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Weight lifting, specifically complex lifts with heavy weight fully engages me: if I don’t do the exercise correctly, either; (1) the bar doesn’t move; or, (2) I

Weight lifting, specifically complex lifts with heavy weight fully engages me: if I don’t do the exercise correctly, either; (1) the bar doesn’t move; or, (2) I will hurt myself. I have focused, exclusively, on lifts of type #1. Things like squat, deadlift, bench press, etc., with moderate-heavy weight do the trick.

goldenchrome 8y ago
+1. The OP said "being chased by an imaginary bear is likely more sustainable", and this is the kind of that that lifting heavy weights can simulate. Many top level powerlifters have said that when they're attempting a personal record lift, they pretend that they're lifting a heavy car off their wife or children. Nothing scarier than a heavy squat.
- RcouF1uZ4gsC 8y ago
  >Many top level powerlifters have said that when they're attempting a personal record lift, they pretend that they're lifting a heavy car off their wife or children. One danger about that is that they might push themselves too hard. If it came down to lifting heavy car off my wife or child, messing up my back permanently is a price I would gladly pay for success in the endeavor. Messing up my back is not something that would be a great exchange for beating my personal record.
  - ACow_Adonis 8y ago
    As a general rule, i'd guess top level athletes don't have the best outcomes when it comes to long term health outcomes for precisely this reason: at the elite level, there's a trade of between maximising short term personal performance and long term well being.
  - saiya-jin 8y ago
    I don't get this chase for personal numbers. They are anyway smaller compared to everybody else apart from the current top dog, usually much smaller. Maybe this is the only way to motivate properly for some. I enjoy doing moderate weightlifting not for bulking up or setting some arbitrary numbers, but for great feeling from my body (endorphins initially, long term just a body that works perfectly fine), to have strength and more importantly stamina to do whatever activity life throws at me. This is more than enough for me, very rewarding, and most importantly, sustainable.
jakeinspace 8y ago
I enjoy weightlifting and powerlifting as well, but I can't say it's ever maximally mentally stimulating. Yes, I have to concentrate in a way, but it doesn't feel like I'm thinking deeply or quickly, as I might while playing a team sport like basketball. Most of the mental effort is in concentrating on my muscle contractions, feedback from my nerves, and mental preparation before the lift. Now that I type this out, I'm realizing that weightlifting (in an appropriate setting/mood) is not dissimilar to meditation.
- landonxjames 8y ago
  That revelation came to me when I was talking to a friend who is very into yoga. It turned out that he and I received similar benefits from yoga and powerlifting respectively. They both improved our mind-body connection and had strong calming effects.
  - tempestn 8y ago
    I just got into (light) meditation over the past few months, and I've found the practice has made working out more pleasant. In the past I always made myself do it, but it was more of a struggle to not want to be done and doing something more mentally stimulating. I think the meditation has helped train me to make the most of the experience and not be craving more stimulation (at least, as much as before).
hosh 8y ago
Similarly, martial arts and neigong. Requires a lot of intense deliberate practice with physical movement to get anywhere. It is very easy to "muscle it". Many physical skills are like that though. But maybe it is also because my strongest learning style is kinesthetic. There are technical nuances to even something that seems as simple as biking ... or even walking.
- Pamar 8y ago
  I concur: I worked out regularly at the gym for ~3 years then I felt very bored and switched to martial arts. I still go to the dojo three times a week (and I am now entering my 30th year of regular practice).
01100011 8y ago
Recently getting back into weightlifting and I love it. Team sports aren't really my thing. Since I no longer have time to hike, I needed a physical outlet. I was too fat to run, so I started lifting. Unfortunately my trainer wasn't watching my form so I probably have bursitis in my shoulder. Other than that, I find it's a very satisfying activity. The only problem, I think, is that I now look like a jock at work. I think people look at me funny now, as if I'm going to beat them up and steal their lunch money.

goldenchrome 8y ago

+1. The OP said "being chased by an imaginary bear is likely more sustainable", and this is the kind of that that lifting heavy weights can simulate. Many top level powerlifters have said that when they're attempting a personal record lift, they pretend that they're lifting a heavy car off their wife or children. Nothing scarier than a heavy squat.

RcouF1uZ4gsC 8y ago
>Many top level powerlifters have said that when they're attempting a personal record lift, they pretend that they're lifting a heavy car off their wife or children. One danger about that is that they might push themselves too hard. If it came down to lifting heavy car off my wife or child, messing up my back permanently is a price I would gladly pay for success in the endeavor. Messing up my back is not something that would be a great exchange for beating my personal record.
- ACow_Adonis 8y ago
  As a general rule, i'd guess top level athletes don't have the best outcomes when it comes to long term health outcomes for precisely this reason: at the elite level, there's a trade of between maximising short term personal performance and long term well being.
- saiya-jin 8y ago
  I don't get this chase for personal numbers. They are anyway smaller compared to everybody else apart from the current top dog, usually much smaller. Maybe this is the only way to motivate properly for some. I enjoy doing moderate weightlifting not for bulking up or setting some arbitrary numbers, but for great feeling from my body (endorphins initially, long term just a body that works perfectly fine), to have strength and more importantly stamina to do whatever activity life throws at me. This is more than enough for me, very rewarding, and most importantly, sustainable.

jakeinspace 8y ago

I enjoy weightlifting and powerlifting as well, but I can't say it's ever maximally mentally stimulating. Yes, I have to concentrate in a way, but it doesn't feel like I'm thinking deeply or quickly, as I might while playing a team sport like basketball. Most of the mental effort is in concentrating on my muscle contractions, feedback from my nerves, and mental preparation before the lift. Now that I type this out, I'm realizing that weightlifting (in an appropriate setting/mood) is not dissimilar to meditation.

landonxjames 8y ago
That revelation came to me when I was talking to a friend who is very into yoga. It turned out that he and I received similar benefits from yoga and powerlifting respectively. They both improved our mind-body connection and had strong calming effects.
- tempestn 8y ago
  I just got into (light) meditation over the past few months, and I've found the practice has made working out more pleasant. In the past I always made myself do it, but it was more of a struggle to not want to be done and doing something more mentally stimulating. I think the meditation has helped train me to make the most of the experience and not be craving more stimulation (at least, as much as before).

hosh 8y ago

Similarly, martial arts and neigong. Requires a lot of intense deliberate practice with physical movement to get anywhere. It is very easy to "muscle it". Many physical skills are like that though. But maybe it is also because my strongest learning style is kinesthetic. There are technical nuances to even something that seems as simple as biking ... or even walking.

Pamar 8y ago
I concur: I worked out regularly at the gym for ~3 years then I felt very bored and switched to martial arts. I still go to the dojo three times a week (and I am now entering my 30th year of regular practice).

01100011 8y ago

Recently getting back into weightlifting and I love it. Team sports aren't really my thing. Since I no longer have time to hike, I needed a physical outlet. I was too fat to run, so I started lifting. Unfortunately my trainer wasn't watching my form so I probably have bursitis in my shoulder. Other than that, I find it's a very satisfying activity. The only problem, I think, is that I now look like a jock at work. I think people look at me funny now, as if I'm going to beat them up and steal their lunch money.