Why did you start lifting?

[Fiend_73]

As a fat kid I just wanted some veins in my forearms.

[coooolguy]

I was fat and only 32 at the time and if I don't get back into my after lifting for the last 3 years I will be right where I started!!

[mharrislove]

The infusion of cheap, highly addictive drugs in large urban areas during the 80's made rough places to live even more violent. I used to dread each summer because the sweltering heat would always spike an increase in knucklehead behavior, but the new drug economy seemed to turn fisticuffs or knife fights into gun fights.

One day I walked into a store and spied a magazine with a bodybuilder on the cover. I was amazed by the cartoon-like development achieved by the men on those pages. I did not mistake muscles for a kevlar vest, but somehow, I thought that they might aid my survival. I begged my mom for a weight set and promised to keep my grades up. After the next report card arrived, I soon had a fresh, plastic-encased, cement set of K-mart weights. There was no bench, no rack, just a 90 lb set with a curl bar and 2 dumbbell bars...I was beyond excited.

Momma didn't raise no fool. I took several rides on my ten-speed bike to transport the weights to grandma's garage. Over time, I cajoled the neighborhood kids to pool their weights with mine so we could have our own "gym." By the next summer, we had 235 lbs and a bench with a rack attachment! No, muscles didn't stop the bullets from flying, but they ended up having unintended consequences. Alcohol didn't seem so exciting anymore...it might screw up my workout. The same for smoking. And when guys wanted to go out to find some trouble, I was like, "Naw, man...I'm training back tomorrow. I gotta' get up in the morning." In the heat of summer, I took off my shirt, opened the garage door and trained. In the dead of winter, I put on 3 sweatshirts, closed the garage door and trained. Once I started a proper job with W-2 forms and all ($3.65 an hour, baby), I joined the Powerhouse Gym #1 near downtown Detroit.

I started middle school as the "quiet guy that reads a lot" and entered high school as "the dude with those arms." And for what it's worth, I never had trouble on the streets after I entered high school. Some of it was dumb luck, and some of it had to do with the company I chose to keep...but I have to tell you, the muscle didn't hurt.

[agsuper]

To get big.

[EMISGOD]

Originally Posted by Pio

Everyone has different reasons, but mine was when I became type 2 diabetic.
Most of the reasons I hear are to lose weights, and/or to look good for the babes! lol
What's your reason?

I started because I had a lot of free time on my hands and then found I loved it...I drifted away because I drifted away...I resumed because I wanted to avoid Type 2 Diabetes...

[socket]

i was tired of getting my arse kicked on and off the field. now its to stay in shape so i can compete on the field.....and of course keep up with the kids.

[otey21712]

1)Tired of being tired.
2)Three children. 14, 9, & 1. Want to be around to see the one year old grow up.
3)Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Given prednisone for "flareup" turned diabetic. Told by nuerologist to lose weight and exercise.
4)Makes me feel great about myself when I go to the gym.

[yakabebe]

Originally Posted by otey21712

1)Tired of being tired.
2)Three children. 14, 9, & 1. Want to be around to see the one year old grow up.
3)Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Given prednisone for "flareup" turned diabetic. Told by nuerologist to lose weight and exercise.
4)Makes me feel great about myself when I go to the gym.

Why? Just have a gander at my pic in '04.

Geezzzzzz.......nuff to make ANYONE start a turnaround!

Or...it outta!

[JoeyDoyle2]

back in late 2005,i was way over weight,was going through a divorce and was very depressed about myself,and i went to my doctor for a checkup,he told me to diet,excercise etc,have high cholesterol..........joined a gym and told the trainer,I wanted to be in the best shape of my life within my joining the gym,so in jan.2006 i started and weight was at 285,by september i was down to 240,and felt like i was in my 20's again...thus i got into powerlifting....my weight has went back up to 280,but my waist and fat are still gone....

[Arlecchino]

Played hockey, wanted to get stronger so when I put people into the boards, their friends had trouble getting up. Started in OL'ing, loved it, started competing, gym I trained at in college also featured powerlifters, and wound up being part of a team comp in a deadlift meet when I was about 19. Did my first full power meet the next year, and started competing exclusively in PL'ing after I graduated.

[phikappa]

Arnold.

[Supfreak26]

I saw a picture of myself with my shirt off at the pool. I suddenly realized that the mental picture that I had of myself was way off. I was fat. Real fat.

I've lifted on and off my entire life but after this wake-up call, I've been more dedicated than ever. I lost 35 pounds and I can comfortably take my shirt off in public and don't even mind having my picture taken with my shirt off. I've never been able to do that.

Added bonus: I feel fantastic! I took one of my daughters hiking in the mountains a few weeks ago and, while she was huffing and puffing, I was breathing normal and ready for more!

Looking to take it to the next level at the end of summer. I'm too distracted by BBQ's and beer right now. Hoping to be super-ripped by next summer!

[Northeasterner]

I started lifting again in late 2004. My younger brother was heavily into it then and he was getting both muscular and ripped, and I would just sit around after dinner moping, watching TV, playing videogames, and drinking beer. He'd come back from the gym, take off his shirt, and flex.

