Do You Remember Your First Set of Pushups? Your First Weight You Lifted?  The First Run You Timed? Your First Race Across a Swimming Pool? What Was Your Inspiration?

Inspiration:  Defined as the process of being mentally or physically stimulated to do or feel something especially challenging and new.  

But more importantly, what is your reason to keep going? 

We all started onto a habit of fitness training one way or another. Maybe you were born competitive or just wanted to look better / have bigger muscles or play sports? Regardless of the reason why you started to exercise beginning a new habit of training can happen to us at a very young age or later in life. This is a question and answer session I had with folks on social media where I asked these questions in an effort to let other's realize that we all found a path toward a lifestyle change of training through a variety of inspirations (people, situations, body image, health reasons).  This is my 40+ year of training consistently and here are some of my lessons learned through the years. 

So, Why Did You Start Training? What Was YOUR Inspiration?

Here's my own - I think mine was a variety of inspirations that evolved through the late 70s and early 80s. Maybe it was the Charles Atlas ad in my comic books that was the first inspiration. Or watching Rocky movies and Conan the Barbarian. Then for Christmas when I was 12 years old I got my first weight set from the Sears mail order catalog. It was 110 pound concrete weights with hollow barbell and a not so sturdy bench press but it got me through middle school… And onto sports teams in the high school. The Joe Weider beginner weightlifting book was my guide from calisthenics to lifting basics. Fast forward through high school sports, powerlifting, military service, spec ops selection and beyond...Now I am well into my 40th plus year of training, still evolving, still learning but also staying consistent.

It is a Family Affair - If you had family members that led by example, you likely joined in on workout time with older siblings or parents.  Mike D states - When I was 12, my Dad asked me if I wanted to go to the gym. "Yes sir". He said ok, here's the deal, you have to be 14 to come up to the weightroom, so if anyone asks you have to tell them you're 14. "OK Dad". So for almost 3 years I was 14. I'm more than positive that everyone there knew I was too young, but nobody cared. We'd wake up have a light breakfast and then go to the gym and lift. We trained together for almost 5 years before I started working out on my own and whenever I'd come home on leave during my time in the Marine's, we'd get some gym time in before he went to work. Those were some of my favorite mornings working out with my Dad. I'm 42 now and still getting after it on the tactical side of fitness and he's almost 70 and still in the gym staying as young as he can.

Britt also had a Dad who trained. "My dad. Ran marathons when I was a kid. He's 82 and still running, we run together most days."

Roy was trained by his Dad and now trains others - Grew up tiny, dad had a weight set at the house, not much but it got me going. Started lifting at 12, since I didn't have much weight, I did crazy amounts of reps and had a ridiculous strength/ weight ratio. Continued lifting and learning and training others. Formally certified at 21 and have been training others since then. Competed bodybuilding twice 2nd place each time. Strongest. I did some of the first Goruck Challenges, classes 006 DC and 013 Annapolis. Strongest I've ever been at 45 now and can easily press my former self in each arm for reps. Loving your podcast and focusing more on recovery and sleep now because that's the weak link.

Hitting the gym with family and serving after 9-11 - Probably a combination of seeing my dad and my uncle hitting the gym so much when I was a kid, me trying to improve in off-road motorcycle racing, then joining the AF on 9/11, served and the fitness bug stuck.

Older School - PE Classes - There was a time where PE class was an hour a day 5 days a week.  The Ageless Warrior states: I went to high school in 1971 to 1975. I was lucky because back then they had serious PE. We did calisthenics and weight lifting, as well as units in gymnastics, running, wrestling, swimming, and then your basic sports. They really did emphasize fitness in those days. Mandatory for all 4 years. That, with real mentorship from some great PE teachers/coaches got me very fitness oriented. BTW most PE teachers then seemed to be fit and healthy ex military with flat tops and high and tights haha. Then I found PAL boxing and rugby that I really had a passion for. It just stayed with me. 65 now and still going strong.

