--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lifting weights has trained me to…" description: "\"“Lifting weights has trained me to understand my body not just as a consensus of cells, but as a critical mass—a medium where meaning is made. It's als..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/michael-andor-brodeur-262488_feelings_lifting-weights-has-trained-me-to-unders_2405521.jpg" --- # Lifting weights has trained me to understand my body not… ![“Lifting weights has trained me to understand my body not just as a consensus of cells, but as a critical mass—a medium where meaning is made. It's also helped me come to understand my own unsteady relationship with masculinity, not because I'm some big strongman in foxy Lycra pants who hogs the…” quote by Michael Andor Brodeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/michael-andor-brodeur-262488_feelings_lifting-weights-has-trained-me-to-unders_2405521.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/michael-andor-brodeur-262488_feelings_lifting-weights-has-trained-me-to-unders_2405521.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/michael-andor-brodeur-262488_feelings_lifting-weights-has-trained-me-to-unders_2405521.jpg) > ““Lifting weights has trained me to understand my body not just as a consensus of cells, but as a critical mass—a medium where meaning is made. It's also helped me come to understand my own unsteady relationship with masculinity, not because I'm some big strongman in foxy Lycra pants who hogs the squat rack (though probably all of that too) but because it's breaking down my existing ideas of what manhood means and forcing me to rebuild them in my own image. Generations of American men have historically been instructed, through suggestion, inference, risk, reward, and punishment, not to express themselves, especially when that means sharing our feelings.”” [Michael Andor Brodeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-andor-brodeur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Weight training reveals how our bodies embody meaning and reshapes masculine identity, prompting self‑expression and redefining manhood. **In simple terms:** Lifting changes how we see our bodies and masculinity. Key Takeaway Use training to explore and redefine personal identity. Themes identity masculinity self‑expression growth body awareness Mood reflective empowering Type analysis personal narrative When to use this quote - personal development - mental health - community dialogue Key Concepts psychology gender studies physical culture social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How does physical training affect your sense of self? - What stereotypes challenge your view of masculinity? A Different Perspective Redefining manhood can clash with societal expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Lifting weights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifting-weights/) [Manhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manhood/) [Manhood Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manhood-means-6037769/) [Masculinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masculinity/) [Masculinity Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masculinity-big-1893944/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Muscle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muscle/) [Muscle-building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muscle-building-127126/) [Reinvention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reinvention/) [Relationship Masculinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-masculinity-1513724/) [Risk Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-reward/) [Self expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-expression/) ## Related quotes > [“Fitness training not only strengthens you, but also promotes a wholesome quality of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/fitness-training-not-only-strengthens-you-but-also-promotes-a/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [My uncles, who are farmers in Minooka, Illinois - I grew up with them and their pickup trucks and mustaches, and to me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/my-uncles-who-are-farmers-in-minooka-illinois-i-grew-up-with-them-and/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [The U.K.'s got the most advanced relationship with masculinity, femininity and sexuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-act/the-u-k-s-got-the-most-advanced-relationship-with-masculinity/) [Courtney Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-act/) > [It's a sport about risk and reward. 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No risk, no reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gokongwei/everything-involves-a-risk-no-risk-no-reward/) [John Gokongwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gokongwei/) > [“Asymmetrical risks and rewards: “Every single one of them is obsessed with asymmetrical risk and reward. . . . It simply means they’re looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/asymmetrical-risks-and-rewards-every-single-one-of-them-is-obsessed/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“Miserable or not, it’s easier to stick with what’s familiar. Do you notice that, too? How all of us just want to get through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/miserable-or-not-it-s-easier-to-stick-with-what-s-familiar-do-you/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“My mom is all about risk vs. reward. 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Risk and reward are conjoined twins—and that’s why my favorite piece of advice needs translation but no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-south/adventure-comes-with-no-guarantees-or-promises-risk-and-reward-are/) [Mary South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-south/) > [No risk no reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhlanhla-mgcina/no-risk-no-reward/) [Nhlanhla Mgcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhlanhla-mgcina/) > [The reality is that I need to be challenged and interested, as long as the risk and reward is in line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-zell/the-reality-is-that-i-need-to-be-challenged-and-interested-as-long-as/) [Sam Zell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-zell/) > [My whole business philosophy is based on a risk-reward ratio. But it's got to stack up. If it doesn't, don't do it. You might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/my-whole-business-philosophy-is-based-on-a-risk-reward-ratio-but-it-s/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [“When it is Bitcoin; bad or good news doesn't matter too much. Be the long-term HODLER. That is all that really matters in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olawale-daniel/when-it-is-bitcoin-bad-or-good-news-doesn-t-matter-too-much-be-the/) [Olawale Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olawale-daniel/) ## More Feelings quotes > [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If someone really loves you, no matter how many other people they meet, their feelings for you wouldn't change. A real lover cant be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-really-loves-you-no-matter-how-many-other-people-they-meet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. 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It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 21,172 Feelings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Lifting weights has trained me to understand my body not just as a consensus of cells, but as a critical mass—a medium where meaning is made. It's also helped me come to understand my own unsteady relationship with masculinity, not because I'm some big strongman in foxy Lycra pants who hogs the squat rack (though probably all of that too) but because it's breaking down my existing ideas of what manhood means and forcing me to rebuild them in my own image. 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