I would just get annoyed and tell him to leave me alone.

But he inspired me. And, I'd gone through a pretty difficult period earlier that year, and while things got much better beginning in the summer of 2004, I had been really down and out.

I decided, then, to join a gym... to get in shape and to feel better about myself.

it's been a long road... from late 2004 to 2006 it was erratic and even though I was already here, it took a while to learn a lot of "basic" stuff. from 2007, it got better, and it's been better and better since... I have had plateaus along the way. but I've learned a lot - and my body has changed and improved.

I'm never stopping and I'm not looking back.

[marmadogg]

I started lifting weights to add size and strength for high school football.

I was hooked instantly and still dream about my next workout day and night...

[bayou_piper]

I lifted in college for Rugby. At 6'4" I was a classic second row, but was way too thin. I started lifting with the club. I learned some really bad habits and form.

I never really had a reason to exercise after I graduated, and as an ecto, I could control my wasteline pretty easily through diet. Not the best way, but it worked.

After Katrina, I lived in hotels for a year. Also, a lot of time in hotel bars. When I got back I was pretty depressed although I wouldn't admit it at the time. Got back from a beach trip in August of 08 and saw pictures of myself. I realized I looked like "a dad." The ones on bad sitcoms. That was it.

Joined a gym, committed to learning, made some good progress. I am not where I want to be yet, but I will get there.

[thor93]

At age 8 i started lifting because i wanted to see how much weight i could lift over my head.Only had a few sessions and went back to riding the green machine and climbing trees for exercise though.Lifting just wasnt enough fun at that time.

At age 12,i started lifting again.Just overhead lifting because i wanted to prove to some punk kid that i could lift 75 lbs over my head which he thought was impossible for someone as small and skinny as i was back then...Well,i reached the 75 lb overhead lift after a mere few sessions of hour long overhead technique practicing sort to speak,as this was all that i needed being that i was allready naturally strong enough capability wise due to me being so physically active and naturally very deceptively strong due to good genetics despite being fated for a VERY late adolesence(Puberty at the age of 16)....After proving the kid wrong i then just re-focused on baseball.

At age 14 in 9th grade,i would sneak into the weightroom and use the nautilus machine to escape the exhausting rigors of the Winter track team training we did indoors at that time.I always would soon get chased outta there by this one particular girl though. : /

At age 16,i started lifting again so i could get stronger FOR Baseball.HaHa..Go figure ; )
I just benched because thats all i figured i needed "weightlifting wise" at that stage of my life and for what i was trying to specifically get stronger FOR...To further my strength in a more completed sort of manner sort to speak,i also started physically challenging myself more in other ways as well..Example-Started pushing and steering 15-16 shopping carts instead of 5-8 or so at my job.

At age 18,i started benching and curling in the backyard shed at night 5 times per week because i wanted to feel entitled to party HARD for the weekend. ; )

Finally,in January of 1992,at the age of 21 years and 7-1/2 months of age,i finally joined a gym and decided i would now REALLY do this sorta thing full fledge and never EVER quit or become discouraged again !

[Kalian]

I started around 15 or 16 years old with a cheap weight set,(cheaper than the vinyl covered weights mentioned earlier) because I was short and skinny. I worked out for several years, but it wasn't too intensive, and alcohol and chasing wimins really cut into my workout time. I got in good shape pretty fast, I never had the bodybuilder look, but I finaly wasn't ashamed to take my shirt off at the beach. I joined the army in my early 20's and worked out then also, but dropped it after I got out of the army.
Over the years I got fatter and fatter, and had no endurance or stamina whatsoever. A few months ago I got sick and tired of being fat and tired and decided to start lifting weights again. I bought another cheap set at wallmart, (bench with leg attachment, barbell, curling bar and about 120 lbs of iron weights) and here I am! I feel much better now, and actualy look pretty good for a 43 year old. I plan on keeping it up till I just can't lift the damn things anymore!

[Bamma]

Well, a couple of years ago I went to the doctor with a complaint: I was not sleeping well and was tired all the time. He did a full on physical and then gave me this speech.

"You come to me complaining that you do not sleep well and are tired, so here is a prescription for that (he signs a prescription). Additionally, you are too fat, so here is a prescription for some weight loss pills (signs). Your blood pressure is too high, so here (signs another prescription). Your cholesterol is all out of whack (sign). You suffer from a little depression(sign). (At this point, he wrote out a couple more prescriptions that I do not remember exactly)...So, you can go to the pharmacy and fill all those prescriptions and start taking a ton of pills everyday for the rest of your life...Or, you can get off your fat lazy ass, start exercising daily, lose some weight, improve your diet, and all of these things will likely take care of themselves."

I did not take the prescriptions.

Oddly, this advice came from the same doc who I later went to when I had a case of hemorrhoids. He told me I should stop all the heavy lifting and focus on *ahem* "toning." He then said "Chicks want big wallets, not big arms." I told him "I would be saying the same thing if I were a doctor with 12 inch arms."

