Do you enjoy the time you spend training? For example, you may enjoy the actual training, enjoy the challenges associated with it, or enjoy benefits derived from it. What do you enjoy about exercise? What motivates you? I’d love to hear what everyone has to say (in the comments section). I am particularly interested in hearing what those from the non-competitive crowd have to say.
For those in this crowd, I believe it is important to enjoy your exercise time. Life is too short already. Why not enjoy the time spent exercising?
Personally, I train because I enjoy it. My competitive days as a fighter were over a long time ago. I am not training for a specific event. I train for the fun of it. I do what I want to do. I train in a way that I enjoy. The hour or so that I spend alone in the gym is a nice escape for me. I thoroughly enjoy myself during this time. I work very hard but I enjoy every minute of it.
And while I do spend time experimenting with different protocols in the interest of my athletes, I am not paid to exercise. I am paid to train athletes. These athletes (and their managers or promoters) do not care what I can do at the gym. I am paid to improve the athlete. That’s it. My own personal accomplishments don’t mean anything to them.
Therefore, I include a fun factor within each workout. My workouts are fun for me, and if I start to become bored, it is time for a change. The workouts that I do this month will surely be different from the workouts I did last year, and the year before that, and so on.I always mix things up in the interest of fun. Perhaps I am working on a new challenge. I enjoy the challenge and find joy in overcoming the challenge.I will never work with a protocol that I dread. Why bother? There are so many ways to become stronger and better conditioned. Why not work with a system or program that you actually enjoy?
Too many people in this world want you to believe that their way is the only way. Don’t buy into the nonsense. It simply isn’t true. There have been successful athletes who have engaged in an infinite number of training styles. Almost anything that you do will work if you are passionate, diligent, and consistent with the work. Often times, it isn’t the individual workout that is most important, but how you attack the workout. How much passion and intensity do you apply to the work?
As for the competitive athletes, your training is a job. You are training to perform in a specific event. There will be certain parts of training that you may not enjoy. It isn’t a hobby, it is how you earn a living. When I’m training a fighter, I’m not looking for a smile. We do what we need to do to win.
And please don’t mistake this discussion to say that non-competitive trainees will not or should not push themselves at the gym. I no longer compete in a sport, but I still push myself as hard as anyone. The difference is that when I train on my own, I choose what I want to do. I do not have a crazy coach (such as myself) yelling at me to suck it up and continue!
Even my most intense session is a session that I chose to perform. I am not being told what to do. I picked the workout that I wanted to perform. I must either enjoy it or will enjoy the benefits produced from the session. The “fun factor” is an important element to the workout and overall training program.
Some may call me crazy, but exercise is fun. I’d much rather be in the gym than sitting on the couch watching television. Even the best action flick cannot replicate the adrenaline rush that I experience while training.
In my opinion, more trainers should encourage others to do what they enjoy. The “do it my way or else” mentality is about as useful as pissing into the wind. As Swiss psychologist Carl Jung once said,
“The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.”
Jung was a wise man. His words can be applied to many facets of life. Unfortunately, many ignore his wisdom. I hear from so many people who are miserable while training. They dread their time in the gym. This is a HUGE mistake. Why force yourself to do something that you dread? Who told you that exercise had to be boring and miserable?
And what about those who feel it is their life’s mission to convert everyone in the world to train exactly as they do. Did they ever stop to think that someone else just might have different goals and interests in life? Remember the words from Carl Jung…
I can’t count how many times I’ve seen one exercise enthusiast argue with another simply because the two had different preferences. If you’ve been on an online forum, you will know exactly what I’m talking about. Internet message boards can really bring out the worst in people. Here is a common scenario. One member expresses an interest in bodybuilding. He will then be chastised by someone who believes his training lacks functionality. Both members may have desk jobs, yet one believes the bodybuilder will not be prepared for his daily elevator ride to the office. Perhaps the anti-bodybuilder also believes the other man will not be prepared to encounter aliens from outer space? Even if this were the case, does it really matter? Why waste time griping over such trivial topics? If aliens invade my neighborhood, I will reach for my shotgun, not my weighted vest and jump rope.
If you want to be a bodybuilder, I commend your efforts. If you want to be a marathon runner, I commend your efforts. In fact, I’ll commend your efforts no matter what you are training to accomplish. I commend anyone who gets up and exercises in a way that they enjoy. Who am I to say what you should enjoy? No one has that right. The only people that I tell what to do are those who pay me to prepare them for a specific event. Then it becomes my job. Other than that, why not have some fun while you are training? You don’t need to satisfy anyone but yourself, so do what you want to do.
Ross
wise words, my friend. thanks
i train because i enjoy the rewards – a healthy lifestyle, a positive example and the kind words – which inturn encourage me to keep doing it. also, to learn from the mistakes and avoid the same path my best friend took… my late father. thankfully, through your encouragement and advice, exercise and nutrition has become a lifestyle.
What a great piece! I am a firefighter/paramedic in Florida and, grated my profession requires me to be physically fit, I would do so even if I had a job where I was sitting at a desk in front of a computer all day long. I love to workout (or more appropriately, be an athlete). My garage is my gym as well as the track and football field down the street. To be honest, I’m not really sure what motivates me. I don’t have some great story. I didn’t come from poverty where I had to learn to be a “bad-ass” on the streets and I certainly wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth (hence the reason why I’m a fireman). I simply love to train and I truly bust my ass every single day for the fun of it. It keeps me sane! Ross, you’re the man, keep up the good work!
I exercise because it is fun, I enjoy the constant physical improvements (“Hey, I couldn’t do that before!”), and being a positive example for my friends/family to follow. And it’s also satisfying to know I belong to a small group of people (fanatics?) who are serious about their health and are leading from the front.
Exactly right. I encourage all my patients to exercise, whether it is hiking, competing in a sport, yoga, etc. Anything to get them moving. While I sometimes feel what I do is the best approach I know that really it’s the best for me. Life is movement and encouraging people to move gives them life, whatever they choose to do to accomplish it,
Very good read! I train for so many reasons. To look good, feel good, because I am bored most of the day and training gives me something to look foward to. I love the challenge. I love competing against myself. I enjoy writing my log. I enjoy using myself as a lab rat to see what works. I like bragging to my friends and showing off what I could do (The one arm pushup even helped me get laid once!).
