new thread
After years of being a slob, carrying around a lot of excess fat built up from lack of exercise and poor diet, I am starting to get on top of the problem. I joined the local gym about three months ago. At first I had the wrong attitude: they wanted me to do weights and all I wanted to do was cardio. Recently the weights have won my primary attention. Now, I'm beginning to like the results I'm getting and you could say I've become addicted to working out. My life has changed dramatically and my self-confidence has shot to an all-time-high.
Which brings me to the question: do long hair and bodybuilding mix? From what I can see, they don't. How often do you see the two together? I don't think I ever have. Am I wrong?
Do any of you guys like to work out and have become nicely sculpted, yet have long hair?
As usual, I will adhere to the two week rule at least.
LukeB
I lift weights 3 times a week. I don't think one has anything to do with the other.
Congratulations on doing the workout thing Luke, that is something I have been wanting to do for a long time because I do think that working out and longhair do go together in the sense that they both represent a change from what you (and I) didn't like about ourselves before. How can any positive change not go with another postiive change?! Go for it Luke, it sounds fantastic. I believe I may have hit on something also that will allow me to start exercising again like I want to despite being having been ill for a long time.
Also I know I have seen references to some MLHH members talking about working out so I have no doubt you will get lots of specific examples of a definite YES to your question, too.
Besides would you really stop now if someone said they didn't go together :)
Again a super big congratulations and I hope to join you soon amongst the more fit :)
I recently thought that too. When I started to grow my hair, that was a radical change for me. Now I am going through yet another change. I'm like a man possessed! I don't want to get so big that it looks ugly like some of those massively overdeveloped bodybuilders, but I do want to get reasonably big and defined. So far it's given my self-esteem and self-confidence a huge boost!
Sorry to hear you've been unwell. Take my advice, get back to the gym and make a fresh start.
First, it seemed like I was going to be treated differently because of having long hair. Now, someday it'll be long hair AND muscles. Boy oh boy, this is a massive departure from the mild mannered, shorthaired, scrawny and pot-bellied Luke people were used to. Exciting isn't it? :)
LukeB
Good thing about bodybuilding and longhair, who's going to say you look like a girl then :)
If you're referring strictly to the ridiculous muscle freaks who competitively bodybuild, I too have never seen any with long hair. But if you're allowing for a more human/natural build, just look at pro wrestlers. There's plenty of longhairs amongst them.
Matt
e.g. Shawn 'HBK' Michaels
(and many many others, past and present-and future!)
Hi there Luke it sounds like you are trying to change your life style and I admit choosing working out as a solution is an excellant one.I have been using gyms on a regular basis since 1984 and have never given it up.Once you realize the benefits from a good work out you almost feel guilty if you start to slack off.I recommend this to anyone as I feel it has helped me tremdously with my general health all these years.I mean I'm no hulk as I'm rather skinny but I still benefit from the exercise.
Now as for your question about longhair and bodybuilding.I have belonged to many gyms over the years and I know longhair is more the exception than the rule.Most guys in my gym are either buzz cut or crew cut but believe me that does not inspire me to cut mine at all!!!!LOL. So I'll just remain a minority in that respect but there are times when a longhaired guy will pop in and there are some regulars.So to sum it up GREAT choice in choosing bodybuilding and KEEP THE HAIR! Do show us some progress pics after you've worked out for some time just to see the results as I'm sure you will be pleased.Take care.Mark
I could write on this topic all day, but I'll try and be brief.
First my background: I'm only 22 but I have been doing weights on and off since I was 15. Many of those first few years I don't really count so i guess you could say that I have been into weights (or bodyuilding) since I was 19 and 9 months (January 2004).
I am also studying at the moment towards becoming a Personal Trainer; so the weights room is defintely going to be a part of my long-term future.
In fact, one of the first visual stimuli that inspired me to grow my hair long wasn't metal video clips (a genre of music which I LOVE) but the movie "Conan the Barbarian"-I highly reccomend this classic on many levels, one of which would be to demonstate to you how well longhair (especially with some of Ahnold's wigs/hair extensions earlier in the film) and muscles mix.
As to competitive bodybuilding...well here you may encounter perhaps the only drawback of longhair. To do well in competition you can't afford any disadvantage, a major one being having any muscle group (such as your trapezius, deltoid muscles etc.) hidden by hair.
That said I have seen a competition before where one guy had very long hair but tied it up into a bun when competing onstage.--> so there are ways to have both and enjoy the 'fruits' of each!
I wish you all enjoyment and success on THIS other journey of yours!
