How Big is Too Big?

Training
181

lol. heres the quote that you initially responded to:

furo:
“My goals aren’t just to become bigger/stronger/leaner, but also faster, more agile, more flexible, fitter and healthier. There comes a point where chasing any one of these individual sub-goals too far is detrimental to the other goals.”

He says the exact opposite of MASTERING any one of those, saying specifically the “taking one goal too far is detrimental to the others.”

I think a goal of modest improvement in all areas is a fine goal to have if the athletic look is what you’re after.

182

Oh I forgot,

You seem lost here.

183

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

I can definitely agree with that. I know that no one will ever look at me and think “holy crap that guy is huge”. I never have really chased that maximum size rabbit because it was never as important as other qualities. I want some size but I am only willing to sacrifice so much athleticism to have it. [/quote]

That’s cool…but really, outside of that, even in regards to other people, what do you see as “too big”?

Everyone doesn’t care about how “athletic” they are. Being “in shape” might be enough.

Well, only in what we were willing to sacrifice.

I had to spend a lot of time just on size. I am more free now to work on other things like getting my “conditioning” more in balance…but rest assured, you do have to sacrifice some of that if the goal is all out size even if for a while.

That may be true, but I really fault most trainers with this. You see even on this site this push to be a “cross fit member” only without the name attached for copyright reasons.

This is like a fad.

Most of those people will never be outstanding athletes…even if they think they are.

184

I’m lost here. What is this thread even about at this point? Where did all the discussion go?

185

[quote]Maiden3.16 wrote:
lol. heres the quote that you initially responded to:

furo:
“My goals aren’t just to become bigger/stronger/leaner, but also faster, more agile, more flexible, fitter and healthier. There comes a point where chasing any one of these individual sub-goals too far is detrimental to the other goals.”

He says the exact opposite of MASTERING any one of those, saying specifically the “taking one goal too far is detrimental to the others.”

I think a goal of modest improvement in all areas is a fine goal to have if the athletic look is what you’re after. [/quote]

Thank you for your contribution.

186

EDITED: derailed convo. Let’s get back to too big.

187

[quote]Maiden3.16 wrote:
lol. heres the quote that you initially responded to:

furo:
“My goals aren’t just to become bigger/stronger/leaner, but also faster, more agile, more flexible, fitter and healthier. There comes a point where chasing any one of these individual sub-goals too far is detrimental to the other goals.”

He says the exact opposite of MASTERING any one of those, saying specifically the “taking one goal too far is detrimental to the others.”

I think a goal of modest improvement in all areas is a fine goal to have if the athletic look is what you’re after. [/quote]

I think X merely meant that and someone trying to improve every physical quality will not reach the upper levels of any of them. Which I think we all can agree with. Correct me if I am wrong X.

188

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]Maiden3.16 wrote:
lol. heres the quote that you initially responded to:

furo:
“My goals aren’t just to become bigger/stronger/leaner, but also faster, more agile, more flexible, fitter and healthier. There comes a point where chasing any one of these individual sub-goals too far is detrimental to the other goals.”

He says the exact opposite of MASTERING any one of those, saying specifically the “taking one goal too far is detrimental to the others.”

I think a goal of modest improvement in all areas is a fine goal to have if the athletic look is what you’re after. [/quote]

I think X merely meant that and someone trying to improve every physical quality will not reach the upper levels of any of them. Which I think we all can agree with. Correct me if I am wrong X.[/quote]

That is exactly what I meant…but no need to waste an entire page giving this action more attention.

189

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

I can definitely agree with that. I know that no one will ever look at me and think “holy crap that guy is huge”. I never have really chased that maximum size rabbit because it was never as important as other qualities. I want some size but I am only willing to sacrifice so much athleticism to have it. [/quote]

That’s cool…but really, outside of that, even in regards to other people, what do you see as “too big”?

Everyone doesn’t care about how “athletic” they are. Being “in shape” might be enough.

[quote]

I sometimes look at training like those create-a-player sliders on Madden. You are given a finite amount of points to distribute amongst your players individual qualities. Judging by our differing opinions, I would bet that our distributions would look a lot different X ha.[/quote]

Well, only in one we were willing to sacrifice.

I had to spend a lot of time just on size. I am more free now to work on other things like getting my “conditioning” more in balance…but rest assured, you do have to sacrifice some of that if the goal is all out size even if for a while.

