Bashing of Bodybuilders: Why?

Training Bodybuilding
61

[quote]chitown34 wrote:
Dirty Gerdy wrote:

no offense to you man, but because people talk about goals that happen to be with muscle size and their body they become insecure, narcissists?

DG

It was one of those “you had to be there” moments. These guys were staring at each other and themselves in the mirror for about 5 minutes and asking what they thought of their various body parts. I’ll have to take video next time =)[/quote]

Arnold did the same thing. You think pro bodybuilders don’t do this? They hire people to give them professional advice about what they need to work on…yet you thought two guys doing that in the gym made them “insecure”?

Why do people like you like to throw that word around so much?

62

[quote]Dirty Gerdy wrote:
The saddest thing of all is that we bodybuilders have to explain this stuff on Testosterone Nation! That’s why this thread was started, not only is it common in everyday life, but common on a weightlifting website!

/RANT

DG[/quote]

lol, thats truth DG

63

[quote]Westclock wrote:

I cant speak for bodybuilders in general, but many of the most committed lifters I have met were not geeks, so much as “late bloomers”

They didn’t really peak until half way through college.

The late bloomer is an interesting person, they were “cute” or “decent looking” in highschool, but were of average popularity, they werent the studs and cheerleaders, they were the Girl/Boy next door types in other words.

Alot of these guys and girls WANT more than anything to be the “bodies” from highschool.

And due to the fact that they didnt peak physically at 17, they actually develop a personality, a hardcore training routine, and a near perfect diet.

By the time they are in their early twenties in college they are smart, have a great personality, and thanks to their hardwork also have an amazing body.

In other words a total package.

I think alot of lifters will fit into this category.[/quote]

I have to agree with this. I fit more into the late bloomer category for sure, and I’ve developed a solid ass work ethic (and surpassed many ‘big guys’ I knew from HS and early in college). I can definitely say I know multiple guys who were ‘studs’ in 7th-11th grade who are alcoholic, weak, losers at 22-25 years old

64

It’s funny how pro wrestlers with physiques that could stand well on an NPC stage don’t get the same ‘level’ of flack for being so well muscled as BBers do. It’s as if people think there is some separation between pro wrestlers and BB style training.

I can guarantee John Cena looked at himself in the mirror to find areas of his physique that need extra attention. Somehow people think BBing is inherently vain, and, yet, it’s still acceptable to pursue other ways to improve their appearance in one way or another.

BBers just happen to take on a different perspective and look for an X-frame instead of a Brad-Pitt-frame, as the general public does. Different frame of reference, same goal: to improve their appearance based on a specific audience.

Writing about this becomes extremely stream of consciousness because one hypocrisy leads to another. . .

I must add that the performance community needs to understand that some very affective performance-minded training methods came from BBing. . Close mindedness sucks :expressionless:

65

[quote]Scott M wrote:

I’ll have to take video next time =)

Or stop watching what other people do for five minutes in the gym and train. [/quote]

LOL!

66

[quote]Bill Roberts wrote:
Oh yeah, women often do NOT appreciate bodybuilding style eating.

My best moment of that was going with a group of women (I was the only guy, excluding any kids that were brought). I was on the Anabolic Diet and forgot to bring a fat source. Can’t remember if I brought a protein source (probably did) or acquired one there. But there was no vendor offering a suitable fat source.

Luckily, one of the women brought a jar of mayonnaise and had an extra spoon.

So I just ate sufficient mayonnaise straight for my fat source.

The horror and shock… :)[/quote]

Hahaha. Classic story.

67

[quote]Professor X wrote:
joburnet wrote:

My point is that if people bashed bodybuilders because they were insecure then they would also bash Reggie Bush as well because many people would consider him to have an ideal physique.

Not true. There is obviously a double standard with regards to sports, especially anything that gets shown on ESPN regularly. David Boston caught much of the same negative stereotypes in spite of being a pro football player.

Reggie Bush may be well developed for the average couch potato, but he is not as big as David Boston was at his heaviest nor is he in the same ball park as many super-heavy weight bodybuilders.

So why use him as an example?

Deep down, most people really do want to be well developed. That is WHY we are having this discussion. By throwing negative comments at those who they really would rather look more like, they point to insecurity.

[/quote]

I think most people are insecure and do feel bad about their bodies and will lash out at high-level bodybuilders because they know exactly what they want their bodies to look like and have the discipline to get themselves there.

But I think very few would want to look like the super-heavy weights. While they’d love to look like Reggie Bush (but still won’t do the work to get there)

68

Most homeless people I know (been there once), most middle aged guys pumping gas for a living at K-marts, and most people on minimum wage and/or living off food stamps (and plan to keep doing so till they can get a newer form of govt cheese) I have interacted with - come across as completely secure with themselves and content with their lot.

Its guys like Arnold, Trump, Bill Gates, wealthy/powerful fuckers who are able to throw their weight around in society, people who rack up degrees and strive to raise their social status who stand out as being insecure.

from what ive seen, I choose to be inecure.

