Do the countless hours spent in the gym working out, the after hours devoted to reading and
editing workout schedules, the ever exhausting sacrifice of dieting, and the self consuming internal
battle for the perfect god-like body entitle us to certain rights? Why is it that I?m considered
conceited to wear a muscle shirt or an egotistical tool of the media when I?m caught flexing in the
reflection of a store window? Am I supposed conceal my achievements and hide them from those
who will never accomplish the same feat due to the complete lack of will power and discipline.
The general population seems to revolt against the physical successes of hard working
bodybuilders claiming they are sauced-up genetic freaks with no other capabilities or
responsibilities. I believe we have earned the right to show our body how and when we chose
despite any resentment shown towards us from the ?never will be?s? and the ?wish they could
be?s?
-Matt Hutchison
Um…you really flex in store windows? Kinda gay don’t you think?
You have never looked at your reflection in a mirror or anything and flexed to see how your definition is developing? WHy are there so many mirrors in gyms?
Go ahead, wear your muscle shirt, just remember who the other majority of muscle shirt wearers are. Skinny gang bangers, wanna be hip hoppers, and white trash, but if you can pull it off with class and style by all means go for it. I haven’t had any problems with anyone criticising my muscles or my obsession with improving my physique but I don’t exhibit exhibitionist type behavior. I wouldn’t be caught dead checking out my reflexion of myself flexing in a store window or any other window. Sure I occasionally flex in front of a mirror at home to check for changes/imbalances/developement but if you love your own reflection too much people will criticise you. It has nothing to do with the fact that you are working toward physical self improvement.
Even Jeff Everson, in his “Planet Muscle” mag, said bodybuilders are sending the conceited message, when wearing a muscle shirt even when it’s 50 degrees out. But I have short-sleeve shirts that cover some of or all my biceps, I save them for winter, when I have a t-shirt underneath my long-sleeve shirt. I worked at an all women’s college for 7 years (damn, why’d I leave?) and every year Japanese students would come over for the summer to aclimate themselves to our country before going to different colleges, or staying at our’s; and they saw me working out in the gym, and when seeing me on my rounds, would actually ask me to show them my muscles, so of course, the left bicep was shown, as that is always far ahead of my right. Of course, that sent a blast of test to ALL my muscles!! Sometimes I check my arm because of an insect bite, or what not, and I put my arm in a triceps pose, it shows my muscle development, yet I’m really checking out some mutant insect bite on my arm! When done when asked, or when seeing if you cut yourself or insect bites, or anything like that, is perfectly ok. The reason they get annoyed when you do it on your own, is, their jealous that you CAN show muscle development!
Sorry Pal, but there is a whole lot out there that people don’t share with others. You don’t see MD’s with badgers on that have worked a whole hell of a lot harder than you did in school then u did in the gym. Or policemen who have spent their hard time protecting you. If u are into lifting fine, be proud of what you’ve accomplished but very few people give a damn in the scheme of things.
Actually do something that matters to more people than yourself then maybe you may want to wear a badge. Get a life
Dude, I’ve been doing this for so long, that it’s such a ingrained part of my life. When people notice I’ve got “mus-kels” it surprises me. It’s a lifestyle, it ain’t no biggey.
As for the "general population revolting against the physical successess of the hardworking bodybuilder"? Uh, I seriously think it's due to A)Lack of understanding B)THIS type of attitude (yeah, it's a "right" to be ego-centric, just cuz you choose to work out), C)Fear of change.
I really don't care what others think - what matters to me is that I'm healthy. If "mus-kels" are a nice side effect, than fine - so be it.
I agree fully with the sentiment expressed by optionyout.As a5’9" 215 pd. low fat bodybuilder, I appreciate a well developed physique as the next guy… but always wear ‘regular’ fitting clothes (in and out of the gym) that allude to my body in a natural way.
There’s nothing like a huge guy walking down the street looking like he grabbed his little brothers shirt to reinforce all the narcissism associated with bodybuilders. It also suggests a pathological condition characterized by an inordinate need for attention and external validation of self worth.(By the way,women really laugh at that image amongst themselves.)
