What have you learned about life from weight-training?

**rimduglep** · 02-12-2015, 04:40 PM

Weight training is the most frustrating thing that I have ever kept at for any real length of time. In school, I was a gifted child. As a result, most things came easy to me and I didn't really learn how to work to get better at anything. If something was difficult, I just didn't do it and I got all of the validation I needed from the way that people noticed the things that I did well. The things that came hardest for me were always the social and physical activities. I was always the fastest of the slow runners, the inexplicably bad baseball player, and the weird guy that didn't understand how to talk to girls. So, I withdrew.

When I started lifting weights, I told myself that I was going to see it through. I had some goals in mind about my body, and I knew that if nothing else I could be very driven when I wanted to make something happen. I wasn't going to give up this time. I had become so used to giving up on things that were difficult for me that I really forgot how difficult those things were for me. I wrote my lack of success in some areas off to not trying hard enough. When I started lifting weights, I thought that just wanting it and trying hard enough and putting in the work would be enough to get me somewhere. As I have gone, that illusion has been shattered. To still be trying to do this, when I'm not getting the sorts of results that I want - well, it has truly humbled me. I now understand that the hard work I was scared of doing doesn't guarantee results. Sometimes you try your hardest and it doesn't amount to anything... To stick with something past that point builds a lot of character. You can call it a waste of time if you want, but I certainly enjoy the challenge. That's something I never enjoyed before lifting weights. I've learned to celebrate tiny victories and understand that there may not be any more coming for a long, long time.

**LordJasonGore** · 02-12-2015, 07:21 PM

1. Nothing worth doing is easy, and it sure as hell doesn't end quickly.

2. If your mind isn't ready for something, no amount of wishing will make it happen. It's not about "I want to be that", it's about "I really, really don't want to be this"

3. Continuous improvement over time is like the pebbles of an avalanche. Once you see the motion, it's almost impossible to stop.

4. Some times, you have to say screw it and go for a beer. If your life or your weights get too unbalanced, it's really dangerous.

Jason

**PhantomMaxx** · 02-12-2015, 11:55 PM

You sound like an intelligent guy, use that advantage to make bodybuilding work for you. There are some guys that are born with the genetic advantage and others through a lifetime of physical activities excel in transforming their body. But forget all that, as humans we can all lose weight or gain muscles it just a matter of time and commitment. Bodybuilding is a science. Read the nutrition section, calories and macro diets are about maintaining those numbers. Choose the right combination that works for your goals and then do the same for the workout program, 5x5 is a good start. What we do is not limited to big dudes and jocks anyone can do it if one really wants to.