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What are your goals lifting (iow, what’s your “why” for hitting the gym)?

M

McPriimate

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And how have they changed over the years?

Did you start gyming to be a BB or for a sport or just because you want to be jacked and feel strong - and have those reasons changed year to year?

Super interested to hear the different ASF folks’ journeys as it’s a pretty diverse group.

My reasons for going to the gym used to be sport specific and secondary, and changed somewhat as my main sports changed over the years. Strength for hockey and then rugby mostly in the off seasons (there really aren’t off seasons anymore but there used to be back in the Jurassic). Then strength and muscular endurance for skiing during dry land training. Then core strength and addressing imbalances off season for triathlon (funny how going in a straight line for a long time caused so many imbalances).

Now (last few years) it’s to add lean mass and build/maintain strength so I can get out of a chair at 85 (and mog my old friends when we’re at the beach - love having abs lol), and lifting has changed from an accessory to my main focus (obsession?).

I still ski and stuff, but it’s lifting first and the other stuff for fun, as I’m as good as I want to be at the other things but have a lot of gym gainz and learning still in front of me - which is maybe why I’m loving the focus the last few years. And I always want to look better nekked, so…

What got you into the gym and what keeps you coming back now?

McP


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After my 8th grade football season a HS Varsity player suggested I hit the gym. He showed me bench press, squats, dead’s, etc. while at the bench, he loaded up 135 “let’s see how many you can do” zero, 115, nope, 95# I barely got one. He said “don’t lower the weight, do that over and over until you can do 8 in a row.”
I was hooked. I think the expectation that I should be able to lift more at the size I was, and the all out effort and failing the higher weights that lit something up in me. Pride? I don’t know. I’ve not always been consistent with training. Sometimes I’d take years off (most of my 40’s) but it was always in the back of my mind.
“Dude, you gotta hit the gym”
I’ve always had some equipment at home, and currently have a respectable setup. Squat rack, adj bench, leg press, full dumbbell collection, a couple cable machines for pulling.
My wife and son are both very active in my gym as well. Now it’s a family thing.
McPriimate said:
want to look better nekked
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Also this!
 
HAAM said:
. Now it’s a family thing.
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Just that is a huge win!

Curious if you’re still pushing for progress weight/max-wise or is it something different than what got you hooked that keeps you coming back?


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WED said:
I just want to look good with my shirt off and in small shorts
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lol (but yeah, 100%)

We’re going on a warm weather trip with friends this winter and I keep threatening to wear a pair of animal print grape grabbers - but I’m not sure there’s enough gym time between now and when the sun goes cold for me to look good enough for that in public


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i started off doing it in late 70s just to be stronger and look like a few of my friends who got the girls they stopped i always did it --then it was because i always did physical work and just wanted to balance out the muscles-- in my 40s all my kids friends and their moms checking me out ---my daughters all said it was embarrassing lol --then in 50s body fell apart and too many surgeries so now i am just attempting to get back into shape which i am doing even though its hard as fuck at 65 lotta thanks to people here!
 
I started lifting in my teens thanks to muscle and fitness and other mags. Thought if I was big and strong girls would be all over me lmao. I was pretty consistent in my twenties but never dieted properly. I ate healthy but never ate enough carbs like an idiot. By thirty, life got in the way and I started working nights. I was all fucked up and eating and drinking like I was 21 still.

Eventually, I hit 280 lbs at 6’2. A few years ago I said fuck it. I’m disgusting and time for a change. Switched to day shift and started lifting again. Got on TRT and put on some muscle.

Problem was I wasn’t dropping below 255ish. I started really focusing on diet and eventually microdosed Reta last December. Got down to 203lbs by ending of September. I began a lean bulk/blast beginning of October and am up to 214 and feeling and looking amazing! What a fucking journey. Anyways, I turn 40 in 17 days and couldn’t happier. My labs are immaculate and I look like I’m in my 20s again. If I can do it anyone can!

I tell some of my friends who are struggling it’s ok to take supps to assist like Reta. Don’t let it do all the work though. Put in the time in the kitchen and gym. I always said I loved using game genie or game shark as a kid gaming for a slight advantage so why not have one in life too 😂.
 
I've been training just to keep the fat away (was once a fat depressed kid) but now as I'm in my 60s I adjusted my training after suffering serious injury many times over the years.
 
initially was just fukn bored. senior year wrestling state tournament was cut short due to a fukd ankle (foot got stuck when i threw someone, did it to myself 🤦🏼). now im almost always the main character in any situation for some reason and its pretty sick so i keep pushing it. we live in middle ga, gf was talking to some customer from savannah, gf mentioned we had gone to savannah recently and vaguely described our friend group. dude had mentioned seeing me. she showed him pictures, yep it was me
 
I started lifting to not be a fat kid. For the last few decades though it is because i like to train. And see if i can challenge myself to do better. Being strong or or big/ripped is lower on the scale for me. Pretty much the same thing for gear. It is about the training.
 
