When do I even lift?

steve2kay
steve2kay Posts: 194 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
When do I consider myself someone who lifts?

I have a routine based on SL 5x5 that has progression and I know how to do the moves
I've been doing it for a couple of months.
I don't feel self concious any more going going through the moves when people on the cardio machines are watching.
so I sort of feel like a lifter

but
I don't look like someone who lifts - I'm still fat, I don't have gloves or belt or protein shake or massive headphones
I don't sound like someone who lifts - I don't really know what I'm talking about, (preacher curl vs a hammer curl etc.)
I don't squat or deadlift or bench press my bodyweight (yet)
I don't have a barbell so always feel like I'm faking it a bit. (smith machine and dumbells)
If someone said "do you lift" I'd go all giggly and embarassed and say "oh sort of, sometimes"
I call them 'moves' which doesn't sound right.

At what point do you consider youself someone who lifts?
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Replies

  • LiveLoveLift67
    LiveLoveLift67 Posts: 895 Member
    If you are lifting weights consistently then yes consider yourself someone who lifts. Sounds to me like you lift .....you do the work, own it.

    You dont have to "look" like anything specific to be considered a lifter or use only specific equipment. Eventually it will show more and you will learn more terms etc.

    Just keep doing it! I dont lift what some people refer to as heavy ( but its heavy for me) and you will never see me doing the SL program but, that does not mean i am not a lifter.

    Be proud of everything you do and accomplish!!
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Well, real lifters don't wear gloves, so you're good there. :tongue:

    You're a lifter when you lift things. Period. Doesn't matter how much, how heavy, or how long.

    I'd stay away from the Smith machine, though. That thing is pretty much designed specifically to injure people (I assume it was horrible oversight, and not intentional, but maybe Smith was an orthopedic surgeon in need of patients...)

    So you lift, ergo, you're a lifter.
  • crobl
    crobl Posts: 380
    "If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.”
    ― John Bingham

    Ok,...admittedly, this quote is for running, but the same sentiment applies to lifting. Seriously -

    If you lift, you are a lifter. It doesn't matter how much or how many times. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been lifting for twenty years. There is no test to pass, to license to earn, to membership card to get. You just lift.

    Look at that - paraphrased just for you =)
  • LiveLoveLift67
    LiveLoveLift67 Posts: 895 Member
    Well, real lifters don't wear gloves, so you're good there. :tongue:

    You're a lifter when you lift things. Period. Doesn't matter how much, how heavy, or how long.

    I'd stay away from the Smith machine, though. That thing is pretty much designed specifically to injure people (I assume it was horrible oversight, and not intentional, but maybe Smith was an orthopedic surgeon in need of patients...)

    So you lift, ergo, you're a lifter.

    Damn and here i thought i was a lifter but, since i wear gloves i guess im not :( Thats a bummer lol

    I use the smith machine for a lot of things....its not as bad as people think it is. Ive never been injured by using it . You get injured by not using proper form not specific equipment. To each his own .
  • JamieM8168
    JamieM8168 Posts: 248 Member
    I'm with them.... if you lift, youre a lifter :)
    You don't have to be lifting a certain amount to call yourself one
  • crobl
    crobl Posts: 380
    Well, real lifters don't wear gloves, so you're good there. :tongue:

    You're a lifter when you lift things. Period. Doesn't matter how much, how heavy, or how long.

    I'd stay away from the Smith machine, though. That thing is pretty much designed specifically to injure people (I assume it was horrible oversight, and not intentional, but maybe Smith was an orthopedic surgeon in need of patients...)

    So you lift, ergo, you're a lifter.

    Damn and here i thought i was a lifter but, since i wear gloves i guess im not :( Thats a bummer lol

    I use the smith machine for a lot of things....its not as bad as people think it is. Ive never been injured by using it . You get injured by not using proper form not specific equipment. To each his own .

