Working out and purity

[bobolink]

I’m a 26 year old (young) man. Recently I started to do weights (dumb-bells) and I find this good exercise, as well as helping me to get strong and more fit and confident. I don’t want to be Mr Universe, I just want to be muscular, and if I’m honest, this is tied to self-image and a desire to feel confident or attract girls (read women!).

Anyway, I find that the exercise feels great - I enjoy ‘pumping iron’ as they say, and I enjoy the rush I get from it. BUT… since starting it, and it seems to be getting ‘worse’ - I find I am really infused with lust, and therefore struggle with masturbation in particular. I guess there is also a pride issue, and vanity, with getting ‘ripped’ - muscular that is, for a young guy.

I had a look into it, and apparently doing weights, in men at least, causes testosterone to be released or produced, in order to encourage muscle growth since you’ve been working them hard… so that would partly explain the lust problem.

My question is, is it permissible to continue doing weights, in order to get the physique I desire, or is it not, since it is making my purity/chastity quest even more difficult? It would really sadden me to think I’d have to give up this pastime, yet I enjoy it so much, but it’s just like it’s encouraging this raging lust monster inside me when I do the exercise!!

 

[Gamera]

The gym is where I met my wife. My first words to her were, “Excuse me, have you seen the 25 lb weights?” Therefore, we say, keep going to the gym.

You are allowed to look your best. You are allowed to attract potential mates. You also are allowed to feel self-confident (and no, that isn’t the same thing as vanity). Some of us, in our single days, found that exercise provided a positive outlet for feelings that might otherwise have resulted in sinful behavior. But it seems like it’s having an opposite effect for you. Suppose you cut back a bit on the weight training and filled that time with more aerobic exercise, would that help?

 

[bobolink]

The gym is where I met my wife. My first words to her were, “Excuse me, have you seen the 25 lb weights?” Therefore, we say, keep going to the gym.

You are allowed to look your best. You are allowed to attract potential mates. You also are allowed to feel self-confident (and no, that isn’t the same thing as vanity). Some of us, in our single days, found that exercise provided a positive outlet for feelings that might otherwise have resulted in sinful behavior. But it seems like it’s having an opposite effect for you. Suppose you cut back a bit on the weight training and filled that time with more aerobic exercise, would that help?

It might do, but I am not so much interested in aerobic activity - jogging, rowing machines etc… - they don’t really ‘do it’ for me! I guess the weights do, but the thing is, once I am done with the weights, there is this massive virile energy which just won’t go away. I’m not partial to cold showers either - I just can’t tolerate cold water, but maybe I should try it anyway? Not sure if it works but it is a cliche one hears a lot so maybe there is some truth in it.

Doing the weights has been pretty amazing - I feel like I am 16 again, but of course this has some issues as per my previous post.

 

[joeybaggz]

My question is, is it permissible to continue doing weights, in order to get the physique I desire, or is it not, since it is making my purity/chastity quest even more difficult? It would really sadden me to think I’d have to give up this pastime, yet I enjoy it so much, but it’s just like it’s encouraging this raging lust monster inside me when I do the exercise!!

All strength is built through resistance. That’s what you are doing by lifting to build physical muscle, pushing against (resisting) a force which causes growth of your physical body.

Spiritual and moral growth happens the same way. The fact that temptation arises can be an opportunity to build a spiritual strength. Please don’t be a couch potato catholic that automatically runs away from any temptation or situation and believes that holiness is attained by avoiding any and all situations that my be problematic from a moral standpoint. The strongest people I know spiritually are those who can look evil in the eye and overcome it. Continue to lift weights and build your body, it’s good for you.

Something that works for me. Exercise at night, take a hot shower an hour before bed, and when you lie down to go to sleep, say the rosary. The repetition puts me to sleep by the third decade. Besides, masturbating in front of your mother is a bit gauche, don’t you think?

 

[bobolink]

All strength is built through resistance. That’s what you are doing by lifting to build physical muscle, pushing against (resisting) a force which causes growth of your physical body.

Spiritual and moral growth happens the same way. The fact that temptation arises can be an opportunity to build a spiritual strength. Please don’t be a couch potato catholic that automatically runs away from any temptation or situation and believes that holiness is attained by avoiding any and all situations that my be problematic from a moral standpoint. The strongest people I know spiritually are those who can look evil in the eye and overcome it. Continue to lift weights and build your body, it’s good for you.

Something that works for me. Exercise at night, take a hot shower an hour before bed, and when you lie down to go to sleep, say the rosary. The repetition puts me to sleep by the third decade. Besides, masturbating in front of your mother is a bit gauche, don’t you think?

Exactly - I don’t want to be a couch potato. The exercise is really good for me, and I can feel the difference and the positives which come from it, especially as regards self-confidence and clearer thinking etc…

Ah - showers… now there’s another problem area lol. Maybe a cold shower before bed?

