Motivation for hardgainers & Xtreme HG's

[Dobermann]

Guys,

How do you stay motivated? when you see guys around you gaining like there on crack and you do everything right, pound down the food miss social events so you dont feel pressure to smoke/drink/skip a healthy meal etc.Never miss a training session, do your cardio, spend a fortune on supps and food and still make fuck all or very little progress!? and or make some than lose it because you had a few weeks off or changed set/rep schemes or whatever.Im intrested to know what keeps YOU going what makes YOU go to the gym week in week out and see guys doing everything wrong and still benching 300lbs for reps while you struggle with 250 for 1.So lets have it whats the secret that keeps you motivated!?:)

P.S Im talking about REAL hardgainers here not PUNKS who skip meals eat like a fly and train like my grandmother.

[Sand Blaster]

Number one rule, don't worry about anyone but yourself. There is always someone bigger, stronger, and faster. Compete against yourself day in and day out, and you will succeed.

SB

[VASTUS LATERALIS]

Guys,

How do you stay motivated? when you see guys around you gaining like there on crack and you do everything right, pound down the food miss social events so you dont feel pressure to smoke/drink/skip a healthy meal etc.Never miss a training session, do your cardio, spend a fortune on supps and food and still make fuck all or very little progress!? and or make some than lose it because you had a few weeks off or changed set/rep schemes or whatever.Im intrested to know what keeps YOU going what makes YOU go to the gym week in week out and see guys doing everything wrong and still benching 300lbs for reps while you struggle with 250 for 1.So lets have it whats the secret that keeps you motivated!?:)

P.S Im talking about REAL hardgainers here not PUNKS who skip meals eat like a fly and train like my grandmother.

2 things keep me motivated


#1. My training log.

My log shows that, although the numbers I'm putting up aren't much (to me), they are quite a bit more than I was handling 3 months ago.


#2. Scheduled time off

It's nice to get away from it all. Taking 7-10 days off helps get my mind off lifting, and get me stoked for when I hit the weights again. I take 7-10 days off whenever I damn well please. If you do this when your body tells you to, you'll be much less likely to just give up.



Being a hardgainer, I realize that this is never gonna be a "career" or anything. This is my hobby and it's supposed to be fun-it's important to keep things in perspective. I miss cardio sessions left and right due to time constraints and motivation issues. I just try to do the best I can.

Your being really hard on yourself and comparing yourself to other lifters, which is bad news. Give yourself some credit, your lifts aren't that bad actually.

[snottball]

for me, what keeps me motivated is the fact that I suffer from muscle dysmorphia/body dysmorphic disorder on quite a large scale, to the extent of being advised to be an inpatient at an anorexic clinic, but if that happened, I wouldn't be able to live the lifestyle I'm living right now and in my opinion that could quite possibley send me into a downward spiral mentally.

I absolutey despise being so skinny, I find it repulsive. I need to get better and the only way I see that happening is by getting bigger, so I can enjoy life more, and I know that getting bigger will help me get get better.

I find summer unbareable at times; for the last 15 years I've not been able to wear a t-shirt in public, I've been asked by family and friends to go on holiday abroad, I'd love to go but I've had to turn down because of the body image issues.

I don't have a girlfriend and I won't even enter a relationship until I gain some size, the last relationship I was in was just too much, I found that I missed meals, drank alcohol and was basically distracted and being an extreme hardgainer that's something that shouldnt really be happening if you wanna get bigger. then when things got intimate it just got too much, I can't even wear a t-shirt in public, so how can I even take a t-shirt off infront of a girl? I feel a lot better being single at the moment anway.

I once blew up on some gear, but it was mostly water retention but I did look A LOT bigger than I do now and I felt a shit load better for it, so I know that adding size will help me, in fact, while I was that size, I did wear a t-shirt in public for the firts time in years, though it wasn't an easy thing to do, not even after a couple of whiskies.

watching my brother grow pisses me off too and kind of encourages me to keep on going. His diet is bad, he eats when he wants and as much/little as he wants, doesnt even watch what he eats or how much protein he gets, he just grows, he never pays any attention to what's in his diet. He was once very skinny, but since he's added some size, he's grown more confident and is more outgoing than he once was, so it isnt just his appearance that's changed, it's his confidence and that's something I want, I guess he's just the lucky one.


So for me, motivation isn't really an issue; I feel as though I've missed out on so much in the last 15 years or so and don't want to miss out on anything else, so each training session that passes me by is another day closer to achieving my goal.

EDIT: before anyone metnions seeing a therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist, I already have done and didn't get anywhere with it, though I am looking into hypnotherapy - anyone know anything about this?