    Check this article out - these are really good explanations about the dangers of the Smith Machine


    http://stronglifts.com/smith-machine-squats-power-rack-free-weights/
  • stt43
    stt43 Posts: 487
    In my experience, the people with gloves, belts, and protein shakes, don't really know what they are doing (not in all cases though, of course).
    I know this isn't really a definition, or a way of way of distinguishing people, but it's always seemed to me that the people who consider themselves, or are considered by others, lifters, or people who lift, are those whose primary goal is lifting. They will work out at least 3, usually more, times per week, to lift, and will only do cardio if/when necessary. Their primarily goal is to build more muscle or to lift more weight. Often they will spend time trying to optimise their progress, either through researching exercises, routines, nutrition etc.
    I don't know if I'm making myself clear. That's not to say someone who doesn't fit similar criteria isn't a lifter/someone who lifters, but how seriously an individual takes it is what I see as the difference, like the difference between a "photographer" and someone who just happens to take photographs.
  • HelloDan
    HelloDan Posts: 712 Member
    When you're too busy lifting, eating or recovering from lifting to worry about whether you should be considered as someone who lifts or not.
  • heyjay31
    heyjay31 Posts: 79 Member
    It's all in the eye of the beholder. If you are not confident in yourself and what you are doing, then do some research and make yourself proud. If you lift heavy for you, you are a lifter. However, if you feel you are only going through the motions and not pushing yourself...then I would personally find a better program that you can confidently say, "Yeah, I'm a lifter!"



    Ps....Protein shakes are fabulous; don't hate;)




    Edited to say, I have never even set foot in a gym, but yeah, I'm a lifter!!
  • beekay70
    beekay70 Posts: 214 Member
    Well, real lifters don't wear gloves, so you're good there. :tongue:

    You're a lifter when you lift things. Period. Doesn't matter how much, how heavy, or how long.

    I'd stay away from the Smith machine, though. That thing is pretty much designed specifically to injure people (I assume it was horrible oversight, and not intentional, but maybe Smith was an orthopedic surgeon in need of patients...)

    So you lift, ergo, you're a lifter.

    If you're not wearing gloves, you're probably not lifting heavy enough.
  • mdizzle99
    mdizzle99 Posts: 169 Member
    Well, real lifters don't wear gloves, so you're good there. :tongue:

    You're a lifter when you lift things. Period. Doesn't matter how much, how heavy, or how long.

    I'd stay away from the Smith machine, though. That thing is pretty much designed specifically to injure people (I assume it was horrible oversight, and not intentional, but maybe Smith was an orthopedic surgeon in need of patients...)

    So you lift, ergo, you're a lifter.

    If you're not wearing gloves, you're probably not lifting heavy enough.

    Lol at this. :)
  • awise19
    awise19 Posts: 154 Member
    Well, real lifters don't wear gloves, so you're good there. :tongue:

    You're a lifter when you lift things. Period. Doesn't matter how much, how heavy, or how long.

    I'd stay away from the Smith machine, though. That thing is pretty much designed specifically to injure people (I assume it was horrible oversight, and not intentional, but maybe Smith was an orthopedic surgeon in need of patients...)

    So you lift, ergo, you're a lifter.

    If you're not wearing gloves, you're probably not lifting heavy enough.

    Lol at this. :)


    Gloves? You mean ***** mittens?
    haha
  • danimalkeys
    danimalkeys Posts: 982 Member
    lol @ the not lifting heavy enough if you aren't wearing gloves...

    For the OP- you lift weights? Regularly? You have a plan? You have goals? Then you are a weight trainer. No doubt. Don't worry about "looking" like a lifter. That will come with time and dedication. It'll take at least 3 months of dedication and pushing yourself, and more like 6 months, before you actually see any changes to your body. Be patient..
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Well, real lifters don't wear gloves, so you're good there. :tongue:

    You're a lifter when you lift things. Period. Doesn't matter how much, how heavy, or how long.

    I'd stay away from the Smith machine, though. That thing is pretty much designed specifically to injure people (I assume it was horrible oversight, and not intentional, but maybe Smith was an orthopedic surgeon in need of patients...)

    So you lift, ergo, you're a lifter.

    If you're not wearing gloves, you're probably not lifting heavy enough.
    Please tell me you're joking...

    Gloves make your hands sweat and your grip weaker. Why would I waste my time with that when chalk does the exact opposite?
  • tattygun
    tattygun Posts: 447 Member
    Well, real lifters don't wear gloves, so you're good there. :tongue:

    You're a lifter when you lift things. Period. Doesn't matter how much, how heavy, or how long.

    I'd stay away from the Smith machine, though. That thing is pretty much designed specifically to injure people (I assume it was horrible oversight, and not intentional, but maybe Smith was an orthopedic surgeon in need of patients...)

