How Did getting into Shape Affect You Mentally

[wastedmermaid]

I have social anxiety disorder. I remember in college going to the cafeteria before it was closing, seeing a crowd, leaving, and going to bed hungry. I was a mess unless I had my crew with me or smoked weed to create a comfort zone. shyt was bad at times and I was depressed a lot. Once I started lifting 2 1/2 years ago it hasn't been much of a problem. I have way more self confidence and esteem. I walk into rooms with my head high not a giving a fukk. Ladies are 'miring the gains. No one 's calling me skinny anymore. It also gave me direction and focus. Changed my life and I'm not even at my goal yet

Inspirational breh
At times i also suffer from social anxiety and low self-esteem from body issues (im skinny af 6'2 150) and a bunch of people recommend the gym to me. But this post gave me the push i needed to get off my ass and workout

 

[XxBboyxX]

Inspirational breh
At times i also suffer from social anxiety and low self-esteem from body issues (im skinny af 6'2 150) and a bunch of people recommend the gym to me. But this post gave me the push i needed to get off my ass and workout

U need to drop the weights and go eat breh. U aint gonna get size by just working out.

 

[wastedmermaid]

U need to drop the weights and go eat breh. U aint gonna get size by just working out.

Yeah most definitely. Ive up the calories from around 1800-2000 to maintain my current weight to 3000 calories were im at now.

 

[KOBE]

You begin to realize that YOU are actually separate from your body. But at the same time, you realize YOU are the housekeeper of that domain and it's up to you to keep it in check. It gives you a mental clarity in that regard that I lacked when I wasn't in shape. The more you realize that your body is your temple, you'll do more for it, understanding that people are drawn to accommodating spaces.

It also prompts you to examine other parts of your psyche the same. For instance, once I got back in shape, I realized I want to take care of and treat my mind with the same attention to detail that I now apply to my body. I got back into reading voraciously and dove back into things like programming to keep my mind in check.
Sorry for the abstract, new agey explanation but

To add onto this, it made me think about my future health too.

I don't want to just be in shape now, I'll be fine regardless of shape in my twenties, but in my 40's/50's/60's/etc shyt changes. I don't want to be fat and potentially get type 2 diabetes because of it. I don't want a weak body that is frail and not being capable of doing stuff myself(which will happen eventually, but I want to make sure it happens as late as possible).

It made me shyt about stuff outside of the gym too. I used to be a sloucher and it's still a bad habitat as it was a lifelong thing. Now posture constantly creeps up on my mind and I reposition and sit up straight. Bad posture when you're older will give you a hunched back and make life a hell of lot more difficult. Those old folks you see running and walking fine at old ages all have great posture. Seems cliche, but stand up straight and sit up straight, not only does it make you look better but it's better for you.


Although one thing that didn't affect mentally was my own mental image of myself. I had gotten chubby after not playing as much, which is why I started going to the gym, but it took a long time for me to think of myself(without a mirror around) as a bigger guy than the average person. Not saying getting bigger didn't immediately help my confidence, but the mental aspect didn't hit me right away(as in the way I see other people viewing me if you get me what I mean).

 

[phcitywarrior]

To add onto this, it made me think about my future health too.

I don't want to just be in shape now, I'll be fine regardless of shape in my twenties, but in my 40's/50's/60's/etc shyt changes. I don't want to be fat and potentially get type 2 diabetes because of it. I don't want a weak body that is frail and not being capable of doing stuff myself(which will happen eventually, but I want to make sure it happens as late as possible).

It made me shyt about stuff outside of the gym too. I used to be a sloucher and it's still a bad habitat as it was a lifelong thing. Now posture constantly creeps up on my mind and I reposition and sit up straight. Bad posture when you're older will give you a hunched back and make life a hell of lot more difficult. Those old folks you see running and walking fine at old ages all have great posture. Seems cliche, but stand up straight and sit up straight, not only does it make you look better but it's better for you.


Although one thing that didn't affect mentally was my own mental image of myself. I had gotten chubby after not playing as much, which is why I started going to the gym, but it took a long time for me to think of myself(without a mirror around) as a bigger guy than the average person. Not saying getting bigger didn't immediately help my confidence, but the mental aspect didn't hit me right away(as in the way I see other people viewing me if you get me what I mean).

Could you expand on this

 

[Curufinwe]

More confident in body langage, higher concentration and stress endurance.
Basically, working out the body positively affect the mindset.

 

[KOBE]

Could you expand on this

Only way I can think of explaining it is look at yourself in the mirror and pretend to see what you used to look like rather than what you look like now. That's how I thought I looked from another person's perspective.