[jlczl]

Several reasons but one that's easy to explain is that I didn't want to be "fat and bald". I could handle one or the other but not both.

[Bamma]

Originally Posted by jlczl

Several reasons but one that's easy to explain is that I didn't want to be "fat and bald". I could handle one or the other but not both.

LOL...and some we really have no control over.

[Chris_T]

Originally Posted by jlczl

Several reasons but one that's easy to explain is that I didn't want to be "fat and bald". I could handle one or the other but not both.

Yup. And I can wear a hat.

[Makaitibubrn]

I am not yet 35 but I am getting close so I figured, close enough!

ex- from profile.

HOW IT ALL STARTED:

In the summer of 2008 my daughter, Kaitilin, and son, McKale
set up a lemonade stand in front of our home. They
enthusiastically waved down cars to sell them cool
refreshment. During the course of their sales a man stopped
and bought a glass of lemonade and began speaking with me
about a case study that involved incorporating weight training
with cardio. All of my adult life I stayed in shape by using
workout videos and simple hand weights. The new study
would put me in the gym using heavy weights and cardio
equipment that I had never used before. After just six weeks
I made significant improvements to my muscle tone and
dropped my body fat from 18% to 13%! Soon I was being
asked by my friends to compete in figure competitions. I
began training for my first competition on January 1st 2009.
That is how it started, there is know telling how it will end. By
the way the kids made almost $100 in lemonade sales. True
story!

[TooSlow]

I've only been at it for 1.5 years or so. I quite smoking in 8/07 after 30++ years and severe, chronic emphysema. Since then, I've gained almost 50 # and have pretty much maxed out my impaired lung capacity. I doubt I'll make it to being show/stage worthy, but my pulmonologist has already said I'll make a well conditioned corpse (I like his morbid sense of humor). Every day in the gym is a gift I appreciate. Be well and breathe deep.

[Bamma]

Originally Posted by Makaitibubrn

I am not yet 35 but I am getting close so I figured, close enough!

ex- from profile.

HOW IT ALL STARTED:

In the summer of 2008 my daughter, Kaitilin, and son, McKale
set up a lemonade stand in front of our home. They
enthusiastically waved down cars to sell them cool
refreshment. During the course of their sales a man stopped
and bought a glass of lemonade and began speaking with me
about a case study that involved incorporating weight training
with cardio. All of my adult life I stayed in shape by using
workout videos and simple hand weights. The new study
would put me in the gym using heavy weights and cardio
equipment that I had never used before. After just six weeks
I made significant improvements to my muscle tone and
dropped my body fat from 18% to 13%! Soon I was being
asked by my friends to compete in figure competitions. I
began training for my first competition on January 1st 2009.
That is how it started, there is know telling how it will end. By
the way the kids made almost $100 in lemonade sales. True
story!

Umm...I don't think any of the guys in here will have an objection to you posting here. Do we guys? Of course we don't. Seriously, you look great. Nice job.

[sytennison]

Originally Posted by Bamma

Umm...I don't think any of the guys in here will have an objection to you posting here. Do we guys? Of course we don't.

Yeah, what he said.

[1BusyGuy]

[QUOTE=Bamma;364136641]Well, a couple of years ago I went to the doctor with a complaint: I was not sleeping well and was tired all the time. He did a full on physical and then gave me this speech.

"You come to me complaining that you do not sleep well and are tired, so here is a prescription for that...blood pressure is too high, so here...cholesterol is all out of whack...a little depression...So, you can go to the pharmacy and fill all those prescriptions and start taking a ton of pills everyday for the rest of your life...Or, you can get off your fat lazy ass, start exercising daily, lose some weight, improve your diet, and all of these things will likely take care of themselves."
QUOTE]

This is almost exactly what happened to me in January of 2008. I was 35 years old, 5'10" and 232 lbs. of fat. I have a family history of hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. My doctor said that ideally I should lose the weight "but we both know you're not gonna do that." I took the pills for a few months, but also starting working out immediately and changed my diet. I set an initial goal of getting below 200, then a goal of reaching 174 so that my doctor couldn't keep beating me over the head with the BMI (174 should be my max weight, and yes I realize how flawed that thing is, but I needed a goal). Weight training became part of my overall workout and made a nice addition to the cardio I was banging out 3 to 5 days a week. It has taken a long time, but early this July I hit 174. I look better now than ever before, feel great, and now have to set some new goals. With the weight off, now is the time to work on muscle definition and power.

[jm1369]

Originally Posted by chodan9

to crush my enemies, to see them driven before me, and to hear the lamentation of their women

this!

[BUDTAO]

I was sick and tired of being out of shape, feeling like sh!t and looking like garbage.

I just want to get damned cockdiesel! :-)

Andrew

[colosus88]

Originally Posted by chodan9

To crush my enemies, to see them driven before me, and to hear the lamentation of their women

Ditto - I grew up on Conan comics and wanted to be like him....sad but true.