--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was happier going back to my roots…" description: "\"I was happier going back to my roots: training like men do in my hometown of Pittsburgh. Back home the guys in the gyms don't lift to look good; they'r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/joe-manganiello-8246_benches_i-was-happier-going-back-to-my-roots-tra_266869.jpg" --- # I was happier going back to my roots: training like men do… ![“I was happier going back to my roots: training like men do in my hometown of Pittsburgh. Back home the guys in the gyms don't lift to look good; they're lifting to lift. They do it because they want to squat more and bench more.” quote by Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/joe-manganiello-8246_benches_i-was-happier-going-back-to-my-roots-tra_266869.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/joe-manganiello-8246_benches_i-was-happier-going-back-to-my-roots-tra_266869.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/joe-manganiello-8246_benches_i-was-happier-going-back-to-my-roots-tra_266869.jpg) > “I was happier going back to my roots: training like men do in my hometown of Pittsburgh. Back home the guys in the gyms don't lift to look good; they're lifting to lift. They do it because they want to squat more and bench more.” [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Training for functional strength and performance, not just appearance, leads to deeper satisfaction. **In simple terms:** Strength training for ability, not looks. Key Takeaway Focus on performance goals. Themes strength authenticity community Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational realistic When to use this quote - gym routines - personal fitness plans - team sports training Key Concepts functional training intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - What performance metric drives your training? - How does community influence your workout habits? A Different Perspective May neglect aesthetic goals that some find motivating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benches/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Gym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gym/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Hometown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hometown/) [Lifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifting/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) ## Related quotes > [If you want to squat below your knees, go for it. It's going to work the hamstrings, glutes and lower back more, and tighten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-odudu/if-you-want-to-squat-below-your-knees-go-for-it-it-s-going-to-work/) [A. J. Odudu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-odudu/) > [I really love to run, and then right after, get some good lifting in. Then, of course, follow all that up with some healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-jenner/i-really-love-to-run-and-then-right-after-get-some-good-lifting-in/) [Blake Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-jenner/) > [For young males that weigh between 150-200 lbs., deadlifts can move up 15-20 lbs. per workout, squats 10-15 lbs., with continued steady progress for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rippetoe/for-young-males-that-weigh-between-150-200-lbs-deadlifts-can-move-up/) [Mark Rippetoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rippetoe/) > [You're not challenging anyone else but yourself. I'd like to have a 300-pound bench, 500-pound deadlift, and a 400-pound squat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-tippin/you-re-not-challenging-anyone-else-but-yourself-i-d-like-to-have-a/) [Aaron Tippin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-tippin/) > [You get as big as possible from becoming as strong as possible. When I started lifting I went into the gym with that ‘how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-levrone/you-get-as-big-as-possible-from-becoming-as-strong-as-possible-when-i/) Kevin Levrone > [If you accuse me of being on drugs because I'm very focused on what I do, because I'm very serious, because I'm very hungry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-greene/if-you-accuse-me-of-being-on-drugs-because-i-m-very-focused-on-what-i/) [Kai Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-greene/) > [Dancing is really a way of working out and it can actually be fun. In dancing there might be a certain dance move that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyana/dancing-is-really-a-way-of-working-out-and-it-can-actually-be-fun-in/) [Teyana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyana/) > [Whenever I write lyrics, in the back of my mind I always see a guy driving to work, driving to a really bad job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/whenever-i-write-lyrics-in-the-back-of-my-mind-i-always-see-a-guy/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I find a fence a very uncomfortable place to squat my bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/i-find-a-fence-a-very-uncomfortable-place-to-squat-my-bottom/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [They rode on and the sun in the east flushed pale streaks of light and then a deeper run of color like blood seeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/they-rode-on-and-the-sun-in-the-east-flushed-pale-streaks-of-light/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [My shape reminds me a lot of my grandmother, whom I was really close to. She died when I was 13, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-shape-reminds-me-a-lot-of-my-grandmother-whom-i-was-really-close/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [You're never going to see me drinking some protein shake and doing 20 squat thrusts. I will never follow suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-collins/you-re-never-going-to-see-me-drinking-some-protein-shake-and-doing-20/) [Gemma Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-collins/) > [I just find it funny what people will comment on, I try to not pay that much attention to it, but the crazy part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khloe-kardashian/i-just-find-it-funny-what-people-will-comment-on-i-try-to-not-pay/) [Khloe Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khloe-kardashian/) > [Good thoughts not delivered mean squat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/good-thoughts-not-delivered-mean-squat/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [For girls who want to get their waistline down a little bit and don't have any weights in the house, they can actually use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepa/for-girls-who-want-to-get-their-waistline-down-a-little-bit-and-don-t/) [Pepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepa/) ## More by Joe Manganiello > [Well, if I hadn't have been an actor I would have gone on to play college sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/well-if-i-hadn-t-have-been-an-actor-i-would-have-gone-on-to-play/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I grew up a big comic book reader, as a kid, and I love the whole fanboy crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-grew-up-a-big-comic-book-reader-as-a-kid-and-i-love-the-whole/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [Also, to be honest, my dad wanted me to be an athlete. And I think all sons want to prove something to their dad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/also-to-be-honest-my-dad-wanted-me-to-be-an-athlete-and-i-think-all/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I'm a nerd. But I'm not that hard-core.