But mostly I train because I used to be a fat slob who saw Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz at at friends house one day and thought to myself “I want to do this” and from that day on my main motivation has been to one day step in an octagon.
Right on, Ross.
I do this for myself, and I absolutely love it. I’m not huge, or ripped, or all that strong, and am not competitive …with others! At 41 I just have blast becoming stronger, healthier…and it helps with some chronic injuries/pains…keeps getting better.
I’ll occasionally find myself doing something just out of habit, not being into it…and I’ll change it up.
Charles Staley gave me a great exercise- sandbag slams with a 50# bag. I use a tire for a rebounder. It’s seriously hard work to jack that thing over head and hammer it down…and it’s a blast. Love it.
Seeing Jeff Martone playing with a shot put inspired me to get one. It’s serious fun, and hard work.
I think you & Jack have it nailed, as always. Do it because it’s good for you, because it’s what you were made to do, and because it’s fun. Keep it interesting, keep yourself into it, listen to your body.
Keeps me saner, that’s for sure.
Very good point! I train boxing just for fun, and I like my trainning because it pushes me to a level that i´ve never thought I could reach, it also helps me release all the tension earned from my studies at the college. My trainning makes me realize that I had to eat properly and that is changing all the way I live, and I´m enjoying it very much. Most of my decisions in my train were based on your opinions and I´m very glad I have found your website before I went to a gym and start boxing. Thank you Ross for all your clever tips.
Working out is a spiritual practice for me. I can get caught up in all kinds of mental traps, depression, circuitous thinking, etc. Working out puts an end to all of that, gets me back in touch with what’s going on in my gut, and lets me push beyond mediocrity into some sort of personal excellence.
Working out takes life out of the abstract, and puts it back into accountability with the concrete physical universe. You can’t lie to yourself or be overly introspective when you’ve 230 lbs. coming down on top of you. Working out and hitting a bag does more for me than any anti-depressant medication I’ve ever had on my shelf.
Further, working out provides a metaphor for qualities I want to show in other parts of my life like focus, intensity, awareness (of what’s happening in my body), a regimented schedule, etc.
When I work out outside, people sometimes ask me what I’m training for. I tell them I’m training for “life.”
I do not train for a specific sport only for myself. My motivation and opponent is me. Consistently trying to better myself. If I Snatch 35Kg this week I challenge myself to Snatch 37Kg the next or the week after. I used to fall into the commercial training scenario where it was 15 mins on the running machine, 10 on the bike…..bench press 3 sets, shoulder press 2 sets etc. I found this mode of training difficult to stick to and it did get boring. However, then I discovered your site. The training methods you have shown me are different, varied and exciting. I now find myself looking forward to a workout and regularly only get training after 10 at night and it doesn’t bother me. I reckon i’m in the best shape i’ve ever been.
The world needs to discover rosstraining.com.
At first I trained because I wanted change in my life. Changing everything from the way I looked to how I corresponded with others. I started eating healthy, cutting the crap out of my diet and exercising regularly and couldn’t believe how much better I felt. The new found energy and physical changes were so rewarding for something I enjoyed doing. 6 months later im still hard at it, but I think the reasons I do it have changed. I’ve learnt so much about training and nutrition. I like the escape from everything at the gym where I can focus on myself for an hour and set out something to do to improve myself. I love doing things I couldn’t physically do previously, I like how every week or so I can lift that little bit more. I don’t know, I’m rambling but it is rewarding and I enjoy it. What more can I say.
I train mostly for my kickboxing and martial arts…but on the other hand i do them because of the exersize involved for the most part. I compete somethimes, but for me its more about the week to week journey, of the different experiences involved in training that slowly accumulate over the years, so then you look back and see what you have learned, did wrong, how much you improved, what you could have done…for me its about bettering myself, the battle with the little voice that ia alsways saying “your not good enough, you cant do it, fall into line”.
As well as that, there is no better feeling than after pushing hard during a workout, knowing inside you that you beat the voice, you pushed hard and didnt give in so easily.
And like Ross said id rather be doing something than watching TV, 20mins sat watching TV at night is 20mins of life dont forget, you never get it back.
Where to start? So many reasons!
First and foremost, because I know it is good for me.I derive pleasure from training, even when it’s painful because I know it is doing me good.
I enjoy the camaraderie of training with a partner and taking advantage of the motivation that can supply.
Except with the most painful routines, I enjoy the effort and coordination/skill required in training. In addition, feeling good for the rest of the day is a bonus.
I have to confess to there being a vanity component – I want to look good and for other people to see that I look good.
Plus it’s like a project or a hobby – I want to get fitter, stronger, more agile. It’s something I can think about when I am waiting for a cab or sitting on the train. It’s something I can research in the internet when I am eating my lunch at work.
Since I started introducing plenty of variety into my routine (thanks to your advice on this blog) I have found all these benefits have been increased.
That’s about it!
I play Ultimate Frisbee.
I used to get injured frequently.
I used to not win that many games.
Then I joined a gym.
Now I am more resilient to injury.
Now I win more games and am more influential on-pitch.
Now I enjoy being personally congratulated by the opposition after I’ve beaten them, again.
And my girlfriend loves my new body.
Thanks for the post ross,
When i first started training it was purely for the looks and to feel better in myself. I enjoyed the time in the gym because it felt like progress, every pull up and squat felt like an improvement, like cash in the bag.
I followed a hypertrophy style for a few years and although i still enjoyed it, i began to feel i was missing something. it felt a little hollow. I really don’t mean to be offensive to anyone who does this now.
I found your website and began using the Infinite Intensity training style. I enjoyed the knowledge that my body could do these amazing things (don’t get me wrong i’m not a machine like some of the guys on here, i can’t perform burpees indefinitely!) I suppose you could say that i still enjoy exercising for the effect it has on my self confidence.
I love the feeling that im making progress, i dont compete and never have (although im considering it now), but training makes me feel alive, makes me feel like im worth the air im breathing in.
Spot on Ross…
Ever since i stumbled upon your site as a young fella, you have helped/guide me into not just killer workouts but a great philosophy on life, training, & balance also. I have had lots of people tell me that what i do is crazy & that i wouldn’t train the way i do if wasn’t a fitness trainer. But since i started researching and through trial-&-error i have found Holy Grails in every discipline and area of training there is.
I surf, ocean paddle, long distance bike riding, sprinting, swimming, boxing, jui jitsu, hard core strength & conditioning, etc..
