Thinking about quitting to be honest with all of you. I don't plan on competing.

[LovingtoLift]

So Ive had some good results over the last year. But I just was thinking today, why the **** am I counting every single macro like I'm doing this for a living? Why do I do this? Why the sleepless nights if I go out and eat a ****ing pizza or whatever? Just last weekend I went on vacation. I woke up with sweats of anxiety at 2 am cause my fiancé and I went out and had a few cocktails and some candy earlier in the day. Why am I beating myself up so much over something I am supposed to enjoy? I don't have plans on competing, ever. My goal is simple. To have the best physique I can possibly have and enjoy the sport for what it is. To keep myself in the best shape that is possible, for me. I can't be anyone else, other than ME MYSELF AND I.

So what are your thoughts on this matter? What advice would you give me?

 

[puccah8808]

We've all been there and have all been fcuked over by it. You have to let all the bs go and just enjoy the journey...

 

[Gutterpump]

Do whatever pleases you. Sometimes I go through phases where I count macros, other times I'm more laid back and just watch the scale. And other times I just eat every damn thing in sight.

No need to get anxious over things. I think that happens to most people who are relatively knew to training though. Don't sweat it. Eat healthy, get lots of protein and train away.

 

[LovingtoLift]

I just feel like Ive become way too obsessed with this and its becoming unhealthy from a psychological standpoint.

I mean when you can't even go out once in a while and have a few cocktails or visit a candy store on VACATION, and sample some sweets with your fiancé without feeling guilty, I think something needs to change big time or I will crash and burn eventually and the outcome will not be a good one. Im not even competing and Im sure there are some guys out there that do who enjoy having candy once in a while.

 

[Gutterpump]

Yup I've been there. Get rid of your guilt and try to be more laid back about it. A few outings here n there won't harm you, and in fact will be beneficial to sanity as well as for your metabolism. Just don't make it a daily habit, and remember, the journey should be fun!

 

[puccah8808]

I just feel like Ive become way too obsessed with this and its becoming unhealthy from a psychological standpoint.

I mean when you can't even go out once in a while and have a few cocktails or visit a candy store on VACATION, and sample some sweets with your fiancé without feeling guilty, I think something needs to change big time or I will crash and burn eventually and the outcome will not be a good one. Im not even competing and Im sure there are some guys out there that do who enjoy having candy once in a while.

You are finally understanding what I've been trying to tell you. Trust me, we all understand. The guilt and obsessiveness is what I got burnt out from. Chasing that damn perfection can really fcuk a person up.

 

[LovingtoLift]

I agree. Its ****ing up my mind and I don't like it!

 

[puccah8808]

I agree. Its ****ing up my mind and I don't like it!

Get your mind right and make it match your outside. You can't enjoy life and all that you've accomplished if your mind keeps beating you down. Tell it to stfu...

 

[LovingtoLift]

Get your mind right and make it match your outside. You can't enjoy life and all that you've accomplished if your mind keeps beating you down. Tell it to stfu...

That was very nice of you to say. Thank you for the kind words and I hope you are having a wonderful day also. Thank you for the good advice Puccah

I would call you by your real name but I don't know what it is.

 

[puccah8808]

That was very nice of you to say. Thank you for the kind words and I hope you are having a wonderful day also. Thank you for the good advice Puccah

I would call you by your real name but I don't know what it is.

Lol, it's ok, it's a secret!

I apologize if I came off rude in your other threads. I was just trying to make you understand that WE all understand what you're going through.

Besides all the foolishness sometimes, AM is probably the most supportive forum you'll ever find. We are all one big family!!!

I'm having a beautiful day, thank you. I hope you are, too! It's hot as heck in California! Hawaii can't come quick enough.

 

[SXIPro]

Don't sweat the extra calories or goodies unless you are within weeks of competing. It's obvious you are dedicated to your endeavor, and that alone will keep you in check. Go read a couple of the food porn or cheat meal threads on here. Read some of the garbage, and the amount of that garbage these guys (including myself) are eating. Everything in moderation....and that doesn't mean just food, it also means training.

