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| IronMass Forums Losing motivation. 30+ Section Discuss Losing motivation. in the For People of All Types forums; I've been lifting since 1970. Just turned 50 and just don't enjoy going to the gym anymore. My recent RC surgery caused a 3 month lay-off, then ... |
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08-25-2005, 01:25 PM
| #1 |
| Amateur Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pgh, Pa.
Posts: 32
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0  |  Losing motivation. I've been lifting since 1970. Just turned 50 and just don't enjoy going to the gym anymore. My recent RC surgery caused a 3 month lay-off, then I'd go for several weeks then take off for several weeks. My whole life has been dedicated to pumping iron, but I'm really losing the desire to go and when I do go I just go thru the motions, you know, not into it at all. The RC surgery really has set me back....I feel like I'm back at square one. I realize all the work it will take to get back to where I was but I really don't feel up to it. I try to keep the Marine mentality...You know what you have to do so get it done....I think the "guilt" keeps me trying to get back in a good routine but the excitement and high I used to get is gone. WTF? I went to my Doctor and the Test level is fine. Anyone else have this problem?
__________________ A coward dies many deaths, a Soldier dies once! |
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08-25-2005, 02:03 PM
| #2 | |
| Pro Stature  Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Indiana
Posts: 127
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 4 |  Quote:
Yep I think every one has problems with the mental motivation some time or other..I think it is easier to work your body than it is is work your mind. You just need to find out what it is that will bring that desire back..what started that spark in the first place so long ago that got you started? What can you do to make going to the gym fun again? Try a routine you have never doen, set some new goals, start with baby steps instead of just jumping back ino it. I am a firm believer of the " you can do anything you set your mind to" theory..the hard part is setting the mind to it sometimes : or i could just come motivate ya with this :devilwhip hehehe | |
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08-25-2005, 02:15 PM
| #3 |
| Pro Stature  Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NC
Posts: 327
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 7 | Or you could try telling me you don't want to lift anymore and I could "pull rank" LOL. Seriously, like mom suggested, try a whole new routine. Shake things up, shock the system and keep it guessing. We all have setbacks and times when we just don't want to make the effort. Don't think of having to start back at square one...think of the new opportunities that you're now presented with.
__________________ Steely-eyed, barrel-chested, freedom fighter with the kung-fu grip and the life-like hair |
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08-25-2005, 02:27 PM
| #4 |
| The Dawg Is Back!!  Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doin Compound Movements 4 Scooby Snacks!
Posts: 1,914
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 32  |  Option #2... Hmm.. I'm in favor of the whip.. :evil: ... No wait.. I'm a :saint: Could you wear that outfit in Hibby's old avatar..??? Arrrghh.. :saint: ... hehehe ... Hey Capt... Don't worry about it... If the surgery slowed you down.. Feel free to try other activities as well... I'm thynkin' your gym knowledge & experience would be a great benefit to the members of thys forum... maybe you could translate that into a bunch of articles... That way it's bodybuilding related... You could also grab one of the focused younger guys at the gym and train him... Then you could share in his achievements... or just cyber-train others lyke we do here at IronMASS... I know I've cybertrained Chezzer & RealFantasy (Brenda) ... I created routines for them & I monitor their progress step by step.. and with the help of others, it's hard to really go wrong... I stay focused and energized by watching them accomplish new thyngs... Especially thyngs that I felt they could do, but they didn't thynk they could do... RaSP & I picked and poked until we came up with a new routine that we're both excyted about... And of course, there's alwayz the joy of trying to be better than I was before... Before what?? Before yesterday... Before the surgery... You decyde... With a lot of places on the forum that could really use your input from your gym experience.. there's no need to totally separate yourself from the iron game.. & maybe you'll encounter somethyng to get you back in the gym 125% again... Peace..~G
__________________ I am Thee Alpha.. RaSP is Thee oMEGA.. Between the 2 of us - We have everythyng covered... I want to be bigger than all the humans!!  "I'm sure I should be doing cardio too....but I don't run from anything...so why practice?" - 1stInDoor Goal - 200#'s 5/27/07 - 4/27/07 - 175# 3/27/07 - 167# |
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08-25-2005, 05:22 PM
| #5 |
| Amateur  Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 51
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 3 | Like everyone's saying, it's time to do something different. Cycling? Running? Train for a triathlon? Basketball? Just keep active. |
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08-25-2005, 06:15 PM