[Dobermann]

2 things keep me motivated


#1. My training log.

My log shows that, although the numbers I'm putting up aren't much (to me), they are quite a bit more than I was handling 3 months ago.


#2. Scheduled time off

It's nice to get away from it all. Taking 7-10 days off helps get my mind off lifting, and get me stoked for when I hit the weights again. I take 7-10 days off whenever I damn well please. If you do this when your body tells you to, you'll be much less likely to just give up.



Being a hardgainer, I realize that this is never gonna be a "career" or anything. This is my hobby and it's supposed to be fun-it's important to keep things in perspective. I miss cardio sessions left and right due to time constraints and motivation issues. I just try to do the best I can.

Your being really hard on yourself and comparing yourself to other lifters, which is bad news. Give yourself some credit, your lifts aren't that bad actually.


Thanks for the compliment about my lifts, it's not so much Im being hard on myself because of my numbers (although I am) as I am with a lack of progress, it's frustrating when you only put 15kg on your bench in a year and thats after switching from lying down on the bench to using an advanced Metal Millitia setup.And the same for squats.To put 17.5kg on my squat I had to go from ass to grass to a few inches below paralell I almost feel like Iv'e had to cheat with the above lifting techniques to make any progress.At this rate it will take me a total of 4 years total time training natty to get to 300/400/500 and Mc'Robert listed this as obtainable in under 3 years for most HG'ers :(

[Dobermann]

Number one rule, don't worry about anyone but yourself. There is always someone bigger, stronger, and faster. Compete against yourself day in and day out, and you will succeed.

SB

Thank's SB, those are wise words indeed :) Altough for me the fact guys at my gym are bigger, stronger, and faster without doing any work for it really pisses me off esp when they snigger/make snide comments at me doing my board presses and box squats.That shit makes me want to pound there lifts into the ground and say hey bud! Im a better lifter than you because I worked for this with a single minded nietchzein will to succeed! despite everything mother nature dumped on me.

[Dobermann]

for me, what keeps me motivated is the fact that I suffer from muscle dysmorphia/body dysmorphic disorder on quite a large scale, to the extent of being advised to be an inpatient at an anorexic clinic, but if that happened, I wouldn't be able to live the lifestyle I'm living right now and in my opinion that could quite possibley send me into a downward spiral mentally.

I absolutey despise being so skinny, I find it repulsive. I need to get better and the only way I see that happening is by getting bigger, so I can enjoy life more, and I know that getting bigger will help me get get better.

I find summer unbareable at times; for the last 15 years I've not been able to wear a t-shirt in public, I've been asked by family and friends to go on holiday abroad, I'd love to go but I've had to turn down because of the body image issues.

I don't have a girlfriend and I won't even enter a relationship until I gain some size, the last relationship I was in was just too much, I found that I missed meals, drank alcohol and was basically distracted and being an extreme hardgainer that's something that shouldnt really be happening if you wanna get bigger. then when things got intimate it just got too much, I can't even wear a t-shirt in public, so how can I even take a t-shirt off infront of a girl? I feel a lot better being single at the moment anway.

I once blew up on some gear, but it was mostly water retention but I did look A LOT bigger than I do now and I felt a shit load better for it, so I know that adding size will help me, in fact, while I was that size, I did wear a t-shirt in public for the firts time in years, though it wasn't an easy thing to do, not even after a couple of whiskies.

watching my brother grow pisses me off too and kind of encourages me to keep on going. His diet is bad, he eats when he wants and as much/little as he wants, doesnt even watch what he eats or how much protein he gets, he just grows, he never pays any attention to what's in his diet. He was once very skinny, but since he's added some size, he's grown more confident and is more outgoing than he once was, so it isnt just his appearance that's changed, it's his confidence and that's something I want, I guess he's just the lucky one.


So for me, motivation isn't really an issue; I feel as though I've missed out on so much in the last 15 years or so and don't want to miss out on anything else, so each training session that passes me by is another day closer to achieving my goal.

EDIT: before anyone metnions seeing a therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist, I already have done and didn't get anywhere with it, though I am looking into hypnotherapy - anyone know anything about this?


Snott,

You have PM :)

[snottball]

I'm really struggling now on the motivation side of things at the moment - I'm questioning if it's actually worth all the effort.

I just wish I'd get something out of all this having put so much in. just about everytime I go to the gym, I leave feeling pissed off because I didn't manage to increase the weight by 1.5lbs and reach the same number of reps as I did in the previous training session.

