How many of you workout, how often, and why?

[Bulletproof Heart]

I'm new to these forums by the way.

Anyway, while I may be new to these forums, I'm an old user of the bodybuilding.com forums. When I began playing high school football, I got obsessed with weight training. That eventually turned into body building, heathy eating, and lots of cardio.

That's all great except that it interfered with my social life. That obsession led me to HAVE to get into the weight room at a certain time, and then nutrition is important so I had to get up a certain time to eat. See where the problem would be? I wouldn't let myself go out on nights before working out, or stay at other people's places because what would I eat for breakfast that satisfied my nutrition requirements. I also wouldn't want to drink because of the added calories and negative effects of alcohol on muscle building. All these led to, while healthy, a very unsocial life.

I've recently opened my eyes to this, and also realized that I don't want to be that big. Two weeks ago, I saw a kid I went to high school with, and my god he's huge and he just looks unatural, and I doubt girls would think his stocky look is attractive. So I've realized that I'd prefer to be average than keep going on the path to be huge. I don't want to be a bodybuilder, I don't play any sports, and huge muscles are not all that attractive. But as with any obsession, I'm having trouble stopping for good.

So I was just wondering how many of you workout, what your workouts and eating habits are like, and why you workout? It'd just help to see what other people do (and of course asking this on the bodybuilding forum would give a very biased answer). As of now I'm thinking I might quit lifting for good, and just run, do push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups to maintain a lean/toned look. I know that if I go back to the weight room I will only get obsessed again and fall back into the cycle (I've tried to "quit" before).

 

[mrRuckus]

If it were easy, everyone would be big and strong.

I wouldn't quit. When you're almost 30 like me you really start to stick out as one of the very few in shape 'buff' looking guys. Most everyone just gets fatter (or at least stays skinny&scrawny) as they get older. Buck the trend now while you're still young and it's easy to lay down an awesome base. The guys i hang with fall into two categories: small and scrawny or slowly building beer gut.

You really don't have to lose much of a social life. Your problem is that you probably follow ideas from bodybuilding.com. You don't have to do cardio obsessively and there's no reason to go to the gym that many days a week. I lift 3 days a week and go for walks some days, often with a girl who just wants to see me so it's fun rather than just work. I also play softball two nights a week and that's more social than anything. I do still drink about one night a week too, but not that fall over ready-to-die type drinking you whipper snappers call fun.

 

[Alle_Gory]

1. My self confidence comes in part from my looks. I am vain.
2. It feels great. Body runs properly. No aches or pains, no weakness. Nothing. I also get sick way less often.
3. Clothes fit good.
4. Chicks love it. Really good feeling having some gorgeous girls around you.
5. Mentally sharper & smarter. Noticeable difference.

 

[ProDJ26]

Good evening audience, my name is ProDJ26 and I'm a workout-a-holic

(audience yells)

Hi ProDJ26!!!

 

[yep]

I workout like three times a week. My eating habbits are whatever the F$ck i wanna eat, but i dont like getting full i like eating 6 small meals...i hate the full feeling. And i workout cuz right before i get in the shower im like to to say..and i quote "damn ur fine". Nah but im not sure why i workout...one thing is for sure its not for anyone but myself.

 

[Throttle]

As of now I'm thinking I might quit lifting for good, and just run, do push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups to maintain a lean/toned look. I know that if I go back to the weight room I will only get obsessed again and fall back into the cycle (I've tried to "quit" before).

take some pics, put em in a drawer for a few months. take a few more then, and compare side by side, to see how happy you are with the changes. certainly most people who are lifting for health can get most of the benefits from a regular program of light/moderate cardio, stretching & calisthenics. but Mr. R. is right, if you lay down the base now, you'll stand out in a good way 10, 20 years from now and beyond.

 

[JohnnyIrish]

I'm new to these forums by the way.

Anyway, while I may be new to these forums, I'm an old user of the bodybuilding.com forums. When I began playing high school football, I got obsessed with weight training. That eventually turned into body building, heathy eating, and lots of cardio.

That's all great except that it interfered with my social life. That obsession led me to HAVE to get into the weight room at a certain time, and then nutrition is important so I had to get up a certain time to eat. See where the problem would be? I wouldn't let myself go out on nights before working out, or stay at other people's places because what would I eat for breakfast that satisfied my nutrition requirements. I also wouldn't want to drink because of the added calories and negative effects of alcohol on muscle building. All these led to, while healthy, a very unsocial life.

I've recently opened my eyes to this, and also realized that I don't want to be that big. Two weeks ago, I saw a kid I went to high school with, and my god he's huge and he just looks unatural, and I doubt girls would think his stocky look is attractive. So I've realized that I'd prefer to be average than keep going on the path to be huge. I don't want to be a bodybuilder, I don't play any sports, and huge muscles are not all that attractive. But as with any obsession, I'm having trouble stopping for good.

