Are You a Bodybuilder?

Training Bodybuilding
81

[quote]rainjack wrote:

To me, BBing and golfing are similar (how many times in your life will you see those two endeavors compared?).

I don’t have to enter a tournament to be considered a golfer. All I need is a set of clubs a basic knowledge of the game, and enough money for green fees.

BBing is not much different. You can be a BBer without competing. I don’t know why one needs a cheap plastic trophy to validate the idea that he has made a choice to pursue hypertrophy.
[/quote]

That’s true. The golf analogy works. And X, I hear you. Putting the cart before the horse I guess.

82

[quote]rainjack wrote:
FightinIrish26 wrote:
Tough call.

I’m most certainly not a bodybuilder. At 175 lbs. and 5’7, you can tell I lift, but no one trembles while looking at me.

Unless I’m being a hypocrite, I’d have to say that you’re not a bodybuilder until you compete.

It’s just like someone who boxes calling themselves a fighter without stepping into the ring. Well, no, I wouldn’t call you a fighter unless you’ve got a few fights under your belt.

You ain’t a pilot if you never fly a plane, and you ain’t an accountant just because you’re good at math.

Some things you just have to compete in.

But what the fuck do I know. As far as I’m concerned it’s up in the air with this one.

I guess it is because of the line of work I have chosen, but I used to get the “so are you a golfer”? question quite often. Thankfully, that has now been replaced with, “so do you lift weights, or something?”

To me, BBing and golfing are similar (how many times in your life will you see those two endeavors compared?).

I don’t have to enter a tournament to be considered a golfer. All I need is a set of clubs a basic knowledge of the game, and enough money for green fees.

BBing is not much different. You can be a BBer without competing. I don’t know why one needs a cheap plastic trophy to validate the idea that he has made a choice to pursue hypertrophy.

But -

I would never call myself a BBer in public. Not yet. [/quote]

You make a good point Rain. But, bodybuilding (as I’m sure you know) is not just about hypertrophy. Just like golfing is not just about swinging the club. I enjoy golf occasionally. But I have not dedicated my life to it, so I would never call myself a golfer. Just like someone who lifts weights everyday shouldn’t call themselves a bodybuilder. Or someone who enjoys cooking shouldn’t call themselves a chef.

Until you’ve been in the kitchen in a restaurant, under the stress a real chef indures, you are not a chef. It takes more, a lot more. Everyday revolves around my diet and training. My whole schedule is based on getting my meals and workouts in at the appropriate times. Everything I eat is measured and weighed and has a function as to why it is being consumed. Everything else comes second. I’ve cancelled or rescheduled appointments simply because they interfere with training and/or eating.

When trying to gain weight, I’ve eaten until the point of almost vomiting… At every meal, seven times a day! Before a show, I’ve gone 36 hours without so much as a sip of water to help dry out. I guess what I’m trying to say is, maybe you don’t actually have to step on stage to be a bodybuilder, but you do have to make the sacrifices necessary to even be considered one.

-M

83

[quote]mbaina wrote:
rainjack wrote:
FightinIrish26 wrote:
Tough call.

I’m most certainly not a bodybuilder. At 175 lbs. and 5’7, you can tell I lift, but no one trembles while looking at me.

Unless I’m being a hypocrite, I’d have to say that you’re not a bodybuilder until you compete.

It’s just like someone who boxes calling themselves a fighter without stepping into the ring. Well, no, I wouldn’t call you a fighter unless you’ve got a few fights under your belt.

You ain’t a pilot if you never fly a plane, and you ain’t an accountant just because you’re good at math.

Some things you just have to compete in.

But what the fuck do I know. As far as I’m concerned it’s up in the air with this one.

I guess it is because of the line of work I have chosen, but I used to get the “so are you a golfer”? question quite often. Thankfully, that has now been replaced with, “so do you lift weights, or something?”

To me, BBing and golfing are similar (how many times in your life will you see those two endeavors compared?).

I don’t have to enter a tournament to be considered a golfer. All I need is a set of clubs a basic knowledge of the game, and enough money for green fees.

BBing is not much different. You can be a BBer without competing. I don’t know why one needs a cheap plastic trophy to validate the idea that he has made a choice to pursue hypertrophy.

But -

I would never call myself a BBer in public. Not yet.

