And this is why I can't take 'real' lifters seriously...

geminigrey

When I was researching exercise to get into healthy shape, Starting Strength was one of the books recommended by the lifting folks. It only took me reading page 1 of chapter 1 to decide the author was an idiot, or at least working hard to sell his snakeoil.

"Physical strength is the most important thing in life. This is true whether we want it to be or
not. As humanity has developed throughout history, physical strength has become less critical to our
daily existence, but no less important to our lives. Our strength, more than any other thing we
possess, still determines the quality and the quantity of our time here in these bodies. Whereas
previously our physical strength determined how much food we ate and how warm and dry we
stayed, it now merely determines how well we function in these new surroundings we have crafted
for ourselves as our culture has accumulated. But we are still animals - our physical existence is, in
the final analysis, the only one that actually matters. A weak man is not as happy as that same man
would be if he were strong. This reality is offensive to some people who would like the intellectual
or spiritual to take precedence. It is instructive to see what happens to these very people as their
squat strength goes up. "

So what do you think, is physical strength the most important thing in life... not faith, not scientific advancement, or philosophy or any of the mamby pamby crap, just strength?

Elsie_Brownraisin

Christ, my squat strength has increased somewhat over recent months and I'm still a neurotic and bitter nut job. In fact, my mental health has taken a nosedive recently and I'm physically the strongest I've ever been. It hasn't increased my marks for my law degree either.

Yah, I'd say the ability to move heavy objects with my limbs is more important than spiritual health, mental health, the Large Hadron Collider, art, music or penicillin. All of them.

jodescorinna

I guess you've got to take these things with a pinch of salt.

I'm into lifting and as I have gotten stronger it makes certain aspects of my life better, more confidence in certain areas, being more independent (not asking for help all the time moving things, opening things!). It will hopefully benefit me as a woman as I get older and help with my bones etc.

I can't say it's the most important thing in the world but it does have some benefits and I guess il take those benefits rather than stop lifting and go back to couch potato status.

@spacebean - your post makes me a little sad. I always find exercise, whether it be lifting or running or damn, even a walk, makes me feel mentally better. My OH has even said I turn into a grumpy b@#ch when I don't get to exercise. I'm sorry it's not having a good effect on you. I hope you find a better place soon. X

Elsie_Brownraisin

I guess you've got to take these things with a pinch of salt.

I'm into lifting and as I have gotten stronger it makes certain aspects of my life better, more confidence in certain areas, being more independent (not asking for help all the time moving things, opening things!). It will hopefully benefit me as a woman as I get older and help with my bones etc.

I can't say it's the most important thing in the world but it does have some benefits and I guess il take those benefits rather than stop lifting and go back to couch potato status.

@spacebean - your post makes me a little sad. I always find exercise, whether it be lifting or running or damn, even a walk, makes me feel mentally better. My OH has even said I turn into a grumpy b@#ch when I don't get to exercise. I'm sorry it's not having a good effect on you. I hope you find a better place soon. X

Thank you - I was being a bit flippant, I don't think my humour translates well sometimes. The exercise does make a difference, a huge one, I'm also noticably brighter when I come back . I have an ongoing condition that isn't going to go away and it's just less managable than usual at present. However, back to the beefcaking, I'm off work sick at the moment and have been spending more time in the gym and hill walking than usual. I just found the idea of my happiness being linked to the muscle fibres in my glutes funny.

telepneff

I've read these sort of things quite a bit. I assume they mean your physical health in general, not being able to lift heavy things. Which makes sense, mental and emotional ability is useless if the physical vessel expires.

I found someone who seemed a bit more grounded/ knew what he was talking about on youtube. I think his name was Layne Norton.