I love getting out there & trying anything & everything in sport, fitness & outdoor activities. With so many wonderful things to do in the world i hope i never come across a challenge that i don’t/can’t achieve even with a bit of hard work.
I don’t force my beliefs, but i hope i influence others in a positive way.
Cheers, thanx for everything Ross.
There are a few things that drive me to train. For one, I do enjoy it. I’m a homeschooler in his last year of high school, and I don’t see friends too often. Heck, two of best friends went off to a school up in Syracuse NY, so now I’m pretty much alone most of the time. The 45 or so minutes I spend training 3 days a week, as well as 4 other 10 minute workouts, is MY time. It’s my “me” time. I love it.
Also, I train to be strong and, right now, to get bigger. This is really important to me, so I’ll do what it takes to make it happen. I’m thin, and I look somewhat scrawny. No one would consider me close to deadlifting 2x BW, yet I almost am.
Plus, I look ahead. Do I want to look like a typical old guy in my 50’s and up, or do I want to have a muscular, strong body? I’ve already answered that question.
For me it’s all about health benefits and feeling good about yourself when you have that energy. Helps in school too 🙂
I had to evacuate from Hurricane Ike last week and still continued my workouts. I brought the jump rope and went to town in my sisters garage. It was my little escape and gift of routine to keep me sane through this whole mess. Now I’m back home and in clean up mode and haven’t had a chance to get back to the routine but am itching real bad for a workout. I can’t say I’m all the way around the most disciplined individual but I do love a good workout. I don’t play sports but being fit keeps me sane, standing tall and able to press through stress with little impact.
why do we train? over the years many have asked this question of me,leading to much self analysis.as usual, those who asked the question helped me find the answer.my boxing coach used to say that some of his best fighters came from broken homes.that environment can produce a “fire” inside which provides massive drive and ability to absorb punishment. i can feel that in me and during times of injury when i can”t “punish” myself,i often feel “tight”. lance armstrong describes feeling “cleansed” after a bike ride. me too.
I’m 41 years old and not competitive in any sports. When I was younger, I was a gymnast and a kick boxer. I enjoyed the competition.
As I got older, got married, and had a kid, I realized that something was missing. I was out of shape and overweight. I began researching how to remedy this. I joined a gym to do Jui Jitsu and though it was fun, it took to much time away from my family. I stumbled upon this site, bought Infinite Intensity and discoverd the joy of working out again. The competition was now with myself. I lost weight, put on muscle, and began conquering exercises I thought would be impossible. I’m now setting a positive example for my child as well as bettering myself as a person. And it’s extremely enjoyable.
Great stuff as usual Ross. I’m turning 44 next week and can honestly say I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m not training for any event or sport. I do it because it’s fun. I enjoy the challenge and it feels incredible afterwards. Put in the time and reap the rewards, it’s more rewarding than any sport I’ve ever participated in. I don’t want to be all hunched over and walking with a cane when I’m 70 years old!
Ross, great post, and what I love about your site and blog is that very little disrespect is dished out. And it is not well tolerated.
Started out wanting to get out where the waves were breaking (to surf), tough when not in shape. That was 28 years ago. Have been working out ever since. One of the rare few (like others on this board) who love working out. Even though I just love to work out hard, the benefits make it that much better.
Can enjoy the waves more, skiing and snowboarding don’t kill my legs, and as a chiropractor my job is physical (not like downing trees I know) and many chiropractors I know have hurt themselves and can no longer practice. I feel great and plan on going on for a long, long time.
Final note, although I have been working out for over 28 years steady, the last 2 have shown greater overall results. This I credit you Ross, and your sharing of your knowledge through this site and the excellent books that you produced. I am literally in better shape at 46 than I have ever been, and am looking forward to being able to say that every year for a long time, too. Thanks.
I´m 22 and i could not imagine any time in my life where i didn´t want to train or take action in a sport.
Man training is the biggest, greatest, best, most enjoyable thing to do in my free time.
I´m not a competitive athlete right now. But i love to train. With or without equipment.
When i can´t train, it´s like somethings missing.
Don´t get me wrong i am not like these people who say that they are training hardcore all the time or every day, but they don´t know that they are overtraining.
Since my childhood i love to participate in sports.
But now my passion is training and how i can get better.
And when i need any performance “stimulants” or “drugs” (don´t get me wrong) i watch some crazy videos, training (Ross “Hardcore Vid” or other stuff like parcour or free running (David Belle, Germain Robinson) . Some kind of spectacular vids.
I am really thankful for Ross, because he created such a site. And he´s always open my eyes, does not matter if its motivation, training etc.
Anyway, another great part of training, reading.
Yeah for me its the one of the most enjoyable things to do if i learn more no nonsense stuff about training.
I´ll go to college next months so another important part of my life.
But to train and sometimes some kind of martial arts, wrestling,football, basketball will always be a part of my life.
Train hard!!!
At 23 years old, fitness/nutrition has become a major part of my life. Definitely getting closer and closer to quitting my corporate job and doing fitness full time. Simply because I love it, I love to train, I love to eat healthy and I love to learn. I spend any free time reading blogs like yours and others trying to learn and develop as much as I can.
My coworkers all give me shit about the food I pack, the way I eat and how I don’t participate in any happy hours. What they don’t seem to grasp is that working out, isn’t actually “work” for me. I get excited each day as I plan my workouts and even feel nervous when I enter the gym. I’ve started to accumulate my own equipment/tools so that I can get a workout in at home or on the road. Kettlebells, rope climbs, keg swings, stone work, gymnastic rings, are just a few of the tools I use, which make exercising fun and enjoyable.
I’m not an athlete training for any specific sport, I simply train to get in the best shape of my life, to look my best and feel my best. Blogs like yours have made it all that more enjoyable and I appreciate it! Thanks Ross!
I’m 31 and I train/exercise since I was 8.
At first I was taking swiming lessons once a week. I must’ve been pretty good since the coach asked me twice to be part of the competition team, but I refused since I never liked competition.
After that I discoverd martial arts, I did some on and off for 7-8 years, once again I never competed, but I enjoyed practicing.
Today I can’t say I’m super fit, but I’m slowly changing things around.
I don’t know where I’m going with this coment, but waht I meant to say his that I move/work-out since I’m a kid and if I ever stop, something his missing. The great feeling you have after a day of sport is so envigorating… it’s one of the best thing in the world.
