I was pretty much skin and bones as a teenager. Like, we're talking 6'1 and between 130-140 pounds. A stiff breeze could probably have knocked me over. Didn't have any eating disorders or...
I was pretty much skin and bones as a teenager. Like, we're talking 6'1 and between 130-140 pounds. A stiff breeze could probably have knocked me over. Didn't have any eating disorders or anything, I was just a lazy fuck who valued 10 extra minutes in WoW over going to the fridge. I tried going to the gym a few times during this period in my life, but after struggling to bench just the bar, I got pretty demotivated real quick. Even my mom, who's only about 5'2, could easily beat me in an arm wrestle.
Then I read a quote about my generation being the first one weaker than their fathers, and at that point I guess it kinda struck me. My dad is approaching 70, but the man still plays tennis 3 times a week, works out, and does massive yardwork/renovations on his own with no help. It dawned on me that any time I offered to help him over the years, he'd always be the one doing the heavy lifting, despite the fact that he's over 40 years my senior. So I just started to go, and forced myself to keep going.
Been about 4 or 5 years since I made that decision, and I've kept a consistent workout schedule. Self confidence skyrocketed, I look better, and now it feels weird if I don't work out.
I remember being in the same boat. I had trouble with the bar, couldn't do a pull-up, squatted next to nothing, struggled deadlifting like 2/3rds of my bodyweight. It's amazing what just a few...
after struggling to bench just the bar
I remember being in the same boat. I had trouble with the bar, couldn't do a pull-up, squatted next to nothing, struggled deadlifting like 2/3rds of my bodyweight.
It's amazing what just a few years in a gym can do for you, let alone longer. I know plenty of people who've come to me for advice, including people who I consider more active than me (albeit not stronger).
We all start somewhere, and it really doesn't matter where that somewhere is. I love to tell people I used to struggle with the bar, because it really inspires them to keep hitting the weights. If I can do it, so can you.
I ended up moving next to a small mountain and heard there were people who hiked up it every day. I've always found exercise hopelessly boring and had a hard time sticking with it, so I decided to...
I ended up moving next to a small mountain and heard there were people who hiked up it every day. I've always found exercise hopelessly boring and had a hard time sticking with it, so I decided to try this trail to see if hiking would be any different for me. It was. I've been one of those every (week)day people for a year now.
A close friend once said, "You're not fat, but you're pushing it". That was a wake-up call. Started working out the next week and now I'm in to power lifting and setting new PRs!
A close friend once said, "You're not fat, but you're pushing it". That was a wake-up call. Started working out the next week and now I'm in to power lifting and setting new PRs!
I was doing wrestling in High School, and ended up with a lunch period during my first year which was out of step with most kids in my grade. The shoe tag to use the gym only cost ten dollars, so...
I was doing wrestling in High School, and ended up with a lunch period during my first year which was out of step with most kids in my grade. The shoe tag to use the gym only cost ten dollars, so I figured that would be a good use of my time.
I hit 190lbs at 6' and was not muscular. My stomach was starting to really stick out. ~10 years later I'm back to 190 and probably 15% less bodyfat. feelsgoodman
I hit 190lbs at 6' and was not muscular. My stomach was starting to really stick out.
~10 years later I'm back to 190 and probably 15% less bodyfat.
I started being unable to wear certain clothes, after finding out I could use the university gym pretty cheaply I finally comitted. I now fit all of my old clothes again, but caring more about...
I started being unable to wear certain clothes, after finding out I could use the university gym pretty cheaply I finally comitted.
I now fit all of my old clothes again, but caring more about myself also meant realizing they were full of holes and some of them I've had for over 5 years. So they're probably going to get tossed out anyways. But hey: I still did it.
I heard about exercising out of depression and was allured by the prospect of increased self esteem through improved body image. Didn't really work out but got me interested in fitness nonetheless.
I heard about exercising out of depression and was allured by the prospect of increased self esteem through improved body image. Didn't really work out but got me interested in fitness nonetheless.
I've been at various levels of fitness over the past 40 years, but right now I'm working out for three main reasons: I want to have as much time with my kids as possible I want to be better at...
I've been at various levels of fitness over the past 40 years, but right now I'm working out for three main reasons:
I want to have as much time with my kids as possible
I want to be better at Ultimate than I am. I'm a heck of a handler when I can get to the disc, but I'm pretty easy to shut down in a one-on-one.
I was always absurdly obese: I was at least 300lbs in high school and I could not remember a time when I was less than 250lbs. At my worst, I was at 350lbs. I was eating so much to cope with some...
