Dealing With the Naysayers

Triggerhappy · March 6, 2009, 4:42am

i get loads of grief from my mates, the only ones i don’t get shit off are my parents and one work mate (who got me into it).

i have only been training just over a year but in that time radically changed my diet and given up drinking (used to have 12 pints on a satday night) so soon as i go out and ask for lime and water it starts blah blah blah he doesn’t drink cos he’s on roids (which i’m not), and they take the piss when i leggit to the car for a quick protein shake…

The good thing is all my mates are out of shape lazy gits, i say let the results do your speaking, i’m not massive by any standard but have gained a stone and half in that time and people do notice… thrive on the positive comments ignore the negative, then next time you get shit like why the hell do you bother bodybuilding…just say cos i don’t wanna end up like you, you fat lazy b’stard

Magicpunch · March 6, 2009, 11:33am

[quote]Triggerhappy wrote:
i get loads of grief from my mates, the only ones i don’t get shit off are my parents and one work mate (who got me into it).

i have only been training just over a year but in that time radically changed my diet and given up drinking (used to have 12 pints on a satday night) so soon as i go out and ask for lime and water it starts blah blah blah he doesn’t drink cos he’s on roids (which i’m not), and they take the piss when i leggit to the car for a quick protein shake…

The good thing is all my mates are out of shape lazy gits, i say let the results do your speaking, i’m not massive by any standard but have gained a stone and half in that time and people do notice… thrive on the positive comments ignore the negative, then next time you get shit like why the hell do you bother bodybuilding…just say cos i don’t wanna end up like you, you fat lazy b’stard[/quote]

Are you from the north of england by any chance? If so, its social suicide to stop drinking up there man.

Good on you though - I think secretly a lot of these people will see you and your dedication, and wonder how you drew up the willpower to change your lifestyle. And they’re the very same ones who will bring out a thousand excuses if you ask them to join in a few sessions.

PS If you look like the man in the avatar, then definitely no more pints for you.

DJS · March 6, 2009, 1:06pm

[quote]Magicpunch wrote:
Further to what some posters wrote in another thread, I was wondering how many of you have had people in your lives that have either a) generally been a hindrance to your bodybuilding goals or b) said or done something which motivated you to prove them wrong, when it came to your bodybuilding goals?

I really have started serious training over the past 6 months (I’m 23 now) - before then, I really believed that I wasn’t destined to be bigger than 130lb. It didn’t help that people reinforced this notion; one guy in particular, told me that I’d never be anything other than a skeleton. That, and a hundred other comments from relatives and close friends fuelled a fire that pushes me through the hardest of reps and sets.

I’m only sitting at 147 lb, but that’s a feck load more than I believed I’d reach. I can’t wait to continue putting on muscle, and too see their faces again. Ironically, they are collectively, the laziest people I ever met and in their slobbering ways have shown me exactly the kind of body I don’t want!

So, has anyone else had their naysayers, or inadvertant motivators who have given you an extra ounce of drive to reach higher? Those people who look at you funny because you take protein shakes (true story!) or the guy who says that he’s uncomfortable with you playing hockey on his time because you’re taking creatine (true story!!!)??[/quote]

I have a similar story… I grew really fast and reached my full height by 14 years old in 8th grade. I was a skeleton though. 5’ 10" and 126 lbs. I had like 12 inch arms.

I still remember i went to gym class and I wore a tank top that day like a lot of people did. This girl singled me out in front of everyone and said “Why are you wearing that?” “You have no right to wear that shirt” “You look disgusting!”

Now mind you… maybe i did but this girl was being as mean as she possibly could. Two things happend. I didn’t wear a tank top to gym class for years… and I got my first weight set soon after. six months later i joined a gym and never looked back.

5 years later for senior year book, I was voted best figure/body by my classmates. I never forgot what that bitch said and that day felt really really good. Its a stupid year book thing but it meant something considering where i came from.

Today I’m 70lbs heavier with 17 inch arms. Take what these people say and let it drive you to your goals. Hang in there! and EAT!

Triggerhappy · March 6, 2009, 1:08pm

sure am from up north, whats the give away? and your dead right it is social suicide, i am 34 so a big shock from giving up the beer, been on it since i was 15…wish i was 20 again ahhhh…

still someone wrote’its not were you start from it’s where you end up’ so i’m giving bodybuilding my all, and learning all the time, mates think i’m crazy when they see me coming out of asda with 60 quids worth of tuna…ah well sod em…

nah mate thats not me in the avatar, but it is what most of me mates look like except a younger…

Lil_J76 · March 6, 2009, 1:40pm

Adding just to rant:

I get the looks and stupid comments from friends and co-workers at least the ones who have no clue. It is crazy how many people are ignorant when it comes to protein. "Is that a steroid?? "Will it make me get really big and act crazy?? "Does that stuff show up on drug tests?? I could go on and on.