I thought the picture of you and your son doing single arm roll-outs was awesome! Oh, and the article wan’t shabby either. Good stuff.
The journey….coming out on the other side of the training session.
Keep up the great work Ross and thank you!
Training for me is like a breathe of fresh air especially after sitting behind a computer all day. I don’t have a specific goal other then to be fit, look good, feel good, and to minimize health complications down the road as I get older. I think the main reason I train is because I don’t want to turn into a fat slob like my colleagues who live for work and nothing else.
I find that I just enjoy training for the benefits I get in my everyday life/my athletic life and just because some of it is fun. Running intervals can be a great time especially when I’m timing myself to try to get better.
If you train to reach a goal, and you do not enjoy the training itself, you won’t be happy when you reach your goal either. At least not that happy. Reaching a goal is a moment in time. Why does anyone struggles for a long time to have one moment of fun? You are right, life is short enough already.
When I’m training with my students, for example doing pushups, we don’t do just simple pushups. We do 4 or 5 variations, and at the end, I tell them: “See, you CAN do 100 pushups”. And they say: “Was this really 100? Yeah, 30 here, 20 there…” Enjoying it! That’s the secret. Train hard, but have fun!
I totally agree with your fantastic article, I love to train and train with my 8 year old son granted he doesn’t do the things I do, (matter of fact I can’t the things he does). But the point is that we have fun together and hopefully I’ll show him it’s fun to do and maybe he’ll pass that fun down to his kids. Great website and books I look forward to every blog, book and article you produce.
Hey Ross it’s your boy Chuck!
Man this was a good one Ross!!! The reason i love training i’ll tell you. I just love getting in that ring & watching myself outwork the other guy, i love seeing that i don’t waste my time with training what i give to it it gives back to me. I love the confidence i get from training, I love the adredaline rush of training, i love how my body looks do to training & nutrition. I love the compliments people always give me in the gym, When they say wow kid you don’t know how to get tired. I love the looks i get from people when there looking over & saying Holy S**T What the F**K is he doing. My training gives so much to me. It’s amazing i’ll bust my ass training & sometimes i’ll say to myself wow look at this i gotta do even better next session & i say that becaue every time i’m in that ring i’m in awe of myself i’m like hell yeah i have to give back to training even more next time cause look what it’s given to me. And Ross these are just a few reason i love training, man i could be here all night man. TRAINING = LIFE!!!!
I was born with a body and someday my body will die. In the meantime I get to do whatever I want with it – right now I am choosing to make it unilaterally strong.
I train for many reasons:
I want to be as strong, explosive, fast, and injury resistant as i can be. I want to be able to eventually get back into playing rugby again – and possibly joining a masters swim league in the future, being that my collegiate career is over.
i train because my nephew watches me and he tries to copy the pushups i do, the squats, the ab work. he’s going to need a good male role model as he grows up outside of his father and i plan on being that role model.
its fun. i love challenging myself to squat more, to deadlift more, to press more. i love seeing the changes in my body. i love the feeling of finishing a hard workout and the jelly-like feeling in my muscles as i somehow walk back home haha. i love that i know deep down that i trained hard every time i hit the gym.
This post is gold-dust!
I 100% agree with Ross’ perspective on training being fun. If I could have my way, I’d train much more than I actually do — I truly love training, and am always trying to find ways to do more of it.
i train to be healthy. i’m only 20 so i’m still young. But all the temptations and what-not that are easily accessible to people my age, i feel, needs to be kept in check. A lot of people who have bad habits such as habitual smoking, drinking and other drugs usually begin around my age.
Training first started out as a way to see what all these things are doing to my body. Its really hard for a smoker to realize the damage caused from cig’s just by reading scientific articles, you know? So slowly but surely i committed to an exercise routine.
As i saw myself progress, i wanted more and more. As a result, i wanted less and less of my bad habits. I mean, the benefits are waaaay better from training than from being the best at taking two beers in a beer bong.
i look forward to it everyday and feel bad when, for some reason, i cant get to it. now, i just do it for that feeling of accomplishing my goals and just the love of it. great article ross!
I am currently in a health-professions graduate school, and even though finding time to exercise between classes, labs, studying, and tests can be challenging, I always make time in my day to train my body (even if it is only a 15 min. GPP session). I do this for several reasons. One is that this time is an investment. I have read the epidemiological studies, and the rates at which obesity, type II diabetes, and heart disease are on the rise in this country is alarming. Making time for movement and exercise is a way to protect your body, and if you look good and feel good, I have found that other aspects of your life seem to follow. Another reason for daily exercise is that it offers me some time to escape from all the things that are on my mind. I could easily make a work-out another thing to check off of my list, but I choose to enjoy it. Lastly is that I enjoy a challenge (which is why I do RossTraining). I work out at a local gym and recently had a lady come up to me and ask me what I was training for. All I could do was smile, shrug my shoulders, and say “Nothing”.
I also want to say right on ross for your comments about finding exercise that you enjoy. There is so much debate that goes on about what types of exercise you should or should not do or which one is better than the other, etc…The bottom line is to do what you like. In my opinion, people like us who have knowledge about exercise, sciences, and sport should spend less time debating about what to do and more time encouraging others to get out and be active.
I enjoy your stuff Ross. Keep it coming.
My workouts revolve around the idea that we owe it to ourselves to be fit, be prepared for anything that life throws at us. In 2005, I was working as a Sheriffs Deputy on the MS Gulf Coast when Hurricane Katrina hit. Physical and mental fitness helped me endure that nightmare for weeks. We had very little sleep working 16-20hr shifts. Crap food. My comrades that had not taken care of themselves up to that point were getting sick and even passing out from exhaustion plus stress of the situation.
Again in 2006 while living in Portland OR a lady run a red light and plowed into my truck spinning it 360deg. The ER doctor told me that a weaker person would probably have sustained major injuries. I walked away with only whiplash.
To me, fitness and strength has been my silent partner in life and on the job. I love being able to move like a teenager and play with my kids at the park while other guys sit on their a$$ and watch their kids play.
I train because I´m an training addict.
I train to keep my mental balance.
I train to be prepared on everything that is challenging me in life, physically and psychologically.
I train because I´m different! And want to be different than the most ‘Robots’ running around.
I train because in the Gym there is ‘only one’ truth and no acting, just the iron and me.
Besides being a fitness trainer, first & foremost i exercise because i want to maintain and even improve my health & fitness and look forward to sharing this form of lifestyle to my future family.
