As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, I’m a big fan of weight lifting, but by no means am I like Arnold or Ronnie (Ronnie Coleman).
Weight lifting has definitely changed my life. Ask any person who has taken up weight lifting and you will get the same response. I guarantee it.
So why should every man lift weights?
Testosterone.
Testosterone. Yes, that one hormone that literally defines our masculinity.
Biologically speaking, the root definition of being a man is simply having lots of testosterone. All human fetuses are set by default to develop into a female, but only when they are flooded with testosterone does that fetus become male.
Now, I know that mainstream society has cast a bad light on testosterone.
When we hear the word, we think of crazy, angry, uncontrollable males who go into fits of rage and punch the daylights out of each other while breaking furniture at the local bar. Sadly, the maxim that states that it only takes a few rotten apples to spoil the bunch is true in this case.
The problem with these men is that they have too much the testosterone and can’t control it. It controls them. Then, you got the guys on the other end of the scale, who have very little testosterone. You can tell who these guys are. They're the ones who are not quite male and not quite female. It seems that all the life has been sucked out of them and they behave like docile cows. They're too afraid of doing anything and live a mediocre life. You definitely don’t want to become like them. Let’s take a look at some of their qualities.
- Depression
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Inability to concentrate
- Easily weak and tired
- Difficulty coping with stress
- Sleep disorder
These are all symptoms of low testosterone.
Do you really think that you can achieve your goals and dreams if you have any of the above symptoms? I seriously doubt it.
Would you be able to achieve your goals and dreams if you had the
exact opposite of the above symptoms?
Absolutely.
How can we do so?
By increasing testosterone levels.
Testosterone helps you achieve your goals period.
How can we increase testosterone levels?
By lifting weights and gradually increasing the resistance on a consistent basis.
The following are the benefits I have reaped from sticking to a consistent program of weight training. I hope it will encourage those who have been sitting on the fence about this or have not considered making it a part of their lifestyle. If you are currently not doing this,
you’re missing out on one of the biggest investments of your life. I kid you not.
Enough talk; on with the benefits (in no particular order).
Improved concentration and focus.
When I workout, gone are the days when I would be passive and do a little bit of one thing and then move on to another thing, do a little bit of that, and then listen to some music, maybe surf the net or watch TV, and come back and do a little bit of it more, etc. Instead, I would stay focused on the task at hand and complete it on the spot.
This habit was instilled through my consistent program of weight lifting. When you pick up that weight, you’re focused on completing x number of reps per set. Nothing else matters. Nothing else has your focus. It’s just you and the weight. You lift it once, twice, three times, four times, the muscle is burning, you’re becoming fatigued, five, six, seven, eight, and then you muster everything inside of you to get that last rep, nine, and then you pull even more from within you that you did not think you had possible, ten.
You don’t lift once, twice, stop, get a drink of water, talk with the boys, go to the bathroom, and then do three, four, then change the song on your ipod, five, six, stretch, take a break, seven, eight, make a call, nine, ten. No. You go through the whole set on the spot till you finish period.
You will find this skill to be very useful. A lot of people get distracted when it comes to focusing on a task, but by lifting weights, you learn to cancel out all distractions and focus on you and the weight. That’s it.
If you’ve watched the Legend of Bagger Vance, this same piece of advice is given to Matt Damon to help with his golf game. Just focus on you and the hole. Erase all the other distractions. The noise, the people, the competition. It’s just you and the hole.
Laser-like focus on completing a task from start to finish is one great by-product of lifting weights.
Sleep like a baby
Whenever I lift, I get quality sleep. I don’t have any trouble sleeping at night. Forget about the warm milk, forget about counting sheep jumping over the fence, forget about sleeping pills, just lift. Lifting weights is the cure for all insomnia. And because I sleep like a baby, I….
Wake up early
Whenever I lift, I always wake up early and refreshed. Gone are the days where I would open my eyes, hit the snooze, and sleep one more hour. If you want to wake up early, pick up the weights. It’s that simple.
Getting up early is also a big time benefit. When the world is sleeping, that’s when you can take the most action for your goals. It’s nice and quiet. It’s a perfect time to visualize, to meditate, to count your blessings, etc. You can read that self improvement book, you can brainstorm ideas, and get a TON done if you wake up early. It’s a huge benefit. It’s also a good time to lift as well.
Energy
Weight lifting gives me so much energy. Energy to go the extra mile. Energy to take the weights to the next level. Energy to accomplish my goals. Energy to do anything I wish. You can literally feel the energy coursing through your veins throughout the day. It’s a great feeling. It’s like igniting jet fuel. It’s that good.
Happiness
Whenever I feel the blues coming, there’s nothing like hitting the weights to bring me back up. I can thank my endorphins for that. Whenever I feel down, the very first question I ask myself is if I had lifted recently. The answer is always no. The solution? Lift. Problem solved. Works EVERY time. Guaranteed.
Mental toughness
If you read Teddy Roosevelt’s autobiography, you will see the direct correlation between mental toughness and physical training. He made it a point to exercise every day. He boxed, climbed mountains, lifted weights, etc., on a consistent basis. I urge you to take a look at all the things that Teddy Roosevelt has accomplished. I guarantee you that his dedication to physical training was a major cause of getting them done. Because of his physical conditioning, he was able to focus, he got things done, he was always happy, he woke up early, and he had a ton of energy. Sound familiar?
Another example of mental toughness in one word: Arnold. Enough said.
Lifting weights and upping the resistance every so often builds your ability to handle bigger things. When you can lift a measly 5 pounds more than the last time, it’s a huge accomplishment. It may not seem like a lot, but it is. Every weight lifter knows what I’m talking about.
Lifting strengthens the psychosomatic link between mind and body. When the body is strong, so will the mind be.