I hear I am the crazy health nut at work, the big guy that does crazy things with food and weights and stuff. The funniest thing I have heard to date is that I am an “elite”. “I work out with the people that look mean and with weight that is just heavy and do things like deadlifts and heavy squats”. The funny thing is I feel like I am still on the bottom of the totem pole. I invite the naysayer?s, they are nothing but motivation and fuel.

eric_lacrosse · March 7, 2009, 4:40am

[quote]Yossarian wrote:
eric_lacrosse wrote:
I never encounter this, who the hell are you people interacting with?

People (friends, family, neighbors, coworkers) commend me on my healthy eating habits, and say things like ‘you’re in such great shape, I wish I was as motivated as you’. or ‘you work out, what sort of stuff do you do, because I need to get in shape’.

I usually just say ‘thanks’ and look for an opportunity to change the subject.

Wow. Just wow. I don’t know where you live, but I’m not moving there. If I don’t have anything to rant about, I get all sketchy. Seriously though, i’ve never once had my eating habits referred to as healthy. I’m currently trying to keep my carbs pretty low, but if I ever mention it I get nothing but flack from absolutely everyone.[/quote]

It happened again today. A guy at work said ‘wow is that salmon…and spinach…that’s the healthiest lunch I’ve ever seen’.

Not a naysayer, he seemed kind of awestruck. I didn’t comment on his comment since was he standing at my desk looking over my shoulder at the computer, I just kept eating.

testosteroniak · March 7, 2009, 10:05pm

[quote]Magicpunch wrote:
Further to what some posters wrote in another thread, I was wondering how many of you have had people in your lives that have either a) generally been a hindrance to your bodybuilding goals or b) said or done something which motivated you to prove them wrong, when it came to your bodybuilding goals?

I really have started serious training over the past 6 months (I’m 23 now) - before then, I really believed that I wasn’t destined to be bigger than 130lb. It didn’t help that people reinforced this notion; one guy in particular, told me that I’d never be anything other than a skeleton. That, and a hundred other comments from relatives and close friends fuelled a fire that pushes me through the hardest of reps and sets.

I’m only sitting at 147 lb, but that’s a feck load more than I believed I’d reach. I can’t wait to continue putting on muscle, and too see their faces again. Ironically, they are collectively, the laziest people I ever met and in their slobbering ways have shown me exactly the kind of body I don’t want!

So, has anyone else had their naysayers, or inadvertant motivators who have given you an extra ounce of drive to reach higher? Those people who look at you funny because you take protein shakes (true story!) or the guy who says that he’s uncomfortable with you playing hockey on his time because you’re taking creatine (true story!!!)??[/quote]

My point of view.

Jealousy/envy is reflection of someone’s inner incompetence.

That means - whenever one is likely to fail, lazy, with low self esteem/ low confidence he will try to drag enviroment to his puny/pathetic plane of existence in order to achieve homeostasis and generally feel easier to live in his sad world…I wont further debate, but these are the general principles that need to be realized when dealing with naysayers.

And not only in weighttraining but in the real life!

Carlitosway · March 9, 2009, 12:00am

[quote]That One Guy wrote:
Yossarian wrote:
LilDaDDyDreW wrote:
That One Guy wrote:
LilDaDDyDreW wrote:
That One Guy wrote:
mallen5 wrote:
Read “merry christmas bob” by Chris Shugart

Good recommendation, I’m gonna go dig it up right now. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap a little lower, keep your head down, and barrel through the criticisms.

I received a little criticism myself when I decided to change my field of study from engineering to kinesiology from family members, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Oh man you really fucked up!

I know, next thing you know I’ll be all ROIDZ up, breaking wallzz, raping women, and playing shortstop!1!!!1!

NO bro, I’M NOT PLAYING YOU REALLY FUCKED UP STOP DICKING AROUND AND GO GET YOUR ENGINEERING DEGREE!

Yeah, I’m on board with this. Go get your engineering degree. You won’t regret it.

Naw the human body interests me. Physical Therapy looks attractive to me, PT with athletes looks even better.[/quote]

Kid knows what he’s doing. I mean occupational and physical therapists are always in good demand. Shoot after 400+ hours in pt he can then probably go back to school for a physician assistant program. Majoring in biology would probably open up more doors though, if you feel inclined to change careers.

As for the naysayers I’ve had a guy tell me I won’t ever get past 200+(well on my way). I thought he was joking, but he was being serious to me. I was like wtf, I’m not that gullible kid in high school anymore, who believed in bullshit and was easily swayed by other people.

I can’t wait until I gain these next 20-30 lbs (no I’m not going to stop there either)and just see the look on his face next time we meet.