| #6 |
| the Epicurean Bodybuilder  Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,245
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 57 | Hey Captain, I think you need a new goal. Just getting back what you had is not going to motivate you. It could be to be competition ready (bb contest or powerlifting contest) by date xx//xx/xx. Or it could be something you haven't done before. Lack of motivation usually means you don't have a clearly defined goal or one that is very inspiring to you. *
__________________  "Is it going to be the red pill or the blue pill, Neo? The red pill will answer the question 'What is the Matrix?' Choose carefully. Remember, all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." Ron Paul for President, 2008 A.FreeRadical ...the Epicurean bodybuilder Height: 5'9", Age: 62, My last high on 2/1/2006 was 196 lbs. My last low on 8/08/2006 was 167.5 lbs. Cutting until I am lean Starting weight: 190 lbs. bodyfat: 19.7% November 27th: 183 lbs. bodyfat: 18.3% bodyfat Goal Weight: 176 lbs with no more than 10% bodyfat My recipe collection |
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08-25-2005, 06:47 PM
| #7 |
| Pink Members  Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: south texas
Posts: 4,163
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 84  | i totally agree with what everyone else has said dude....changing things up is always a great thing...perhaps you no longer want to go to the gym...maybe working out at home would more suit your needs?? id also like to add a little more in the form of a few questions... do you WANT to lift weights? do you miss it when you dont do it? can you remember how great you used feel after your workouts? how do you think you will feel if you dont get back to it? how do you think youll feel if you never workout again? sometimes reevauluating my true feelings helps me to get a new perspective....i try to ask myself the hardest most annoying questions i can think of and answer them honestly...then i will take a look at them and decide what path to follow. motivation is a very personal thing....sometimes ill put on a strongman competition and watch that...or a bodybuilding competition....sometimes it helps me to simply read about people who have surpassed all odds and completed something no one ever thought they could complete... im not sure how you are feeling now...if you are still in pain and worried about reinjury....or just tired...but i would wage a bet that if you take things slow and easy and dont put too much pressure on yourself the motivation will find you. im an article freak....i love reading....i know this lack of motivation on your part is mostly injury related....(or i least i assume it is)...but check this article out it addresses a few things that effect lack of motivation....if anything, its a good read...LOL hope you find the fire dude... |
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08-26-2005, 11:08 AM
| #8 |
| Amateur Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pgh, Pa.
Posts: 32
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0 | First of all, thanks for all the replies. Let me address some issues. I have, in the past 30+ years done every type of work-out imaginable, I never stick to a work out for more than 12 weeks...so I'm constantly changing things to keep from getting bored. Guilt and the thought of losing everything I've worked for keeps me trying to come back. Actually at at 5'9" 165lbs and under 10% body fat is the leanest I've been for quite a while. I was 180 before the surgery near the same body fat. I'm blessed with a very high metabolism so I can eat what I want cause I burn it off easily. My caloric intake was near 5,000 cals per day, (no salt, sugar or junk foods) protien shakes and creatine were a daily supplement. I've been off the creatine and protien powder for several months but plan to start it up again soon. I do run and bike weekly so I do keep active. I'm still in the military so fitness is a must. You know that body building is like a full time job and it is constantly on my mind after all these years. I think one t of the problems is that I expect to much of myself in trying to come back to fast. I think I'll try backing off the sets and reps for several weeks. A typical 45 minute work out Monday is Chest, Shoulders, Tri's and Abs: Flat Bench 3X8, Pull overs 3X8, Pushups 3X30, Cuban Rotations 3X8, R.C's 3X8, Lateral Raises 3X8, Head bangers 3X6, Push Downs 3X8, Dips 3X8 then abs 300 reps total between sets. So I was thinking of dopping an exercise in each muscle group. Wednesday: 1 arm lat rows 3X8, Pull downs 3X8, Low rows 3X8. Straight bar curls, 3X8, Incline DB curls 3X8, Curl machine 3X8 Shrugs 3X8 300 reps total Abs between sets. Friday: ATG Squats 3X8, Leg Press 3X8, Leg Curls 3X8, Leg Ext 3X8, Front Squat 3X8 and calve raises 3X8, Shrugs 3X8 and 400 reps abs total between sets. I want to add Deads on Wednesday when the RC allows. So I am doing quite a bit with the cycling and running on off days. If I can contine this work out untill the end of September I'll switch to a 5X5 power routine to bulk up for winter. So I'm no stranger to hard work outs even though re-habbing the shoulder still. I'm at half the caloric intake I was at, but I think that will naturaly increase once I start adding muscle. But getting the psycological push I used to have is a must. Maybe finally at age 50 my metabolism is starting to slow down some, which could be a good thing in puting the weight and mass back on....we shall see!
