Rant for the Smaller Guys

Off Topic
61

[quote]CaliforniaLaw wrote:
keaster wrote:
CaliforniaLaw wrote:
Yet another little guy who obsesses over the big guys. You guys in the “under 200 club” need to get over it.

Be happy with meeting your own goals, and stop worrying about what everyone else is doing.

Sour grapes??

Yes, it’s a classic case of sour graps. There are so many little guys who were never able to get big. So they find every way imaginable to degrade big guys. There are three primary ways of doing this:

  1. All big guys are fat.
  2. Girls don’t like big guys. They like guys who look like me/Brad Pitt.
  3. I have more “pound for pound”/relative strength.

I have yet to meet a little guy who, deep down, didn’t really want to get more muscular. Indeed, one T-Mag contributor, after failing in his quest to get big, finally adopted “arguments” 1 & 2. As someone who has followed this site for years, it’s pretty amusing to see sour grapes in action. (Most of the time I have to infer that a poster is suffering from sour grapeitis.)

Listen, I will never move on the mat as quickly as someone who is shorter and weighs less than I do. But I don’t go around degrading guys who, because of their smaller size, are able to move like lightening. If anything, I give them propers for their speed.

Once a person meets his own goals, he doesn’t look for false measurements to make him feel superior to others.[/quote]

I would not agree that there aren’t smaller guys who train for relative strength or sports performance or any other reason who really have no interest in getting bigger. But on this site, when someone makes a post like this it usuallly IS sour grapes. If someone wants to bitch about someone being an asshole at the gym, I don’t know why most of the post would focus on the guy’s size. Asshole is asshole. Big or small has nothing to do with it.

62

[quote]Professor X wrote:
TornadoTommy wrote:
Professor X wrote:
TornadoTommy wrote:
Wow! A 405 bench @ 253 lbs.! Is that a record?

Gee, considering most bodybuilders go for reps and not one rep maxes, what is your point? I won’t even list the weight I work with, but if I ever do, you can bet I am NOT discussing how much I can only do one time but how much I can do SEVERAL REPS WITH. That means your remark is pretty damn baseless. Most guys who regularly put up 405lbs on a weekly baseless for several reps usually have quite a bit of size on them.

If I weighed 253lbs and my max bench was around 405, I wouldn’t be broadcasting it across the gym. This guy was obviously trying to intimidate/impress everyone with his remarks. In many of your posts it seems that if a guy isn’t gargantuan, at least by your standards, he hasn’t accomplished anything. You sound a lot like the guy the OP was talking about.

Max bench? You sound a lot like a guy who can’t comprehend what he reads. Benchpressing 405lbs for reps IS an accomplishment for most people in the gym and most guys aren’t working out with that much weight FOR SEVERAL REPS regardless of how much they weigh. As far as your comment about me not acknowledging anyone who isn’t “gargantuan”, that is a huge load of crap. I won’t however, give props to someone who hasn’t accomplished much. Why should anyone?

The OP is the one claiming he should be recognized for his 150lbs. Excuse the rest of the world for not really giving a shit about the average skinny guy in the gym. That is no different than things have always been. Don’t be jealous. Make some progress and get yourself noticed if that is so important for you.

Why do so many of you want recognition for for mediocrity? Anyone can be average.[/quote]

First of all Prof, I’m not asking for recognition from you or anyone else. I’m not one of your groupies/nuthuggers and what you think of me doesn’t mean anything. It’s just that when a smaller guy trains with respectable poundage, you (and some others) always seem to find it to be insignificant. I’m tired of listening to your constant belittling of people who don’t fit your ideals. Just because someone doesn’t train for a specific bodyweight or arm size doesn’t mean they haven’t accomplished anything. I’ve competed in both bodybuilding and powerlifting and have 3x bwt squats and deadlifts to my credit. You’re still going to say I haven’t accomplished anything? Have you ever competed? If not, what makes you think I’m jealous of you when I’ve stood onstage in a pair of posing briefs and you haven’t? Who are you to criticize me when I’ve competed in an event where the weight on my shoulders could grind me into the floor and you’ve never had the balls to do the same? It’s time for you to back up all your bullshit with action. Who’s mediocre now,Prof?

63

[quote]TornadoTommy wrote:
Professor X wrote:
TornadoTommy wrote:
Professor X wrote:
TornadoTommy wrote:
Wow! A 405 bench @ 253 lbs.! Is that a record?

Gee, considering most bodybuilders go for reps and not one rep maxes, what is your point? I won’t even list the weight I work with, but if I ever do, you can bet I am NOT discussing how much I can only do one time but how much I can do SEVERAL REPS WITH. That means your remark is pretty damn baseless. Most guys who regularly put up 405lbs on a weekly baseless for several reps usually have quite a bit of size on them.

