Physique or Strength??

24

Replies

  • George_Baileys_Ghost
    George_Baileys_Ghost Posts: 1,524 Member
    Both.
  • Nix143
    Nix143 Posts: 522 Member
    Physique. 100%. I don't care how much I can lift, I care about how much wobble I can take out of my thighs :wink:
  • Alehmer
    Alehmer Posts: 433 Member
    Strength! I admit I care about physique, but not half as much as I care about being strong and fast for my sport. Victory is better than a six pack.
  • Escloflowne
    Escloflowne Posts: 2,038 Member
    why_not_both.gif
  • Derp_Diggler
    Derp_Diggler Posts: 1,456 Member
    I'm 45. My main motivation is to make it to 46. My second motivation is to look good doing it. Strength is a nice byproduct of the first two. I'm probably stronger than I have ever been in my life, but I live in an urban environment so freakish strength is not really necessary on a day to day basis. The next tractor tire I need to flip will be the first tractor tire I need to flip.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Looks>>>strength, though I certainly consider both to be important to me. But I love looking good.
  • rsoice
    rsoice Posts: 212 Member
    If you train for strength/performance and have your diet in check the physique will work itself out.

    If you train for physique your diet has to be in check and you wont perform as well or be as strong as if your first goal was strength/performance and your training is based around that.

    This
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Both. I prefer strength.
  • Lofteren
    Lofteren Posts: 960 Member
    Strength first, physique second.

    Focusing purely on aesthetics is like buying a sports car with no engine.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    Initially it was about physique for me. Then it quickly changed to strength. I've focussed on getting stronger predominantly for the last few years and keeping diet in check, physique ends up improving anyway.

    Now slightly injured so I am doing a BB comp. I still lift with the intent of doing more than I have in the past but I suppose my mindset will have to change to physique some time soonish :laugh:
  • bunbunzee44
    bunbunzee44 Posts: 592 Member
    Physique first.. I would love to be strong too though. But I'm not. :/
  • Llamapants86
    Llamapants86 Posts: 1,221 Member
    When my alarm goes off in the morning, and I don't want to get up and at it, it is how much I can lift and how much I want to be able to lift that gets me out of bed. So strength is what motivates me.
  • SpecialSundae
    SpecialSundae Posts: 795 Member
    It was originally I just wanted to look good.

    Now I want to be a Scottish record holder (even if it's just for a little while) and constantly beat my own personal records.
  • Galatea_Stone
    Galatea_Stone Posts: 2,037 Member
    It was originally I just wanted to look good.

    Now I want to be a Scottish record holder (even if it's just for a little while) and constantly beat my own personal records.

    It's funny how the mindset changes once you start lifting. I started out light thinking I just wanted to be "toned." Then I learned how good it felt to be strong. It frequently ends up being both.
  • ryry_
    ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
    100% Physique for me. The heaviest and most mentally taxing lift I do in the real world is the 1 set max effort crunch I do in the morning to get up for work. I typically fail on the first 3 go rounds but after a couple snoozes I get the weight up.

    So i just want to look good and feel confident, and lifting progressively heavier weights to improve my physique increases my strength by default to a certain degree.
  • TexasGal1
    TexasGal1 Posts: 65 Member
    Oh! I want those sexy arms!!! Ooooh la la!
  • spirit095
    spirit095 Posts: 1,017 Member
    Both :wink:
  • JuliRamone
    JuliRamone Posts: 365 Member
    75% physique 25% strength for me

    at the moment I have to admit, I aim for a nicer physique. Strength is a very lovely side effect and of course I am super happy, that I'll get stronger with lifting, but most of my "motivation" atm comes from the wish for a nicer body.
  • taeliesyn
    taeliesyn Posts: 1,116 Member
    Strength first and foremost.

    As already said, if you focus on Strength and have nutrition/dietary requirements right you'll get physique (To some extent).

    Strength is also easier to work for, than to work against my natural physique. I'm sure I'll look good eventually but I doubt I'll ever have the physique I would like. My body just isn't built that way.
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    100% sleep. I can't sleep if I don't exercise (regularly, 6 days a week) and it took me 27 years to figure it out.

    Physique and strength are sweet byproducts though!
  • yankeedownsouth
    yankeedownsouth Posts: 717 Member
    Physique for me. I admit to a certain amount of vanity, but I'm 45 years old, and I want to look good! Thankfully, the by-products are strength and health, both of which I find very handy! :)
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    Physique

    You aren't naturally going to get big muscles without being hella strong, so getting strong is just a part of the overall picture.

    But I have zero drive to get stronger for getting strongers sake, I'm way beyond the point of diminishing returns on usefulness.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    Strength with the byproduct being physique.
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    Such a personal question!
  • ryry_
    ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
    Physique

    You aren't naturally going to get big muscles without being hella strong, so getting strong is just a part of the overall picture.

    But I have zero drive to get stronger for getting strongers sake, I'm way beyond the point of diminishing returns on usefulness.

    My view right here, Stated much more eloquently than I did
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Physique

    You aren't naturally going to get big muscles without being hella strong, so getting strong is just a part of the overall picture.

    But I have zero drive to get stronger for getting strongers sake, I'm way beyond the point of diminishing returns on usefulness.


    I'm about right here- while I know I can GET stronger- and I"m trying to- my bigger concern past July 27th will be mostly on body fat %. I'm fairly strong as it is- so while I don't mind getting a little stronger- it's a very slow process- and I can use more body work.

    No reason to no have a both for me.

    Also showers.

    If I don't work out- i tend to forget about showering. so it's a complete necessity for me to have to work out.
  • DeadliftAddict
    DeadliftAddict Posts: 746 Member
    Physique

    You aren't naturally going to get big muscles without being hella strong, so getting strong is just a part of the overall picture.

    But I have zero drive to get stronger for getting strongers sake, I'm way beyond the point of diminishing returns on usefulness.

    I'm more along these lines. I manage servers all day so I don't need brute strength for this job. I do like going really heavy for the feel.
  • JeffInJax
    JeffInJax Posts: 232 Member
    I like both, after all even an extra five pounds on a lift is an accomplishment, just like an inch off the waist. Teaches me to look for the positive in everything and motivate myself to greatness in each and every thing i do.
  • ShibaEars
    ShibaEars Posts: 3,928 Member
    Mostly strength at this point. Being a short girl and having been quite weak while I was younger, I love feeling stronger and feeling like I can take care of myself. I love seeing the weights I'm lifting getting heavier as the weeks go by.

    Of course I want a nice physique too!
  • dtimedwards
    dtimedwards Posts: 319 Member
    My goal is to basically not suck.

    best answer