I wear tank tops any time that I am not in school, for one reason, because it is hot as living hell. It is a little hard to hide a large physique no matter what clothes you wear so I don’t see why anyone would make a big deal out of clothing. If you care what other people think that much, maybe you should have never picked up a weight. If you are walking down the street and happen to pass a mirror, you look pretty damn shallow and cartoonish if you strike a pose in each one. I think most people consider that conceited whether you lift weights or not. As far as people staring, I get that whenever I wear anything that shows my arms. What did you think would happen if you have arms bigger than the majority of the population? It doesn’t make you better than other people simply because you are more developed and if they stare, it isn’t because you have attained some God-like status. It is simply because you are more developed than them and that has always struck a chord of fascination.
On a side note, I don’t see why anyone would attempt to “hide” their muscle mass in an effort to not seem conceited. I worked hard to build myself up so if anyone is judging someone else as conceited simply because they are wearing a Nike tank top, they have their own issues. Be yourself and quit worrying about what others think. I have tattoos on each shoulder, why should I hide myself in a long sleeve shirt because of someone else’s standards? When I am in a professional setting, I dress as such, however, a trip to the grocery store isn?t a professional setting and anyone dumb enough to believe that you are a gang member simply because of a sleeveless shirt, has an opinion that means nothing in the first place. I do agree that walking around in those damned tight ass club shirts is overboard, but I think that people need to mind their own business when it comes to judging others. Many people are well educated regardless of dress and my clothing didn?t go to school, I did.
It’s kind of like those girls with breast implants who wear low cut, skin tight teeshirts and low cut short-shorts. Men appreciate that look, but most women will have something negative to say (especially if it’s your girlfriend who caught you eyeballing them.) It’s kind of expected for women to be “obsessed” with their appearance i.e. hair, make-up, tanning beds. But when a guy shows the same characteristics, everyone assumes he’s shallow and self-absorbed. If you’re proud of your accomplishments, that’s great. Just be aware that most people think of the entire idea of being fit to be narcissistic and shallow. Just ignore them, and remember: most men are vain, they will check themselves out in a mirror. Women are just plain crazy, they will check their appearance in anything that gives a reflection.
I also tend to check myself out a lot…but not in public places just because it seems a whole lot more conceited when it’s out in the open! I usually don’t flaunt my physique, but wear clothes that are fitted well to my frame. I’m also not a huge individual, and enjoy the surprise that others show when I take off my shirt or flex for them. It’s sort of like a “clark kent”-superman thing…with my glasses and normal clothes on, I simply look like a guy who’s in good shape, but when the clothes come off - look out!!
Only looking good without being able to do anything is nothing to be proud of & sure isn’t a “physical success”. If you CAN do something & looking good is a byproduct or side-effect, then fine, but looking good on it’s own is an absolute waste of time. I bet you bodybuilder types wouldn’t mind driving around in a kit car that looks like a Ferrarri or somehing on the outside & is a Volkswagen or Pinto (etc) on the inside. I bet you’d think all the girls would drop their panties right away because you’ve got such a cool car because that’s all you guys care about, impressing a bunch of girls . What’s wrong with a little modesty anyway? + if you’re big enough, you don’t have to wear your tanktops to look like you “pump up” as it will be obvious from all the big lumps showing through your clothes. (btw gyms have mirrors to distract everybody because everyone can feel what good form feels like & so everyone can check each other out without making it obvious, they don’t really need them)
Maybe you ought to take up a career as a Kinesiology and/or Biomechanics professor. They’re always demonstrating flexion, extension, adduction, etc. in front on lots of people. Then, you could put your habit to good use (educating others) while subconsciously continuing with your bizarre rituals.
Say wrote:“(btw gyms have mirrors to distract everybody because everyone can feel what good form feels like & so everyone can check each other out without making it obvious, they don’t really need them)”
Believe it or not but many of us “bodybuilder types” use those mirrors to watch our form during an exercise, not to simply stare at other people. Do you even lift weights? I don’t think I have ever been distracted just because there was a mirror in the gym.