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Why do people like you like to throw that word around so much?
[/quote]

69

A brief aside…

I haven’t been on this site as long as others but I seem to remember T-Nation (as testosterone.net) being extremely “anti-bodybuilding” several years ago.

I recall there was a sort of “20 questions” type article for TC, where readers emailed in questions, and one of them was along the lines of “Will testosterone.net ever sponsor a professional bodybuilder?” to which TC simply replied “NO”.

Am I wrong here or does anyone else remember this?

70

[quote]PimpBot5000 wrote:
A brief aside…

I haven’t been on this site as long as others but I seem to remember T-nation (as testosterone.net) being extremely “anti-bodybuilding” several years ago. I recall there was a sort of “20 questions” type article for TC, where readers emailed in questions, and one of them was along the lines of “Will testosterone.net ever sponsor a professional bodybuilder?” to which TC simply replied “NO”.

Am I wrong here or does anyone else remember this? [/quote]

I don’t remember that, but I believe you.

Apparently, I’m just a big flip-flopper (since we did at one time sponsor Stan McQuay).

Anyhow, we are not anti-bodybuilding. Good Lord, we’re a bodybuilding site.

We’re not crazy about competitive bodybuilding (looking good for just a few days a year), but we surely do embrace the body building lifestyle.

71

[quote]Professor X wrote:
chitown34 wrote:
Dirty Gerdy wrote:

no offense to you man, but because people talk about goals that happen to be with muscle size and their body they become insecure, narcissists?

DG

It was one of those “you had to be there” moments. These guys were staring at each other and themselves in the mirror for about 5 minutes and asking what they thought of their various body parts. I’ll have to take video next time =)

Arnold did the same thing. You think pro bodybuilders don’t do this? They hire people to give them professional advice about what they need to work on…yet you thought two guys doing that in the gym made them “insecure”?

Why do people like you like to throw that word around so much?

[/quote]

That is another thing that annoys me!

I said it before and I will say it again: PROFESSIONAL bodybuilders are PROFESSIONALS! Therefore they are going to seek help from others in order to become and stay successful professionals.

Imagine a salesperson saying to him- or herself things like this:

"Why are my sales not where I want them to be? Do I …

-have to work on my phone presence?

-give better presentations?

-make more cold calls?

-stop being distracted?

-be more organized?"

Does this concern imply that this salesperson is insecure?
No! It implies that they want to be a great salesperson.

So, why would a PROFESSIONAL or ASPIRING bodybuilder be called insecure when he seeks out the advice of another?
What is wrong with asking your fellow PROFESSIONAL or weight lifting buddy …

-Is my form alright?

-You think my quads dwarf my hams?

-What’s lacking in my physique?

-You think I am ready to sign up for a show finally?

If a dentist or surgeon was curious about a new technique and he calls on a professional regarding this, is he or she insecure? I think not!

72

Crod,

I have gotten a spark to write about bodybulding related things. Hence why I am trying to figure out how to make a blog or website for myself or if I should.

73

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

If a dentist or surgeon was curious about a new technique and he calls on a professional regarding this, is he or she insecure? I think not!

[/quote]

But…we have people on a BODYBUILDING WEBSITE who apparently go to the gym and laugh at BODYBUILDERS for doing BODYBUILDING RELATED ACTIVITIES…and then they call anyone who speaks against it “INSECURE”.

How the fuck does this make sense to anyone?

74

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
Crod,

I have gotten a spark to write about bodybulding related things. Hence why I am trying to figure out how to make a blog or website for myself or if I should. [/quote]

hey if you want to you should i mean most of the threads you have made have been good so

75

I don’t understand the penis size issue though.

I remember the very first time I saw pictures of bodybuilders. It was a book in my uncle’s room in - I think it was - 1988 or 1989. I was 8 or 9 years old at the time. If I recall correctly, they were pictures of Lee Haney, Casey Viaor, Sammir Bannout, and Robby Robinson.

I don’t think I was entertained by these pictures and said to myself “why do and what do these guys do to look like this?” while at the same time questioning how my undeveloped genitalia measured up to my fellow 8 to 10 year olds. I did know that these guys looked fuckin’ awesome!

10 years later I start fucking around with weights on and off for years. Then become serious a few years ago, like REALLY serious and realize that lifting big weights and eating like a madman is quite enjoyable and dare I say intoxicating and highly addictive!

Yeah - that’s right - addictive! My addiction to this lifestyle has hardly anything to do with envy over penis size, IQ, or lack of accomplishments.

I truly like the sport (more like an exhibition in my view though; not a sport) and all it has to offer. I follow this sport the way others follow baseball and football. Its all fine and dandy for others to have near nervous breakdowns when their favorite ball team or player performs poorly or loses.

But to be dedicated to and to be a fan of bodybuilding? Something is wrong with that, right?

I will be honest in saying that I do like some of the attention that I have gotten from bodybuilding. Now, I am not a huge attention seeker, but MOST people want to be recognized - aside from their MOMMIES - for something or a few things.

No, I am not Frank Sepe or Mike O’hearn. Those guys have to fight women off with a stick! But it has gotten me some female attention that lead to having some nice girlfriends.

