Depends, if you make a sudden change to your life and start eating differently and working out like an athlete because all of sudden your health and strength are massively important to you, when you never were interested before I would imagine people will say things. I went to a sports college, we had free gym membership and if you were on teams you could get a plan drawn up by PE teachers/coaches if you wanted it or needed it, and most people used it. No one said anything because it wasn't unusual.
True.
That's why I'm guessing that there's a point when people just accept it. The problem is it could take a couple of years to build a half-decent physique that looks quite difficult to obtain, and then people will realize that that's what your about.
I agree with you on a lot of those points (except for "a stronger person is a more useful person", not sure what that is meant to mean!) but from all your posts on here about exercise/ going to the gym it sounds like you are probably the type to kinda rub it in people's faces a little!
Understandable that exercise makes you feel good, you are reaping the benefits and you want to share those effects with other people. But people are obviously gonna get a bit fed up/ annoyed with that if they aren't interested in going to the gym and you are always talking about it. Are you sure that you're not the one actually bringing it up all the time? lol
Clearly the only reason most men go to the gym is because they're douches who want to maximise their chances of getting laid. That's why people tend to dislike guys who are ripped - it's because statistically the chance of them being bellends is quite high.
Clearly the only reason most men go to the gym is because they're douches who want to maximise their chances of getting laid. That's why people tend to dislike guys who are ripped - it's because statistically the chance that they are bellends is quite high.
I agree with you on a lot of those points (except for "a stronger person is a more useful person", not sure what that is meant to mean!) but from all your posts on here about exercise/ going to the gym it sounds like you are probably the type to kinda rub it in people's faces a little!
Understandable that exercise makes you feel good, you are reaping the benefits and you want to share those effects with other people. But people are obviously gonna get a bit fed up/ annoyed with that if they aren't interested in going to the gym and you are always talking about it. Are you sure that you're not the one actually bringing it up all the time? lol
No that's the point. I don't want to share the effects. If people are genuinely interested then they will ask. This is just normal social interaction. For example I wouldn't continuously talk about football to someone who doesn't watch/play it, either.
What I don't like is when someone is sat there eating a bag of hula hoops, and I'm eating chicken and brown rice that they have to make comments about how "barmy" I am for having a extra meals over the day.
Nah. I have no desire to get ripped thank you. My body is quite adequate as it is. My exercise consists of aerobic exercise in the outdoors; I do a lot of cycling because it's something I find enjoyable. Consequently I'm quite physically fit.
However, my upper body strength is probably below average - which isn't something I care about really. Doesn't matter. I'm in good physical shape from the enjoyable aerobic exercise I do. Why anyone would do anaerobic weight training because they actually enjoy it is beyond me; I would imagine that a large proportion of guys who do weight training do it because they're douches who just want to attract shallow, superficial, skanky girls who are turned on by large biceps and little else.
However, my upper body strength is probably below average - which isn't something I care about really. Doesn't matter.
Doesn't matter to you.
As someone who's spent time playing rugby and boxing, I have to say that it's pretty useful. Being strong enough to lift things does have a use in the world outside of the gym, though I accept it might not apply to everything, or to everyone.
I'm in good physical shape from the enjoyable aerobic exercise I do. Why anyone would do anaerobic weight training because they actually enjoy it is beyond me;
Well, if it's beyond you, then why are you venturing a 'but I would imagine...'?
Just because you don't see how people can enjoy weightlifting doesn't mean that they don't.
I would imagine that a large proportion of guys who do weight training do it because they're douches who just want to attract shallow, superficial, skanky girls who are turned on by large biceps and little else.
Perhaps they are, but it doesn't really serve to turn something that can be very positive into a negative. Some people might take up martial arts because they like beating people up, but that doesn't devalue martial arts.
Some people enjoy weightlifting, some enjoy having the extra strength, some find that it increases their confidence. For me, personally, I'd have to say that the body is one thing you have real control over, looks wise, when it comes to shaping it in a way that makes you feel more comfortable/attractive. That doesn't mean you neglect developing your mind, or have the personality of a paving slab, because in reality weight training only takes a matter of hours a week. If it makes someone feel more confident in themselves, and does so in a healthy way (i.e. they're eating healthy, eating plenty and not on gear), then I don't see the harm in it.
The generalisation about women is a strange one. Some people do lift to try and attract girls, undoubtedly. I can see why you might consider them douches. However, the fact is that someone who is a douche is a douche regardless of whether or not they lift weights. Everyone who lifts doesn't suddenly fancy themselves 'a player'. Also, girls have preferences. A lot of girls who aren't skanky, vapid or particularly shallow, find they have an attraction to someone with a muscular physique, or it's at least a plus point. Obviously it doesn't appeal to all, and it doesn't suddenly make someone desirable, but it can help. In the same way, people who dress well or style their hair a certain way etc can do so because it helps their self-confidence and/or they believe it makes them more attractive. It doesn't make them a douche to do so.
in reality weight training only takes a matter of hours a week. If it makes someone feel more confident in themselves, and does so in a healthy way (i.e. they're eating healthy, eating plenty and not on gear), then I don't see the harm in it.