I’ve got it ingrained in me to question every person who critiques me.

I walk in public sometimes and it’s as if I’m sometimes surrounded by sheep and cows wallowing cluelessly through life without so much as a care what their body looks like. Cause every other person just looks as bad as them.

Worse part is alot of these people are “good” people with families, yet who knows how long they will live until their shitty lifestyles of ciggarette smoking, drinking and sedetary binge eating catches up to them. Alas this is life.

end of rant///

polo77j · March 9, 2009, 6:10pm

One of the great pleasures I get out of life is hearing people talk about me. I love it when someone tells me what I can or can’t do. I love seeing them the moment after I’ve accomplished whatever it was they said I couldn’t and witnessing them pick they’re jaw off the floor.

Then, I love to go over to their house while they’re eating dinner with their wife/girlfriend/mother/sister and fuck the ever living shit out of them on the carved turkey and lather her floppy tits with the gravy. I don’t even care if they’re attractive, it’s more for the “fuck you” aspect than anything. Than as I’m leaving I yell out “Captain Planet, He’s a hero!” as I slam the door.

Once outside I tend to take a victory shit on the hood of their prized automobile. Then piss on their door handle (or vice versa. there’s no real order to this last part). I, however, do this with a look of stern indignation just to so they think it’s not out of pleasure but rather my societal duties. You know, to show them my balls do clang when they knock together.

MarvelGirl · March 9, 2009, 6:48pm

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities.
-Albert Einstein

Nominal_Prospect · March 10, 2009, 12:47pm

[quote]DJS wrote:
Magicpunch wrote:
Further to what some posters wrote in another thread, I was wondering how many of you have had people in your lives that have either a) generally been a hindrance to your bodybuilding goals or b) said or done something which motivated you to prove them wrong, when it came to your bodybuilding goals?

I really have started serious training over the past 6 months (I’m 23 now) - before then, I really believed that I wasn’t destined to be bigger than 130lb. It didn’t help that people reinforced this notion; one guy in particular, told me that I’d never be anything other than a skeleton. That, and a hundred other comments from relatives and close friends fuelled a fire that pushes me through the hardest of reps and sets.

I’m only sitting at 147 lb, but that’s a feck load more than I believed I’d reach. I can’t wait to continue putting on muscle, and too see their faces again. Ironically, they are collectively, the laziest people I ever met and in their slobbering ways have shown me exactly the kind of body I don’t want!

So, has anyone else had their naysayers, or inadvertant motivators who have given you an extra ounce of drive to reach higher? Those people who look at you funny because you take protein shakes (true story!) or the guy who says that he’s uncomfortable with you playing hockey on his time because you’re taking creatine (true story!!!)??

I have a similar story… I grew really fast and reached my full height by 14 years old in 8th grade. I was a skeleton though. 5’ 10" and 126 lbs. I had like 12 inch arms.

I still remember i went to gym class and I wore a tank top that day like a lot of people did. This girl singled me out in front of everyone and said “Why are you wearing that?” “You have no right to wear that shirt” “You look disgusting!”

Now mind you… maybe i did but this girl was being as mean as she possibly could. Two things happend. I didn’t wear a tank top to gym class for years… and I got my first weight set soon after. six months later i joined a gym and never looked back.

5 years later for senior year book, I was voted best figure/body by my classmates. I never forgot what that bitch said and that day felt really really good. Its a stupid year book thing but it meant something considering where i came from.

Today I’m 70lbs heavier with 17 inch arms. Take what these people say and let it drive you to your goals. Hang in there! and EAT! [/quote]

I can’t believe that anyone would give you shit for being skinny at 14. 12 inch arms? That’s pretty normal for that age.

Oh wait, I forgot this is the internet, where everyone benches 300 by age 16 and has 18 inch arms by age 20. Heh heh…

ben220587ben · March 10, 2009, 6:56pm

Ah those negative pricks!! I think many of us have encountered this from people at some point and to some extent!! Had i not trained, my genetics would have kept me at around 140 pounds till i eventually started getting old and slow enough to put on fat! So people from i know from my past and my family cant beleive im now over 170 pounds! Ironically though, these people have their place as they can serve to motivate u when they try and put u down!

If theres one thing ive learned after all this blood, sweat and tears, its that no matter how impossible it may seem, with enough hard work…it can always be done!!! Fuck em all!!

LiveFromThe781 · March 10, 2009, 11:41pm

[quote]Nominal Prospect wrote:
DJS wrote:
Magicpunch wrote:
Further to what some posters wrote in another thread, I was wondering how many of you have had people in your lives that have either a) generally been a hindrance to your bodybuilding goals or b) said or done something which motivated you to prove them wrong, when it came to your bodybuilding goals?