But thanks you guys, this advice has been helpful and I will try to put it into practice.

Of course if anyone else reads this and has anything else to add, I would of course welcome it!

 

[GraceDK]

I’m a 26 year old (young) man. Recently I started to do weights (dumb-bells) and I find this good exercise, as well as helping me to get strong and more fit and confident. I don’t want to be Mr Universe, I just want to be muscular, and if I’m honest, this is tied to self-image and a desire to feel confident or attract girls (read women!).

Anyway, I find that the exercise feels great - I enjoy ‘pumping iron’ as they say, and I enjoy the rush I get from it. BUT… since starting it, and it seems to be getting ‘worse’ - I find I am really infused with lust, and therefore struggle with masturbation in particular. I guess there is also a pride issue, and vanity, with getting ‘ripped’ - muscular that is, for a young guy.

I had a look into it, and apparently doing weights, in men at least, causes testosterone to be released or produced, in order to encourage muscle growth since you’ve been working them hard… so that would partly explain the lust problem.

My question is, is it permissible to continue doing weights, in order to get the physique I desire, or is it not, since it is making my purity/chastity quest even more difficult? It would really sadden me to think I’d have to give up this pastime, yet I enjoy it so much, but it’s just like it’s encouraging this raging lust monster inside me when I do the exercise!!

Brother…
Lets get one thing straight… don’t try to attract women but think of it as getting ready for the woman… you get what I mean?
Women like it when men have healthy and strong bodies of course… but much more than that a Christian woman wants someone who does not sin against his body and against his purity. Save your self for marriage…
Maybe if you think about your future bride and the qualities you want in your self as a strong and godly man when you meet her - while looking your best ever too - it will help put things into the right perspective.
By the way… go to confession… and remember… Jesus never leaves you. He looks at you when you are alone in your room. It matters to Him and it matters to your future bride.
Love your self by realising the utter emptiness in the act of mastubation… it only damages you to sin and it does not relieve tension any more than drinking salt water relieves thirst. You were called to total self giving in union with another person in marital love. What you do now is using the gift of your own sexuality for self-gratification in a short and empty act while taking bites out of the gift you one day want to give to your wife. You also damage your own own discipline so that it might be harder for you to say no to other sexual temptations in the future.
So … its important that you stop it now and also to deal with the roots of the problem… that means also fasting with your eyes so that your imagination does not have much to work with…

God bless you brother

 

[bobolink]

Brother…
Lets get one thing straight… don’t try to attract women but think of it as getting ready for the woman… you get what I mean?
Women like it when men have healthy and strong bodies of course… but much more than that a Christian woman wants someone who does not sin against his body and against his purity. Save your self for marriage…
Maybe if you think about your future bride and the qualities you want in your self as a strong and godly man when you meet her - while looking your best ever too - it will help put things into the right perspective.
By the way… go to confession… and remember… Jesus never leaves you. He looks at you when you are alone in your room. It matters to Him and it matters to your future bride.
Love your self by realising the utter emptiness in the act of mastubation… it only damages you to sin and it does not relieve tension any more than drinking salt water relieves thirst. You were called to total self giving in union with another person in marital love. What you do now is using the gift of your own sexuality for self-gratification in a short and empty act while taking bites out of the gift you one day want to give to your wife. You also damage your own own discipline so that it might be harder for you to say no to other sexual temptations in the future.
So … its important that you stop it now and also to deal with the roots of the problem… that means also fasting with your eyes so that your imagination does not have much to work with…

God bless you brother

Thanks - that is good advice.

 

[Caesar517]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with continuing your exercise. Be careful, though; don’t let yourself fall into habitual mortal sin at all costs. If you don’t think you can handle it, consider lifting weights less often.

I seccond someone’s suggestion of including aerobic exercise. Running in particular. It will help you disperse any left over energy. I am slightly biased towards running, though (my parents met on a highshcool cross-country team). There’s nothing beter than a 5k run!

 

[nannygirl]

Exactly - I don’t want to be a couch potato. The exercise is really good for me, and I can feel the difference and the positives which come from it, especially as regards self-confidence and clearer thinking etc…

Ah - showers… now there’s another problem area lol. Maybe a cold shower before bed?

But thanks you guys, this advice has been helpful and I will try to put it into practice.

Of course if anyone else reads this and has anything else to add, I would of course welcome it!

It helps to start out with a hot shower, then gradually make it colder. I also agree that praying the Rosary (when those thoughts pop in your head) will lessen your desire to sin. I have also been praying the Anima Christi daily and it has really helped me. Yes, women struggle with this, too.

 

[Newbie2]

Nothing wrong with working out…and there’s nothing, and I mean nothing that’ll take your mind off…well…you know…than a cold shower.