If I weighed 253lbs and my max bench was around 405, I wouldn’t be broadcasting it across the gym. This guy was obviously trying to intimidate/impress everyone with his remarks. In many of your posts it seems that if a guy isn’t gargantuan, at least by your standards, he hasn’t accomplished anything. You sound a lot like the guy the OP was talking about.

Max bench? You sound a lot like a guy who can’t comprehend what he reads. Benchpressing 405lbs for reps IS an accomplishment for most people in the gym and most guys aren’t working out with that much weight FOR SEVERAL REPS regardless of how much they weigh. As far as your comment about me not acknowledging anyone who isn’t “gargantuan”, that is a huge load of crap. I won’t however, give props to someone who hasn’t accomplished much. Why should anyone?

The OP is the one claiming he should be recognized for his 150lbs. Excuse the rest of the world for not really giving a shit about the average skinny guy in the gym. That is no different than things have always been. Don’t be jealous. Make some progress and get yourself noticed if that is so important for you.

Why do so many of you want recognition for for mediocrity? Anyone can be average.

First of all Prof, I’m not asking for recognition from you or anyone else. I’m not one of your groupies/nuthuggers and what you think of me doesn’t mean anything. It’s just that when a smaller guy trains with respectable poundage, you (and some others) always seem to find it to be insignificant. I’m tired of listening to your constant belittling of people who don’t fit your ideals. Just because someone doesn’t train for a specific bodyweight or arm size doesn’t mean they haven’t accomplished anything. I’ve competed in both bodybuilding and powerlifting and have 3x bwt squats and deadlifts to my credit. You’re still going to say I haven’t accomplished anything? Have you ever competed? If not, what makes you think I’m jealous of you when I’ve stood onstage in a pair of posing briefs and you haven’t? Who are you to criticize me when I’ve competed in an event where the weight on my shoulders could grind me into the floor and you’ve never had the balls to do the same? It’s time for you to back up all your bullshit with action. Who’s mediocre now,Prof?[/quote]

I think you’re wrong. When people post about impressive numbers they’ve put up in meets, they get respect. Irrespective of size. Or when they post pictures and videos of themselves moving big weight. They also get much deserved respect. TriGWU’s triathlon thread was followed with interests and his accomplishments were deservedly applauded. What the Prof was talking about is small guys who are asking for props for ‘trying’. Not for being strong or having impressive relative strength. Not for having made a conscious decision to stay smaller but having impressive achievements at that size. Why should someone be applauded for ‘trying’ to get bigger and improve themselves. As opposed to acutally accomplishments and significant progress. Sure, that’s nice. But that’s what many at this board are trying to do. Encouragement is nice. But applause and lauding is innapropriate. I have said before that there’s room for all types here. And I myself am focusing on performance in long-distance running and triathlons, and the goal at the moment is not to add mass. But I still lift hard to maintain as much mass as possible, because it adds to my performance, and to prevent injury. It’d be nice to get some ‘props’ and maybe they’d be deserved if I started a thread and decided to share my in-depth training regimen and races with T-Nation in detail. But should I get applause for simply choosing a particular athletic as opposed to an aesthetic pursuit and continuing to lift hard as a component of it? Not a chance.

64

[quote]TornadoTommy wrote:
First of all Prof, I’m not asking for recognition from you or anyone else. I’m not one of your groupies/nuthuggers and what you think of me doesn’t mean anything.[/quote]

Then why are you still typing? If what I think means NOTHING to you, why type a response? What an odd way to show indifference.

[quote]
It’s just that when a smaller guy trains with respectable poundage, you (and some others) always seem to find it to be insignificant.[/quote]

Respectable poundages? Is that a universal concept? A constant? What I would find respectable are poundages that I have not reached yet. What someone else may find “respectable” may be the result of a completely different set of standards. Who are you to tell me that I MUST respect someone else’s weight lifted? If someone is small, generally weaker and has accomplished very little overall, why I would I “respect” it?

[quote]
I’m tired of listening to your constant belittling of people who don’t fit your ideals. Just because someone doesn’t train for a specific bodyweight or arm size doesn’t mean they haven’t accomplished anything.[/quote]

You are truly full of shit. There are several posters in that picture forum who are smaller than me but I have given constant support for. Why? Because they achieved something. They started out with much less and made a shit load of progress. You don’t get respect for minimum progress. You sure as hell can’t force it from people. Why would you even want to be rewarded for half ass effort? What has this guy achieved that everyone else should respect? Why would anyone ignore his HUGE focus on guys bigger than him and stronger than him? Would it have made you feel better if we started degrading some guy who was 250lbs just because he stands out where this guy doesn’t?

