What Motivates You To Train

[Poppy]

Why do YOU train? What motivates YOU to go to the gym and lift weights… bodybuilding…powerlifting…hobbyist…olympic lifting…

Why do YOU do it? It’s easier to sit on the couch and get high/drunk or eat crap and watch tv or play video games.

I personally have always had a very deep seeded interest in the human body, how it functions and especially how to make it perform at a higher level.

As I age I’m more focused on longevity and not being a target…frail old man that can be taken advantage of in one way or another.

I’m trekking on an adventure to see how far I can push my body while practicing harm reduction and maintain quality of life…and still tear the azz off a charging rhino if need be.

 

[Bigmurph6]

Those are really good reasons mine to me seem selfish but I like to workout just to look good and not be a fatass which I have let myself go twice in life and I hate when that happens.

I also though workout for my mental health as well as my physical health. It helps me very much control my anxiety and gives me an outlet that won’t get me a shiny set of bracelets lol I workout for stress and just life in general to get a release of what can feel like crushing weight on my shoulders.

I also workout to stay clean in my opinion its a great way to break the cycle of addiction by adding a workout plan to replace addiction(10yrs) and this has worked for so many tons of examples floating around all over the world.

If I ever find myself up against a rhino I definitely want to be prepared also @Poppy

 

[Poppy]

Those are NOT selfish. It’s YOUR reason to train brother. If that keeps you sane and drives you then THAT COUNTS!

I’m sure Mrs BigMurph appreciates a relatively sane BigMurph.

 

[Bigmurph6]

She does without a doubt I don’t know ive always felt my reasons were selfish and I don’t know why I know that’s really weird but I do feel like I have always had a selfish motive.
I don’t know if it makes sense because honestly it doesn’t even really make sense to me smh I don’t know

 

[Poppy]

It’s in ya though like the rest of us.

 

[Bigmurph6]

I agree with that

 

[jpkompa]

Great topic thanks for sharing brotha

 

[Kad1]

I’ve always trained to be harder to kill. When I was a kid I was skinny little twerp, Got bullied etc. so I started lifting to be stronger. Then as I got into more competitive athletics I trained to increase performance but also be harder to take down. I always wanted to know going head to head with someone that I was the stronger man and I would win. Didn’t always workout but I tried. Lol . As I got into my late teens early 20’s I got into natural bodybuilding and got more interested in the the health aspects of training but still trained to be harder to kill. One of my first fighting coaches told me when skill amd technique are close, strength wins. So again I focused on always being the stronger fighter. I almost always was but didn’t mean I always won. Skill amd techniques weren’t always even. Lol. Took my fair share of beatings. The thing I believe allowed me to take that punishment was my level of strength and fitness. That holds true today. I still train to be hard to kill and know that when shot hits the fan I can dominate most people in most situations.

 

[Bigmurph6]

What motivates you brother @jpkompa

 

[PNWmuscle]

For myself is mental well being. My physical appearance and fitness level I believe is directly correlated to my mental well being, and vice versa. If I feel strong, look good, then good chance I’m in a good mental state. If I look like shit, good chance I mentally feel like shit also. Both go hand in hand, and I believe I have the most control over my physical output in the gym which in turn mentally puts me in a better place. Good discipline habits as well. Being consistent and patient I believe is the key to success in all areas of life, and a easy place to start is fitness.

 

[herrubermensch]

Here are my reasons, pretty much in order:

1. It makes me feel better about myself.
2. It gives me energy and focus when I otherwise would be listless and bored.
3. Gives me tremendous sexual confidence.
4. It projects the appearance (whether true or not!) of having my shit together.
5. In many (but certainly not all, e.g., against @Kad1), it gives me the advantage in a fight. I live in a major metropolitan city, have a young wife, and every 20-something douchebag thinks they can oogle your wife and be rude and push you around. Not when they see me.

 

[herrubermensch]

Great answers in this thread! Candid. Love it.

 

[Kad1]

I like to let those guys by my wife’s drinks. Cracks me up.

 

[Bigmurph6]

The thing I believe allowed me to take that punishment was my level of strength and fitness.

This is absolutely true ive crashed 2 times on motorcycles 50+mph and both times I had to ditch and my strength and muscle as armor I believe saved me twice being able to walk away once and hobble with a broken foot once. Having a strong frame I really contribute to me still being alive and well.

 

[Kad1]

For sure

 

[Bigmurph6]

That’s on point you have to be ready for anything at anytime its a crazy world especially in the cities.

 

[herrubermensch]

We went to an outdoor Counting Crows concert a few years ago, and it was un-fucking believable how rude the younger set was. Finally, when some dude stepped on my wife’s toes after I had asked him to move a couple of times, I erupted and was about to beat the ever-loving shit out of the guy until his girlfriend pushed him away from me through the crowd and he ran.

 

[Bigmurph6]

My physical appearance and fitness level I believe is directly correlated to my mental well being, and vice versa

I agree brother I can really relate to your post.
I really like your answer to this question brother @PNWmuscle its real talk.

 

[Bigmurph6]

pushed him away from me through the crowd and he ran.

They always run what happened to standing your ground and taking a couple of punches.

 

[jpkompa]

Honestly gentleman growing up in Fort Lauderdale FL you really don’t have an option it’s rather sink or swim when it comes to lifting. Your constantly in competition with everyone trying to be the that dude and it most definitely can take its toll on you! It’s not normal for 15,16yr old kids taking AAS but we ALL did smh but that’s the lifestyle down there. Your going to the beach everyday so your always in that state of mind of keep your swool 24/7…also the “squirrel” down there is out of this world so I basically stayed in shape. It’s all about your environment and the people you surround yourself with! With that being said females have been my inspiration and embracing the gifts god gave me