You make a good point Rain. But, bodybuilding (as I’m sure you know) is not just about hypertrophy. Just like golfing is not just about swinging the club. I enjoy golf occasionally. But I have not dedicated my life to it, so I would never call myself a golfer. Just like someone who lifts weights everyday shouldn’t call themselves a bodybuilder. Or someone who enjoys cooking shouldn’t call themselves a chef. Until you’ve been in the kitchen in a restaurant, under the stress a real chef indures, you are not a chef. It takes more, a lot more. Everyday revolves around my diet and training. My whole schedule is based on getting my meals and workouts in at the appropriate times. Everything I eat is measured and weighed and has a function as to why it is being consumed. Everything else comes second. I’ve cancelled or rescheduled appointments simply because they interfere with training and/or eating. When trying to gain weight, I’ve eaten until the point of almost vomiting… At every meal, seven times a day! Before a show, I’ve gone 36 hours without so much as a sip of water to help dry out. I guess what I’m trying to say is, maybe you don’t actually have to step on stage to be a bodybuilder, but you do have to make the sacrifices necessary to even be considered one.

-M[/quote]

I haven’t competed and we aren’t much different. I currently have meals cooked, vacuum sealed and frozen for the next WEEK. I am currently dropping weight and there hasn’t been a cheat meal in the past 2 weeks. I have also spent several meals shoving food down past the point of satiety all in pursuit of a goal. I RARELY drink alcohol (as in, not for the past year and usually only with frat brothers during the Holidays). I agree, the sacrifices made are what sets you apart…but at the base of it is PROGRESS, not stage presence.

84

[quote]mbaina wrote:

You make a good point Rain. But, bodybuilding (as I’m sure you know) is not just about hypertrophy. Just like golfing is not just about swinging the club. I enjoy golf occasionally. But I have not dedicated my life to it, so I would never call myself a golfer. Just like someone who lifts weights everyday shouldn’t call themselves a bodybuilder. Or someone who enjoys cooking shouldn’t call themselves a chef.
-M[/quote]

I think we are getting caught up in semantics.

Do I consider myself a bodybuilder? Yes. It is what I aspire to be. In order to be one, you have to emulate what they do. It is a state of mind more than a title.

Do I call myself one? No. I doubt anyone will ever hear me utter the phrase “I am a bodybuilder”.

I spent the better part of my late teens and most all of my 20’s horseback taking care of cattle. I never wore the hat, and I never called myself a “cowboy”. Why? Because I think that is an honor that other cowboys give you - not a title you bestow on yourself.

Same thing with BBing.

85

I dont consider myself a bodybuilder; im just a person who wants to be in shape.

I lift almost every day and love to workout. I got into workingout as i wanted to get into shape.

My body changed since i started lifting and to be honest i did not even know it was changing as it happens slowly over a period of time.

People who have not seen me for a few years; say do you lift because your huge; but i dont consider myself as looking huge by bodybuilding standards nor am i really trying to become a bodybuilder; i am just somebody trying to stay in shape by getting stronger…

86

[quote]rainjack wrote:
mbaina wrote:

You make a good point Rain. But, bodybuilding (as I’m sure you know) is not just about hypertrophy. Just like golfing is not just about swinging the club. I enjoy golf occasionally. But I have not dedicated my life to it, so I would never call myself a golfer. Just like someone who lifts weights everyday shouldn’t call themselves a bodybuilder. Or someone who enjoys cooking shouldn’t call themselves a chef.
-M

I think we are getting caught up in semantics.

Do I consider myself a bodybuilder? Yes. It is what I aspire to be. In order to be one, you have to emulate what they do. It is a state of mind more than a title.

Do I call myself one? No. I doubt anyone will ever hear me utter the phrase “I am a bodybuilder”.

I spent the better part of my late teens and most all of my 20’s horseback taking care of cattle. I never wore the hat, and I never called myself a “cowboy”. Why? Because I think that is an honor that other cowboys give you - not a title you bestow on yourself.

Same thing with BBing. [/quote]

Good post. If everyone notices and comments on your muscles first when meeting you, it is a safe bet you have earned that title. It is still one that other people give you first and it is still based on progress made.

87

[quote]rainjack wrote:
mbaina wrote:

You make a good point Rain. But, bodybuilding (as I’m sure you know) is not just about hypertrophy. Just like golfing is not just about swinging the club. I enjoy golf occasionally. But I have not dedicated my life to it, so I would never call myself a golfer. Just like someone who lifts weights everyday shouldn’t call themselves a bodybuilder. Or someone who enjoys cooking shouldn’t call themselves a chef.
-M

I think we are getting caught up in semantics.