I love to work out. I've been doing it for 40, yes 40 yrs. But I still enjoy my margaritas, my wonderful Octoberfest beers, my wife's amazing Italian dinners she cooks, and God how I love a mountain of ice cream on top of a gigantic warm brownie with Kahlua, caramel, whipped cream and hot fudge. Do I indulge every day? Hell no, which makes me enjoy these delights even more when I do. Life is too short to give up anything you enjoy.

 

[kisaj]

Wow, that was a quick couple of weeks. I called it 6 months before your obsession overcame you and you quit. So how do you feel now about all the people you were trashing just recently and how weak they were?

 

[JeremyNG25]

I agree. Its ****ing up my mind and I don't like it!

Some people put the gym before their girlfriends, wives, friends, families... Don't let yourself turn into THAT person. Everything including the gym needs to be a balanced part of everyday life. You can't let one thing consume you...and if it is...you need to re evaluate what you're doing with your life.

 

[puccah8808]

Some people put the gym before their girlfriends, wives, friends, families... Don't let yourself turn into THAT person. Everything including the gym needs to be a balanced part of everyday life. You can't let one thing consume you...and if it is...you need to re evaluate what you're doing with your life.

Completely agree. I use to think that as long as I had the gym, everything else could fall apart and I wouldn't care. Well, everything fell apart and I stood there like wtf do I do now?!!

 

[McCrew530]

It's called being focused. If you are focused on attaining a certain goal , you subconsciously tell your self you are going to do something, your mind will tell you when your hindering your progress. It's not that you can't do it it's that you have built a mental defense against drinking or eating junk.

 

[Balthazar]

if you're not competing i wouldn't beat yourself up about it so hard. having the best physique possible and being in the best shape aren't necessarily equivocal with each other. as long as you are close to your desired bf% and level of definition, being a point or two off or a couple pounds heavier with fat will give you more all around strength and energy.

 

[Aleksandar37]

I've never competing and never plan on it, but competitions are not the only reason for training. There's no reason to quit when you can find a nice middle ground. Moderation goes a long way!

 

[B5150]

My goal is simple. To have the best physique I can possibly have and enjoy the sport for what it is. To keep myself in the best shape that is possible, for me. I can't be anyone else, other than ME MYSELF AND I.

So what are your thoughts on this matter? What advice would you give me?

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

I have done this for 14 years and once got to where I considered I was 8-10 weeks out. I wasted far too much valuable time in my life obsessing over my physique and everything that comes with it including logging on this forum. If I look at the amount of hours of dedication, discipline and commitment (obsession) over the years that I invested in this hobby and posting on this forum, had I directed it toward something of greater substance and return, I could be wealthy and retired by now. Given the opportunity to live over again I would spend my time on things much more fruitful both for me and my family.

Find the balance in your life so you don't miss it. It happens far faster than you think.

 

[UCSMiami]

So Ive had some good results over the last year. But I just was thinking today, why the **** am I counting every single macro like I'm doing this for a living? Why do I do this? Why the sleepless nights if I go out and eat a ****ing pizza or whatever? Just last weekend I went on vacation. I woke up with sweats of anxiety at 2 am cause my fiancé and I went out and had a few cocktails and some candy earlier in the day. Why am I beating myself up so much over something I am supposed to enjoy? I don't have plans on competing, ever. My goal is simple. To have the best physique I can possibly have and enjoy the sport for what it is. To keep myself in the best shape that is possible, for me. I can't be anyone else, other than ME MYSELF AND I.

So what are your thoughts on this matter? What advice would you give me?

You know what you have to do get where you want to be. If you are still on the high BF% side then you can track and get to where you want to be sooner or not track and get there later.

That is it. There is no right or wrong answer. It is up to you.

BTW, I do not do cocktails but do pizza and pie/cake now and then. No biggie. After a bit,[think 2-3 years] once you get that BF% down and are truly conditioned you will find that your weight will stabilize and intuitively you know what to eat that you should not eat and when. You know when you had a sufficiently hard workout to warrant extra calories- fun ones or functional ones. Also, when you are truly fit you really do not like the type of food which adds fat and/or do not like in excess so it is more of an occasional item than a regular one. End result is no habit forming and no caloric surplus to worry about.

