I will be surprised if anyone reads this through, but I thought I would lay down some of my contemplations.

I have thought about this a lot lately. Why does lifting seem to have such an inherent hold on people's mindsets? Why is it such a big thing if you aren't actually a competitor in some aspect of it?

I understand it if you are 'sculpting' yourself to be judged on a stage, if you are crushing yourself to be measured on a platform for a lift, or if you are training to succeed on the field, arena, or court. But, the rest of it, I don't get it.

I see so much stuff on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, here, and even a number of people in person - it has almost become a little curiosity to me.

You want to be healthy you say?
You work out, diet, try to get shredded, etc just because you want to be healthy? Logically, that doesn't really seem to fit (sure, working out can help you be healthy, but I find it hard to believe as a motivating factor at most of our ages - otherwise, the training would be much much different).
You can be healthy without lifting hundreds of pounds, without training for mass/hypertrophy, without counting every single macro that goes into your mouth, and shit, you will even be healthy if you miss a month of training.

You do it to get girls you say?
Well that doesn't make a lot of sense either. Sure, if you are morbidly obese and jiggle when you walk, that is not attractive to many of the opposite sex. But, getting jacked, in and of itself, will rarely, if ever, get you a date.
You probably, deep down, know it doesn't matter, but think it makes a difference anyway. That sort of things requires a bit of confidence and interest, not abs or broceps - for most women, it is a bonus, not a deal breaker.

You just like doing it you say?
That is fine - I can see that. There is a lot to enjoy about training and bettering yourself. But, why is it that those who truly enjoy something don't feel the need to incessantly show it off? Do you actually do it because you intrinsically enjoy it, or because you want people to think a certain way about you?
If you actually internally enjoy something, what is the reason for posting countless pictures for other guys to look at, arguing about numbers, or just trying to show how 'awesome' you are? Doing it, in and of it self, should be enough satisfaction without having to show off about it.

It has come to the point that I got to thinking a lot of the reason that people lift is so they can brag and talk about lifting, not because they actually do it. Or better yet, they really have no idea why they do what they do - it is just done because it seems that is what they are supposed to do to be "Alpha" (which I still don't understand). There seems to be that desire to try to show off about it, and it is all the easier to do it with the anonymity of the internet. The desire to get a nice stroke of the ego from a bunch of other bros looking for the same thing.

I am not immune to this, obviously, as I am here in this forum and have been here for years. But, I have looked and now recognized specific motives - I started training because of a sport, and I stopped when I was done with the sport. The only time I have picked training up was when I was considering the sport again. In the process, I have posted pictures, argued numbers, and 'talked shop', but I was aware that my training was for a sport. I like lifting, but I did it as a means to a specific and quantifiable end. I pointed my life in the direction of lifting in both alignment with a sport and in pursuit of a degree, so there was a clear reason behind it. I tend to analyze the shit out of things. So, I'm curious - if you were to analyze why you do it, what is the real and true reason you lift, not just the reason you want everyone else to think you lift?

the same reason people do their hair in the morning

Ive always been small, and i fking LOVE attention, if a scrawny fucker walks down the street in his nderwear people wont care that much, some aesthetic muscle gos walks down the street in just his underwear heads turn people talk.

In another way its kind of like a video game progression type mmorpg thing for me with real world rewards

I enjoy lifting. I enjoy being healthy and doing physical activities constantly. I enjoy the attention. I enjoy the respect i get. I'm also really competitive.



and last but not least...



umirinbrah?

To better myself.

for myself. Aesthetics is a pretty self explanatory reason.

this

Plus i think it might be safe to say that it does counteract the aging process..granted you are not taking unnecessary substances

i really do think that if i continue to exercise on a consistent basis with a high level of intensity & have a very nutritious diet i will live for quite a bit of time

This post was edited by Duckling on Sep 7 2014 03:34pm

small penis

I don't know that reason either.



These perspectives are interesting to me. I am personally not a fan of attention. I like doing things because I enjoy them - rarely will I get overly concerned about what others imply about me based on what I do, what I am, or how I look. Not saying that is a good thing or bad thing, just something I don't understand yet. (For example, I have a friend that consistently posts shirtless flexing pictures on Twitter and Snapchat Stories, almost every single day - I just don't get it).




Fair enough. As I said in the above quote, a lot of this is foreign to me. I don't really want attention, and not concerned with the approval of others. I am competitive, but internally - I set extremely high standards for myself and fight with them constantly, but I don't like competing with others if not necessary as it doesn't really get me anywhere (if my motivation is not intrinsic, then I don't put enough into it to get anything out of it). I do a lot of physical activities as well (was just practicing some stuff in the desert yesterday), just not in the weight room anymore.

A few in my group of friends are very opinionated and cynical about a lot of things that don't fall into a certain frame for them, and it bothers me. I try (don't always succeed) to not to give people shit about what they do, as there usually is a reason for it. So, 'mirin, no? Curious, yes.




I may partially understand you, as I believe you have discernible goals (you competed, and from my understanding, injuries allowing, will continue to do so?). It is those without discernible goals that I am trying to understand.




Same as my response to Aube. You seem to be very internally motivated, which I can relate to. I am just working on understanding the other side of it.




That is an interesting perspective as well. I never personally considered lifting as a means for longevity.




lol'd

To have a sexy body that I (and women) like.