This is correct IMO. The confidence boost from being in great shape is pretty crazy plus you are healthier, it also promotes other good habits and teaches discipline/hard work, the list goes on.
Many people seem to be under the illusion that people who are in great shape spends hours and hours in the gym every day, the reality is many will spend around 4 hours A WEEK in the gym and as a result look better, feel better, be stronger, be fitter and so on.
Ok first of all...I'm fully aware that not everyone in the world is interested in "building muscle", "increasing VO2 max", "getting ripped" or whatever other fitness goals there is out there. It just so happens that we live in a world where there is much to do, and many things to take interest in and there is limited time to do it in.
However...everyone knows, on some level, that the gym and becoming generally healthier and fitter is a very good thing to commit to. People must understand that a stronger person is a more useful person. It should be common sense that someone who can do HIIT or run for long distances will have more energy in general, and be less bothered about routine tasks. It should also be obvious that people who eat decent, well-balanced meals will have more focus and a better feeling in general than someone who eats crap every day.
Personally, I don't really care if I get validation from other people or not. And it's not like I'd enjoy a crowd of people watching me set a new PB. It's not like that. But what I don't get is why people have to make snide comments about the fact you go to the gym? Or the fact they try and convince you to not even bother? Or they give you advice, knowing full-well they don't know what they're talking about. Seriously...if you're not interested in lifting then just don't lift, and don't speak of it. No need to try and talk down to people who do just to make yourself feel better.
It begs the question also. If they're feeling so self-conscious around people who take their health seriously...then why don't they do something about it? If it doesn't matter to them, then why do they always bring it up? Why can't they just live and let live and let people do their own thing?
Just can't wait for the day when people accept that this is what your about and just respectfully just let you get on with it. I'm guessing that doesn't happen until you're a certain size/BF%, lol.
/rant
Why didn't you take your own advice and not make this thread, then?
I've never once told someone that they "should stop being lazy and go to the gym".
Way to miss an extraordinarily simple point.
"Why can't they just live and let live and let people do their own thing?" - telling people to do something isn't the only way that somebody can go against this principle. There are lots of other ways, such as creating a thread outlining how non-gym-goers are less useful than gym-goers.
Not everyone does regular exercise, not everyone sticks to a macrobiotic diet, and not everyone is toned, ripped and a size 8.
But if they're not morbidly obese and costing the NHS millions of pounds a year for treatment for CHD, diabetes, etc, then why does it bother you so much?
I think maybe you should get off your high horse... I get sick of fitness buffs who think they're better than everyone.
Nah. I have no desire to get ripped thank you. My body is quite adequate as it is. My exercise consists of aerobic exercise in the outdoors; I do a lot of cycling because it's something I find enjoyable. Consequently I'm quite physically fit.
However, my upper body strength is probably below average - which isn't something I care about really. Doesn't matter. I'm in good physical shape from the enjoyable aerobic exercise I do. Why anyone would do anaerobic weight training because they actually enjoy it is beyond me; I would imagine that a large proportion of guys who do weight training do it because they're douches who just want to attract shallow, superficial, skanky girls who are turned on by large biceps and little else.
I don't enjoy cycling in the slightest. Yet I appreciate that other people do, such as yourself. You don't enjoy lifting, yet can't appreciate that other people do enjoy it, such as me. Why are you so close minded?
The whole 'guys only lift because they are douches and want attractive girls so I hate them' basically reads; I am skinny,weak and jealous, and attractive girls don't like me.
Nah. I have no desire to get ripped thank you. My body is quite adequate as it is. My exercise consists of aerobic exercise in the outdoors; I do a lot of cycling because it's something I find enjoyable. Consequently I'm quite physically fit.
However, my upper body strength is probably below average - which isn't something I care about really. Doesn't matter. I'm in good physical shape from the enjoyable aerobic exercise I do. Why anyone would do anaerobic weight training because they actually enjoy it is beyond me; I would imagine that a large proportion of guys who do weight training do it because they're douches who just want to attract shallow, superficial, skanky girls who are turned on by large biceps and little else.
LOL, way to prove my point.
I love how you assume all people who lift weights are basically 'curl bros'. If you ever had the balls to actually enter a gym, you'd realise most people aren't like that at all, and they generally dislike that mindset as much as you do. You shouldn't generalise people in that way, I hope you don't do that in other contexts.
I bet if you gave it a go, you'd really enjoy it. If you have a good level of CV fitness as you say, it would certainly help.
Cardio is great, but without resistance training, it's like bread without butter. If you look at athletes, they all have a decent level of muscle mass, because it's all part of the same thing. That's why people say 'strength and fitness'.
I really think you should give it a go. If you didn't care at all about strength, you wouldn't have posted on here.
I'm pretty lazy sometimes and I don't complain about people who go to the gym or decide to get fitter. So I don't think you're ranting about lazy people. I think you're on about your typical douche bag.
There's absolutely no call for people who choose not to do a lot of exercise too look down on those who do, but at the same time there's no call for those who do a lot of exercise to consider themselves superior to people who choose to focus their efforts on different things.
As you say, live and let live - don't try to convince yourself you're "more useful" than someone because you spend more time in the gym.