Here in the United States of America we have a long list of men and women who have died and will die for anyone’s right to do all these things you have just stated. However you are clearly suffering from short sighted vanity. Of course everyone who is into being healthy and fit is vain, but such short sighted vainity is for the very same idiots you claim to be resenting you. Consider this…If they all had the drive you had you would be normal. You also should know that there is a certain manner with which you ought to be carrying that muscle around…That is with perfect posture and wearing something unassuming, be sure in your direction and be overwhelmingly courteous to fat disgusting people, think of them the same as Retarded people, everyone cringes when they hear someone diss on a mentally disabled person. Possing in the mirror and wearing muscle shirts is only going to fool the people even dumber that the idiots you say resent you. More importantly, if I were to see you in a muscle tank trying to look all hard and then I saw you double take yourself in a mirror, I would smell that blood from a mile away and you would soon be my lunch. You won’t see me checkin’ you out but I will be and you for damn sure won’t catch me possing down outside of the mirror in my garage. I do not like to make a habit of wearing my strengths and weaknesses on my sleave like some kind of high school letterman. Come to think of it my high school team never wore our jackets because they gave the same jackets to the band. I am just saying, yeah those people who talk shit on a fit person are kooks, no doubt, but don’t concern yourself with such trivial matters.
“Do the countless hours spent in the gym working out…entitle us to certain rights?”
I’d have to say the answer to that basic question is an emphatic “NO.” You are not necessarily a better person, or more valuable, or whatever, because you work out. That doesn’t entitle you to any rights above any one else. You do have the right to act how you please, but what you describe is indeed inviting derision.
should women with big BOOBIES have more rights than women with no tits ? even if they bought them ??? (girls buying tits/lipo. isn’t much different than guys doing steriods, just a quick fix to gaining something they could not acheive otherwise.) “earned the right”, dude wasn’t the right words, and i don’t think you meant it in the way you wrote it. All Americans have the right to work out and the right to get fat, and the right to look a certain way, and sadly, all fat people have the right to wear spandex and flaunt what they have… now that sucks !
You know what? If women can flaunt their implants, wear makeup and heels, and generally dress to make men want them, then you have every god damned right to dress how you want.
You want to wear your little brother's t-shirt? Go right ahead. A tight muscle shirt? Why not. Leather pants? Go for it.
You're damned right the general public is jealous of those in excellent shape. Everyone wants to look good, maybe not like a body builder, but certainly not like a fat slob.
There's nothing wrong with vanity. Your body is the one thing you were born with and will die with. Be proud of it, show it off, and generally tell the rest of the world to fuck off.
YEAH!! Tell 'em to fuck off and then shoot 'em a couple of most musculars while you’re at it. Hell ride by their house and flex in their windows too. I generally like to go to the mall in a pair of bodybuilder trunks and do my shopping. If the other patrons don’t like it they can fuck off too. They’re just jealous that they don’t look as good in posing trunks.
Damn Right women with big boobies should have more rights than others. Drop the hippy crap. Lets face it, everyone is NOT equal. Some people are smarter, some are better looking, some have diseases, some don’t. If someone who knew the cure for cancer and someone who was a psycho killer were going to die and we only had one bag of medicine, are you trying to tell me that the freak should have equal rights? Hell no. Sorry, but thats the truth. People who are smarter deserve better jobs and higher pay that idiots. People who are better looking deserve to be models or atleast deserve to flaunt their stuff. Chicks with big boobs deserve the waitress and stripper jobs. They deserve the limelight of the media. Thats just how things are. We have to get over our stupid idea that people are equal and start living realisticly. Thats not to say that you should go out and treat less fortunate people badly. Everyone is ultamitely good at something, just realise that fat chicks don’t get the same response that Pam anderson gets when in a bakini. Thats the way it is, and thats the way i think it should always be.