The Bobcat Nation

I have lifted weights most of my life. I have had

Surgery on my left shoulder
Need Surgery on the right one
Broke my foot twice
Stress fracture just above the right ankel
Plantar Fasciitis in both feet
Broken finger
Chipped kneecap
Dislocated Hip
Ribs that had to be pushed back into place
Permanent lower back damage
Arthritis in both knees
Every Muscle pulled at least once
Have not slept through the night once in 10 years due to pain

So why do I keep going? I will give you 2 examples:

1. The guy with Cerebral Palsy who needs the wrap around crutches on each arm to walk who goes into the rack and puts 185 lbs on the bar. He positions himself (with his crutches) and then sets his crutches against the back of the rack and knocks out ten good reps. He racks the weight, grabs his crutches and backs out of the rack. He does three sets.

2. The guy with no legs who comes to my gym and does an hour of free weights. No excuses, no whining, he just does the work like he is just like everyone else.

These guys make me look like a pussy! These guys keep me going. If they are not whining or crying or complaining then I certainly won't. As hard as it may seem sometimes you can overcome anything. Don't take my word for it, just look at these guys!

I suppose it's my own selfish need to have the adrenalin pumping and to try to keep up with what Mother Nature throws at us

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I'll be honest: I'm primarily motivated by vanity. Health heart, stress reduction, etc are nice, but it really comes down to not wanting to look like a whale in the summer.

AlphaOAlum wrote:I'll be honest: I'm primarily motivated by vanity. Health heart, stress reduction, etc are nice, but it really comes down to not wanting to look like a whale in the summer.

That's how it started with me too (I like beach bars). But after a while, it kind of became a "must-do". I don't feel right if I don't go for a run. I get as anxious without a good run like some people do if deprived of tobacco. However, most personal trainers will tell you that the only "bad exercise" is the kind that injures you. What's the point in hurting yourself?

tampa_griz wrote:

AlphaOAlum wrote:I'll be honest: I'm primarily motivated by vanity. Health heart, stress reduction, etc are nice, but it really comes down to not wanting to look like a whale in the summer.

That's how it started with me too (I like beach bars). But after a while, it kind of became a "must-do". I don't feel right if I don't go for a run. I get as anxious without a good run like some people do if deprived of tobacco. However, most personal trainers will tell you that the only "bad exercise" is the kind that injures you. What's the point in hurting yourself?

Hurting yourself is NEVER a good thing. But it comes with the territory. If you keep your weights light and are careful you can minimize the number and severity of injuries but you will probably still have a few just like you probably do when running all the time. Because I was a competitive power lifter for years and even though I no longer compete I still try and lift heavy (on the excersizes I can still do), I get many injuries and some are severe. Then again my goals have nothing to do with health or how I look.

tampa_griz wrote:

AlphaOAlum wrote:I'll be honest: I'm primarily motivated by vanity. Health heart, stress reduction, etc are nice, but it really comes down to not wanting to look like a whale in the summer.

That's how it started with me too (I like beach bars). But after a while, it kind of became a "must-do". I don't feel right if I don't go for a run. I get as anxious without a good run like some people do if deprived of tobacco. However, most personal trainers will tell you that the only "bad exercise" is the kind that injures you. What's the point in hurting yourself?

Yes and yes. I guess my first real push was fasting blood test that showed me at pre-diabetic levels in my 20's. My dads side of the family has a lot of type II and they're the hardworking, rancher type so it's not due to obesity. It was enough to make me change my habits and increase my exercise.

Now it's vanity, sanity, and habit.

There is a similar guy at one of the gyms I go to Gary, in a wheelchair missing both legs just below the knee who wheels around the weights. When I started trying to workout at 5AM he gave me a lot of motivation. I would run a little further or faster knowing he would give anything to run.

ChiOCat wrote:

tampa_griz wrote:

AlphaOAlum wrote:I'll be honest: I'm primarily motivated by vanity. Health heart, stress reduction, etc are nice, but it really comes down to not wanting to look like a whale in the summer.

That's how it started with me too (I like beach bars). But after a while, it kind of became a "must-do". I don't feel right if I don't go for a run. I get as anxious without a good run like some people do if deprived of tobacco. However, most personal trainers will tell you that the only "bad exercise" is the kind that injures you. What's the point in hurting yourself?

Yes and yes. I guess my first real push was fasting blood test that showed me at pre-diabetic levels in my 20's. My dads side of the family has a lot of type II and they're the hardworking, rancher type so it's not due to obesity. It was enough to make me change my habits and increase my exercise.

Now it's vanity, sanity, and habit.

There is a similar guy at one of the gyms I go to Gary, in a wheelchair missing both legs just below the knee who wheels around the weights. When I started trying to workout at 5AM he gave me a lot of motivation. I would run a little further or faster knowing he would give anything to run.

When I saw the guy with CP squating I sat in the corner and just starred at the wall for 30 minutes. I was embarrassed and ashamed at all the complaining and whinning I had done in the past. You want motivation. Check this out!

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gtapp wrote:

ChiOCat wrote:

tampa_griz wrote:

AlphaOAlum wrote:I'll be honest: I'm primarily motivated by vanity. Health heart, stress reduction, etc are nice, but it really comes down to not wanting to look like a whale in the summer.

That's how it started with me too (I like beach bars). But after a while, it kind of became a "must-do". I don't feel right if I don't go for a run. I get as anxious without a good run like some people do if deprived of tobacco. However, most personal trainers will tell you that the only "bad exercise" is the kind that injures you. What's the point in hurting yourself?

Yes and yes. I guess my first real push was fasting blood test that showed me at pre-diabetic levels in my 20's. My dads side of the family has a lot of type II and they're the hardworking, rancher type so it's not due to obesity. It was enough to make me change my habits and increase my exercise.

Now it's vanity, sanity, and habit.

There is a similar guy at one of the gyms I go to Gary, in a wheelchair missing both legs just below the knee who wheels around the weights. When I started trying to workout at 5AM he gave me a lot of motivation. I would run a little further or faster knowing he would give anything to run.

When I saw the guy with CP squating I sat in the corner and just starred at the wall for 30 minutes. I was embarrassed and ashamed at all the complaining and whinning I had done in the past. You want motivation. Check this out!

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pretty cool Gtapp

gtapp wrote:

ChiOCat wrote:

tampa_griz wrote:

AlphaOAlum wrote:I'll be honest: I'm primarily motivated by vanity. Health heart, stress reduction, etc are nice, but it really comes down to not wanting to look like a whale in the summer.

That's how it started with me too (I like beach bars). But after a while, it kind of became a "must-do". I don't feel right if I don't go for a run. I get as anxious without a good run like some people do if deprived of tobacco. However, most personal trainers will tell you that the only "bad exercise" is the kind that injures you. What's the point in hurting yourself?

Yes and yes. I guess my first real push was fasting blood test that showed me at pre-diabetic levels in my 20's. My dads side of the family has a lot of type II and they're the hardworking, rancher type so it's not due to obesity. It was enough to make me change my habits and increase my exercise.

Now it's vanity, sanity, and habit.

There is a similar guy at one of the gyms I go to Gary, in a wheelchair missing both legs just below the knee who wheels around the weights. When I started trying to workout at 5AM he gave me a lot of motivation. I would run a little further or faster knowing he would give anything to run.

When I saw the guy with CP squating I sat in the corner and just starred at the wall for 30 minutes. I was embarrassed and ashamed at all the complaining and whinning I had done in the past. You want motivation. Check this out!

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks gtapp. Completely inspiring.

Here's another story along those lines...

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/09/wit ... -marathon/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;