One of the biggest hits to my continuing motivation is that despite going to the gym regularly and doing decent (at least for myself) workouts, and having made significant gains over the last 2 years, I realized in contests of strength and endurance I sometimes do more poorly than people who don't work out at all.
My friend V hasn't been to the gym in a year and is in (according to him) the worst shape of his life. He's only an inch and a half or so taller than me, and maybe 20 lbs heavier, with a lot of it being flab. But he beat me in an arm-wrestling match (it did last several minutes though and was close). And when playing and around and wrestling or just lifting weights or doing endurance exercises, this guy still beats me consistently (same when it comes to a foot race). But at least he used to go to the gym in the past and he has been in various street fights throughout his life so he sort of knows what he's doing.
Then there's a total fatass who never worked out a day in his life and never does anything physical but just due to his sheer bulk and mass he has managed to overpower me (although he can never catch me). I guess having all that weight on you constantly in a way sort of provides a kind of workout to your inner muscles under all the fat?? Like as if you're wearing a heavy backpack or weighted outfit all the time.
Even my own dad never actually intentionally worked out (that kind of culture isn't as big in Europe, at least some parts), but he's always been naturally stronger. He works with his hands a lot and does physical work, despite being skinny and lanky. My maternal grandfather was an amateur boxer and was strong and in shape and built, and his dad was quite bulky with muscle. Hell even my mom is fairly strong for a lady.
Is it just that some people are genetically made or built more for strength than others (even at comparable sizes), and some of us just lost out in the genetic lottery in that respect? I mean I actually look pretty decent now body-wise but I'm not very strong compared to most people. I have a naturally small frame and am an ectomorph. But is the quality of some peoples muscles just more advantageous compared to others of the same size, even without working out?
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07-02-2018, 10:36 AM #1
Weaker than people who don't work out
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07-02-2018, 11:49 AM #2
Arm wrestling is more technique and leverage than you realize.
Why do you think there are weight classifications in wrestling?
A final question for you: Are YOU stronger than YOU were? You do you. If you're purpose of working out is to out wrestle or arm-wrestle someone, you are working on the wrong things - work on those things.
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07-03-2018, 04:47 AM #3
When compared to others, everything in life is one big bell curve. There will always be people who are naturally or genetically better and worse than you. With training or education you can move up the curve to your personal maximum potential...but so can everyone else if they choose.
Doesn't minimize your accomplishments in any way. Be the best you you can be, because comparing yourself to others (especially physical genetics) is pointless.
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07-05-2018, 09:10 PM #4
Yeah, you guys are right. It is about fulfilling your own potential and not comparing yourself to others. I still have a ways to go and can definitely improve my strength and physique much more if I really pushed it, though sometimes life and illness get in the way and stall things. I look well enough to hang at the beach without any concerns but I still have some long-term weight goals to hit.
Yes, I guess you can't win out on everything genetically. I was lucky enough to have a decently attractive face and above average intellectual capability... so what if I can't easily get beefy or powerful? (it does feel weird when a lot of your family was more blessed in this regard than you though)
But a lot of my buddies use my relatively small size (155 lbs, 5'9") as a thing they pick on or jab at, probably to try knock me down a peg relative to them because that's one thing I don't have on them. My (sort of) friend's gf is always flirting with me and he's always threatening to fight and beat the **** out of me even though I'm not doing anything lol... the insecurity is obvious. Brutish simpleton. That's part of the reason why I care a bit about at least being able to handle myself in some physical encounters if I really need to (I took karate for two years a long time ago but didn't retain much by now). I think the best answer may be just to find other friends with better, more civilized mentalities toward addressing their problems.
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07-06-2018, 07:35 AM #5
They don't pick on you because you're small, they pick on you because they see you're bothered when they pick on you for being small.
It sounds like your motivation for working out is to be better than other people. this will keep you going for a little bit, but if you want to stick with working out, or anything, the reason needs to be for something personal to you, to attain a value that's important based on who you are.
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