[quote]

Agreed about trainers, but you have to remember that they are frequently dealing with clients that come in and point to a guy like Bauber and say “I want to look like that guy, and I want to be able to dunk, and I want to run a 5k all before I turn 40 in 3 months.” That’s not an excuse for putting people on effectual “do-it all” programs but just saying that they have my sympathies at times.[/quote]

That may be true, but I really fault most trainers with this. You see even on this site this push to be a “cross fit member” only without the name attached for copyright reasons.

This is like a fad.

Most of those people will never be outstanding athletes…even if they think they are.[/quote]

I think “Too Big” for a general non-competing public would be the point at which quality of life began to be effected. I deem quality of life to be chronically sore joints, shortness or breath or other common big man discomforts. The reason I say this is because I believe that working out should be for the purpose of improving ones life and just working out for size is a vain concept.

That said, nothing wrong with a little vanity as we all are to a point (I like the feeling of turning a head or two without my shirt on) and until recently that was basically my only reason for lifting so I get it but this is the best way I can answer the question.

190

If the question is what would the average man consider “too big” for himself to be, I’d completely agree with jbpick86’s statement:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

I think “Too Big” for a general non-competing public would be the point at which quality of life began to be effected. I deem quality of life to be chronically sore joints, shortness or breath or other common big man discomforts. [/quote]

This size would vary greatly from individual to individual but I imagine for the average man it would be somewhere around 230lb+

If the question is what does the general public percieve “too big” on other people (i.e. what size does your average woman/sedentary male think an active male should be) then that is a tricky question.

I think perhaps there is a big difference in social perception between the UK and the US as traditionally bodybuilding and sports with heavily muscled athletes are more mainstream in the states and so that has probably made being bigger more acceptable in the eyes of the public.

I think, from conversations I’ve had with folks who don’t train at all, what constitutes “too big” really depends on your natural frame. They are quick to say that a relatively heavily muscled short guy is too big, but if they see a very big and tall person (say a heavily muscled rugby player for example) they tend to be more accepting of that. I guess perhaps proportions relative to your frame may be more important to the public’s perception than raw size.

191

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]Maiden3.16 wrote:
lol. heres the quote that you initially responded to:

furo:
“My goals aren’t just to become bigger/stronger/leaner, but also faster, more agile, more flexible, fitter and healthier. There comes a point where chasing any one of these individual sub-goals too far is detrimental to the other goals.”

He says the exact opposite of MASTERING any one of those, saying specifically the “taking one goal too far is detrimental to the others.”

I think a goal of modest improvement in all areas is a fine goal to have if the athletic look is what you’re after. [/quote]

I think X merely meant that and someone trying to improve every physical quality will not reach the upper levels of any of them. Which I think we all can agree with. Correct me if I am wrong X.[/quote]

Hmm… no. He said the “all around athlete” is impossible if you are not Captain America.

I can rattle of 10 or so people from this very site that are well above average in all three categories of bigger/stronger/leaner with athleticism.

I agree that in order to be the best of the best that focusing one thing is a good idea, but I take issue when someone states that a goal of being well above average in many different aspects of training is impossible.

192

[quote]Maiden3.16 wrote:

[quote]jbpick86 wrote:

[quote]Maiden3.16 wrote:
lol. heres the quote that you initially responded to:

furo:
“My goals aren’t just to become bigger/stronger/leaner, but also faster, more agile, more flexible, fitter and healthier. There comes a point where chasing any one of these individual sub-goals too far is detrimental to the other goals.”

He says the exact opposite of MASTERING any one of those, saying specifically the “taking one goal too far is detrimental to the others.”

I think a goal of modest improvement in all areas is a fine goal to have if the athletic look is what you’re after. [/quote]

I think X merely meant that and someone trying to improve every physical quality will not reach the upper levels of any of them. Which I think we all can agree with. Correct me if I am wrong X.[/quote]

Hmm… no. He said the “all around athlete” is impossible if you are not Captain America.

I can rattle of 10 or so people from this very site that are well above average in all three categories of bigger/stronger/leaner with athleticism.

I agree that in order to be the best of the best that focusing one thing is a good idea, but I take issue when someone states that a goal of being well above average in many different aspects of training is impossible. [/quote]

Wow…Captain America is just “above average”?

You seem to be missing the point even though more than one person has tried to explain it to you.