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-m-a-nerd-but-i-m-not-that-hard-core/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I mean 'One Tree Hill' had some rabid fans - you'd be surprised - they're almost in a class of their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-mean-one-tree-hill-had-some-rabid-fans-you-d-be-surprised-they-re/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [When I was growing up, it was Clint Eastwood, it was Harrison Ford and Steve McQueen - these guys were tough. They were leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/when-i-was-growing-up-it-was-clint-eastwood-it-was-harrison-ford-and/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I play characters who are comfortable naked, but that's something you work up to. I did a play off-Broadway in New York when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-play-characters-who-are-comfortable-naked-but-that-s-something-you/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I wanted to work with somebody who seemed like he came from the same place that I did, which is that total immersion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-wanted-to-work-with-somebody-who-seemed-like-he-came-from-the-same/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I started working in clubs at age 16, so it is all a story about the club life. About picking the sex, drugs, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-started-working-in-clubs-at-age-16-so-it-is-all-a-story-about-the/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I quit because that thing inside of me that was driving me to drink that way was causing me so much pain that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-quit-because-that-thing-inside-of-me-that-was-driving-me-to-drink/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I mean, everyone walks into the gym on day one skinny or fat. Arnold Schwarzenegger walked into the gym skinny at 15 or 16,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-mean-everyone-walks-into-the-gym-on-day-one-skinny-or-fat-arnold/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I used to compete in chess tournaments when I was six years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-used-to-compete-in-chess-tournaments-when-i-was-six-years-old/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [Sex accounts for about 40 percent of your relationship, but if it's bad, then it's 60.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/sex-accounts-for-about-40-percent-of-your-relationship-but-if-it-s/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [Sometimes people say things they don't mean, and you just have to let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/sometimes-people-say-things-they-don-t-mean-and-you-just-have-to-let/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I think you can be athletic and intellectual at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-think-you-can-be-athletic-and-intellectual-at-the-same-time/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) [Explore all 82 Joe Manganiello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) ## More Benches quotes > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [What if it turns out there really are witches and vampires and werewolves living right here alongside us? After all, what better disguise could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/what-if-it-turns-out-there-really-are-witches-and-vampires-and/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [ A nominee \[to Supreme Court\] must possess the competence, character and temperament to serve on the bench. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/a-nominee-to-supreme-court-must-possess-the-competence-character-and/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [Truly, the bench is a boon to idlers. Whoever first came up with the idea is a genius: free public resting places where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/truly-the-bench-is-a-boon-to-idlers-whoever-first-came-up-with-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [I'm not one of those actors who romanticizes his trials working out and brags that he can bench press a panda now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/i-m-not-one-of-those-actors-who-romanticizes-his-trials-working-out/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [ The model for an NHL without fighting is right there in front of us. The \[playoffs are\] the time of year that fans love… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-dryden/the-model-for-an-nhl-without-fighting-is-right-there-in-front-of-us/) [Ken Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-dryden/) > [We're just a fragile team right now. It seems like when we have a little bit of adversity, when something goes wrong, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-walz/we-re-just-a-fragile-team-right-now-it-seems-like-when-we-have-a/) Wes Walz > [There were crimson roses on the bench; they looked like splashes of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/there-were-crimson-roses-on-the-bench-they-looked-like-splashes-of/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Every man in the game, from the minors on up, is not only fighting against the other side, but he's trying to hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-cobb/every-man-in-the-game-from-the-minors-on-up-is-not-only-fighting/) [Ty Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-cobb/) > [I was in a garden at the Rodin Museum. For a few minutes I was alone, sitting on a bench between two long hedges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/i-was-in-a-garden-at-the-rodin-museum-for-a-few-minutes-i-was-alone/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [Israel has incredible entrepreneurial spirit and a deep bench of technology talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/israel-has-incredible-entrepreneurial-spirit-and-a-deep-bench-of/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [At 200 pounds, with a 17-inch neck, a resting pulse of 78, a bench press of 200 pounds, I was very much indeed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-benedict/at-200-pounds-with-a-17-inch-neck-a-resting-pulse-of-78-a-bench-press/) [Dirk Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-benedict/) > [When lifting weights, nothing feels better than achieving a high point on the bench press with no help from your spotter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/when-lifting-weights-nothing-feels-better-than-achieving-a-high-point/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [It's so worth-while being a judge, because, if I make good, I can help prove that a woman's place is as much on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-ellinwood-allen/it-s-so-worth-while-being-a-judge-because-if-i-make-good-i-can-help/) [Florence Ellinwood Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-ellinwood-allen/) [Browse all 305 Benches quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benches/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was happier going back to my roots: training like men do in my hometown of Pittsburgh. 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