There are tons of reasons why people lift weights. Some start lifting because of the health benefits of resistance exercise and others do it to meet people in the gym. People like me do it because they love it.
I’m talking about being “about that life”. Lifting for me is a way of life. It’s a great way to not only stay healthy, it keeps me grounded. I transfer all of the positive attributes from weightlifting into my daily life.
Why did you start lifting weights? I basically wanted to be strong. Growing up watching Arnold, Lee Haney, Tom Platz, Frank Zane and Sergio Oliva made me want to be like them.
Getting a new issue of Muscle & Fitness and seeing Tom Platz on the cover with a new leg workout was Christmas for me. I remember buying my first tub of weight gainer and eating raw eggs like Rocky when I was 15.
My first gym membership was at Jim Bottin’s Nautilus Plus. Walking into the gym and seeing the same equipment the pros trained on – changed my life. I was addicted to weightlifting. The addiction grew once I saw the results from my hard work.
I started doing full body workouts every other day. Every morning I would eat raw eggs and take my weight gainer. Even though I was a hard gainer, I saw significant gains.
The noob gains are real!! It was amazing how my physique changed in a couple of months. My legs were stubborn and just wouldn’t grow, or grow as fast as I wanted them to. I was determined to get quads like Tom Platz.
So, squats and deadlifts became a staple for me. As an athlete in junior and high school, I played basketball, track and football. Lifting weights gave me an advantage in all of those sports. It’s been 32 years and I’m still addicted to lifting weights.
For me, it’s a way of life. I’ll lift until my mind and body tells me it’s time to quit. Lifting is my life – It’s what I do…