 

[Heafcliffe]

I can agree with this. Working out has definitely helped with my mentals. My family is predisposed to obesity. Have a couple of 400 lb.-ers in my fam. Plus, as a diabetic (for 23 years), the gym, playing ball and cycling keeps a nikka in check. Currently, 192 lb at 5'10". Hoping to build leg strength, lose some of the water weight and get to 185 lbs.

to all in this thread making moves.....literally.

 

[Supa]

Inspirational breh
At times i also suffer from social anxiety and low self-esteem from body issues (im skinny af 6'2 150) and a bunch of people recommend the gym to me. But this post gave me the push i needed to get off my ass and workout

I was 5'9 140. I'm 175 now bulking to 190 and I'll hopefully get there in a few months. My life then and now is night and day. I used to wake up and bullshyt in the morning playing Xbox for hours. Now I wake up, drink water, have breakfast to get my carbs and protein in, get my gym gear in my bag, prepare my meals for the day, and leave for the gym. This is a 24/7 lifestyle because you constantly have to make sure you're eating enough and getting sleep. The gym is only an hour outta the day but the focus is constant.

Just make sure you hit the gym and focus on compound movements (bench press, squats, etc). YouTube is a great asset to learn how to train.

 

[wastedmermaid]

I was 5'9 140. I'm 175 now bulking to 190 and I'll hopefully get there in a few months. My life then and now is night and day. I used to wake up and bullshyt in the morning playing Xbox for hours. Now I wake up, drink water, have breakfast to get my carbs and protein in, get my gym gear in my bag, prepare my meals for the day, and leave for the gym. This is a 24/7 lifestyle because you constantly have to make sure you're eating enough and getting sleep. The gym is only an hour outta the day but the focus is constant.

Just make sure you hit the gym and focus on compound movements (bench press, squats, etc). YouTube is a great asset to learn how to train.

Yeah man im already 2 weeks in and having a great time. Thankfully i got my boy to help me out. Just curious, when you first started lifting which Program were you doing?

 

[Supa]

Yeah man im already 2 weeks in and having a great time. Thankfully i got my boy to help me out. Just curious, when you first started lifting which Program were you doing?

I didn't know what to do my first two weeks which is why I went to YouTube. After that I was doing this split for a little while:

Chest day
Back day
Rest
Upper body (chest & back)
Rest
Leg day

Leg day was rough

If I could start over I'd do full body 3 days a week and recomposition (only eating heavy on lifting days). You make a lot of gains that first year so I'd hit the entire body. I didn't learn until later that splits became popular with steroid users. I still made gains so as long as you have a decent program and stick with it it'll work

Just focus on compounds. For chest day I did:

Incline bench press 3 sets of 10
Flat or decline bench press 3x10
Dips 3x (as much as you can do) 10-15
Unilateral press 3x10
Shoulder press 3x10
*(If I had time) machine flies 3x10/a tricep exercise

Back day is easy because there's a lot of compounds to choose from just rotate:
Pull ups 3x (as many as possible )
Cable row
Dumbbell or barbell row
T bar row
Pull down

Leg day:
Squats
Leg press
Walking Lunges
Dead lift (not something I did much of)
Ab work

1 hour max in the gym.

 

[wastedmermaid]

I didn't know what to do my first two weeks which is why I went to YouTube. After that I was doing this split for a little while:

Chest day
Back day
Rest
Upper body (chest & back)
Rest
Leg day

Leg day was rough

If I could start over I'd do full body 3 days a week and recomposition (only eating heavy on lifting days). You make a lot of gains that first year so I'd hit the entire body. I didn't learn until later that splits became popular with steroid users. I still made gains so as long as you have a decent program and stick with it it'll work

Just focus on compounds. For chest day I did:

Incline bench press 3 sets of 10
Flat or decline bench press 3x10
Dips 3x (as much as you can do) 10-15
Unilateral press 3x10
Shoulder press 3x10
*(If I had time) machine flies 3x10/a tricep exercise

Back day is easy because there's a lot of compounds to choose from just rotate:
Pull ups 3x (as many as possible )
Cable row
Dumbbell or barbell row
T bar row
Pull down

Leg day:
Squats
Leg press
Walking Lunges
Dead lift (not something I did much of)
Ab work

1 hour max in the gym.

Appreciate the advice bruh

My first week i got a little overzealous and hit the gym like 5 days that week. Needless to say my body is sore from all that fukkin work i put in

Im thinking bout doing a full body workout like starting strength for awhile just to build some strength and get good good at compound lifts. After a few months of that tho i may try something a little different.