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My wife and I are trying to start a family. We got a late start as both of us were previously married. I’m 39 and she’s 38. I didn’t want to be fat and out of shape with a kid running around. It’s also my role as a husband and father to be a protector and it’s a lot harder to be that man at 40% BF. I started working out consistently a year ago, am down 80 lbs. and am now in the best shape of my life. Good timing as wife is now 8 weeks prego. 😁
 
ChiefBoss said:
My wife and I are trying to start a family. We got a late start as both of us were previously married. I’m 39 and she’s 38. I didn’t want to be fat and out of shape with a kid running around. It’s also my role as a husband and father to be a protector and it’s a lot harder to be that man at 40% BF. I started working out consistently a year ago, am down 80 lbs. and am now in the best shape of my life. Good timing as wife is now 8 weeks prego.
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Congrats!! That’s awesome. :)

And congrats on getting shape too - chasing littles around only gets harder as you age, so you’re putting in the work for good reason lol


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Bigdaddyjak said:
Chics , Dig it !!



Actually I get more attention from guys !!
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Honestly, my wife is like I can tell you’re putting on muscle. You’re getting a bubble butt yawns

Guys are like dude, you’re fucking jacked! (at least by comparison to my old triathlete build - not saying I’m huge, just not “thin” by any stretch anymore).

They notice more - or at least say shit about it more

Honestly, I think she does both notice and like it, even if she doesn’t say much. We’ve been knocking boots like teenagers for the last year or so which has been awesome, but no other signs she’s paying attention except maybe that she does mention I eat a lot more now

She’s also gotten in crazy shape (from very good condition to crazy good shape). Do you think I notice and say something? Bet your ass I do! Every. Single. Day.


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McPriimate said:
Just that is a huge win!

Curious if you’re still pushing for progress weight/max-wise or is it something different than what got you hooked that keeps you coming back?


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Yes I am still pushing. Not just weight, but filling out lagging muscles that were under worked from lack of equipment until recently.
While my muscles recover, my tendons don’t seem to want to play along. Over the years, I’ve tweaked my back, shoulder, etc enough to know when to ease off. But, I’m kind of stuck in the thinking that I want to lift what I think I would be lifting if I hadn’t stopped in my late 30’s. I was working a fuckton, and on the road all week long. Sitting too much and drinking became the norm. Eventually got fed up enough being fat and not liking what I looked like in the mirror.
I really feel like I’ve started over, the last 2 years I’ve shed a LOT of body fat and rebuild lost muscle. I look better than ever and am the leanest I’ve ever been. I know I’ve got nothing to prove, and I look bigger and better, and am stronger than anyone thats asked “What do you bench?” But, I’m my head, I’m not where I should be. I just keep telling myself, this is a long game, and I just started the 2nd half.
 
Why I got into the gym:

I got into the gym to keep me clean. I wanted to get big and I knew it would keep me occupied for a long fucking time trying to achieve that goal

Why I’m in the gym now:

Literally the same thing. It keeps me clean but I love doing it. I’m also trying to compete now. I fell in love with pushing my self to the limits and seeing results from it.
 
It's cool to see how everyone's "why" evolves. I'm totally stealing the "getting out of a chair at 85" goal – that's the dream! And yeah, gotta admit, looking good naked is ALWAYS a solid motivator . Plus, major props to everyone grinding it out, no matter the age or setbacks. Makes me wanna hit the gym HARD today!
 
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FearsomeCOR said:
I just wanna be a freak :)
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I thought that was a baseline assumption! lol

I just want people to know I’m on steroids, and that doesn’t happen without going to the gym

Jk - actually tryna stay at that point where people aren’t sure but are definitely wondering, so not so much a freak as just jacked enough to make everyone look twice . My wife is pretty convinced that once I retire (very soon here) I’m gonna want to hit the stage, but with a torn bicep and thick joints (my rugby coach described me as a human fireplug - nice visual huh?), I’m not sure I’d ever acquit myself well enough to warrant it

Still love hitting the gym, even with my thicc genetics ;)


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Grew up in the 80s when Sly and Arnie were killing it in the movies. The Rocky films definitely birthed the notion of wanting to achieve that Rocky physique. (Funnily enough, I was big into WWF at the time and my idiot savant ass never put the two and two together.)

Fast forward to high school and during a brief stint in football, got to lifting weights but never did anything serious with it, that is, consistency. In my early 20s, I was lifting and eating right. Started getting some solid mass then hurt my shoulder and left lifting to the wayside.

Between the 30s and 40s, there were intermittent sessions, but still not doing anything consistent or lifting intensely.

Closer to 50 now and the desire is at an all time high. Past 3 years I've been consistent, with this last year of really ramping up the intensity and getting better at organizing my workouts. I see what I've achieved and that propels me to keep going. Yeah, got nagging joints or pinched whatever but seeing the results helps me.

TLDR--wanna look like an amalgamation of Frank Zane and Rocky IV. Fill out the shirts the way the department store mannequins do.
 
Discipline. My dad instilled it in me. Just makes sense to have a hobby that provides discipline. 🙂

The other benefits are cool, but focus is like a superpower and it’s fun as hell to be focused 90% of the time.
 

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