That's enough...?

[wideguy]

: I'm training in a new gym today and while I haven't been terribly consistent lately, it's meant more time off which has in turn yeilded some pretty damn intense workouts and some equally appreciable results. Now that I'm done blowing smoke up my own ass I'll continue

I'm on week 2 of the Power/Rep/Shock routine in the back section of ALR's new book Building the Perfect Beast Naturally, which btw works fine even if you're not "Natural" Aaanyway I'm about finished and was doing reverse wrist curls when I noticed a few younger kids clearly watching me and talking back and forth amongst eachother. I would imagine the veins that where jumping out of my skin and running all over my body (shaved head included :bb3: ) might have been what was drawing their attention. Then I kinda reflected on how earling in my workout this other younger guy kinda started tripping over his own feet when he saw me walking my dumbells back to the rack while he was standing over in the heavy end (while shrugging 35 lbs db's). Not sure what the problem was? Then I noticed a man in what I would guess to be his early 40s looking at me with a kinda strange look, I blew it off. Then I saw a guy on a machine right behind him looking to and he saw I caught him and looked away real quick. BTW before anyone starts with the gay stuff I'll clear up that there where very few girls in the gym and while I'm not there to get tang (got in home tang) I do know that they're looking so it' s not worth mentioning:bow28: So now I'm wondering like :wtf: do I have a snot on my face or something?


AAAaanyway, shortly after that a freind of mine walks over and say "Bro you about done or are you going to do a guest posing?" That's when it kinda hit me. While I am by NO MEANS HUGE by all of our standards (6'2 235 7-8% bdyft) I have come a very long way. I was once that little kid that been looking on in disbelief at some big guy incline pressing more then I can squat. I've been that guy just baffled and kinda tied up who stopped his set just because someone was walking by then with 120 lbs dbs in their hands (don't break my balls I'm not bragging). Then I started to think, how much is enough? I remember saying I'd like to gain 20 lbs. I gained it and liked it. What's next? Well another 10. However, I think I've come to a place where I can say I might just try and clean it up from here. I don't compete and while I don't think badly of bb'ing or pl'ing I just don't have the desire to do it.

I guess I'm just kinda wondering do any of you think I'm falling off? Or is it alright to be satisfied with the level of development one achieves in a certain category and then merely seek to maintain it and develop themselves elsewhere?:think:

 

[TheUnlikelyToad]

Take pride in knowing Bobo was once big too, now he'd rather be a cardio whore.

I think we all have to come to terms with this eventually...

 

[BigCasino]

If you are looking for reasons to maintain or increase your drive and motivation for lifting you might want to think about transition from bodybuilding (lifting for asthetics), to powerlifting where you are lifting for strength. If however you are as satisfied with your strength as you are with your physique then you could consider something like MMA, boxing, some type of other physical activity or hobby that has a demand for an in shape body.

 

[rysigpi]

I think many of us here have caught the feeling. Then the figer pointing of using "Roids" comes up...blah blah blah.

I just look at it this way:

I'm just trying to be the best that I can be. If that makes me the biggest, baddest mo-fo in my gym then so be it, if it makes me average...so be it. I just do everything in my power to be the best I can be. That is all!

 

[thesinner]

At the end of the day, it's knowing that you were given another chance to do the things you love, that makes you sleep peacefully that night. If lifting weights is what you love to do, getting "Massively Ripped" (on sedentary standards) is nothing more than a side effect that can be overlooked.

 

[somewhatgifted]

one day i realised i wasnt small anymore and found myself asking the same questions, now id rather be good at life, agile, quick strong. I like my size and will maintain it but i nolonger see the point in struggling away hours of my life in the gym with so much to see and do. The gym will always have a place in my life, but its not the priority it once was.

 

[wideguy]

Thanks guys. I do still love it it's just like we all know, sometimes you catch someone else looking or even don't recognize yourself from a weird angle in the gym mirror and then when you realize "DAMN that big guy is ME?!" it's kinda strange. I have been thinking ALOT about boxing or MMA, think I'll have to look into it this weekend.

 

[Dwight Schrute]

Take pride in knowing Bobo was once big too, now he'd rather be a cardio whore.

I think we all have to come to terms with this eventually...

Yep.


:run:

 

[Dwight Schrute]

I guess I'm just kinda wondering do any of you think I'm falling off? Or is it alright to be satisfied with the level of development one achieves in a certain category and then merely seek to maintain it and develop themselves elsewhere?:think:

This is something that has bothered me for quite some time and finally I came to the realization that for me to take it any further it would be pretty unhealthy. I saw a natural bb'er ond day trying to do a spinning class with some of these "overwieght" people and he lasted all of 5 minutes while those at 30% bf go for 30. I saw my father in the hospital almost dead and the doctor bascially told him that because his heart was strong (he's ran for 20 yrs...) and could withstand the pressure of a pulminary embolism, he's alive when in fact he should be dead.