I was always absurdly obese: I was at least 300lbs in high school and I could not remember a time when I was less than 250lbs. At my worst, I was at 350lbs. I was eating so much to cope with some personal problems, so it wasn't like I didn't know why I was so overweight.
Then one day, I just decided to cut it out and started dieting. A little while after starting, I figured I should start working out too because I thought that was just what people in my situation did. After a year and a half, I went down to around 180lbs, and even though my diet has waned, I just kinda kept going to the gym. It's a habit now, I don't feel good if I miss a few days.
I'm not working towards any goals or anything like that. I developed a little workout regiment when I first started going to the gym, and that's just what I do now. I do notice some differences sometimes though, and I like to joke about how gains are life.
I was pretty much skin and bones as a teenager. Like, we're talking 6'1 and between 130-140 pounds. A stiff breeze could probably have knocked me over. Didn't have any eating disorders or anything, I was just a lazy fuck who valued 10 extra minutes in WoW over going to the fridge. I tried going to the gym a few times during this period in my life, but after struggling to bench just the bar, I got pretty demotivated real quick. Even my mom, who's only about 5'2, could easily beat me in an arm wrestle.
Then I read a quote about my generation being the first one weaker than their fathers, and at that point I guess it kinda struck me. My dad is approaching 70, but the man still plays tennis 3 times a week, works out, and does massive yardwork/renovations on his own with no help. It dawned on me that any time I offered to help him over the years, he'd always be the one doing the heavy lifting, despite the fact that he's over 40 years my senior. So I just started to go, and forced myself to keep going.
Been about 4 or 5 years since I made that decision, and I've kept a consistent workout schedule. Self confidence skyrocketed, I look better, and now it feels weird if I don't work out.
I remember being in the same boat. I had trouble with the bar, couldn't do a pull-up, squatted next to nothing, struggled deadlifting like 2/3rds of my bodyweight.
It's amazing what just a few years in a gym can do for you, let alone longer. I know plenty of people who've come to me for advice, including people who I consider more active than me (albeit not stronger).
We all start somewhere, and it really doesn't matter where that somewhere is. I love to tell people I used to struggle with the bar, because it really inspires them to keep hitting the weights. If I can do it, so can you.
I wanted to impress a girl who was fit and outdoorsy. Now I'm fit and outdoorsy, but I don't talk to the girl. Such is life.
Fit girls come and go, but gains are for life
Got winded walking to my car. After that I was like, “Okay. I need to do something about this.”
I ended up moving next to a small mountain and heard there were people who hiked up it every day. I've always found exercise hopelessly boring and had a hard time sticking with it, so I decided to try this trail to see if hiking would be any different for me. It was. I've been one of those every (week)day people for a year now.
A close friend once said, "You're not fat, but you're pushing it". That was a wake-up call. Started working out the next week and now I'm in to power lifting and setting new PRs!
i can sympathize with this, except parents instead of friend
i appreciated it honestly. my parents have always been pretty blunt but they care for me
I was doing wrestling in High School, and ended up with a lunch period during my first year which was out of step with most kids in my grade. The shoe tag to use the gym only cost ten dollars, so I figured that would be a good use of my time.
I hit 190lbs at 6' and was not muscular. My stomach was starting to really stick out.
~10 years later I'm back to 190 and probably 15% less bodyfat.
feelsgoodman
I started being unable to wear certain clothes, after finding out I could use the university gym pretty cheaply I finally comitted.
I now fit all of my old clothes again, but caring more about myself also meant realizing they were full of holes and some of them I've had for over 5 years. So they're probably going to get tossed out anyways. But hey: I still did it.
I heard about exercising out of depression and was allured by the prospect of increased self esteem through improved body image. Didn't really work out but got me interested in fitness nonetheless.
I've been at various levels of fitness over the past 40 years, but right now I'm working out for three main reasons:
That's the order of importance as well.
I was always absurdly obese: I was at least 300lbs in high school and I could not remember a time when I was less than 250lbs. At my worst, I was at 350lbs. I was eating so much to cope with some personal problems, so it wasn't like I didn't know why I was so overweight.
Then one day, I just decided to cut it out and started dieting. A little while after starting, I figured I should start working out too because I thought that was just what people in my situation did. After a year and a half, I went down to around 180lbs, and even though my diet has waned, I just kinda kept going to the gym. It's a habit now, I don't feel good if I miss a few days.
I'm not working towards any goals or anything like that. I developed a little workout regiment when I first started going to the gym, and that's just what I do now. I do notice some differences sometimes though, and I like to joke about how gains are life.