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There are some men who want to lift more than others and some who like getting compliments from other guys about their physique. To me it's about some guys like being competitive and standing out more than the crowd.
Hetro guys like getting compliments from all groups but the prime objective is not trying to impress other men.
Hetero guys like getting compliments from all groups? Not all of us. I've been both complimented and criticized so many thousands of times that its closer to a "rain is wet" type reaction most of the time.
Some people live for compliments. A very few get mad, I suspect issues in that case. I guess they give a slight lift to most people.
Guys are very concerned with what other guys think. The amount of money that women spend on clothes and shoes indicates slightly more concern.
Actually I think young "breeding stock" should be concerned. Motivation is essential to success. Most of us do better in long term relationships. I don't need one but I'm kind of "special".
A lot of people lift weights to the detriment of their overall health. I mean just look at the supplements people are eating/drinking (or injecting) just to grow more muscle. Sometimes it helps in sports, but many times it's for appearance.
I'm guilty of this- in my teens and 20's I predominantly lifted for looks. Yes, I got stronger as a result but I'm mainly a tennis player so it didn't really do much for my game. Now I just focus on staying active and am pretty much done with the gym scene. I play tennis 2-3 days per week and occasionally do some cardio in my basement if I have to skip tennis once or twice in a week.
Fitness classes are fun and I don't knock those, but the weight room has limited benefit to your overall health, much less so than cardio or just simply eating right.
How is someone lifting weights to the detriment of their overall health? Unless you're taking steroids, this is a very uninformed statement.
A sport that is to the detriment of one's overall health is marathon running. As someone who ran three marathons, I can tell you that it takes a toll on your body, especially the bigger you are. You body can't store enough energy to run 26.2 miles. You burn muscle to make it to the end regardless of how many calories you consume while you're running.
A large percentage vehemently deny it. I am not ashamed to admit that was my biggest motivator by far.
I may be wrong but it was my experience that nothing else is as effective for developing the proverbial "sexy bod".
Yet today I would still do it if the gym was much, much closer. This time it would be for strength and posture and, wait for it, looks.
Not saying it is all for cosmetic benefits. There are many other benefits to lifting. I do suspect that cosmetic reasons is the #1 reason for lifting when everybody and everything is considered.
I'll be in my bunker.
Tell that to all the shot-putters, pole-vaulters, football players, etc.
I've always done it to be better at the sports I'm playing.
But I'm one of those strange people that no matter how strong I got, my body didn't really look that different so I didn't really get the cosmetic benefit of it.
Bench 130 same bod bench 240.
Ran 6 miles a day same legs no running.
Just weird.
I was just the opposite when I used to work out in my 20's. The most I ever got up to benching was 185 but I looked like I could bench 240. Despite how great it made me look it bored me to tears so it wasn't a long term thing. I loved running, I was up to running 6 miles in about 45 minutes 3 days/week when my knees said no more and that, as they say, was that.
Absolutely not. I lift weights to stay strong - and increase my strength and maintain bone density. I do all kinds of exercises with weights - basically hand weights (dumb bells), 5 lb to 20 lbs.
If I was not lifting weights on a regular basis I would have been in big trouble during our last move. My increased strength made it easy to lift and move big boxes and furniture without hurting myself!
Huh. I run 6 miles every other day (mostly Nautilus & core exercises & elliptical on the off days) and it's all about health and losing weight. The weight lifting seems to be adding muscle mass, which slows down the weight loss, but that's OK.
I see some really buff guys at the gym (plus one or two buff gals!) and I think "Yup I'd love to look like that" but it's just not in the cards for me -- I've always looked like a 97-lb weakling As a skinny guy my whole life, I've always wanted more upper body muscle, wider shoulders, bigger deltoids and arms -- but at a certain point, you have to accept that this is what your DNA made you so just work with it.
Core strength and stamina are, in my opinion, the most important things. Reducing body fat is connected to living longer, get rid of belly fat which is correlated with CRP (C-reactive proteins that may cause inflammation and heart disease). Stop my stomach hanging out of my pants, fit into my older clothes. Act and feel more spry and springy.
As for folks who lift to look good, or for the sheer joy of it -- more power to them! I respect it, it's just not for me.
Huh. I run 6 miles every other day (mostly Nautilus & core exercises & elliptical on the off days) and it's all about health and losing weight. The weight lifting seems to be adding muscle mass, which slows down the weight loss, but that's OK.
I see some really buff guys at the gym (plus one or two buff gals!) and I think "Yup I'd love to look like that" but it's just not in the cards for me -- I've always looked like a 97-lb weakling As a skinny guy my whole life, I've always wanted more upper body muscle, wider shoulders, bigger deltoids and arms -- but at a certain point, you have to accept that this is what your DNA made you so just work with it.
Core strength and stamina are, in my opinion, the most important things. Reducing body fat is connected to living longer, get rid of belly fat which is correlated with CRP (C-reactive proteins that may cause inflammation and heart disease). Stop my stomach hanging out of my pants, fit into my older clothes. Act and feel more spry and springy.
As for folks who lift to look good, or for the sheer joy of it -- more power to them! I respect it, it's just not for me.
I don't know how long you have been lifting but I will say this. Trying to gain substantial muscle mass while running/elliptical that much is literally mission impossible for anyone who isn't a genetic mesomorph (genetically disposed to muscular build).
You could do some cardio like swimming with hand paddles (for more resistance) that wouldn't work so hard against muscular gains if so inclined.
You might be a good candidate for triathlons. I recommend the short course ones unless you have serious free time or a heckuva background in similar events. You will not see an obese triathlete unless things have seriously changed. Like really short courses.
If someone wants to completely focus on larger muscles then cardio exercises have to be tossed.
I personally think it is unfortunate that our society values bulging muscles over stamina and general fitness. It is what it is. Women spent 99% of our anthropological history seeking men who could chuck a spear the farthest.
*Addressing others, I have dead lifted 405 three times in succession a few times, the bar felt pretty heavy at that point.
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My increased strength made it easy to lift and move big boxes and furniture without hurting myself!
As a skinny guy my whole life, I've always wanted more upper body muscle, wider shoulders, bigger deltoids and arms -- but at a certain point, you have to accept that this is what your DNA made you so just work with it.