Martial Arts Training into a career of service - Many young people start off their journey learning martial arts for just as a variety of reasons as people start lifting weights.  Building discipline, self-confidence, and the ability to defend yourself if needed are some of the ever-lasting benefits from training in martial arts.  Here is a response from Phillip: Bruce Lee, Arnold, and Van Dam were my inspirations. Years of martial arts, jiu jitsu and muay thai then law enforcement as a career.

Rain or shine - You are going to run...

Setting Up a Habit for a Lifetime - That is what this is all about. Some take it to the next level and NEVER miss a day. Here is a good fitness streak that is pretty common among runners.  But did you start running because you hate running?  I did... Ash States:  I have a daily running streak, I’ve run everyday for 2,744 days and I started because I sucked at running and wanted to beat it 😂. Now I have no idea how to stop.

Arnold Says To - How many of you started lifting because Arnold made himself known to the world?  From Mr. Olympia to Conan the Barbarian he set the standard and we followed.  Here is a quote from my buddy Thor (who had to start lifting with that name):  I found a copy of Arnold Schwarzenegger's book, The Education of a Bodybuilder, in my school's library and have been lifting ever since - now 50+. 

Farm work is a great way to start on this journey...

I am Honored to be part of your journey - Sara states: My first enlistment at 21. Stout farm kid but no formal athletic training. I think your articles were some of the first things I ever discovered online about training for this type of thing. This was back in 2008!!

My buddy Lyle has been crushing it despite health scare - Being diagnosed with type one diabetes. And having you to inspire me. And working out with you guys I took off 112 pounds. Thanks again for all the motivation and Never Quit attitude.

Nothing LIke the Good Influence of a Friend - Gretchen writes - My best friend trained for triathlons, I wanted to train with him. That’s how I started training. My first push up was in my room to evaluate how far I had to get to be in rescue swimmer shape. I started doing bicep curls in my bedroom to get better at chin ups. What motivated me to train was that I wanted to be as strong as my friend. I’m small and he would always give me a hard time. So I trained and now I can out swim him and out train him! Long time, and a lot of work!

Enjoy LIfe Throughout Your Life

 Experiencing a Senior Family Member Decline in Health - I think we all have been here. I am always sorry to hear these stories. Josh states: I’d been inconsistently/haphazardly training for years for Nordic skiing. Mostly because I wanted to not get too beat up those first few times out when winter came, and because for a number of years I skied the birkebeiner every year ( a 54km ski race that happens about 40 mins south of where I live). The big change for me was my dad getting pancreatic cancer in 2017. He was a great guy, but smoked, drank too much, and ate too rich for 4 decades and it finally caught up with him when he was 68. Even before he was sick, he wasn’t always able to do things like get out and fish in the backcountry ( his greatest passion) with our boys/his grandsons. I’d always been healthier than him, but his getting sick really changed how I saw how I wanted to be as I aged, both for my sons and ( hopefully) their one day families. It started with tuning my diet, and Not long after I found your books, and then your podcast. I’ve gotten so much more focused with the tools you’ve developed.

Sports and Looking Good Naked - Two Great Reasons to Train - Here is Henry who had this to say:  Sports was a big thing and laid the foundation and both my parents were huge into fitness so that helped. Also grew up hiking in upstate NY (ADKs) which got me into the outdoors. Biggest thing was just being able to push myself and testing my limits to see how far I could go. And looking good to be honest...

It is Amazing What Starting to Train Can Do -  Mark stated: I was 15, bought Franco Columbu's book, "Winning Bodybuilding" . Went from 150lbs to 180 in one semester. Changed life forever. Discovered Crossfit and later, Mark Devines SEAL Fit in my 40s. 59 now and still at it. @mark_t_fitness

Thanks for sharing your stories of what got you started.  My challenge to those of you who need to get started with a life style change is to give yourself 20 minutes a day.  Watch it grow from just walking to adding calisthenics, to weight training, to racing one day.  Fitness is a journey and is meant to evolve with you throughout your life.  Fitness is NOT a destination. 

Give yourself a week and you will change the way you feel. Give yourself a month and you will change how you look. Give yourself a year and you will change your life - for life...

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