And who doesn’t enjoy improving physical appearance. ;p
Great topic!
I think the body is meant to be used, is built to move itself and push/pull/carry/throw other things. The more you use it the better it gets. Plus the better I feel mentally also.
Meeting the challenge of a stiff workout builds character and integrity as it builds muscle and endurance. Most of us don’t have physically challenging enough jobs and intentional efforts at fitness help fill that gap.
Plus it just centers us in our harried day. If the day’s busy schedule is a hurricane, exercise is the eye of it. Add in the overall health benefits of a fit lifestyle and it’s a total no-brainer. And fun? Yessiree!
hey ross
you asked us to give you our two cents, so here goes.
what do you enjoy about training? i am a desk jockey. i dont sit all day but i am in the office more than 90% of the time. that being said i dont exercise for my job. i actually find it REALLY hard to make myself exercise. i do martial arts at a gym 2-3x per week and work out at the house. i enjoy the benefits from working out. i like it when it is done (you feel good that you accomplished something) and the results (your pants fit better).
i need to train my mind to enjoy the process more, that is for sure! great post ross.
Spot on Ross! I too love my workouts. I am usually at the track doing sprinting workouts, which I thoroughly enjoy. I can’t imagine the drudgery of going and sitting on a treadmill running for hours…so I don’t do it. Or I go to the gym and lift heavy stuff…that’s flat out fun!
Cheers
Scott Kustes
Modern Forager
i do it because for 25 odd years of my life alcohol was a major player in my life (even though i boxed amateur and played about keeping what i thought was fit i always returned to the dreaded sauce) now i am nearly 5 years dry and i consider myself a seriose athlete, where booze was my love now working out is my love, where as 5 years ago on a typical saturday night me and my wife would do our best to work our way through a 24 pack of carling black label and end up arguing over something fcukin trivia and not talking for a few days now a typical early saturday evening nowadays would be a some sort of light kettlebell work out in the kitchen / shower/healthy meal together and quality time together. working out is king and i hope to do it to my dying day, and me and my wife laugh about it but as long as i can knock out a set of press ups before i die even if it is of a low rep i will die a happy man
Great blog Ross.
I train because I want to be a professional fighter. But I enjoy the sparring and training so much. There isn’t a better feeling in the world than beating a previous personal best in an exercise or doing really well at the muay thai training. To know that I’m doing something that is great for me also makes me immensely proud. The benfits of physical appearance aren’t bad either.
Read ‘Play if you life depends on it’ and ‘Exuberant Animal’ by Frank Forencich. He talks alot about play and enjoyment of human movement. It may not be inline with some of what everybody is doing, but the ‘fun’ and ‘play’ notion that underlines this thread is what these books are all about.
I enjoy the Martial Arts (of with boxing is one). It’s just you and your partner working away at one another. Your partner is unpredictable, your mind clears, your body takes over, you experiment with different strategies, you push your limits physically and mentally, you finish training, you go home and reflect, you come back and experiment all over again, you laugh, you smile, you enjoy it.
Life’s a playground, not a battlefield.
I’m 28 years old and had never really been motivated to exercise – I’m naturally quite healthy and fit, although historically quite skinny. About a year ago, I tried weightlifting for the heck of it, and have been enjoying it ever since. It’s also motivated me to get back into running and cycling, which I used to really enjoy, but hadn’t done much lately.
I mostly enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with exercise – knowing that you’re getting better at something, and being able to set and reach goals. I find that very fulfilling.
I think it is very important to have more than one reason to do anything… especially when it comes to training. I am not an athlete (well, maybe a casual one), so I hope my perspective is useful. So here are my reasons:
-I started training after a break up to make me feel better about myself. That worked for awhile, but eventually I realized that it wasn’t a good perspective so I moved on with my reasons for training.
-I enjoy the challenge. I like setting goals and achieving them, especially when they are difficult. I remember when I first decided to do the 300 challenge from Gym Jones… I bet everyone I knew that I would shave my eyebrows and post the pictures on Facebook unless I completed it in under 20 minutes by the end of this past summer. When I finished it in just over 17 minutes, I laid on the floor basking in my glory… it was probably one of the best days in recent memory!
-Training makes me feel good about myself without having to rely on anyone else. A lot of my life I have let myself depend on others (girlfriends, friends, family, etc) to help me feel good about myself by listening to their feedback about whatever. Training is something I can do by myself and feel good about myself regardless of whether anyone else can appreciate it or not.
-Training is difficult and things that are difficult are inherently worth doing.
-Training is fun. One of the big reasons I started having fitness breakthroughs after I found RossTraining was that the workouts tend to be lots of fun. My family looks at me like I am nuts, when I am out in the yard carrying a bag full of weights (I use it as a sandbag substitute), or when I am slamming the medicine ball into the ground… but I feel like a kid on a playground sometimes and its great.
-I like to improve myself to be the best person I can possibly be. Everyone who knows me knows that I am constantly striving to improve myself in every way, from academics to the way I interact with others to my level of fitness. I love the fact that on any given day, I am stronger, faster, and better conditioned than I was the day before.
-To be healthy. My dad has high blood pressure and diabetes and is obese. My parents always told me “Eat like crap now, because when you are our age you will have to eat healthy.” It’s BS. I will eat and exercise now so when I am their age, I will be just as healthy as I am now if not more healthy!
-I like to control my body. My body will do whatever I tell it to do and I love that.
-I like to look good. I like that I can walk around the beach now with no shirt on and feel good about myself. I like that I can check out girls on the beach and make their boyfriends get defensive.
-I like to be strong. I remember one time I was talking to one of my old female friends from high school, and she had noticed that I got a good deal bigger. The girl she was with said that I didn’t really look like I worked out, so to show off I basically clean and pressed my female friend from high school (probably around 120lbs… not that much, probably around 20lbs less than I weigh, but it was enough to impress these girls!). Being able to carry heavy objects around is very useful.
-It gives me the chance to listen to music. I love music and I am usually too busy to enjoy music, but training lets me listen to music.
-Running is one of my favorite things to do, as it lets me clear my head and relieves stress like nothing I’ve ever done before.
-I used to have back pains and stuff like that. Since I started training I don’t really get random aches and pains any more.