Do I consider myself a bodybuilder? Yes. It is what I aspire to be. In order to be one, you have to emulate what they do. It is a state of mind more than a title.

Do I call myself one? No. I doubt anyone will ever hear me utter the phrase “I am a bodybuilder”.

I spent the better part of my late teens and most all of my 20’s horseback taking care of cattle. I never wore the hat, and I never called myself a “cowboy”. Why? Because I think that is an honor that other cowboys give you - not a title you bestow on yourself.

Same thing with BBing. [/quote]

Good post man.

-M

88

Interesting thread.

I’d like to add to my previous post, because I’m concerned about equating how one looks with how this look is interpreted.

For example, let’s take myself:

I’m pretty sure that in 8 - 12 weeks time (barring any injuries) I’ll look the bodybuilder part. I have enough muscle to be called muscular, know how to maintain it during a diet, know what foods to eat, know how to prepare them without a big loss of quality, know when to schedule my refeeds and know what to load up on the refeed day. I know my weaknesses (injuries; bad habits) and just have to actively remind myself of them and to avoid them. So, my roadmap is pretty clear.

However: will a dedication of 2 or 3 months really make the difference between a muscular fatty and a bodybuilder?

More to the point, take a look at my legs: they’re very muscular and will look even better when more cut. They surpass my upper body. One might think: gosh, that must’ve been a lot of hard work.
But I haven’t done a darn thing to get them that big. They just grew with the rest. In fact, I haven’t taken up squatting until 2008 and good-mornings until september 2007. Nevertheless, my legs are huge without ever having done anything to get them that way.

That’s my point: sure, if Genetically Average Joe built big legs through hard work and dedication (including a proportionally adequate upper body and a general low level of body fat), he must’ve used a bodybuilder’s mindset to get there. But you can’t always deduce a person’s mindset just from looking them up and down.

89

[quote]rainjack wrote:

I spent the better part of my late teens and most all of my 20’s horseback taking care of cattle. I never wore the hat, and I never called myself a “cowboy”. Why? Because I think that is an honor that other cowboys give you - not a title you bestow on yourself.
[/quote]

Cowboy, huh?

Man, that answers so many questions. There’s just so much to go into there, what with the “Sex with cattle” and the “lonely nights with other cowboys” and “assless chaps” and… wow man, wow.

90

[quote]FattyFat wrote:
Interesting thread.

I’d like to add to my previous post, because I’m concerned about equating how one looks with how this look is interpreted.

For example, let’s take myself:

I’m pretty sure that in 8 - 12 weeks time (barring any injuries) I’ll look the bodybuilder part. I have enough muscle to be called muscular, know how to maintain it during a diet, know what foods to eat, know how to prepare them without a big loss of quality, know when to schedule my refeeds and know what to load up on the refeed day. I know my weaknesses (injuries; bad habits) and just have to actively remind myself of them and to avoid them. So, my roadmap is pretty clear.

However: will a dedication of 2 or 3 months really make the difference between a muscular fatty and a bodybuilder?

More to the point, take a look at my legs: they’re very muscular and will look even better when more cut. They surpass my upper body. One might think: gosh, that must’ve been a lot of hard work.
But I haven’t done a darn thing to get them that big. They just grew with the rest. In fact, I haven’t taken up squatting until 2008 and good-mornings until september 2007. Nevertheless, my legs are huge without ever having done anything to get them that way.

That’s my point: sure, if Genetically Average Joe built big legs through hard work and dedication (including a proportionally adequate upper body and a general low level of body fat), he must’ve used a bodybuilder’s mindset to get there. But you can’t always deduce a person’s mindset just from looking them up and down.
[/quote]

That would eliminate bodybuilders like Michael Lockett who claimed he barely trained much at all to look like that. He is still a bodybuilder despite inhuman genetics because of his PROGRESS. His mindset isn’t even an issue.

91

[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
rainjack wrote:

I spent the better part of my late teens and most all of my 20’s horseback taking care of cattle. I never wore the hat, and I never called myself a “cowboy”. Why? Because I think that is an honor that other cowboys give you - not a title you bestow on yourself.

Cowboy, huh?

Man, that answers so many questions. There’s just so much to go into there, what with the “Sex with cattle” and the “lonely nights with other cowboys” and “assless chaps” and… wow man, wow.

[/quote]

But at the end of the day - you still have Eli for your qb.

No matter the assault you try to make on my sexuality, your cheering for Eli trumps all. Knowing that single fact ethically prevents me from saying anything worse about you.