I had to really think what my priorities are especially when I'm getting to the point of starting a new family. Some guys can pack on the weight and not have problems. Personally, once I hit 230, I'm out of breath, my knees hurt, my ankles hurt and my body is bascially telling me, "your frame isn't built for this". I made the choice that being very big just isn't for me. Does that mean I give up the whole bb'ing thing? Well for me, as a lifestyle yes. I still hit the weight 3 times a week but my main focus is getting the ticker in shape because its been neglected for way to long. I started up and could barely do a half mile without my ankles, knees and lungs exploding. Sad. Maybe when I get back into real shape (cardiovascular) and feel healthy I can pick it up again but right now, the only muscle I am worried about is my heart. I know I can be a bb'er, I know I can take it to the level where my natural limit is...I've proven that and now its times to move on. In that sport I either do it all the way, or I don't do it. Its a flaw in my personality...I've always trouble doing "just enough". Its tough to do because I've built a business off what I know in this sport....I worked so hard to achieve a look and now I have to come to grips that it really isn't that important to me anymore. The knowledge remains, the drive for that goal does not. Maybe someday it will be again but coming to my conclusion has been pretty rough.

My 2 cents....

 

[size]

I fully agree with and understand Bobo's position. One needs to decide if one wants to lift for vanity, for health, or for a combination of the two.
Early on with me, it was for both then I transitioned to vanity, but I realized that obtaing "size" was no way for me or my body to live. This was a decision I came to over 3 years ago as I had gained over 75lbs with single digit body fat since I started. I had once been very active in outdoor adventure and sports but my weight gain restricted my abilites(much of the same problems mentioned by Bobo) so I eventually stopped participating. Finally, I concluded that I needed to live my life and needed to do so in a healthy manner. In order, for me to reach the a healthy and more fulfilling life, I had to change my priorities. I can honestly state that I am much happier today for it.

 

[Ziricote]

Y'know I'm nowhere near my goal of 200lb@~10% but I don't plan on aiming over 220lb etc, I said it a while back and I'm sticking with it- Once I hit my weight and bodyfat goal I'm going to focus on functional strength and maybe the Highland Games for fun.

Along the way I want to rekindle old hobbies like cycling and maybe martial arts, neither seemed a requirement to a goal which I consciously made. They were just activities that I enjoyed which for whatever reason I chose to stop.

 

[thesinner]

There's definitely a difference between a bigger body and a better body.

 

[TheCSWFighter]

Originally I was lifting to get absolutly huge. Many factors werre involved in it. I like to push myself to my limits and then beyond. Bodybuilding is something that I could do this with. I could get stronger, faster, bigger, etc. As time went on I realized once you get to a certain point your quickness and agility begin to decrease yet again.

I thought about it and as big and strong as I wanted to be (intimidation factor) it didn't make much sense compared to the reason I started. You look at some of the greatest athletes in the world such as boxing, mixed martial arts, olympic wrestlers, linebackers and runningbacks. Yes, they are very built but along with size and strangth, they have agility, stamina, quickness, and a handful of other traits that couldn't be obtained if they were wieghted down by an extra 20 lbs to their frame. I want to be athletic now. Just after comparing the benefits of both it is more appealing. I like to be balanced instead of a cycler who's built for stamina and endurance compared to agility, strength, and mass or a bodybuilder/powerlifter who's built for just mass and strength.

 

[somewhatgifted]

I started playing rugby and football last year for the same reasons bobo stated. My heart was out of shape my lungs burned, my knees and ankles were riddled with aches pains and swelling. I noticed that even tho your running and doing a variation of cardio, rugby esp. The fast twitch go, stop, go pattern is actually a great muscle builder and is quite anaerobic sp? (muscle building). I lost a few pounds to begin with but actually ended up weighingmore than i did at the start and felt amazing. I increased speed, endurance, vertical and beer chugging ability.

 

[TheUnlikelyToad]

My 2 cents....

Honestly, this is something I needed to hear. Those words run deep. It has always been all or nothing which I myself have struggled to find balance. It feels liberating in some ways to have someone you know and respect tell you it's ok to change.

...Brian tells me this too, but I think tha more I hear it, tha more I'm starting to finally "get it".

 

[Dwight Schrute]

Honestly, this is something I needed to hear. Those words run deep. It has always been all or nothing which I myself have struggled to find balance. It feels liberating in some ways to have someone you know and respect tell you it's ok to change.

...Brian tells me this too, but I think tha more I hear it, tha more I'm starting to finally "get it".

Brian is a wise man

 

[jmh80]

I've known since fall '05 that I'll never be big. I have enough joint issues/injuries as it is.

My joints couldn't handle being 200+ lbs.

 

[bms0lsc]

Interesting stuff. I take my bb'ing seriously and this lifestyle is important to me (perhaps my balance is a little skewed), but I never really thought there'd be a time I might have to reasess things. But then again, I'm pretty much starting out on the road to my goals, so any decisions like the ones mentioned here a fair way down the road for me.

 

[jmh80]

You'll reach that point that Bobo talked about (and we all do) of just how far do I think I'll go with this sport and what is important to me in the future?

For me - it was similar to what football players sometimes talk about (RD posted about in the NFL forum) when retiring: they'd rather not be able to lead a fairly normal life when they hit 40 to 50 years old. They'd like to actually be able to pick their kids up - or throw a football with them.
I realized pushing lifting when my knee or shoulder hurt when walking up stairs/lifting groceries wasn't worth it for me in the long run.