Why do you lift/train/bodybuild?

[jhc]

Just curious. I, personally, have no interest in getting huge (though I have no problem with anyone doing whatever they want to their own bodies), I'm just curious as to what the typical rationale is for getting ever more massive muscles. Is it to look good? To attract women/men? Psychological satisfaction (either an uber macho thing or as a sense of accomplishment)? Competitive sport? Vanity? Does it become addictive? It's fun to be a badass? Bigger is better? A desire to emulate those whom you admire? Health/Fitness? Some combination of these? Something else?

This isn't intended as any kind of dis or anything like that. I'm simply curious as to your personal motivations. I'm also curious as to if/how your opinions of "normal" guys might change?

And since I'm on a roll with the questions here, how do you react to women (or men, if that's your thing) who find large muscles to be "gross?" Do you tend to have a "to each his own" sort of attitude, or does it piss you off?

Thanks for your time,

JC

 

[Iliketolift]

Money, Girls, Health, Fame

 

[jhc]

Money, Girls, Health, Fame

OK, I understand the girls and the health (to a point) bits, but I'm not sure I get the money and fame parts. Do you bodybuild competitively or model professionally or something?

 

[vin01]

i do it because it has become ingrained into my lifestyle. i also do it to see what i am capable of, strength-wise. of course, this all stemmed originally from the "bigger is better" and "strength rules all" lines of thinking.

 

[Iliketolift]

OK, I understand the girls and the health (to a point) bits, but I'm not sure I get the money and fame parts. Do you bodybuild competitively or model professionally or something?

soon enough...soon enough

 

[monkey_boi]

I agree with vin01. Its become part of my lifestyle. I want to keep pushing my body to its limit and then beyond it. Looking better is a bonus but for me lifting those heavy weights is my goal.

 

[EnderJE]

When I was younger, I did it to get the chicks. Now that I'm married with two kids, I do it for an escape from my life (I don't drink or smoke). My time at the gym gives me time to plan out my day or my future.

You'd be surprised how clearly you think when you're squatting a PR.

 

[silver_shadow]

Just curious. I, personally, have no interest in getting huge (though I have no problem with anyone doing whatever they want to their own bodies), I'm just curious as to what the typical rationale is for getting ever more massive muscles. Is it to look good? To attract women/men? Psychological satisfaction (either an uber macho thing or as a sense of accomplishment)? Competitive sport? Vanity? Does it become addictive? It's fun to be a badass? Bigger is better? A desire to emulate those whom you admire? Health/Fitness? Some combination of these? Something else?

This isn't intended as any kind of dis or anything like that. I'm simply curious as to your personal motivations. I'm also curious as to if/how your opinions of "normal" guys might change?

And since I'm on a roll with the questions here, how do you react to women (or men, if that's your thing) who find large muscles to be "gross?" Do you tend to have a "to each his own" sort of attitude, or does it piss you off?

Thanks for your time,

JC

why is it that all the questions that came to mind were not necessarily positive if one was a "normal" guy who was never bitten by the bug?
i started out cuz i was 130 lbs at 5 ft 10 - i just wanted to be a normal healthy weight and i also toyed with the idea of becoming a part time model for some extra money. as i became more involved i started treating it more and more as a sport. i've always been into sports - in school and college it was running and soccer. if other people play sports like tennis/badminton/golf/whatever, then for me it is weightlifting.
as far as people finding muscles gross - i have a theory on that. i find that if someone is stupid or narcisistic then people find THAT repulsive in particular and inevitably large muscles get blamed as the cause. i have never had anyone behave like that with me... i don't fit into the stereotype that normal people have made up of big and stupid... i'm a regular guy with a regular techie job (network architect) who has an interest in "fitness" and "bodybuilding" as far as they are concerned - or so it seems

 

[silver_shadow]

oh yea... one last thing. yes my opinion about the "normal" people has changed. i see almost everyone to be lacking discipline and commitment. someone might say that those guys are committed to their job and that's enough... but then so am i. i don't expect everyone to be big and muscular but fitness and health is something that everyone should be committed to and yet most of the population is going to drop out of a fitness program rather quickly and then crib about how they can't find enough time to stay in shape - yet they can always find time for a drink/fag/party. i get comments like "i don't know how you can be so committed" all the time.

 

[Illuminati]

Just curious. I, personally, have no interest in getting huge (though I have no problem with anyone doing whatever they want to their own bodies), I'm just curious as to what the typical rationale is for getting ever more massive muscles. Is it to look good? To attract women/men? Psychological satisfaction (either an uber macho thing or as a sense of accomplishment)? Competitive sport? Vanity? Does it become addictive? It's fun to be a badass? Bigger is better? A desire to emulate those whom you admire? Health/Fitness? Some combination of these? Something else?

This isn't intended as any kind of dis or anything like that. I'm simply curious as to your personal motivations. I'm also curious as to if/how your opinions of "normal" guys might change?

And since I'm on a roll with the questions here, how do you react to women (or men, if that's your thing) who find large muscles to be "gross?" Do you tend to have a "to each his own" sort of attitude, or does it piss you off?

Thanks for your time,

JC

Who cares if people think that "large muscles are gross." They can all eat shit and like that, cause there are plenty of women out there that like men with "large muscles." Its the people that have no desire to get their lazy asses into the gym that are the ones who have this perception.

Why do I lift? So that I can answer questions like this one...




















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