 

[SXIPro]

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

I have done this for 14 years and once got to where I considered I was 8-10 weeks out. I wasted far too much valuable time in my life obsessing over my physique and everything that comes with it including logging on this forum. If I look at the amount of hours of dedication, discipline and commitment (obsession) over the years that I invested in this hobby and posting on this forum, had I directed it toward something of greater substance and return, I could be wealthy and retired by now. Given the opportunity to live over again I would spend my time on things much more fruitful both for me and my family.

Find the balance in your life so you don't miss it. It happens far faster than you think.

Probably the best post and best advice I have ever read on this forum. Well said.

 

[Shaner091]

Been there and completely understand dude. Actually running a cycle at the minute and couple weeks ago went through the same mental fatigue and breakdown. Completely packed in everything for 3 days. Didn't train. Ate everything. Felt like Sh1t!!! Wasn't even satisfied with what I had ate and felt guilty and p1ssed off after.
Wrote a post in my log expressing my feelings regarding this type of thing and I think it gets overlooked far too easy. Too easy for long time dedicated lifters to simply tell you to suck it up and we all had to do it. Not enough people talk about the psychological backlash it can have.
Next to zero social life.
No take aways.
Wat h every single that goes into your body.
Meticulously counting calories and freaking out if they're not exact.
And I've even had the sleepless nights filled with guilt and shame for eating a pizza 2 weekends in a row.
My advice would be take a step back and think about why your doing this. As you stated your never going to compete so why be so hard on yourself??
Drop your training frequency and let yourself eat at maintainance or even a little above for a while. By the sound of things you've earned it and need it. I know I did!!
You want to be in the best possible shape you can and ENJOY life?? If that's the goal then you need to let yourself start enjoying life and not be so down when things go wrong. Sh1t happens dude it's all part of it. This time last year I was in the best shape of my life. But I was lifting 6 times a week and miserable as balls!!!! No way to live just to look good.
What's the point of having the body of a god if you can't live like one?? Or even have a pizza once a week .
Don't give up on the lifestyle,, maybe just take some time to really figure out how to best make lifting a part of YOUR lifestyle and work for you and instead of the other way round

 

[puccah8808]

Been there and completely understand dude. Actually running a cycle at the minute and couple weeks ago went through the same mental fatigue and breakdown. Completely packed in everything for 3 days. Didn't train. Ate everything. Felt like Sh1t!!! Wasn't even satisfied with what I had ate and felt guilty and p1ssed off after.
Wrote a post in my log expressing my feelings regarding this type of thing and I think it gets overlooked far too easy. Too easy for long time dedicated lifters to simply tell you to suck it up and we all had to do it. Not enough people talk about the psychological backlash it can have.
Next to zero social life.
No take aways.
Wat h every single that goes into your body.
Meticulously counting calories and freaking out if they're not exact.
And I've even had the sleepless nights filled with guilt and shame for eating a pizza 2 weekends in a row.
My advice would be take a step back and think about why your doing this. As you stated your never going to compete so why be so hard on yourself??
Drop your training frequency and let yourself eat at maintainance or even a little above for a while. By the sound of things you've earned it and need it. I know I did!!
You want to be in the best possible shape you can and ENJOY life?? If that's the goal then you need to let yourself start enjoying life and not be so down when things go wrong. Sh1t happens dude it's all part of it. This time last year I was in the best shape of my life. But I was lifting 6 times a week and miserable as balls!!!! No way to live just to look good.
What's the point of having the body of a god if you can't live like one?? Or even have a pizza once a week .
Don't give up on the lifestyle,, maybe just take some time to really figure out how to best make lifting a part of YOUR lifestyle and work for you and instead of the other way round

???????

 

[Shaner091]

???????

Stupid phone won't let me see what you posted just says

over and over

 

[puccah8808]

Stupid phone won't let me see what you posted just says

over and over

View attachment 125603

Haha, I'm in love with my new emojis! ?️

 

[Shaner091]

Ha can see them now ? thanks ?