-And finally, this is going to sound very weird and it is, but here goes… before I started training, I was incredibly scrawny (well, I still am… but less so!) and I was especially scrawny when it came to my butt. This meant that if I sat down for too long, my butt would get really sore and I’d have to shift around all the time. This is a pain in the ass… literally! Well, since I’ve built up my glutes I can sit down all day if I want and my butt doesn’t get sore! I’ll be damned if I let my butt disappear!
Great blog Ross. Keep it coming.
Hi Ross,
Fantastic blog! First and foremost I would like to briefly explain how I came about your site. Due to the fact that I used to be in the British Army I have done various forms of training including ‘body building’ type training, running, ICT and boxing training. Whilst doing my current job I was thinking during a quiet period, (I was doing a lot of running at the time)’what training have I enjoyed doing the most?’ The answer that I came up with was…’boxing training,’ so I typed that into ‘Google’ and your site was the first one on the list.
I then started to look at your site on a regular, almost daily basis. The first thing that stood out was how much information that you offered on there for nothing! I then decided, after a few months of deliberation, to e-mail you and ask you which product(pre-Full Throttle Conditioning)to purchase? Your reply was expeditious and straight to the point so I went ahead and bought Infinite Intensity. Since then I have never looked back and have been practising the routines ever since. I now have the added addition of ‘Full Throttle’. So where am I going with this?
I do not compete in any particular sport. I happen to like boxing (Ricky Hatton fan!)but one of the reasons why I chose to follow your site is the variaty that the training offers me. There are so many options to chose from. And the fact that you help people ‘on line’ as much as you possibly can. It is the variaty and the challenge of improving on each of the different routines that motivates me to continue to train despite the fact that I do not compete in any particular event. Infact in a recent blog you mentioned that you may do an article on ‘barbell’ training. I am already looking forward to this as I have a barbell that has been ‘collecting dust!’ for a couple of years and I was thinking of getting rid of it but I am now going to keep hold of it and just wait for the routine(s) to appear on your site!
I ‘feel good’ after I have done the training. I always say to people at work who have asked me for advice on how to lose weight or get in shape, do something that you enjoy, as long as you do something. If you don’t like going to the gym don’t go there, just find an alternative.
I still enjoy the occassional ‘old English ale’ and a ‘slap up meal’with my beautiful wife but despite this people always remark on how much better I look!
Kind regards,
Lee.
P.s.
As I have mentioned before we are doing a house extention and when complete the garage will become my gym where I look forward to putting more of your techniques and routines into practice.
I used to train for sports. I finally excepted the fact that my knees are too messed up to continue any sports I am passionate about, ie wrestling, muay thai, BJJ, football. I really enjoy training though. Whether it be conditioning or weightlifting I find it much better to train with friends. I know a lot of people at the gym and me and some friends get together to condition every once in a while. That helps.
Training has several purposes for me.
I would be lying if I didn’t say vanity was one of them. 🙂 However, my wife enjoys my looks, and that’s motivation enough.
Mostly, though, I train because I want to be the best at the things that I love doing. I study hard, and I train hard. Am I in school? No. Do I compete in sports? No. Do I want to be the best I can be? Yes. Do I enjoy knowing that in some small way, I’m better today than I was yesterday? Yes.
I also train because it makes life more enjoyable, and opens up new experiences for me. Last summer, I climbed Mt. Adams in Washington state. It’s not technical, but it’s 10,000+ feet of mountain nonetheless. Did I “train” specifically for it? No. But I made the summit with my friends who did. It was a wonderful experience standing on top of that rock. Heh, heh.
Training can also be spiritual or cleansing. When I train, I focus on what I’m doing and what’s coming up. Afterwards, it’s like my mind has been cleansed. My worries are gone, stress is gone, and my whole body can relax. It’s like pressing the reset button after a hard day at work.
Enough rambling. Time to go train.
I guess I’d fall into the category of training for the sake of training, rather than for any specific event. True, I do martial arts competitions from time-to-time, but I’ve always been into working out.
My Dad was a competitive power lifter, and as I’ve seen in some of your photos, I too have been in the weight room since I was a little tike. He instilled in me the love of working out, eating right and being healthy.
My motivations have gone from wanting strength for sports, to looking better for the ladies, to wanting to just be healthier.
What I love most about this “style” of training – bodyweight and overall body strength and endurance – is that I can do all of the sports that I love, hike, run trails, run road races, etc and don’t have to think twice about doing it. There’s really no formula to follow, you make it as you go and as your body allows. There’s no longer any consideration of “can I do it?”.
As I unfortunately see family and friends fade in strength and overall mobility it only motivates me to keep going and work harder. I’m a firm believer in use it or lose it, I’ve seen it many times. Only 12 years removed from high school (and around 30 years old) I see friends crippled with back problems, overweight and struggling to do even the most simple of tasks. All the while I feel like I’m only improving what my body can do.
I push them lightly to make changes, but it’s up to them to change. I can only hope to be a catalyst to their adoption of a healthier life style.
It is for these reasons, and many more, that I continue to train.
“Only those willing to go too far, will ever know how far one can go.”
“Do today what others won’t, so tomorrow you can do what others can’t.”
I have a problem. I love working out and being strong and in good shape, but for the past two months, i lost all motivation. I tried going to the gym and I take too long in the gym and then the next time I end up not even going. My body has has lost alot of muscle and my motivation. What can I do to gain my motivation and wanting to workout?
I love working out and training. I love the challenge, the way I feel, the fact that results are totally within my control. I have business and family and other responsibilities that draw on me all the time.
When I’m training, though, I can escape all that and just have fun pushing and challenging my mind and body. I love being very fit at 50, and it amazes most of my friends that I work on it so “hard.” It’s not hard if you love it!
I have to do some workouts because if i dont i feel really bad. I was playing basketball when i was young and after that 2y of weight training and now some bw training just to feel good. It makes me much better so thats one of my main reasons to workout.
Cheers.
Hey guys.
First i started training, because i was bored at the place i work,(an island) so I’ve given up smoking and started running on the island.(steep hills, nice!)
Since i did karate and thai boxing i’ve been always interested in martial arts and on Google, I’ve found Ross’s site and i never looked back since then.
I’m 32 and i’m in the best shape on my life. People have noticed the changes that feels great.
I’m amazed how much the human body is capable of. One year ago i wouldn’t have thought that i can run 5 miles without stopping.
It is an amazing feeling to beat your personal best in any excercise.
