Last Visit: Yesterday, 8:22am Last Forum Post: Yesterday, 8:22am Last Photo Upload: Aug 1, 2008 10:28pm Last Profile Update: Aug 5, 2008 7:57am Last Blog Post: Aug 4, 2008 7:32am
Growing up I pretty much would have been in the running for the title of “Least Athletic Person Alive”. I never played any sports whatsoever, was always the last person picked in PE, smallest in my class, etc. I was a whopping 113 pounds when I graduated high school. During my last year of college a buddy of mine (also out of shape) talked me into going to the school's weight room with him. The two of us fumbled around not having a clue what we were doing. He dropped out after a few weeks and I stuck with it. When I graduated I moved to another town, but I began using the exercise equipment provided by my apartment complex. When I look back now I see I was pretty much doing everything wrong. I wasn't lifting enough weight, wasn't doing it often enough, was doing the same exercises over and over again, wasn't eating enough, and didn't get enough sleep. Other than that I was golden! :-)
I wanted to join a gym but I fell back into a mindset of fear where I just couldn't do it. I thought a scrawny, clueless punk like me would stick out like a sore thumb and be a laughingstock. For way too many years I just kept myself on a cycle of maintaining the modest gains I had made on my own. I wasn't getting overweight like many of my friends did over the years, but I also certainly wasn't gaining any muscle.
Finally I decided that I wasn't getting any younger and I needed to face my fears. I forced myself to join a local gym and hired a personal trainer to teach me what the heck I should be doing. I'm starting this way later than most people but I'm really happy with the progress I've made so far (even though I've got a long, long way to go).
Why I Love It:
I can't say I always love the idea of going to the gym, but I always love how it makes me feel (except maybe leg day LOL). Any stress or problems that are bothering me just melt away for an hour while I'm working out. The feeling of accomplishment every week from working hard makes me feel great also.
How I Stay Motivated:
Weightlifting makes me feel good mentally and look good physically. I don't need motivation to keep doing something that has those benefits. The pump and the compliments don't hurt either!
BB Accomplishments:
I was at a Christmas party and saw someone I hadn't seen in a long time. She came up to me and grabbed my arm to say hello. She got a really confused look on her face and asked “Have you been working out?” :-)
Forum Signature:
There will come a day when I tire of listening to 80's music. That day is not today.
Last Updated: Jun 9, 2008 5:22pm
Progress Pictures
Jun 24, 2007
Jul 19, 2008
I got this far on my own. Taken before I joined the gym. 139 pounds, 12.8% bodyfat.
At the time I actually thought I looked pretty good. Good lord what was I thinking?
Trying to say "bye bye" to skinny and "hello" to buff!
Goal (Long):
I still haven't accepted the fact that I'm closer to 40 than I am 30. HOWEVER, when I do reach that dreaded age my long term goal is to look like my friends on here that are already near that age who are tearing it up. They really inspire me.
I think I'm done gaining my newbie weight. I'm going to shoot for 160 pounds this year.
After experiencing both for roughly the same amount of time I still haven't decided which one is better.
Working out with a partner has a lot of benefits. The most obvious one is always having a spotter. With barbell benching my personal trainer would have me attempt weight that I would...
lol =)
OK, just for fun, last one, the most deep:
Listen all! This is the truth of it. Fighting leads to killing, and killing gets to warring. And that was damn near the death of us all. Look at us now! Busted up, and everyone talking about hard rain! But we've learned, by the dust of them all... Bartertown learned. Now, when men get to fighting, it happens here! And it finishes here! Two men enter; one man leaves!
Hey, noticed u train in Bartertown =) It's one of my favorite movies... full of good quotes. Like, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, DYIN' TIME HERE." :) Thanx for the motivation.
No kidding! At this point, I'm going for a look vs. the weight, because I'm at the weight I wanted to be, but I still want to see more development, so the weight is now less important. It's nice to see the numbers going up, though! I just want to not look so scrawny, in my arms & chest, mostly. Patience. Patience. Patience.
Something like that. When I started a couple of years ago, 160 was my long term goal. Amazing. I had no clue that I would actually get there. Now I'm pushing for more! LOL. Is this a vicious cycle? hmmm... Well, congrats on getting to this milestone! We are almost there. :D
Thank you, sir! I truly appreciate the allowance!!! I do believe I will cross that 160 line by the end of the week for sure!!! WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!! I will most certainly let you know when it happens! ;)