92

I can’t honestly say I am a bodybuilder even though i wish i could, just because i don’t look like i lift weights when i know i lift heavier, work harder, and lift more consistently than other people my age, yet they are more built.

My height is 5’8.5-5’9
I started off at 185lbs, lost 45lbs and maintained at around 145. After weight lifting for 6-7 months i’ve gained roughly 15lbs. Most of it during the first 4-5 months. I’m guessing maybe 10lbs muscle, 5lbs fat, 5lbs water. Since then even though i’m still considered normal and even lean, my body image has suffered and i’ve been reminded of the past days where i was a chubby 185lber, and because of my horrible mental image have been unable to go past 160lbs.

Currently I am still lifting, not as consistently though, but have started aiming to be more overal fit and athletic. I’ve started running 9-12 miles a week trying to run faster each time, and recently got into swimming long distances.

My current i’d like to accomplish is to lower my BF while retaining w/e muscle i’ve gained, increase overall fitness and strength. And after summer if i’ve hopefully lost some fat, get my abs to show for the first time without flexing and pulling down my skin then i’d like to try going on another bulk and doing it again. I pray to god by then i’d have conquered my body and lowered body fat low enough so i can bulk safely.

Not sure if anyone can relate to me, and i’m sure a lot of people will think negative of me because of my mental weakness. Just wanted to rant and tell someone my story.

93

[quote]Phate89 wrote:
My current i’d like to accomplish is to lower my BF while retaining w/e muscle i’ve gained, increase overall fitness and strength. And after summer if i’ve hopefully lost some fat, get my abs to show for the first time without flexing and pulling down my skin then i’d like to try going on another bulk and doing it again. I pray to god by then i’d have conquered my body and lowered body fat low enough so i can bulk safely.
[/quote]

If you want to retain all the muscle you gained then you can’t avoid lifting weights while you cut.

94

[quote]eigieinhamr wrote:
Phate89 wrote:
My current i’d like to accomplish is to lower my BF while retaining w/e muscle i’ve gained, increase overall fitness and strength. And after summer if i’ve hopefully lost some fat, get my abs to show for the first time without flexing and pulling down my skin then i’d like to try going on another bulk and doing it again. I pray to god by then i’d have conquered my body and lowered body fat low enough so i can bulk safely.

If you want to retain all the muscle you gained then you can’t avoid lifting weights while you cut.[/quote]

I still lift 3-4x a week consisting of mostly compounds.

95

mr Popular and I will eventually be successful bodybuilders.

96

[quote]Joe Brook wrote:
I bodybuild simply for a large, heavily muscled physique, balanced and proportionate. It is rife with many goals and ambitions and gives my life purpose, and me an identity/persona.

…

Are you a bodybuilder yet? Have you been someone that can claim that for years? Did that come quickly for you, or like me did it take years just to achieve that beginning status?

Joe[/quote]

I was wondering about this question to myself. Each time I post here, I doubt more whether I am or not. I do match with your description of yourself, we alse have small frame and height in common. At first, I thought I was a bodybuilder becase is like a way of life. But people keeps shouting that I am not a bodybuilder because I am too skinny to be considered as such. I never dronk, nor drugs, smoke. I tried to be as healthy as my limited knoledge allows me. And i did not considered myself a bodybuilder. I started to think of myself as a bodybuilder when I pumped iron and got my muscles changing.

I think that is all that you need to consider yourself a bodybuilder. If I stop now. I will not build my body anymore and will not consider myself bodybuilder, because at that point, building is not more. I think it is not a weigth category, it is just a way of life.

Am I so wrong?

97

I want to be, im now training nearly 13 months :slight_smile:
Celebrated my 1 year 2 weeks ago :smiley:

Yes i want to be a bodybuilder, even go on stage in 4-6 years depending on how it takes.

I think im missing the whole reading ADD thing, i did have it when i started but thanks to people on here i lost it.

Along with that i lost the “must see my abz” thing (thanks prof xD) and because of that for the whole year i have been “bulking”

I was always fairly well built anyway i started this at 190 xD

And see my “abz” i just do ALOT of stuff that requires activity all day and i LOVE being a mesomorph ^^

I now sit at 207.4 (YES .4 i worked for it!) and untill i hit at least 240 i will CONTINUE to eat big.

Might take me 2 years or so but so be it :slight_smile:

I fucking love bodybuilding !

98

Yea - I’m a bodybuilder. Certainly not afraid to call myself that.

But, since I don’t compete, I’ll refrain from calling myself a “competitive bodybuilder.”