__________________ A coward dies many deaths, a Soldier dies once! |
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08-29-2005, 04:01 PM
| #9 |
| Amateur Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pgh, Pa.
Posts: 32
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0 | Well, I started week #2 today. Motivation is increasing slightly....I just gotta' keep in mind that...1). It's gonna take a while. 2). Don't increase poundage's for several weeks. 3). Try to stay focused on the fact that I did have major surgery and time is my friend! One major hurdle was doing 3 sets of assisted chin-ups today. I used to do 3 sets of 10 with 30 # tied to me before the surgery...so this really motivated me. All you Mississippi/Louisianna folks take care!
__________________ A coward dies many deaths, a Soldier dies once! |
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08-29-2005, 05:04 PM
| #10 |
| The Dawg Is Back!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doin Compound Movements 4 Scooby Snacks!
Posts: 1,914
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 32 | Fyrst 2 Say... Well Capt.. Lemme be one of the fyrst to say welcome back... *D I styll thynk you should consider wryting a few articles based on your thoughts, experiences & opinions on various training tips and techniques... Such as the 5x5 ... or the 3x8 ... Ways to develop lagging body parts... Signs of overtraining... I picture Arnold sitting in a rocking chair on his front porch.. and at his feet are Ronnie Coleman, Dexter Jackson, Dorian Yates, Jay Cutler and tons of other pro-bodybuilders... hanging on Arnold's every word as he recalls exercyses, contests & training tips from his past... You, my friend.. could be our Arnold...  Thynk about it... Meanwhyle... welcome back.. Peace..~G
__________________ I am Thee Alpha.. RaSP is Thee oMEGA.. Between the 2 of us - We have everythyng covered... I want to be bigger than all the humans!! "I'm sure I should be doing cardio too....but I don't run from anything...so why practice?" - 1stInDoor Goal - 200#'s 5/27/07 - 4/27/07 - 175# 3/27/07 - 167# |
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08-29-2005, 07:00 PM
| #11 |
| Pro Stature  Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Monmouth County, New Jersey
Posts: 103
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 5 | A goal and motivation to reach that goal is very important. If anyone knows about getting kicked in the teeth and coming back for more when there hasn't been a shred of progress, it's me. Why do I do it? I dunno... I'm stupid, I guess. Oh no, wait... wrong speech. Because I WANT IT, BABY!!! I've been fighting getting rid of this excess blubber in my midsection for several years now. Yeah, years. I started a thread on bb.com in the Over Age 35 forum on 4/14/2003 and I've been posting my same goals and setbacks and goals and setbacks and changes to routine and diet and goals... but nothing has ever changed. Of course now I know why, and I've taken a new approach, but I'm not confident this will work either. But I'm not going to give up. You can't. I gave up for a while a few years ago, and it only made things worse. I thought I was being funny by deciding to let myself go and eat whatever I wanted because I got to like being a chunky husky bear. Yeah, well, my pants don't think it's so funny. Anyway... sometimes it takes a new gym or a new methodology to re-establish goals and motivation. It's just something you have to stumble on to. Maybe I've helped; probably I didn't, but I feel ya and for what it's worth, you have my support.
__________________ "You monsters are such interesting creatures! I was just saying to my girlfriend, just the other day, 'Monsters are such interesting people! Why I'll bet they lead such interesting lives!' The things you must see and the things you must do! My stars!" |
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08-30-2005, 11:33 AM
| #12 |
| Amateur Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pgh, Pa.
Posts: 32
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0 | While I've never had the battle to lose weight....it's been a 34 year battle to gain weight! ( Why am I an Amature?) For some strange reason I can't get the "pump" that used to be present in every work out. Why is that? That's whats missing...the blood pumping thru my body. The "high" just isn't there any more.......I'll work out hard for 50 minutes and not crack a sweat, which might be due to running 4 milers all summer in hot weather and high humidity. Christ, the gyms 65 degrees! I think I'll start back on creatine, maybe that will help. I've always had the answer to everthing as far as what I wanted to do to my body but something ain't quite right. Maybe cause the weight I'm using ain't heavey enough....but I don't want to re-injure my RC again!
__________________ A coward dies many deaths, a Soldier dies once! |
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08-30-2005, 07:16 PM
| #13 |
| Pro Stature  Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 66.239.233.115:8080
Posts: 904
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 28 | I hear you. I had a cough that kept me away from the gym for over two weeks. I'm amazed at how much strength I lost. But you're right on the money with taking it slow and not rushing it. It will come back. *R* Oh yeah, let me be second to say "Welcome back!"