I enjoy training “the Ross’s way”, because of the variety and the link to combat sports, but I think you have to find an activity you enjoy and it much easier to stick with it.
Train hard, eat right and the results will come.
Thanks.
In case of aliens I’m reaching for the shotty! But if its zombies the ak gets the nod. I’ve gotten back into working out over the last 3 years. I started with a 4 day a week /bi’s and tri’s,chest and back etc. muscle and fitness split. It might not have been optimum toward achieving my goals but it was a whole hell of a lot better than nothing. Currently I mix martial arts,yoga ,infinite intensity , barbell big 3 lifts,and a middle distance (3 to 5mi) run. I’m down almost 40lbs from 3 years ago and looking to get another 20. I quit drinking, smoking and almost eliminated the bad foods. The workouts are my escape/elixir, medication what have you. It’s an hour or so a day I’m doing something just for me! Thanks for having this site!
Hell, why do some (most?) people NOT train? It’s like breathing to me – can’t do without it. To me, it brings focus to life, a center, it it were. If all else goes to **it, I can still run/ hit the bag/ crank out the reps, and I feel better. And what’s life without a challenge anyway? What better challenge than a good workout?
I remember years ago, after spending all damn day in a meeting, sitting on my ass, walking past my colleagues in the bar. They asked where I was going (for a run, I said), they promptly called me crazy. Me? Let’s see – sit and talk all day, then walk out the door, and sit and drink & talk – vs. run in the fresh air? Don’t *@&% think so.
In this life, if you’re not moving forward, you’re going backwards. Keep moving!
Hey Ross,
Yet another an amazing blog that inspires me. I have three reasons why I lift: sports (wrestling, high land games), because I look good naked 😉 , and most importantly because its fun. I use to wrestle in high school and pretty much didn’t have an off season. However, this year I am only going to do freestyle/greco roman which only lasts between march and may and the high land gams are one day in june. Where Im going with all of this is that since I now have an off season, training has been even more fun than before and I always thought training was fun!
All ways been a pleasure reading your blogs,
Dan
Hi Ross,
thank you for writing this great article!
There are some motivating words to enjoy individual workouts again and again.
Train hard, feel good,
Rosch from Germany.
I train in part because I go commercial fishing in Alaska and if I went up there out of shape I would be in a world of pain. The other part is because I also train in jiu jitsu and I love when I am sparring and can reach a little deeper while my opponent is giving up.
Keep up the good work, Ross. We all love you and what you do!
-Dave
I think I’ve come full circle. I have worked out because I love the way my body (subsequently the mind) feels when I do; of the thrill of being able to perform feats; of wanting to look good and be functionally competent, etc. I’m not sure whether I’m at some sort of ‘final’ stage now. It’s confusing because there’s always an overlap.
I train because every doctor and medical study I’ve ever heard of tells me that someone who is out of shape is likely to die sooner, and probably will have trouble with simple tasks latter in life if they don’t. I want to live to a reasonably old age (not forever), and I want to have no problem taking the stairs (I hate elevators) to the third floor on the last day of my life.
If I knew that I was destined to die in 2 years (something out of my control) I’d stop training. I’d rather write computer programs than do a workout, and time I spend training is time that I can’t be in front of a computer. (if this training thing works out I’ll get the time back in my old age).
Of course I have a secret desire to have some girls talking behind my back about how this geek (me) was able to lift some heavy object that other young men who appear in shape were unable to move. I don’t want to look like a show-off when I do it though. (hopefully soon, I’m single and not getting younger)
cool photo!!!
I train for the joy and the pain of it. It’s like forcing my body to submit to the higher self. But training attunes me to my body and mind like moving meditation. I also train to have a picture worthy physique. I try to enjoy the journey.
Hi Ross, some people paint, write, meditate, etc. to ground themselves, I train! It’s something consistent in my life, when other things aren’t going well I always find some peace of mind in pushing myself through a challenging workout. I’m a hard worker by nature and training satiates this need for me.
Best,
Brett Shingu
I turn 45 last month. Last july holiday I noticed I’d put a few pounds on again, the exercise routine had fallen off for the second time but I started again and lost the weight about 14/15lb with short term high intensity cardio but the trouble was I knew I’d stop again once my routine was broken by a holiday or something. Luckily in October last year I discovered kettlebells and the fun started. I’ve gotten into my fitness this time rather than just forcing myself and added bodyweight stuff as I went along. I enjoy and feel I benefit much more by really intense relatively short workouts. If you are going to do it do it flat out full on hard I believe.
I work out at home with my own equipment (made a dip belt recently, great for weighted pull ups – thanks for tip!!) Things like that keep me interested too.
I’ve never been fitter or stronger and my long term goal is to be a 60+ kettlebell youtube feature of the future – hey it’s fun being fit and strong and I can keep up with the kids ie the 20/30 somethings and my own children.
I am non competitive, but practise Thai-Boxing and a whole whost of strength-conditioning workouts, not only to improve my boxing skills, but to have applicational strength-power and conditioning for real life situations…..getting attacked, lifting objects- etc etc. I also really enjoy putting some music on and pushing myself physically and mentally, whether that be circuit training, elite rings, sandbags, bodyweight, free weights etc. I firmly believe that training keeps you younger, physically and mentally, fights degeneration and disease, and I also enjoy feeling good about myself and the aesthetic benefits of regular exercise.
I also really enjoy blogs like this as it’s great to share with like-minded people, as apart from of my Twin brother and I, no one we know trains, or indeed cares about physical exercise.
Thanks Ross and everyone who makes me feel part of a community!
Terry Lawrance. UK.
Great article, very inspirational.
Hello. I’ve been into boxing for a while did not enjoy it. I have been changeing boxing school 3 three times and neded up training for my self.
When i go to a boxing school there is nothing such as, Helping each other, Respect, Dicipline, honor. All the guys want to is to beat you up, No1 wants to help you out and the guy who teaches there are worse. All boxing school i have been into is like that. They look at you like your not a human.
So i bought everything i needed for alot of money to train for my self. This is how i ended up and the training motivates me, i want to get better and better and what most boxer have to understand is to not limit their mind just because they are great in the ring. The ring fighters are often bound to rules and limitations. Iam a boxer but i also want to develop my self as a street fighter. In the street anything goes, you can use knife, stone, anything. So just a tips brothers do not limit your self if you get into a street fight and think it is like a ring. He may pull out a gun or a knife and 10 other of his freidns attacks you. Thanks for the help and the wise words!