So I was just wondering how many of you workout, what your workouts and eating habits are like, and why you workout? It'd just help to see what other people do (and of course asking this on the bodybuilding forum would give a very biased answer). As of now I'm thinking I might quit lifting for good, and just run, do push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups to maintain a lean/toned look. I know that if I go back to the weight room I will only get obsessed again and fall back into the cycle (I've tried to "quit" before).

I've also had times where I've gone 'overboard' with nutrition and working out becoming too nazi like about it all (as a friend of mine calls it). The thing is we need a happy balance in life.. if concentrating on diet/lifting makes you unhappy (because your missing out on other things) then as I see it you need to look at your larger goals and make decisions/adjustments to your life.

Personally I don't recomend scrapping lifting all together but again it depends on what your goals are. You can still lift and make gains with a good but not perfect diet and exercise regime.


As for me.. I workout ideally 3 times a week weights and cardio 2-3 times a week (HIIT and steady state walking incline). My diet is usually pretty good. I'm currently on the anabolic diet.

And as for worrying about going over people's houses when they don't have the food you want.. We've all been there. This past weekend I spent the evening over a female friend's house. She thought it strange I brought over my own food (I brought over several meals) but so what.. ( it doesn't keep her from gettiing nekid ) turns out it wasn't hard to prep the meals as you just need a little forthought, and I got what I needed in addition to keeping it relatively simple.

 

[I-tallionStallion]

This past weekend I spent the evening over a female friend's house. She thought it strange I brought over my own food (I brought over several meals) but so what.. ( it doesn't keep her from gettiing nekid ) turns out it wasn't hard to prep the meals as you just need a little forthought, and I got what I needed in addition to keeping it relatively simple.

Thats dedication right there haha

 

[Drum&Bass]

Thats dedication right there haha

its funny but I think your right. I always bring food when I'm staying at a chicks house. If not I'll leave her crib to head over to the supermarket before I spend the night. When I'm going to the beach or anywhere a supermarket is my fast food stop. Even at parties I'll make sure to bring my own food. I always get jokes for my habits but I'm so used to it.

I'm actually surprised more of you aren't like this.

 

[EFFORT]

I'm actually surprised more of you aren't like this.

I do stuff like that too...people have different degrees of how serious they take this though so most people aren't going to do that.

 

[Quagmire911]

Yeh, you always get strange looks from people when you are downing raw egg shakes all the time. They get used to it...

If people give you s*** for being different and doing what is neccasary to reach your goals, lose emm.

Having said that, if you aren't a pre contest BB'er, feel free to eat at a fast food place with friends occasioanlly...

I am currently on a two day, and it is very flexibile-part of the reason I do it. It doesn't really interfere a whole lot. Most of the time I am in the gym on the same days, but if I have to I can move it forward/back a day and it is no problem.

Again though, if you have commitments on a weekly basis that you can't get out of and are neccasary, yet you can't get food while you are there, you'll have to take all your food with you-as simple as that.

 

[wolf116]

People think I have a faulty digestive system. I'm a living joke at school and work due to the amount of good food that I eat.

I always carry around my thermos with a raw egg protein shake inside, various nuts, beef jerky and I have a small esky I bring to school and work.

If I'm out with no food and I need some takeaway, I will go to the supermarket, get a whole chicken, some pepperoni and salad.

When I go to a girls house for dinner I always bring extra for a second dinner. After a while they realize the way to your heart is through food and make extra food or bring food over to cook. My FB knows how to make meals to my dietary requirement.

I sounds like lots of work, but now I'm used to it, and I'm extremely efficient with my preparation. I spend less time working out and eating then most people do watching TV.

 

[Quagmire911]

beef jerky QUOTE]



Got a few packets lying next to me that I am about to tuck into

 

[yep]

^^ Beef jerky is teh sex....

 

[BeyondCharm]

If it were easy, everyone would be big and strong.

I wouldn't quit. When you're almost 30 like me you really start to stick out as one of the very few in shape 'buff' looking guys. Most everyone just gets fatter (or at least stays skinny&scrawny) as they get older. Buck the trend now while you're still young and it's easy to lay down an awesome base. The guys i hang with fall into two categories: small and scrawny or slowly building beer gut.

You really don't have to lose much of a social life. Your problem is that you probably follow ideas from bodybuilding.com. You don't have to do cardio obsessively and there's no reason to go to the gym that many days a week. I lift 3 days a week and go for walks some days, often with a girl who just wants to see me so it's fun rather than just work. I also play softball two nights a week and that's more social than anything. I do still drink about one night a week too, but not that fall over ready-to-die type drinking you whipper snappers call fun.

This is a great example of living a balanced lifestyle!