Former weight lifter? Cool!
I can relate to what you described. I never did weight lifting exactly, but I used to work out regularly at my local gym in my twenties-especially after my girlfriend of 5 yrs. broke up with me. I found lifting weights to be cathartic and sometimes when I was doing something I thought was beyond my limits, I'd use my anger (not at her, actually, just at the situation) to psyche me up. It probably isn't a good technique, but it worked for me. Lou must've used his experience in lifting heavy weights to convey that aspect of the Hulk.
Was the comic book Hulk using a similar weight lifting or "psyched up" technique (albeit a more visceral and rage-based version)? Is his strength truly increased or does he just tap into his latent potential?