These financial services hot shots (well, ex-hotshots) sure like to be known as the “financial guys” and strut their stuff. What’s wrong with having an identity as a bodybuilder?

Maybe its because a bodybuilder doesn’t have to be in a 3,000 dollar suit or constantly open his wallet or his MOUTH to talk about his awesome bonuses. Nope, a bodybuilder can get attention by just walking around in ordinary clothing - no comments - no bragging - no suit - no car! How is that for initial attraction?!

Women might want to fuck him. Dudes know that their money can’t do shit to get a body like that - aside from buying food and a gym membership.

I think it is THEY who are envious - not the other way around.

Women SAY they don’t like big muscles but ACT differently. Hence why I love the saying that I CONSTANTLY mention on this board:

“Women don’t like guys that are too big!”

This one is funny because last time I checked all of the “too-big” guys seem to always have a woman following them around! Isn’t that something?

True, some of them have little patience for the religion (the eating and cleaning, fussing over food times and sleep time and gym times). But as my friend once said - who is not even a bodybuilder - "yeah, women say they don’t like bodybuilders but when you are on top of them … "

76

[quote]tribunaldude wrote:
TBH “former geeks” actually BECOME recreational weight trainers and bodybuilders as they get older to avenge their former humiliation or being picked on when they were skinny and nerdy.

whizzing through the posts on this and other sites (especially GAL forum) has convinced me about that.

I feel that current criticism of bbers actually comes from guys who were the “cool dudes” (think Fonz or any of the guys from Dawson’s creek) who used to get the chicks easily in high school but are now relegated to a lifetime of being ordinary and unremarkable, stuck with prematurely graying hair, average looking wives and a boring poorly paying job.[/quote]

That’s what I believe too.

77

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
I don’t understand the penis size issue though.

I remember the very first time I saw pictures of bodybuilders. It was a book in my uncle’s room in - I think it was - 1988 or 1989. I was 8 or 9 years old at the time. If I recall correctly, they were pictures of Lee Haney, Casey Viaor, Sammir Bannout, and Robby Robinson.

I don’t think I was entertained by these pictures and said to myself “why do and what do these guys do to look like this?” while at the same time questioning how my undeveloped genitalia measured up to my fellow 8 to 10 year olds. I did know that these guys looked fuckin’ awesome!

10 years later I start fucking around with weights on and off for years. Then become serious a few years ago, like REALLY serious and realize that lifting big weights and eating like a madman is quite enjoyable and dare I say intoxicating and highly addictive!

Yeah - that’s right - addictive! My addiction to this lifestyle has hardly anything to do with envy over penis size, IQ, or lack of accomplishments.

I truly like the sport (more like an exhibition in my view though; not a sport) and all it has to offer. I follow this sport the way others follow baseball and football.

Its all fine and dandy for others to have near nervous breakdowns when their favorite ball team or player performs poorly or loses. But to be dedicated to and to be a fan of bodybuilding? Something is wrong with that, right?

I will be honest in saying that I do like some of the attention that I have gotten from bodybuilding. Now, I am not a huge attention seeker, but MOST people want to be recognized - aside from their MOMMIES - for something or a few things.

No, I am not Frank Sepe or Mike O’hearn. Those guys have to fight women off with a stick! But it has gotten me some female attention that lead to having some nice girlfriends.

These financial services hot shots (well, ex-hotshots) sure like to be known as the “financial guys” and strut their stuff. What’s wrong with having an identity as a bodybuilder? Maybe its because a bodybuilder doesn’t have to be in a 3,000 dollar suit or constantly open his wallet or his MOUTH to talk about his awesome bonuses.

Nope, a bodybuilder can get attention by just walking around in ordinary clothing - no comments - no bragging - no suit - no car! How is that for initial attraction?!

Women might want to fuck him. Dudes know that their money can’t do shit to get a body like that - aside from buying food and a gym membership.

I think it is THEY who are envious - not the other way around.

Women SAY they don’t like big muscles but ACT differently. Hence why I love the saying that I CONSTANTLY mention on this board:

“Women don’t like guys that are too big!”

This one is funny because last time I checked all of the “too-big” guys seem to always have a woman following them around! Isn’t that something?

True, some of them have little patience for the religion (the eating and cleaning, fussing over food times and sleep time and gym times). But as my friend once said - who is not even a bodybuilder - "yeah, women say they don’t like bodybuilders but when you are on top of them … "

[/quote]

Preach on brother Brick!

S

78

[quote]MikeKubo wrote:
However, all of this ‘bodybuilder’s being weak’ shit has to go. I’ve yet to see a guy 260 ripped lbs that is weak.[/quote]

Pff. All competitive bodybuilders are weak, they can’t lift shit.

See?

79

[quote]Makavali wrote:
MikeKubo wrote:
However, all of this ‘bodybuilder’s being weak’ shit has to go. I’ve yet to see a guy 260 ripped lbs that is weak.

Pff. All competitive bodybuilders are weak, they can’t lift shit.

See?[/quote]

Those are some big ass peanuts.

80

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Those are some big ass peanuts.[/quote]

But can he lift these with those fake non-functional muscles?