7 years of gaining nothing but fat - no strength and no muscle gains! it's is pissing me off and I don't think it's helping with me being on a cut! I want muscle NOW but can't have it until the cut is over and that won't be for another 15-20 weeks!! - I FEEL LIKE SMASHING THINGS UP! lol

anyway, I've just had a cortisol/DHEA/oestradiol/testosterone test done, I expect the results in a couple of weeks, though after having so many tesrs done in the past and everything appearing ok, I have a feeling that the results will indicate that there isnt a problem here either.

[VASTUS LATERALIS]

Yo Snotball-

What's your split currently?

[snottball]

I can't really talk about my routine because I'm a client of ironaddict.

[padge]

I love lifting, but I don't like to spend boatloads of time on it. I do the 2-day weights thing and personally I have no urge to do any more. I like to get in, keep my workout short, and get out (30-50 minutes usually). This keeps me fresh, and it keeps me motivated (this, and steady PR's). I tried doing more work but it didn't really work for me. Whenever I do more volume my gains seem to come very slow and I stall out a lot sooner (3+ sets is rare for me). So, I'm aiming to get as strong as I can on a few key movements and once I get there, then try to add some size. I spent so much time switching movements too that I wasted time with bad carry-over and didn't really get anywhere. Now I'm trying my damn hardest not to change my routine up too drastically that I don't make any long-term progress. I also don't bother comparing myself to others. Some people go in and bench 300 their first time... you can't compare yourself to that. Think about what YOUR weights were when you started, and where you are now, and just like SB said, you will succeed. Keep plugging away man :D.

[Halfway]

I doubt they're really that much bigger or stronger, probably not.. I know what UK gyms are like and they're filled with gareth gates-alikes and the occasional big monster who eats dbol for breakfast and does hundreds of sets of light iso exercises.

if ppl in the gym are laughing at you (not in your head :p) then find a new gym.. no-one needs that shit.

[bumstah]

its tough going to the gym and seeing that i'm easily the scrawniest guy there..at first i was embarssed to go and when i did, i would only go when it was deserted.

but now i use that to my advantage. as i train i tell myself "i cannot be the skinniest guy..i cannot be the scrawniest guy.." and i make the mentality in my head that "im gonna train until i bleed..or faint."

now when i go i see that i have a better build, and have gone miles from where i started. i know for SURE its not my genetics or heredity that brought me this far. its my will and dedication to train right, eat right, and gain right to achieve what i have achieved.

[TheBrent]

anyway, I've just had a cortisol/DHEA/oestradiol/testosterone test done, I expect the results in a couple of weeks, though after having so many tesrs done in the past and everything appearing ok, I have a feeling that the results will indicate that there isnt a problem here either.
Any update on the tests?

[snottball]

yes mate, check out this thread - http://www.ironaddicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13417

Everything appeared fine, but that doesnt mean there was no cortisol problems.. IA still thinks there was/is cortisol issues, though I'm not sure about that as I only occassionally feel stressed.. I dunno...

I've been tested for:

Thyroid
Cortisol
SHBG
Testosterone
Estrogen
Prolactin
DHEA

as well as full blood work and everything is normal.. I just think I have the shittest genetics possible for weight training.. I'm tired of looking at why I've not been able to gain muscle so I'm not gonna bother anymore, I've had enough.. If I don't make any decent progress in the next year or two then I'm gonna call it a day and take up knitting instead lol

[mattrr]

This is a great question and really makes me think. I've almost given up many times and have strayed away for short periods.


How do you stay motivated? when you see guys around you gaining like there on crack and you do everything right, pound down the food miss social events so you dont feel pressure to smoke/drink/skip a healthy meal etc.Never miss a training session, do your cardio, spend a fortune on supps and food and still make fuck all or very little progress!? and or make some than lose it because you had a few weeks off or changed set/rep schemes or whatever.Im intrested to know what keeps YOU going what makes YOU go to the gym week in week out and see guys doing everything wrong and still benching 300lbs for reps while you struggle with 250 for 1.So lets have it whats the secret that keeps you motivated!?

P.S Im talking about REAL hardgainers here not PUNKS who skip meals eat like a fly and train like my grandmother.


I feel ya big time. If I think about this honestly... the opposite sex is the no1 motivating factor. Sad but true. I mean it's nice for yourself too but would I put in all this effort for just myself? prolly not. It's cool to be strong too but I don't think that's much of motivating factor.

And over the years, despite lack of progress, I think I enjoy working out now and feel sort of unhealthy if I don't . this is probably the same for many of you or anybody who does exercise for a long time.

It becomes a bit of an addiction, and at the same time you feel crap sometimes for working out and being so devoted yet not growing much :rofl: