Why do I work out?
- Physique and aesthetics - To build that lean and fit physique, with my focus on aesthetics over size, symmetry over mass. Of course I would like to gain more muscle mass and I am working towards that, slowly but surely. I have done it once before, putting on 10kg over one year of training but I felt that I did it with more body fat gained than muscle mass. So this time after losing about 6kg and all that body fat, I am going to try to gain muscle mass while getting leaner at the same time.
- It's all about me, I against myself - Being the better version, the best version you can be. It isn't about being better than someone else, yes it can be a secondary achievement but ultimately it's about building yourself. There'll always be someone better than you, be it overall, in size or in a certain body part but ultimately I work out to be that much more ripped/lean Jerome as compared to the one yesterday, better than that Jerome before the gym session.
When people ask me why do I gym so much or so often. I always tell them that I want to achieve the best physique I can while I still can. While I'm still young, fit and in my prime.
Till the next post!
Jerome. Ya know when it comes to making a positive change in our lives, people usually advise to do it for ourselves. Like you say, to see the best version of what we can be, and be proud because we do.
ReplyDeleteI like that, but I really don't understand it. For me such changes in life has to come from someone else. Or for someone. To show that we care about people's regard for us, and thus to strive to be the best possible person to be regarded. Not to let them down. Or simply to show someone you can do it, to show off. People do difficult things all the time, and there has to be witnesses, or seriously why...
I believe one has to be extremely self-centered for the reason of pleasing oneself to be the only reason to make a positive change.
Would people like Edmund Hillary climb Everest if there was nobody to proclaim it to the entire world?
Why do you want to display such discipline?
Perhaps I was raised by my mother to constantly compare to others, perhaps it's cynical, because if you ever have too much time to think, thoughts always trend to the negative.
In any case, stay fit, stay motivated, however you achieve it. It's honestly an inspiration because it comes very hard to me, motivation.
I'm just thinking though, as I ramble, if there were nobody in this world for me to care about. Like everyone I care about dead, would I just rot at home all day?
The truth is, there is so much benefit in staying fit. Just the energy throughout the day, the happy chemicals to forget how shitty life is... I would probably run a lot.
Sorry for going on, but I just really needed to think lately, and this was thought-provoking.
I guess after thinking it through, people are able to do things like pursuing knowledge, climb tall mountains, simply because they want to and are curious and not for any other person. But staying committed, can it be sustained simply by one's will to constantly get better?
I would really love to have the ability to read minds of these successful people, of anybody really. But I'm just a average, normal human being like 6000 x 1000 x 1000 others. I can't teleport, go invis, or read minds.
i am so envious of people with passion. u love this. love the suck. love the discipline. love the pump. the sore, the pushing through of exhaustion. i hate it, i hate the sheer effort. always in my mind is why i do it. and that just makes me give up lately.
could use u as a gym buddy bro.
Hey!
DeleteTo share with you, I never ever considered myself extraordinary. In fact, I think I'm really ordinary. Sometimes I feel like I haven't achieved much in life. But I realised that the problem is that I keep comparing myself to someone else. What I have learnt from this is that while you compare yourself to that person, someone else is comparing himself to you as well, it becomes a vicious cycle.
Personally I feel that we are all self-centered creatures, but that doesn't mean that it is a bad thing. There is good in being self-centered as well. If we do not first care about ourselves, how can we then care for another? If we're not healthy, how then can we make sure our loved ones are healthy.
My motivation comes from being a positive influence to my family and friends. I share with them the "healthier" meals that I cook and the experiences I have on this journey of fitness in hope that it may encourage them to do the same. I also work out for my girlfriend, I mean who wouldn't want an attractive partner? :D
"You must first learn to love yourself, before you can learn to love someone else" - is a quote I live by.
Take little steps at a time.
Even if we have no one to specifically work hard for or care about, our efforts may have a spill over to motivate someone out there. Just like how those fitness models have inspired me but they don't even know it. I too hope that I will motivate others, even if I might never know it.
I admit that I work out to look good, but I also get to be fit and it has become an equally important motivation to me.
I wished I was musically talented, but I am bad at learning musical instruments and suck at singing. I want to be smart, successful, charming and charismatic but I'm not all that. Yet, I have attributes that people around me learn to appreciate and that in turn I too have learn to love about myself.
The thing about successful people is that the find a purpose and they work hard and stay dedicated towards it, no rest, no excuses. That is how they define their success. We too can achieve our own "little success". It doesn't have to be as "large, grand or great" as theirs. Getting that six pack abs, scoring 'A' in that one exam or even helping someone else can be an achievement. While you see them as little, someone else might see them as a big success. Let us learn to appreciate our efforts and see them as big achievements! :)
So find your purpose and who knows what it might eventually grow into. The big oak tree grows from a small seed. Time and dedication are the water and sunlight to grow the seed.
Stay positive bro!
Sorry I took so long to reply, I haven't checked the comments in forever.
Omg I accidentally deleted the original reply I wanted to send you but this is similar to what I wanted to share, hopefully I recalled everything I typed originally. :(
Argh, I swear I forgot a few sentences but this is mainly the reply I wanted to give you.
DeleteI hope it finds you well.
While I mentioned that we shouldn't compare ourselves to others, doing so at times might be another form of motivation for us. Maybe we can learn to see the differences and areas where we can work on.
I aim to be healthier, fitter and better looking physically but I do meet obstacles and procrastinate and cheat on myself. But as long as you keep trying, one day when it becomes a habit and lifestyle, being successful can be relatively easier :D