I was once again speaking of MASTERING the sports, not being “above average”.

193

What’s the point of this thread? It seems to be just a platform for X to make sure no one has forgotten that he wants to get as big as humanly possible…point taken!

194

Thank God someone else sees it. I am getting picked apart left and right in his other bullshit thread right now for just one simple attempt at a joke. I just think most of his threads turn into arguments and offer very little to the site as a whole. He’s free to do as he wishes though. We just have to suffer for it.

195

[quote]pwolves17 wrote:
What’s the point of this thread? It seems to be just a platform for X to make sure no one has forgotten that he wants to get as big as humanly possible…point taken![/quote]

I don’t want to be as big as humanly possible.

No offense, but why do some of you only seem to post to discuss how much you don’;t like me posting?

This thread is about the concept of what is “too big” and why.

If you can’t participate, please save us more posts about how much you just don’t like me.

I don’t care…and it seems many more don’t also.

Nice posts from the rest of you though and thank you for keeping this thread on track.

196

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]pwolves17 wrote:
What’s the point of this thread? It seems to be just a platform for X to make sure no one has forgotten that he wants to get as big as humanly possible…point taken![/quote]

I don’t want to be as big as humanly possible.

No offense, but why do some of you only seem to post to discuss how much you don’;t like me posting?

This thread is about the concept of what is “too big” and why.

If you can’t participate, please save us more posts about how much you just don’t like me.

I don’t care…and it seems many more don’t also.

Nice posts from the rest of you though and thank you for keeping this thread on track.[/quote]

How big do you want to be? Could you give a picture as an example or post stats?

EDIT: And what do you think you need to get there?

197

[quote]The Rattler wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]pwolves17 wrote:
What’s the point of this thread? It seems to be just a platform for X to make sure no one has forgotten that he wants to get as big as humanly possible…point taken![/quote]

I don’t want to be as big as humanly possible.

No offense, but why do some of you only seem to post to discuss how much you don’;t like me posting?

This thread is about the concept of what is “too big” and why.

If you can’t participate, please save us more posts about how much you just don’t like me.

I don’t care…and it seems many more don’t also.

Nice posts from the rest of you though and thank you for keeping this thread on track.[/quote]

How big do you want to be? Could you give a picture as an example or post stats?

EDIT: And what do you think you need to get there?[/quote]

I just said in the other thread that Maxx Charles was ideal to me…so in effect, something along those lines is my goal. Whether I actually reach it or not is irrelevant.

I have never said my goal was to be as big as humanly possible.

I like where I am at now but am working on just a little more size without adding too much more body fat in the process.

198

[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]pwolves17 wrote:
What’s the point of this thread? It seems to be just a platform for X to make sure no one has forgotten that he wants to get as big as humanly possible…point taken![/quote]

I don’t want to be as big as humanly possible.

No offense, but why do some of you only seem to post to discuss how much you don’;t like me posting?

This thread is about the concept of what is “too big” and why.

If you can’t participate, please save us more posts about how much you just don’t like me.

I don’t care…and it seems many more don’t also.

Nice posts from the rest of you though and thank you for keeping this thread on track.[/quote]

I have defended you in the past, and I think those who argue with every post of yours are in the wrong as well. However, if you look objectively through this thread and many others, you respond in a confrontational manner or point out how anyone who doesn’t have the same opinion as you is wrong. As Chris Colucci stated earlier in the thread, “how big is too big” is completely an individual opinion. No right or wrong answers. Everytime someone has stated something to the effect of not wanting to be a mass monster, you’ve found a way to “subtly” mention that you are willing to make the sacrifices necessary, and that soon there won’t be any big guys left!!! Again, I have never argued with you in a thread, so please don’t resort to saying that I argue everything you say

199

[quote]pwolves17 wrote:
However, if you look objectively through this thread and many others, you respond in a confrontational manner or point out how anyone who doesn’t have the same opinion as you is wrong.[/quote]

Where has that happened in this thread? several people have different ideas here and no one is being told they are wrong…except for the people who usually attack me.

Uh, the point was to get big REQUIRES a lot of sacrifice. I am not allowed to make that point?

No one looks like Bauber without making some sacrifices. It would be irresponsible to act like you can get that big casually without any discomfort.

Finding fault in making that point is strange. Anyone who is big knows it to be true.

200

^Very good post. Well put.