What Is Your Motivation?

[AtownKing187]

Originally Posted by gymBum

Whats up
I have heard a lot of peoples' opinions on motivation but was wondering...How do you keep yourself motivated and on routine?

Participating in forums / reading about bb?
Pumping Iron movie? etc

-:John:-

I keep myself motivated by telling myself....That im doing good things for my body...I'll be living somewhat longer due to my healthy lifestyle and that keeps me going....That and i just love lifting...its not a hobby its a way of life..I' 16 almost 17 and i plan on lifting for the rest of my life...and win Olypmia too

[Chris]

I have a photo shoot tomorrow. It's no where near the same as contest prep, but still took 5 weeks of dieting. Knowing you have to get your butt in front of the camera & nothing will hide your physical flaws is all the motivation I need for that extra push in the weight room, or that extra cardio session, or to just say no to those late night munchies.

Good to see everyone's motivated on here! Keep working & try not to compare yourself to others, rather just that you're making strides.

[Jake]

Remembering how I used to get pushed around when I was little. Just recalling some of those experiences is enough to keep me motivated.

[CR0MBIEC0]

I'd have to say the over all feeling.

Since I started working out my energy level is always kept up, my stress level is kept down. I find I sleep easier, eat better, and all around look / feel better about myself.

I'm not sure about you guys but when I miss a day of working out I get cranky. That's enough to keep me going back every day.

[jacentk2]

To know my motivation....you must learn of my past.

This may be long so sit back and enjoy.

I started lifting around 6th or 7th grade. In 8th Grade, My parents bought me a new 18 speed mountain bike for christmas. In the spring of that same school year, I rode that bike as hard and as much as I could. One morning I woke up with pain. Parents and I only thought that I had pulled a muscle or something. Pain never left....but got worse. After a few more days, we went to the doctor.....and they sent me to another doctor. At this time, I coudl no longer get in my own bed....for I coudl not even walk up the stairs to my room. Crawling was my only way of moving with the lest amount of pain.

The 2nd doc, a "Uralogist" <sp>, sent me in for x-rays. After that, he found what was wrong and that I needed an operation. I had a Torsion. A Torsion of the Left Testical. Now guys....let me warn you now that Torsions are more frequent than you may think. Torsion is when the testical actually 'twists' in the sack.....when this happens it cuts off blood flow to its self. After 6 hours, it dies. So my left nut was dead, swollen, and casuing pain. That operation was to remove the dead one and fixt the right one. I was put on light duty and not allowed to lift or do any heavy movements or exercises for a long time.

--Two Years later--

I am in the 10th Grade and in Acting. Since I was a bit scared of having Torsion again, I found an outlet through drama. I was also in AFJROTC and did alot of Marching... Well in Drama at times you have musicals and dancing....and I started feeling 'ill' again. Rush to the ER....surgery follows....I had outgrown my surgery.....corrections made again....and once again tole to stop doing things. I was weighting about 180lbs here.

--More years pass--

I am in college....and need to take two PE classes....I take Rock climbing as one...loved it...and had no bad effects. Then I take Weight Training for men...but I do not push myself as hard as I should....just do enough to get a passing grade.

--More years Pass--

About 2 years ago....my GP doc diaged me with High Blood Pressure. I was now weighing in at around 260lbs. I was put on high BP meds and had blood drawn. The blood showed high liver enzymes...and I was sent to a specialist in that field. Both Docs told me to LOSE WEIGHT or die from Cerosis of the liver and high blood pressure stuff....my g-ma died from Cerosis and I did not want that to happen to me. I also set a goal for myself. I wanted a new job....and in order to get that job I needed to get down to 180 pounds....80 pounds difference. After several months... I lost enough weight to get off the meds.....and then a few months after that my liver enymes were close to normal. I was at 200 pounds. About a month or more ago...thigns went wonky in my world and I weighed in at 212. I still need to get to that 180 mark.

So if there happens to be anyone in the area that wants to help me out... or that wants to train together....let's do it!

My motivation.....health and the job of a lifetime.

Oh .. that job....

to become an Officer in the United States Air Force!

[motof]

Wow...there's a bit of motivation for ya. That is a great story man, I'm glad you're alright now. Can these Torsions be fixed without surgery if you see the doc in time? How hard do you think you can train without this happening again?

[jacentk2]

Can these Torsions be fixed without surgery if you see the doc in time?

As far as I know, Torsion is only corrected by surgery. One way a guy can be more prone to Torsion....is that they may have been born WITHOUT a 'tendon' or 'ligament' that keeps the testicle in place. From what I recall, this was my case.

