Obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.
- Russell Warren
Two months ago one of my close family members died after a long-fought battle with cancer. I didn't train the day of his funeral because I wanted to be with the family. But I did go to the gym 3x that week, hit a PR on Squats, and trained 4x every single week after his funeral. I also worked during all that time.
You can misinterpret that as me being a cold, insensitive bastard who didn't care about him. But I just know how easily 1 missed workout turns into 2 and how "I'm taking a week off" becomes a month off. Half a year later you're looking at your fat body in the mirror wondering how the heck that happened.
Consistency, discipline, dedication. That's what it takes to become successful at anything. And that's also the answer to how I went from not being able to do a single Push-up to Deadlifting 500lb, gaining 44lb body-weight, losing my belly fat and man boobs, building a business that makes 6 figures a year, etc
It's because I know that consistency is key to success, that it takes so much to derail me. It's also where my philosophy of sticking to your plan and going to the gym whatever happens comes from. Sure some people will call you extreme for lifting when sick, tired, sore, injured or not in the mood. But they are even MORE extreme by skipping workouts for just about anything, like silly colds.
Easier for the lazy, undisciplined ones to call you "obsessed" than to do better. Easier for them to stay at home, watch TV, and eat pie while you're hitting the weights in the cold. Easier for us to explain where our success comes from.
Don't kid yourself, you got to break eggs to make an omelet.
It’s been a long time I haven’t read such an inspirational article from you.
Good job.
I love this post, that’s exactly what a real man should do.
I also have to thank you for your program, I’ve gained 26kg in two and a half years, from 48kg to 74kg, and still expect to gain more (I’m 1m76, Vietnamese FYI). I just did a 130 kg x 5 squat today and still feel so great about that. My max deadlift now is 135kg for 4 reps. However, after 1 year of doing stronglifts I’ve changed my work out scheme, my current workout program still consists of 3 days/week but I only do 2 squats in a week, my main exercises are heavy backsquat on monday, 4×10 frontsquat on wednesday and deadlift on Friday, and other exercises like dumbells benchpress, overhead press, yates row, pull ups, farmer walk … And I feel this program suits me greatly.
I also have a question for you, that do you feel that you need to change your program? Because I’ve followed your blog for a very long time (and got a lot of great informations, and motivation as well, from it) and know that you’ve been dong stronglifts for at least 8 years in a row, and I think you’re now an advanced lifter so it’d be better to change the program. What do you think about some other great programs like 5/3/1 or high frequency and many more in T-nation (a very informative bodybuilding site methinks)?
Great post- I agree that often people label others’ with derogatory terms in order to settle their own insecurities/ weaknesses
However, I have also found that this is an expression also tightly held by those who actually ARE obsessed- using it to justify excessive eating/ exercise regimes
How do we know where the balance is?
How do we know when we’ve upset the balance and are unhealthily fixated?
I’m obsessed!!!!!!!! This article reminds me of the article about Lesson From Tyler Durden my favorite one.
People won’t like to hear this but grief and guilt are selfish emotions. And if your gonna sit around and cry all day you’d be better off going to the gym and then thinking more clearly. Remember they died, you did not. Crying and despairing does nothing. Let it be a lesson to treat people well when they are alive. Love is the emotion everyone needs.
It might also feel really good to get your mind off things by go to the gym and release your inner tiger for an hour. I would say that’s the best cure if a close one had died.
Hrm… this is re-inspiring me to build a power rack *outside*. Theres just no room in the house (and the ceilings are too low). I mean really, why the hell cant I workout in the snow or rain even?
This is a great article! I shall be reading this before I go to the gym.
Consistency, discipline, dedication.
Great article! I will frame it and put it on my wall. Keep going!