When did you start lifting?

[Youts]

Bored at work (maybe I should be working?), But I always like to hear what got people into the gym, when they started, anything they’ve noticed that’s different now, I always find it fun to look back I guess, maybe it just come with hitting 40.

I started officially when I was 12 or 13 was in 8th grade, I remember growing up and I’d put cinder blocks on a broom stick and try to curl those haha.
The atmosphere at gyms seems to me to be a lot different now than it was in the 90’s. There doesn’t seem to be as much serious lifters, at least in my area, and people aren’t as helpful to newbies as they used to be. Maybe it’s just nostalgia, always thinking things were better when you were younger, just something about the gym atmosphere is different these days, I blame social media.

 

[Raphael3636]

I pretty much started in highschool for sports , I really got serious about lifting after joining the Army.

 

[Youts]

I remember waking up early and watching Lee Haney early in the morning do his workout show, when those used to be popular. Not sure if anyone remembers muscle media 2000, but remember when that magazine was a printout stapled together, was the first time I ever heard anything about roids and the pros, was a real eye opener.

 

[Cathead]

Loved watching Lee Haney! He would always say “best exercise to build overall mass and quality”.

 

[TBU]

Seriously lifting? I’d say in my early 20s. In the Marines. I mean I lifted in high school and got into it. But The Marines with other Jarheads I really got that competition thing going. So started around 14 ish I guess. But really dedicated around 23-24 I would say. And by dedication I mean diet. Training logs. Supplements. Never miss a day of training.

 

[Youts]

I started a paper route so I didn’t have to listen to my dad bitch about my gym membership haha, fucking cheapskate.

 

[TBU]

That’s classic. My old man was the same way.

 

[John]

I got tired of being 175 lbs n skinny

 

[Youts]

I always found it funny how much nicer people are too you when you are a serious lifter. I deal with people over the phone and they will cuss you out like no one’s business, and then come down to the office to cuss you out some more till they see you and then it’s pleasantries.

 

[Dirtnasty]

8th grade was super serious. I had strength shoes just to train to better myself for football. StopPed when I was done with college ball then got super serious I told drugs. Now back to the gym and not really into recreational stuff anymore.

 

[BigDogg]

Started at 12 for wrestling. Got serious in high school still for wrestling. High school coach was an '84 Olympic alternate so I learned a lot from him and he pushed us hard. I was 142 at 12 and 160 at 16. One year without wrestling and I was 200 still around 12%. Been lifting ever since minus a couple short times off.

 

[JB_rD81]

I played hockey and football growing up, I started lifting in 8th grade to get bigger for high school sports. I played hockey, football and ran track in high school so I continued to lift for sports, I threw shotput in college and started to compete in powerlifting then as well, that’s when I got the real “itch” and started to get serious about my lifting…

 

[Thatboyjon]

I started lifting my junior year in highschool. Was very skinny and had extremely bad acne. Signed up at my local la fitness and fell in love with the gym. Now I’ve been training for 7 years and have kids coming up to me asking for advice. Great feeling