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You may or my not have noticed, I never say, “I workout“…..What I do is, “TRAIN!”

When most people go to the gym, what almost everyone says they are doing is, “working out”. Yet, most, 97% to be exact, will fail at in their exercise and diet program in one year or less. 

When you talk to someone who “trains” they have a goal in mind, like to “hit a lift” to improve in strength and virility. Some to get those Brad Pitt abs. Some to compete in BBing or power lifting competitions. There are many other pursuits that are rewarding and challenging for the BBer, like cycling, triathlons, marathons, even a better golf game and etc..

My goal now, for example, it to compete in 2011 NPC Masters Nationals BBing competition and win my class! There are many sub goals in place to reach that goal by a certain time to get to my ultimate goal. Therefore, “I’m in training.” I have “trainers” that “trains” me. I have a “training” partner with similar goals!

What I have noticed over the years as I attend many of the same gyms from Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and other major cities foreign and domestic, that I frequent, I see many of the same people, some have improved, some maintained, yet most are newbies that will be gone the next time I visit, never to return again.

 
At least twice a week or more, someone will come up to me and ask, “How can I lose weight” or “I want to look like you!” Or “get more muscles, but not big like you! Just toned up.” or “I wanna lose my belly, get fit, bla, bla, bla…” They are almost always short term lifters.

Why? IMO, they come to “just work out.” No goals, no vision of what that means. It is more than “just working out,” it is a goal, and vision of what you want to accomplish. Therefore, they fail.

 
I rarely give them advice anymore to the people that approach me because when I do, 98% of them will not put forth the “intensity”, or “consistency” or diet to succeed. They come to the gym to “just work out.” They lack “intensity and consistency,” with no idea of how to achieve the goals they seek. They come to “workout” and “train” for nothing. 

Does a runner talk about his or her “working out” for a race, or do the “train” for a race. Do skiers “work out” or train? Do ball players go to “workout” camps or “training” camps? They have coaches and trainers, that train them.

 
Now, I’m not saying anything is wrong with “working out.” I just feel to me, it means two different things, one has a strong commitment to a goal, a vision, and the other terminology rarely does. It just hangs there. To me, it is more than semantics!

 
So, the question is….. “Do you train?” Or, “Just work out?” ed
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i’ve never tried to compete or enter any events of any sort, so i’d have to say since i stopped playing organized sports i haven’t “trained” for anything, only worked out. i’ll be completely honest and admit that i haven’t even ever set goals to attain in terms of size or fat loss or anything like that, so i can’t say i have ever stepped into a gym with the intent to “train”.

i do agree that the average person needs to set goals and track progress in order to keep themselves on track and to succeed with what they are doing, but then again the majority of people go to the gym with a purpose in mind but don’t actually work on making that purpose more than a general idea, such as “lose weight”. without specificity and an attainable goal they are destined to fail.

however, for those of us who are content with our physiques, who have made it a habit (or lifestyle if you will) to eat clean and stay in shape/be active, i would say that just “working out” is okay. as long as you know what you are doing and are happy with the results, goal setting isn’t necessary.

i say that with the caveat that most people don’t fulfill those two requirements. good stuff Popps, nice to have you on board and looking forward to more of your contributions here.

I posted this quote in a blog a while back!!
I absolutely love this quote…
 
 
Training vs. working out
 
Training is so much more than working out. It helps you get to know yourself better. It teaches you what you’re really made of and how hard you’re willing to work to overcome adversity.
 
Working out is what the general public does to get in a little better shape. They go to the gym because they have to. They don’t have a passion for it, they don’t love it, and they don’t live for it.
 
These people go to the gym as a way to meet new friends or just to “stay in shape” and improve their health. To them, working out is a hobby or a necessary evil. But to those of us who are married to the iron for life and feel most at home pushing heavy weight in some hole in the wall hardcore gym, it’s our passion. The squat rack is our church, the deadlift platform our temple.
 
— Jason Ferrugia,

I train and so do most of you even as Pete said he is working out to maintain his desired physic. In my book thats training weither you read it that way or not, His goal is not to fall into the traps society puts out there for you and is working hard to keep what he has achieved.
 
    Training to me is a mindset that says I will not be like everyone else I control what I become and I am becoming what I want to be. This control and dedication to exist in the fashion you choose takes training of the will and dedication.
  On the other hand someone who just worksout may have only a limited view of what is required to alter your life through fitness. Most people I know who workout have as Pete said limited gains and are typically going through the motions with disregard to the choices they make out side the gym. Salad or cheese burger elevator or stairs ect ect.
 SO I believe it is fair to say that if you are active on this or any other fitness site and/or are willing to learn and you have made the right choice’s. YOU are training to be what you desire of yourself and should be proud to say so.
Thanks
Butch

Training to me means… Go Big or go home!!  Setting goals and accomplishing them, understanding your body and what works for you, and making training your LIFESYLE.
 
To me training is a passion, I don’t go to the gym to just stay in shape…I because I LOVE IT… it is my second home, my security blanket, me time, it’s a place were I can challenge my self beyond my limits…
 
It’s not a place where I go to socialize and look pretty; it’s what makes me who I am… I don’t workout “per say” I train!!!

This thread is just an “opinion” of mine from an observation that I’ve
made over the years about how words are used, and who, and how people
use them, and how successful they are meeting their goals if they even
have them.


As I said before, there is nothing wrong with working out. Just feels
and looks to me from my experience in the gym, people who train are more
successful than those that just workout!


It’s not about weather you’re competing for a contest or competing
against yourself! It’s not about semantics either. It’s about commitment
and how one sees himself. What he will accomplish once his goals are
clear and set. I feel, people who train, have a purpose to what they are
doing. Those who train without a purpose in mind, a lack in commitment,
are “Just working out”, IMO.

Very well said brother