk too fast. But I got lucky and learned about adaptive fitness and that my employer would reimburse some fitness-related expenses, so I was able to work with a trainer until the catheter came out. Then last year I got a high-paying but high-pressure job, which made it too easy to skip workouts due to deadlines or emergencies. So I’ve been playing catch-up and I’ve had to learn to be patient but not complacent. I’ve also had to learn to be nice to myself when I slip up, otherwise what’s the point? While I haven’t always been consistent, I have been persistent. Ultimately, I just want to be able to haul my own groceries into the house even when I’m 80.
Awesome gains friend! I’ve been into lifting ever since high school and college soccer workouts. I got addicted to the feeling of achieving PRs and just the general release of the days’ frustrations, the flow of listening to music while lifting, and of course the gains that come both physically and mentally. It’s become both a habit and a hobby, because it’s something I enjoy so much.
