Why do you go to the gym

[DEEPER KEMICAL]

message posted by another user and im curious to see you're responses:



"Not to challenge you guys, but more to understand your perspective. I know that our world, especially the United States is known for excess., especially in food. We have super sized meals, all you can eat buffets, and super tasty and fattening candies and chocolates. These are extremes of a negative lifestyle. However, fitness/bodybuilding is taken the other extreme sometimes.

Basically you guys deprive yourself of tasty and sometimes natural foods which are meant to be enjoyed. Having a few Oreos now and then, alright. Having a nice slice or two of pumpkin pie with whipped creme for Thanksgiving, alright... but I see so many of you crave and really seem to freak out because you can't eat sweets. I understand during a bulking cycle you can loosen up a little bit., but basically you are tearing your bodies down through working out, and building them up with quality weight through low carbs/low sat. fats, and extremely high protein diets. Where does it end for you?

Ultimately we all grow all and come 60, 70, or 80 years old and lose all the muscle, all the definition we worked hard for, for so many decades, and in that process depriving ourselves of many tasty and satisfying meals and EVEN social situations (some bodybuilders social life suffers because they can't get their meals. etc), but at the same time not going OVERboard of course, and becoming obese. I KNOW that there are a few exceptions and some people look great and keep some of their muscle in their later years, but you don't see it too often. The body, like the mind gets old, and we all eventually die,, nobody is immortal.

I've always been a big supporter of balance and moderation, but it almost seems as most people involved in fitness/bodybuilding take things to the extreme: extreme amounts of protein, water, tryin to eat half a dozen small meals in a day. eating a carton of eggs (white) for one meal, etc. In bodybuilding it's even worse, especially "professional", with the contestants taking an incredible amount of steroids to get that thick freaky look, as well as the superior vascularity which helps bring out their cuts. I know not ALL bodybuilders are like this, but it could be classified as an extreme sport.

I understand the lifestyle promotes healthy living through diet and exercise, of course as long as you dont use anabolic enhancements (steroids, GH), but I see people get to extremely low levels of bodyfat purely for asthetic purposes.

Consider this thread more of a sociological inquiry than an attempt to start an argument. After all, I do the same thing often times, especially if I have to cut down or bulk, etc. But, sometimes I wonder if all the work is truly worth it. I mean, if health is a priority you could very well:

- eat 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner), and have them be well rounded with grains, protein, veggies, fruit, etc.
- drink .5 gallon of water a day. this should provide sufficient fluids to flush out the kidneys and promote hydration
- having a dessert after lunch and dinner (I think as long as you are physically active and keep the metabolism high, these 2 treats won't have a tremendous effect on health)
- doing 20-30 mins of some sort of cardio activity a day to promote good respitatory circulation.


Maybe fitness/bodybuilding is a very extreme sport and it's very purpose is to make people extraordinary so when people look at him/her they say to themselves, "wow he must workout!" (lol I know this is from Dumb & Dumber). So I was wondering if you all agreed with this, or does this just become an obession where you aren't ever satisfied with the amount of weight you can lift, or the % of bodyfat you are. After all, if you want to be healthy you don't necessarily have to take these sort of extreme measures.
"

[GINZ]

I work out because I grew up as an obese and unhealthy kid.
I spent the first 14 years of my life fat and i refuse to ever let myself go back to that.
I've had enough Oreos and Pumpkin pie to last me a lifetime. I dont even crave that crap anymore. 90% of the food I injest has a positive purpose...high in protein, etc...
The most Ill usually indulge in is some pizza from time to time...its my weakness, lol

[DEEPER KEMICAL]

I go to the gym for very similar reasons. I used to be very soft and pudgy. Although I played sports and such, I never worked out and it showed. About 3.5 years ago I began to work out and I doubt I will ever stop. I work out because I crave it. I crave the feeling of moving iron and sweating buckets. I ENJOY training and i love the soreness afterwards. Its all for a goal. I am not a pro bodybuildier. My opinion, is that IF you wish to pursue this lifestyle as a pro, it requires 110 % commitment, not a once in awhile half hearted effort.
Live it. Breathe it. This is not just for this thread, but in any pursuit in life. If your going to do it, do it all the way...or don't do it at all. You don't follow your nutrition plan "sometimes". You follow it ALL the time. You don't go to the gym "when you feel like it", you go because it "calls to you". I didn't go to the gym tonight to check out the girls, or talk on my cell phone as I jogged steadily on the treadmill. I went to sweat. And I did...buckets. I went to train. AND I did. Like a Beast. And you know something...I enjoyed every ounce of sweat, and tomorrow, I'll enjoy every sore muscle...I have a goal. I have a mission. I have a plan.

[Tini]

I f**kin hate exercise. I'm sorry, I'm being honest here. lol. I hate working out. I'm not used to it, so it's sooo hard to get into a routine and be able to say that I love it, like everyone else.

