“The point is, there’s a lot of bullshit posted on internet message boards and it’d be funny to see who’s living the life and who’s just talking about it.”
This is the whole point.
I’ll admit it. I am more likely to take someone’s advice if they walk the walk. It’s just harder to take someone seriously if they’ve never actually practiced what they’re preaching. But you never know, maybe that person was once in great shape but suffered a severe injury. They could still give very valuable advice. Look at CT’s evolution into a beast. He always knew his shit but felt that he could be more inspirational to his clients if they had the proof right there in front of them.
As far as posting pics, it reduces trolling and it gives people more of the whole picture of what someone is all about. I’ll use Glute-Spanker as an example since he’s talking about his pic kicking another pic’s ass, hehe. While we may not all agree with each other on O/T subjects, the bottom line here is lifting weights. I’ve seen Glute’s pics and he’s shredded and is obviously doing something right. Just an example, but if he didn’t post his pics I might be more inclined to write off what he says regarding training due to disagreements in non-training matters. Since his success is visible, I still value his opinions on training and nutrition. Not trying to call anyone out, just trying to show how posting pics helps to validate what a person says.
I do realize that, Goldberg and I do see your point. I just think that if someone is talking big, then yes, but if someone is giving practical advice, then we all call them on it if it’s wrong on here. I don’t need to see a picture of Jared squatting to back up his suggestion that you sit back a little more or whatever. I enjoy everyone’s contribution and could care less what they look like, really, although seeing pics is informative. If you’re making rude remarks about someone or talking big, then you’d better be prepared to back it up.
I’ll be in B.C. visiting the gf this weekend so I’ll try to get her to take a pic of me when we go lifting. Hell, I’ll get a pic of me in my pj’s if that’ll please everyone.
Get a pic of her in her pj’s. That will please everyone.
Yeah, but this time do up the little flap on the back please.
I’m the third one on the left. I was 215 pounds, approx. 15% bf. and about 4 months into Oly lifting in this pic. Currently 225, 13% bf and wider and thicker after a few weeks of massive eating and some MAG-10. I’m not the most handsome one on the forums, but I make a tasty souffle.
…just to show that I do indeed exist, although I could have photoshopped myself in there, but if I did that, you’d think I’d make myself look bigger while I was at it.
“you’d think I’d make myself look bigger while I was at it.”
Yeah, no shit.
just fucking with ya, CGB - I know you’ll get me back…
OK, here you go! Now everyone knows that they can trust my advice.
Yeah but we can’t trust your camera skills Jeff. 
Golberg, there are better ways to expand your archive of whacking material.
DI
Glute-spanker/Ass-Pounder, your crush on me is cute.
Really…
Jeff: you’ve got great definition in your masseter and temporalis muscles.
Arite, arite…even though my pitures have been in various articles and all over the forum, it is clear that I’m still a little bitch.
Here’s a fun pic, though.
In attempting to dig his way to China one day at the beach, my friend Andre had this misfortunte to come upon a colony of small ground dwelling dwarves.
QUITE annoyed that he had disturbed their rest, the dwarves were intent on dragging Andre 'neath the ground eating him. This is me, trying to save my hapless comrade.
One problem that Jard and Goldberg are trying to point out, is that for some reason the internet breeds this egalitarian we're all equal thing. But we're not. Some are training, doing, progressing. Some aren't. Some have work experience(reading a web magazine doesn't count), some don't. Some have advanced knowledge, some don't.
My reasons for not posting a pic before amounted to "why bother". I never learned or cared to learn. I thought since Goldie and Patricia did AND I found some training pics motivating; maybe I'll do the same.
Back to the earlier point. Gyms when I was a kid had a pecking order. serious athletes, competitve bodybuilders, powerlifters were considered to be the ones to listen to. There was no “strength consultants”. there were just strong guys. You were always welcome to dive in if you were serious, trained hard, and learned. It was common sense to shut up, train, learn, then help the next guy. Exerience mattered and when you proved your knowledge, advice was always welcome, even if you weren’t as big and strong. Most lifters are smart enough to recognize people have different potential.
However there is a huge difference between reading time and lifting time. Internet time never did anything to help my lifts, that’s what the gym is for.
This is all you’re getting till I’m down to at least 12%.
First time playing since the ACL reconstruct in April.
Agree with Goldie that if more people posted their pics there’d be a built-in filter that we don’t have now. No problem there at all.
Still, with thelove4you or whatever his name is, I think that the issue is not so much how he looks (I found all the “Photoshop!” accusations pretty lame, personally), but with his claimed lifts. Sure, he looks phenomenal, but let’s face it: some guy comes out and says “I can lift more than Franco!” - at a slightly lower bodyweight, mind you - you’re gonna want to see proof.
Maybe he can lift that much. If so, great. But I’m going to be pretty skeptical until I see proof. And no, his high school coach’s word isn’t gonna do it. But hey, if he enters a meet and lifts as much as he says he can, I’ll be first in line to congratulate him.
Damn you Jared, damn you. That will cost you, trust me.
You’re a big boy, Brad. Damn. That’s cool.
CHAR: Thelove4u mentionned a background in gymnastics in his thread. Just that cut out all speculation in my mind. Have you see the upperbodies of these mofos? I have never seen a scrawny competitive male gymnast.
Poliquin had also mentionned that gymnasts were the athletes whose strength was the most transferable to the iron because their training hit the muscles from so many angles in quick burst efforts.
Makes sense. If you can twist and reverse momentum of your own body weight in almost any position, getting back to one-vector bodybuilding should be a sinch.