__________________ ~~~Dumb Animal~~~ I am Thee oMega.. GameDayDog is Thee Alpha.. But GameDayDog Hasn't been here for a year... 6'4" @ 214. Finally got back to 500lb deadlift. |
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08-30-2005, 09:14 PM
| #14 |
| The Dawg Is Back!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doin Compound Movements 4 Scooby Snacks!
Posts: 1,914
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 32 | Smart thynkin'... Capt.. Taking it easy is smart thynking... I was in RaSP's boat.. I had the flu, stopped eating properly, lost weight... I wanted to cry everytime my friends said - "Man, you're so small, what happened??" ... I went back to the gym, journal in hand... and all my weights across the board had dropped..  Actually, that's a nothing story... I was ran over by an 18-wheeler and broke my pelvis in 6 places... I was bedridden for 3 months... The doctors all said I should've died... I told them that I was gonna walk by July 4th... My accident occurred March 21st, 2001... My main nurse was named Mike... I used to beg him all the tyme... - "Hey man, help me put my feet on the floor... I just wanna see if I can stand up... I won't tell anybody." ... Of course he'd alwayz say hell no... It sucked being confined to a wheelchair, but before July 4th, I was walking... Well, not really, I was walking in-between the parallel bars... Ambitious enough to go fast, but smart enough not to reinjure myself... It was all baby steps.. from the bars to the wheelchair, to the walker, to the crutches to the cane... 4 years later, I'm freeweight squatting 265 pounds... If my doctors could see me in the gym, they'd be speechless... I'm sure of it... In case I skimmed over it, the moral of thys story is just to take your tyme... with every passing day, you're getting closer to PASSING your previous bests... Peace..~G
__________________ I am Thee Alpha.. RaSP is Thee oMEGA.. Between the 2 of us - We have everythyng covered... I want to be bigger than all the humans!! "I'm sure I should be doing cardio too....but I don't run from anything...so why practice?" - 1stInDoor Goal - 200#'s 5/27/07 - 4/27/07 - 175# 3/27/07 - 167# |
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08-30-2005, 09:24 PM
| #15 | |
| Amateur  Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 84
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 3 | Quote:
That kinda reminded me of the things that Lance Armstrong said in the movie Dodgeball. Sorry about that man, but it's awesome that you showed those doctors up and walked before they eer thought you would!
__________________ GameDayDog Is The MAN! IronMASS Kicks IronASS. :nosthumbs | |
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08-31-2005, 03:11 PM
| #16 |
| Amateur Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pgh, Pa.
Posts: 32
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0 | Damn, Dawg.....that's a great come back! That's the amazing thing about weight lifting it helps tremendously in every single aspect of our lives. I read your reply before going to the gym this morning and it motivated the hell out of me. I even got the "pump" back today. Of all things standing cable fly's. Not alot of weight but it really got the blood flowin'. I'm lookin' forward to legs on Friday.
__________________ A coward dies many deaths, a Soldier dies once! |
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09-06-2005, 06:07 PM
| #17 | |
| Pro Stature Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 66.239.233.115:8080
Posts: 904
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 28 | Quote:
*R*
__________________ ~~~Dumb Animal~~~ I am Thee oMega.. GameDayDog is Thee Alpha.. But GameDayDog Hasn't been here for a year... 6'4" @ 214. Finally got back to 500lb deadlift. | |
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09-06-2005, 09:28 PM
| #18 |
| The Dawg Is Back!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doin Compound Movements 4 Scooby Snacks!
Posts: 1,914
Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 32 | Extremely Graphic Pics... Well, not everyone needs to see thys.. It's pretty graphic... but the doctors took pictures of me in the emergency room because they didn't thynk I was going to make it... With that being said... Here's the story behind my accident.. and the fyrst portion of my road to recovery.. (I really need to wryte the 2nd & 3rd parts one day..) http://gamedaydog.com/THOUGHTS/THOUGHTS12.SHTML Here's the pictures ... http://gamedaydog.com/PHOTOS/SURGERY/DEATH.SHTML If you lose your lunch, you can thank RaSP... Peace..~G
__________________ I am Thee Alpha.. RaSP is Thee oMEGA.. Between the 2 of us - We have everythyng covered... I want to be bigger than all the humans!! "I'm sure I should be doing cardio too....but I don't run from anything...so why practice?" - 1stInDoor Goal - 200#'s 5/27/07 - 4/27/07 - 175# 3/27/07 - 167# |
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