I'm in school and work full-time - I leave my house at 8am and don't get home until 9pm. I find myself too busy or exhausted to work-out. But I am trying. I really want to make fitness a part of my life. I'm actually underweight now (108 lbs at 5'3") so I don't have to go for weight loss. I need to be able to keep "good" weight on. I want to be healthy and stay in shape. I have a slipped disc in my lower back and sciatica, which makes my calves soooo tight. That is the main reason I want to start going... to alleviate that pain and avoid surgery. And I think if I get into the practice of working out, my mind and health will be better overall. So... it's taking me some time to get into it, but I will... I'm trying.

[Lance Burkhart]

cuz im locked into a 3 year agreement at ballys....haha, jk, i go because i played sports all my life so physical activity has always been a way of life. I feel and look healthier when I work out regularly plus I'd be lying if I said vanity isnt a major influence as well.

[DEEPER KEMICAL]

i admire your want to still go even tho you get home late and are tired. that right there is enough to get you going.

if you need help with a simple routine for a 25-30 min wrkout, let us know im sure we can help

[MikeyB]

ive eaten 2 dozen oreos over the past 2 nights!!

one reason i go is vuz i alwyas played sports and now that im older i dont really play that much anymore--this is one way to translate....

i also get obsessed with the way i look i guess

[DEEPER KEMICAL]

i had a few oreos last night lol.

[J. Martin]

I go to the gym because I appreciate the importance of physical fitness for overall health. I was also the fat kid when I was younger. Plus, my clothes are mostly form fitting. I'd have to buy all new shit if I got fat again. The bonus is that I can eat whatever I want, or even sit on my ass for a couple weeks, and never be more than a few weeks of training and diet tightening, from getting right back where I wanna be.

[Funjen]

I go to the gym because I like to live an active lifestyle, I have always been that way. I was really underweight growing up (until puberty that is lol) so I don't have any past history to use as a motivator. If I don't go to the gym I feel much less energetic and I notice my mood changes as well.

I go to the gym mainly to look and feel good fron the inside and out. IMO there is no excuse to not excercise other than laziness. Going to the gym allows me to zone out and blow off any stress or aggravation I am dealing with. Its my "me time".

[MikeyB]

i had a few oreos last night lol.

i go on serious oreo kicks lol--then i wont have them for a while

[snowangel]

I feel and look healthier when I work out regularly plus I'd be lying if I said vanity isnt a major influence as well.

Same here, although it sucks that I leave my house at 7:45 AM and don't get home til after 8PM..on the rare days that I don't go to the gym after work, I feel like I have SO much more time in the evening to relax, hang out w/my bf, etc...but if I don't go, I get pudgy and I feel/look out of shape. It's just something I add to my schedule and stick to.

I hate those people that don't have to work out not fair

[DEEPER KEMICAL]

i leave for work at 6, get home around 5 and i am at the gym by 5:30. usually, when i do cardio + weights, im home by 7:15-7:30 so its not SO bad for me

after reading all these posts i cant wait to hit the gym tonight!

[Coco69]

Started going again. Had to take a break.

Reasoning: Vanity and health/energy. I was never a fat kid, but I want to maintain fit before aging takes away gravity.

[TheHipHopBillGates]

goto the gym or get fat, pretty simple both my parents are heavy and I have no desire to get like that.

[FDB]

I have been lifting for about 9 years now.. started around 18 when i graduated HS.. same as many others played sports all through childhood and through school even some in college.. But the main reason was cause i was not playing sports 24/7 anymore so i joined a gym.. been very serious though for the last 3 years.. actually was gonna compete last year for the first time but got strept throat 5 weeks out.. i may be lookin to compete a year from now.. we will see..

good thread!!

[DEEPER KEMICAL]

awesome FDB. wat are ur stats now?

[just b u]

Same here, although it sucks that I leave my house at 7:45 AM and don't get home til after 8PM..on the rare days that I don't go to the gym after work, I feel like I have SO much more time in the evening to relax, hang out w/my bf, etc...but if I don't go, I get pudgy and I feel/look out of shape. It's just something I add to my schedule and stick to.

I hate those people that don't have to work out not fair

there are no pple like that, EVERYONE should work out.

I work out because it makes me feel good to take care of myself, i like to feel tight muscle and tone. I like to sweat like a pig, give me a high!!!! while i'm alive i want my body to be at its full physical capacity, so my body doesnt stop me from doin anything i wanna do but will only enable me.

[Al Coholic]

I go to the gym to sweat the alcohol out.

[James Maxx]

I go to the gym not just to look good but for the health benefits. I sit on my ass all day in front of a computer and the gym is the only real activity I have. The human body is made to move around, not sit sedentary. Im also older than many of you here and Ive noticed my metabolism slowing down so its harder for me to keep the fat down but I don't give up.

It is unfortunate in this country going to the gym is considered somewhat of a luxury, but it should be a necessity to everyone. Running on a treadmill for 30 minutes a day will help stop many preventable diseases. Even if you don't look like Mr. Olympia that alone should be motivation.

As for diet, yea I love food but you can still eat healthy without sacrificing yourself. My protein shakes taste great, grilled chicken sandwiches, diet iced tea and egg white omelettes are not bad at all.