Why do you workout?
October 20, 2009 by Admin: Joe Hashey, CSCS
Filed under Football Strength Workouts, Muscle Building Articles, Strength Training
Why do you put your body under incredible stresses, sacrifice your time, and push yourself to the limits?
I get that question from some of my colleagues that aren’t into training. They reason that I don’t play sports anymore, so why train?
Strength training has become ingrained in my persona, and I am extremely fortunate. It isn’t just one reason why I workout, so here is a brief top 5 list:
- To continually push myself and improve
- Lead by example – as a personal trainer I think its important to be able to do what you are teaching.
- In order to stay stronger than my youngest brother. I just can’t have him beating me….must be a brother thing.
- Release stress from the day.
- I like it…
Number #5 might be seen as a “cop out” but I enjoy and look forward to it every day, that’s a huge factor.
The people I train workout to excel at their sports, and it is awesome to see the fruits of their labor. The football players have been doing well. Nick has been a mean defender and Mike is exploding through the line on offense.
One of the young men that has been with me the longest, Jake, just got called up to varsity as a freshman to play D line for the 10th ranked team in the state (to play against their 6-0 rivals). Why? He is quite possible the strongest person in the program as a tribute to his hard work at Synergy.
That’s what happens when you go from a 165 lb bench to a 275 lb, nearly double your squat, AND get faster. Yikes! Here’s Jake during the summer between 8th and 9th grade.
How do I train young athletes, and why do some 8th grades bench while others are still on push ups? Here’s the post from back in February – Training Young Athletes.
==> Want to take a look at the complete program? Check out Bull Strength.
I know I have mentioned this before, but it is a topic that deserves repeating:
WHY DO YOU WORKOUT?
I find you guys extremely inspiring, so I’m looking forward to reading the comments and getting pumped up to get after some weights!
- Joe Hashey, CSCS -
PS. The huge Garage Gym Empire bonus is going live Wednesday at 8 pm! Get on the newsletter for the link.
Another great post Joe
I get asked this question a lot, “Why train so hard, when you have nothing to train for?”
My wife thinks I am obsessed, but I just think I am dedicated to what I beleive in and that is to be as fit and strong as I can be. I draw inspiration from a lot of people. If I see someone doing something I can’t or haven’t done yet, then I think “if he can, I can” and set off to do it.
Here is my list:
1. To be the best I can be by pushing and learning and pushing and doing….
2. To continue to improve by talking to fitness professionals and implementing suggestions to see the results.
3. To release daily stress
4. I like it too.
recently one of my friends said I was the most driven person he has ever met, I felt humbled by the remark. I hadn’t thought to stop and think how I may be perceived. It was nice to to be told. He also asked why I was. The answer is my list above, to be the best I can be, to go through the forge of hard training and come out a better person for it.
Dean
nice list Dean!
good work, Joe. Your blog is one of my favorite non-CrossFit blogs that I follow, and that says a lot.
I was telling the strongmen at my gym yesterday after working out about your page and about how deceivingly strong you were when we had SC101.
Great article again, and I’m glad your athletes are achieving success, that is a credit to their hard work and you.
I have to take a weekend road trip up your way soon and train a day with you for sure.
Jay, ha I was going to mention that compliment in a future post. Thanks for spreading the good word!
Joe
no problem, we are all in this together as coaches/trainers and I like nothing more than to see every one of us that is serious about this continue to be successful.
I train because it is one of the most addicting things in the world, in my humble opinion. It starts out like a small flame and eventually grows into a roaring fire. Most folks talk about what a chore exercising is, but I feel driven to train by a desire to always be a bit better than I was the day before.
The confidence that comes along with effective training is the strongest hook in existence, but sadly a lot of people drop out before they first experience what that feels like………..if they could just get over that initial hump, I think they’d catch the training fever, too.
Not to sound trite or preach to the choir, but just about everything related to and derived from solid training has carryover to any other area of life. And who among us couldn’t use a boost in all of those other areas!
I think number 3 should be changed to. “trying to keep up with my younger brother”
Jack “training fever” is an excellent way to put it!
For fun mostly …
All though I do like some of the benefits …
I particularly enjoy being able to smack some of the youngsters around at sparring who should be able to wipe the floor with an old guy like me
Joe,
Good stuff… to the point, clear.
I so agree with you and am with you. It’s who I am, what I do and what I love.
I feel bad for men who have not come to embrace some level of Strength and the subsequent training in their lives by their 30′s…
For at some point they will have to learn, they will be forced by gravity to succumb or fight.
And learning to connect your mind to muscles, to be with it can be done at any age but I would not want to start it day one at 45.
Here’s to Life @ Full Strength,
Shawn Phillips
Strength for LIFE
Creator Full Strength Nutrition
Because I can’t imagine / conceptualize life without training.
well to answer why I train?
I’m 35, stronger and fitter than many in their 20′s. I live this, its my life, my passion and what I do.
I strive for personal excellence and this is just another way for me to achieve that.
So i can crush the competition,be it on the field,in the gym,at work,or just to feel more confident in social situations.
Beating your competition is a great feeling, excellent point Keith!
Nice Shawn, thanks for the comment.
I work out to build and maintain muscle, as well as to get that calorie burn that occurs while muscles rebuild. I am 54 years old and have been working out since 1967. I worked out as a kid to improve my sports strength. I tried to inspire my children, and both still workout and were D1 college athletes, with my son once holding the teen record in the dead lift at 190 lbs. My wife thinks I am obsessed and she is correct. I lost 50 lbs 5 years ago and am obsessed with reaining at 190 lbs in a 34 inch waist, down from 240 and a 39 inch waist (I am 5’9″).
John haha “and she is correct.” I bet you have seen some hilarious workout fads come and go between 67 and today. Any ones that were particularly funny to you?
Squat and deadlift certainly stood the test of time!
Joe
John,
Also congrats on the weight loss! That is certainly not easy.
Joe
I train because I know what it feels like to be overweight and out of shape–in my high school and college years I was one of those fat kids that always tried to get out of gym class—and now I know how it feels to be trim and in shape. I now crave that feeling of being drenched in sweat and breathing hard.
I am fortunate enough to have a local commercial gym that has a corner dedicated to kettlebells, sandbags and heavy ropes. And I have that corner all to myself—even when the gym is crowded.
Ken, sounds like a great place to train! Congrats on the weight loss as well.
Joe
I train to be a muther effin ANIMAL!!!
I might still have a ways to go…
I workout because I enjoy the challenge of pushing
myself. First, as a teen it was to make my clothes fit better. Then it turned to an inspiration. I looked at bodybuilders like Lou Ferrigno, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Haney and the list goes on. These gentlemen really helped
motivate me.
I’m a control freak. I don’t like being weak. I stay strong as cautionary prevention in case of a car accident or an emergency. For example, what if I fall off a cliff and have to hang on a pole and wait for help? Silly, I know, but I could get in a car accident or get attacked by hoodlums. I’ve heard many stories.
If I don’t keep my core unbelievably strong, my back will start going out as I do have some degenerative discs. However, if I stay super strong, I can do anything pain free. Prevention for osteoporosis and loss of muscle for when I get older. I’m inspired by many older body builders who have the body of someone in their twenties. I don’t want to be one of those people who let themselves go and complain of aches and pains and weakness later on in life. I’d rather be healthy, strong and capable of everything. Working out intensely makes it more interesting. If I just did some moderate activity, I will become bored and less motivated. Gotta practice what I preach. There is the brother issue as well. Had to keep to a certain intensity level to survive growing up and even though my bro lives in another state, I hate hearing about him training hard without me needing to step up to the plate. Old habits die hard.