I love the movie Conan the Barbarian Dean, it is a classic in the genre. I love movie music and that is one of my alltime favorites too :) I am old enough to have enjoyed watching it in the theater when it first came out lol
'Wow'! Not that watching that film when it first came out makes you old (becuase it doesn't), but that you got the chance to see it on the big screen!
Did Arnold's long hair unconscioulsy inspire you then :)
Why cut your beautiful hair while the rest of your body is also becoming more aesthetically pleasing? You’d end up more toned but having lost one of your best features.
The only downside to bodybuilding with longer hair would be getting your hair caught in a weight lifting machine or something, but of course that can be easily solved by tieing it back/up or some variation thereof.
Whether or not the two things go together is largely up to you. I have indeed seen guys at the gym with long hair. Very long. I saw a guy one day with waist length hair working out. I also saw a fellow who worked at the gym with red hair past the middle of the back.
Now, I do lift weights as well, but can't really claim to be nicely sculpted (as you mention), or very long haired (YET!!!), but I seen no dichotomy in the co-existence of the two factors.
Happy lifting! Bragi
Luke, I've been working out with weights for the better part of 20 years, the last 6 of which I've had long hair. They mix every time I walk into the gym! And, over the years, I've seen a few others. It's like all other stereotypes--those who workout with weights are not all bodybuilders in the professional sense, not all use steroids (most don't), and most have short hair (like the general population), but all do not.
You've started something that is really, REALLY good for you, and you are growing your hair long. That's the reality. There's nothing else to check. Long hair and working out with weights will mix every time you walk into the gym. Don't worry about it, and congratulations on the decision to take care of your health.
Robert
I think I have decided not to cut it. Anyway, I should wait and see what I look like over the next few months before making any rash decisions. And I will post some before and after photos soon, as Hairball requested.
In the meantime I'm having fun lifting more weight every time I visit which is starting to give me a nice shape. I'm very pleased with myself for working so hard.
Take care everyone!
LukeB
I do a minor amount of working out for the reasons already given. i don't know how old you are but if you are in your 40s or older, start going easy. don't be in too big a hurry for development as you can overdo some exercise and strain or tear a muscle. eventually you will get into a routine and a habit will form and that's what you want. don't make it too much of a chore because you can get tired of it and quit. if you are lucky and have more than one gym or health club in your area look around at all of them--some are for the seriously over developed weight lifters, others are for regular men and women who just want some strength and toning, and some are in between. find one you are comfortable with.
in my case i was a bit self concious at first (had a body that made woody allen look good) so I bought some small free weights, 5 10 15 and 20 pound dumb bells, and worked with them at home for awhile first, then went to the gym and that eased the transition. also a few weights at home, a few simple things like a workout ball, help when you can't get out.
I work out and I have 3 years of growth. It doesn't bother me at all.
It's a very [a href="http://alphabetofmanliness.com/images/aom_cover_main.jpg"]manly[/a] thing to do, long hair + muscles.
Personally I find that long hair suits skinnier/muscular guys better (maybe because I am one?)...
You can tie it back, put it in a beanie, throw it in a bandanna, but if you're hair is "semi" long it will get in the way.
Plus, I hate laying on my hair when I use the Smith machine (benchpress) or anything where I have to lay in other people's sweat! It's pretty sick.
My hair is short now though, so I don't have to worry!
Gym ettiquette would have each person wiping down the equipment after using. Of course most people seem to lack any shred of consideration for others. It's another reason I'm happy to have my own equipment & don't have to share the space with anyone unless I invite them. I get to choose my own music too! Hair in the way is the least of my concerns. I tie it back.
Are you kidding me? Van Halen's stomach was ripped! Of course they go together, I work out all the time.
I hate exercise and people say im fat... I dont blame them, there is a gym nearby but its not air conditioned! that sucks when its like really hot outside.
Do they mix? Ask the millions of rabbid females who drool over Brad Pitt, Depp, Orlando Bloom, etc etc. those guys are in great shape and are usually wearing long hair most of the time.
Even the men of MANOWAR used that for one of their album covers.
do long hair and bodybuilding mix?
yes
Almost never. At the Gym I attend, I can say that I am the ONLY long-haired male weight-lifter, and I believe I have yet to even see a woman there who has hair as long or longer then my own. I feel a little out of place, but most of the guys there recognize my passion and dedication to the art of lifting.
I just tail it up... sometimes, I'll tail it, then twist it to a "semi-bun" type thing, and use bobby pins to attach the bulk to my head. Then I wear a bandana... it works so well at concealing my hair that it looks like I have short hair! I've even had many people ask if I cut it... the only problem is that it takes almost 10 minutes to do it so I usually don't... I'm not that patient.
Anyway, congrats on your new hobby man... good luck with it.
-Ardroth