Lifting also helps you train your mind to summon all your strength to lift that last rep when you don’t think you can. I cannot tell you how helpful this has been to me when there were times when I didn’t think I could accomplish my goals, even though I was so close to doing it. Lifting has conditioned me to dig deep and go that extra inch, and you will find that in life, it makes all the difference.
Great habit
When you start lifting weights and begin to see all the positive benefits,
there’s no going back. The benefits will drive you to keep on doing it, which continues the cycle, which then inevitably installs a great habit. You’ll feel more happy, energetic, focused, tough, accomplished and you won’t want to let go of the cause.
Males today, (in American society at least), sit in cubicles all day and then go home and sit in front of the TV or computer. If they're hungry, they get in a car, sit again in a seat, go to Carls Jr. to get a double western bacon cheeseburger combo, supersized, with a strawberry cheesecake. Then, they come back home and sit down again. Or even worse, they don’t even get up all. They just call Pizza Hut.
This lifestyle fosters a habitual lack of exercise, which in turn contributes to low testosterone and a low quality of life.
Build the testosterone by consistently lifting weights and upping the resistance till you become like a bull and charge your way through life knocking down every obstacle and wall on the path toward your dreams.
You won’t regret it.
I guarantee it.
*Note: If you want more information on lifting weights in order to build muscle and lose fat, two things that are conducive to increasing testosterone in the body, check out Tom Venuto's book
Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle.
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August 14th, 2006 at
Another very interesting article.
I don’t lift weights, I’m biking and running instead. I really love biking, and I run whenever I cannot take my bike and go for a ride. But even if I don’t really like running, I always enjoy having done it. When I come back at home, I feel more energized and refreshed.
It doesn’t really matter whether you lift weights or run or bike, as long as you do physical effort and you feel that it makes you better.
August 14th, 2006 at
Rmic,
Good point. I think my article was a little too biased toward weightlifting. You’re absolutely right. As long as you do physical exercise on a consistent basis, you’ll reap the benefits. Thanks for pointing that out.
August 15th, 2006 at
If instead of sitting in an office people needed to do physical labor (at a construction site, for example, like real men with testosterone) they would find they wouldn’t need to do much weight lifting to have focus or energy.
August 15th, 2006 at
As someone who has implemented and sustained a workout regimen for the last year, I have to second many if not all the benefits listed in this article. Increased confidence and self-image are another big plus; coupling with the associated improvements in physical health and appearance leads to significantly more positive attention from the opposite sex.
Lifting weights and sticking with a regular program has been the most beneficial habit I have developed in years, both mentally and physically.
August 15th, 2006 at
There have been several studies that indicate distance running decreases testerone, as does almost any endurance exercise. Moderation is the key on these sports (and in weight training, as well, for that matter). I’m not saying they aren’t healthy activities, it’s just worth noting that you need to know what you’re accomplishing, and if boosting testosterone is the goal, running is not going to do it.
August 15th, 2006 at
bulldoggy,
If all men needed to do physical labour I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to read this site:)) Somebody’s gotta do the ass-sitting work… So we’ll stick with deskwork + exercise.
August 15th, 2006 at
There’s a pretty big difference between progressive resistence training and generalized aerobics like biking or running. Many of the benefits are the same across both types of exercise, but weightlifting confers some benefits that aerobic exercise doesn’t:
- Increased muscle mass == higher metabolism == more fat burning while at rest.
- Lower rate of muscle loss caused by agin.
- Looks. Be honest; they matter, to varying degrees.
- Useful strength.
- Stronger bones, all over, not just leggies and feet.
Depending on what type of workout you do, you can also get aerobic benefits from the weight lifting session itself.
It’s really quite important to do both types of exercise. As little as 10 minutes of aerobics are beneficial. Bodyweight exercises can be used instead of weightlifting as well and confer many of the same benefits (and in some ways are better; in “real life” we rarely use one muscle in isolation; bodyweight exercises tend to promote “functional strength”.)
Dave
August 15th, 2006 at
Forget lifting weights - waste of time and for losers that prefer hanging out at the gym with other men. I have sex frequently with my girlfriend, which is much better for increasing testosterone.
From Forbes Magazine (http://www.forbes.com/2003/10/08/cz_af_1008health.html):
“Sex, if nothing else, is exercise. A vigorous bout burns some 200 calories–about the same as running 15 minutes on a treadmill or playing a spirited game of squash. The pulse rate, in a person aroused, rises from about 70 beats per minute to 150, the same as that of an athlete putting forth maximum effort. British researchers have determined that the equivalent of six Big Macs can be worked off by having sex three times a week for a year. Muscular contractions during intercourse work the pelvis, thighs, buttocks, arms, neck and thorax. Sex also boosts production of testosterone, which leads to stronger bones and muscles. Men’s Health magazine has gone so far as to call the bed the single greatest piece of exercise equipment ever invented.”
August 15th, 2006 at
Marc,
Thank you for sharing your experience. Increased confidence and self-image are both two huge pluses as well.
The attraction from the girls is a nice side benefit as well.
I’m glad you’ve taken the time and energy to make this a habit. It truly does benefit you both mentally and physically.
Thanks again. Comments like yours will inspire people to lift weights and change lives.
August 15th, 2006 at
Joe,
Good point. I have also read that long distance does decrease testosterone. Moderation is key. Thanks for pointing that out. I appreciate it.
August 15th, 2006 at
Bond,
To each his own. Whatever works for you, as long as that exercise gets in.
Dave,
Thank you VERY much for taking the time to post such a detailed comment. You obviously know much about physical training. It wouldn’t suprise me if you were a personal trainer.
Michael,
If that works for you, that’s your choice. Thank you also for sharing the details. I’m sure it’s an eye opener for all.
August 15th, 2006 at