    So you lift, ergo, you're a lifter.

    If you're not wearing gloves, you're probably not lifting heavy enough.

    Hilarious!
  • mikeykhan2003
    mikeykhan2003 Posts: 177
    bro do you even lift?
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    In 4 comedy about gloves. :laugh:
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    Wow, this thread is chalk full of stereotyping!

    I'd personally work on putting more weight on the bar and stop worrying about how you'll be labeled.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member

    If you're not wearing gloves, you're probably not lifting heavy enough.

    :cries:

    on floor.

    BAW HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

    OMG. Wildly amusing. I never wear gloves- shrug- I must not be a lifter!!!

    daa$# what was I thinking!!!!


    I'd personally work on putting more weight on the bar and stop worrying about how you'll be labeled.
    this.
  • beekay70
    beekay70 Posts: 214 Member
    Well, real lifters don't wear gloves, so you're good there. :tongue:

    You're a lifter when you lift things. Period. Doesn't matter how much, how heavy, or how long.

    I'd stay away from the Smith machine, though. That thing is pretty much designed specifically to injure people (I assume it was horrible oversight, and not intentional, but maybe Smith was an orthopedic surgeon in need of patients...)

    So you lift, ergo, you're a lifter.

    If you're not wearing gloves, you're probably not lifting heavy enough.
    Please tell me you're joking...

    Gloves make your hands sweat and your grip weaker. Why would I waste my time with that when chalk does the exact opposite?

    I'm man enough to admit I was wrong. I may just be delicate.

    Now, quit making fun of me.
  • sarahertzberger
    sarahertzberger Posts: 534 Member
    Well, I'm probably someone whom you would never call a "lifter" but, still going strong at just about 9 months pregnant and lifting 4 days a week, I'd still say I'm a lifter. If you lift all the time and push yourself to lift as high as you can, then you're a lifter.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Wow, this thread is chalk full of stereotyping!

    I'd personally work on putting more weight on the bar and stop worrying about how you'll be labeled.

    ^this...

    ...although I can relate to where OP is coming from. Apparently, perseverance, consistency, and intensity are the solutions to this problem, but there just seems to be wildly varying degrees of results in different people. I suppose that's just life.
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    You're a beginner lifter right now.

    Get two years consistent training under you belt and we can talk again ;)
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    I'm a lifter! I don't "look" like a lifter either, yet. My goals are a bit different from most lifters...I'm not cutting and bulking, I'm just trying to lose weight while retaining lean body mass. But just because my goals are different, it doesn't mean I'm less of a lifter than they are. :) The first time you pick up a weight, and say "heck yeah, let's do that again!" you're a lifter.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    You're a beginner lifter right now.

    Get two years consistent training under you belt and we can talk again ;)


    I feel like this would be the same as telling someone they're not a runner unless they've ran a marathon. :ohwell:
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I look around my weight room and there are all kinds...there are the body builders...there are the power lifters...there are people doing circuits using the free weights...there are people doing primarily body weight exercises but maybe mixing in a little weight here and there...there are people using barbells and people using dumbells and people using machines...there are people squatting and there are people curling...there are people doing things that i can't even figure out...but they're all lifting and thus I would consider them lifters. Some of them are fat and some of them are skinny...and some of them have muscles popping out of their ear holes...but they're all lifters.
    I'd personally work on putting more weight on the bar and stop worrying about how you'll be labeled.

    and I'll 2nd this...
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    You're a beginner lifter right now.

    Get two years consistent training under you belt and we can talk again ;)


    I feel like this would be the same as telling someone they're not a runner unless they've ran a marathon. :ohwell:

    One has standards you know!
  • bornofthorns
    bornofthorns Posts: 143 Member
    I like to think when you start getting that lil bit of swagger, you are a lifter. For me, it was the first time I pushed through a set and involuntarily let out a "wooo" and popped up with adrenaline. That is subjective, though. Generally, I agree, if you lift, you are a lifter. You may be a novice lifter, but a lifter none-the-less.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    You're a beginner lifter right now.

    Get two years consistent training under you belt and we can talk again ;)
    Bolded the key word.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    You're a beginner lifter right now.

    Get two years consistent training under you belt and we can talk again ;)


    I feel like this would be the same as telling someone they're not a runner unless they've ran a marathon. :ohwell:
    Why? A beginner LIFTER is still a lifter.

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