This is also why, when guys do heavy things or work, that the sack will raise up into the body....."disappearing" or what not. That is how the body will try to protect itself but is not guaranteed. When you take the 'normal' bike seat....it protrudes up into a man genital area....causing issues. As far as I know, this was how mine occured.

How hard do you think you can train without this happening again?

This is uncertain. I will only ride a bike for about 30min to 1 hour every other day....(once I get my new bike that is...old one broken)....and why I try to stay on a heavy Cardio routine and light Weight Training. I am picking up the pace some on the weight training since I have my
"new" home gym up and running....in fact my arms hurt right now. I think this is why the last 20-25 pounds are so hard for me to lose....I am not trainign hard enough....yet. I just recently conquored my fear of Bikes....if you know what I mean. I also don't train hard since I do it alone....solo....I have yet to find a friend wiling to train with. Some of the excuses I get: "I don't feel like it." "I have a bad knee and can't do that" "I am sick" "I am tired right now." Just to name a few.....I have lame friends....soem say they wanna loose weight, gain energy, get in shape, yet they are not motivated enough to push harder.

[jacentk2]

WebMD's Info Site on Testicular Torsion.

Torsion of a testicle


Also, as a warnign from my own Doctor.....Torsion is VERY common....although you may have just heard about it....it happens more than you think....But guys never open up and speak about it.

I mean, Would you????

I took me a few years to get comfortable with speaking on it. I only told very close friends.

[big g]

well motivation is to as healthy as jack lalane when get old. that man can run laps around me

[Chameleon]

Originally Posted by jacentk2

This is uncertain. I will only ride a bike for about 30min to 1 hour every other day....(once I get my new bike that is...old one broken)....and why I try to stay on a heavy Cardio routine and light Weight Training. I am picking up the pace some on the weight training since I have my
"new" home gym up and running....in fact my arms hurt right now. I think this is why the last 20-25 pounds are so hard for me to lose....I am not trainign hard enough....yet. I just recently conquored my fear of Bikes....if you know what I mean. I also don't train hard since I do it alone....solo....I have yet to find a friend wiling to train with. Some of the excuses I get: "I don't feel like it." "I have a bad knee and can't do that" "I am sick" "I am tired right now." Just to name a few.....I have lame friends....soem say they wanna loose weight, gain energy, get in shape, yet they are not motivated enough to push harder.

that's a hell of a story man... I'm glad to hear you're getting in shape and moving away from the health problems associated with your weight *clapping*

one thing about working out and 'pushing yourself' is that there are only a few moves where it is unsafe to try to push to your max without assistance... those would be a bench press w/ a bar, and squats... just about everything else you can do with dumbells and push as hard as you want/can... if you need to dump out of something because you can't get that last rep it's pretty easy to just drop a pair of dumbells... I would bet that you'd be supprised at how much you can do on your own... our minds create limits that aren't really there... open your mind, envision yourself lifting the heavier weight and then 'just do it' I agree that it is easier to do when you have someone there pushing you... but you CAN do it on your own... I would suggest keeping a log or journal of your workouts... write down what move you are doing, how many sets and how many reps per set... for example if this was in my book (actuall entry ):

Deadlift:
set 1 - 90 lbs, 8 reps
set 2 - 90 lbs, 8 reps
set 3 - 90 lbs, 8 reps
set 4 - 90 lbs, 7 reps

and then the next time I workout I'll try to get the full 8 reps on the last set... then assuming I get all 8 reps I'll raise the weight to 95 lbs

by keeping track of what I've done in the past, and trying to improve on that in each workout I'm pushing myself.... if you aren't keeping track this way... I would start.. I used to think I was doing pretty good keeping it all straight in my head... buy you know what... I wasn't... I wasn't making any progress at all, every time I went in I'd pick up the same weights and do the same number of reps and was wondering why I wasn't improving or progressing but now I KNOW if I've lost a rep or two on something, or if I'm progressing and getting stronger and better

my motivation is wanting to compete (in Figure) and wanting to look good in cute clothes... I competed back in 2003 and I LOVED how I looked in just about everything... I want that back BAD... any time I feel 'tired' or dont' want to get up in the morning I just remind myself of how good I felt when I was in such great shape.... AND I remind myself that I'll feel better all day if I actually get up for my cardio... I fell like a slug when I don't get it in.

I'm at the end a week of slacking and I'm glad I saw this thread.. it's reminding me why I do what I do... oh and I'm studying for my personal training certification through ISSA right now... and I wanna look AWESOME by the time I get certified... no one wants to hire a out of shape trainer