My longterm goal in my training is to become a Navy SEAL. Thats a big motivator for me (considering I’m only 16). But I got my start after I got my ass kicked in a fight and realized how physically pathetic I was, and didnt like it one bit. So I began working at myself to get to the point where I’m happy with my body. I’m happy with my body, but I realized I just enjoy training. Its like you said, an outlet, lets me blow off steam from the day and push me towards my goal in the long run. And this website has given me some great advice in terms of my training, or my shorterm goals, like the behind the back clap push-ups. When you acheieve something small and simple like that its very rewarding. Thanks for this article, theres a few people I know that should read this as well, it would benefit them greatly.
If you’re looking for some workouts try the Workout of the Week from Sport Science Lab.
I exercise because I simply enjoy it. I have a preference that leans towards more towards simple weightlifting, yet I try not to neglect other aspects of health. I look forward to training many times just to try to reach a personnnel goal. My goal this year is to weigh 185lbs by October 31st of 2010 with between 6 to 9 percent bodyfat. At this time I have also given myself the actual weight goals as follow. Back squat 350lbs for 10 reps, parallel grip deadlift 400 for 15 reps, Bench 250 for 10 and finally Satnding barbell shoulder press 215 for 10. I like setting goals. It honestly is simple fun to compete with yourself.
Have a good day,
Daniel kimball
Some of the most challenging exercises I’ve found are with an exercise ball. Push ups on the exercise ball are intense. The instability of the ball forces you to engage your core.
I train becasue I love the adrenaline, because it keeps me a young 47, it’s a great example for my family & friends who see me & know that if I can do it they can (10 years ago I was a sloth), to keep up with my four year old son & my Ironman Triathlete wife, being lazy is a disservice to yourself & to God….
I train so that I can feel good. I see too many people act old in their mid 30s. I get an amazing workout with an exercise ball and nothing heavier than a 4 lb. weights.
hey Ross,
excellent article! my days as a competetive boxer are a long time over but i still train hard just for fun. i look forward to training everyday. i get an hour to train in my lunch break and it is the highlight of my day (family aside that is.) i believe that with a healthy body comes a healthy mind and it keeps me young for my children. also my training has a positive influence on their lives. my eight year old daughter loves running with me and my five year old son has just started playing rugby. now they train ‘just for fun’
thankyou Ross for your words of inspiration and motivation.
Loved your article Ross.
I recently started training and have several different reasons. I decided I wanted to start training after I lost my first wrestling match. I was 5-0, and beginging to get a bit cocky, but then our high school wrestling team went to a big tournament and basically..I got my ass handed to me. The other guy was so much faster and stronger than me that I just felt like a helpless child. So after the match I did some serious thinking and decided that now would be a good time to start working out and actually commiting to it! So my reasons:
-I want to be a better wrestler and dominate my opponents. I dont want to have an uneasy feeling before my matches. I want to go out there confidently.
-I want to be the “master of my own body.” I want to be able to control my body and make it do whatever I want. I have seen the videos of ross doing all these different and crazy excercises and wanted to be able to do that, ex: triple clap pushups, rope climbing, on hand chin up, one legged squats.
-I want to prevent injuries and pain in the asses like; diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol etc. Also in wrestling and BMX biking, there are a lot of injuries, and I simply hate walking around in pain, or an injury preventing me from doing an activity.
-I want to be that old guy that is still strong and healthy. I want to still be able to go skiing and biking at 80. I want to be the old guy that knocked the shit out of the guy trying to rob him..(hahah it was on the news recently). I definetely dont want to be a guy in a wheel chair or a walker.
-I feel good as hell after I complete a workout or reach my goal. You have adrenaline pumping then a bit later you feel that soothing calmness. Working out and pushing myself is fun. It toughens you mentally alot to push yourself even though you feel like your arms are on the verge of falling off.
-Lastly, I love to feel fit. A lot of you know what I am talking about, just feeling light on your feet. I love looking at myself in the miror and smiling that yes I am responsible for making myself fit and strong.I like the confidence that comes with looking in shape.
I just wanted to thank Ross for motivating me and inspiring me so much.
Check out this news clip that shows some of the newest training tips.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4055098/going-for-gold?playlist_id=87249
I think that a problem that so many people have is that they just don’t have the motivation to stay in shape. They may start off good but they end up just falling off just as quick as they got started. If you find your passion and have goals in place you should have no problem staying motivated for the long term.
Ross, keep up the good articles!
I am a NASM certified personal trainer, pes,ces. I spent the majority of my life in the martial arts studies. Krav Maga is my favorite system of training. I am not a competitive athlete. That all being said.
A friend of mine and collegue introduced me to your sight at first I started following the online articles and videos and soon decided to get your books and video. Love all of them as they are very informative, and have added value to my clients lives as well as my services offered to my clients. I use the information in your books personally and am already seeing a vast improvement in results, I can perform pullups! I have struggled with this. I am amazed at the no nonsense no excuses approach you have. You have motivated me in ways I never thought possible. I would like to see more books in the future with more info from your vast knowledge base and experience. I also like that fact you don’t sell the products on the corporate level, I am proud to support you and hope you succeed in all that you do.
Thank you.
PS can’t wait till Infinite Intensity gets here>.
My reasons for training have changed over the years. At first it was because I was ashamed of myself I couldnt run the length of a football/soccer pitch (Im from Scotland we call soccer football). When i was younger I blamed everything my asthma genetics my dad for not taking me out to play Football but one day it all just clicked and the only person i could blame was me so i started running eventually i was ok at it then i did boxing and muay thai the weight practically fell off and now I have a fitness level to be proud of so my reason now is because i enjoy the actual exercise no matter the type my body feels terrible when I dont. I could say every reason someone trains is why I train.
I started at first and it was all appearance and that was it really until i started getting a bit older and wiser and suddenly the other reasons why i train came into view.
The ability to be not only strong but to be able to utilise that strength on a day to day basis, to have better more efficient movement, to be able to handle most heavy situations well without pulling muscles etc.
But one of the biggest reasons is that after a good workout when you’re relaxing with a coffee or tea you feel energised and invigorated, i know if i don’t train i feel lethargic and terrible, whereas after a workout, well see above.
Yes, I workout to look great it is true but first and foremost and makes me feel great emotionally. I guess you coul say it covers the best of both worlds