[quote]
I’ve competed in both bodybuilding and powerlifting and have 3x bwt squats and deadlifts to my credit. You’re still going to say I haven’t accomplished anything? Have you ever competed?[/quote]

Who here is talking about YOU? Have you ever posted a picture here or even started a thread with that as the focus? Good for you that you competed. Did you win?

[quote]

If not, what makes you think I’m jealous of you when I’ve stood onstage in a pair of posing briefs and you haven’t? [/quote]

Dude, if I wanted to jump on stage in a pair of posing trunks, I would. I may or may not eventually. Are you claiming that I have achieved less than you in life or in the gym simply because you have competed?

[quote]
Who are you to criticize me when I’ve competed in an event where the weight on my shoulders could grind me into the floor and you’ve never had the balls to do the same? It’s time for you to back up all your bullshit with action. Who’s mediocre now,Prof?[/quote]

Who here is discussing YOU? Did you start this thread? I am not “mediocre” whether that be in education, mentality or my physical development. Whether you are or not isn’t even the topic of discussion. You are the one who claimed that a guy who was 250lbs shouldn’t be proud of a 405lbs benchpress for reps. Gee, who are you to criticize someone else’s progress when they are lifting that much? You don’t take your own advice, do you?

If you want to discuss what you have accomplished, start you own thread. No one in this thread was discussing YOU or gave a shit about what YOU have accomplished. WTF?

65

My whole point in all of this is that just because someone isn’t built like a tank doesn’t mean they’re a little bitch. I’ve seen more 405 benchpresses (which IS impressive) than guys chinning with an extra 75lbs or doing dips with an extra 125lbs.

A 250lb guy performing those movements with that extra weight would impress the hell out of me. I’m merely giving the 150lb guy props for what he has accomplished so far, not for what he is attempting.

66

[quote]TornadoTommy wrote:
My whole point in all of this is that just because someone isn’t built like a tank doesn’t mean they’re a little bitch.[/quote]

If someone is little, odds are that the person is not particularly strong and doesn’t train very hard.

BTW, where are all of these 150-lb. guys chinning an additional 75 lbs. at? All of the 150-lb. guys I see are chatting on their cell phones in between “sets” of lateral raises with 15-lb. dumbbells.

67

[quote]TornadoTommy wrote:
My whole point in all of this is that just because someone isn’t built like a tank doesn’t mean they’re a little bitch. I’ve seen more 405 benchpresses (which IS impressive) than guys chinning with an extra 75lbs or doing dips with an extra 125lbs.

A 250lb guy performing those movements with that extra weight would impress the hell out of me. I’m merely giving the 150lb guy props for what he has accomplished so far, not for what he is attempting.[/quote]

The OP’s first post was written in a way that attempted to degrade some guy who was bigger and stronger than he was. He tried to rip the guy from talking about the contents of his gym bag and how much water he was carrying to which exercises he was doing. Why didn’t you raise a voice against any of that? Selective reading?

68

[quote]CaliforniaLaw wrote:
I have yet to meet a little guy who, deep down, didn’t really want to get more muscular. Indeed, one T-Mag contributor, after failing in his quest to get big, finally adopted “arguments” 1 & 2. As someone who has followed this site for years, it’s pretty amusing to see sour grapes in action. (Most of the time I have to infer that a poster is suffering from sour grapeitis.)

[/quote]

Thats an interesting statement.

Which contributor are you speaking of?

Is there any written proof of this?

69

They moved on to the 15lbs dumbells i thought they where still with the 5lb ones.

70

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:
CaliforniaLaw wrote:
I have yet to meet a little guy who, deep down, didn’t really want to get more muscular. Indeed, one T-Mag contributor, after failing in his quest to get big, finally adopted “arguments” 1 & 2. As someone who has followed this site for years, it’s pretty amusing to see sour grapes in action. (Most of the time I have to infer that a poster is suffering from sour grapeitis.)

Thats an interesting statement.

Which contributor are you speaking of?

Is there any written proof of this?
[/quote]

Not to put words in CL’s mouth, but I’d have to guess that he’s referring to Shugart. I certainly could be wrong about that assumption.

71

okay, i’m sitting here, wasted, no one wants to listen to me but fuck, i’ve read this whole thread, and its entertaining, and i like intelligent conversation, but let’s simplify it now, T-Nation, bitches, A LOT, and thats that, squat rack curls, skinny bitches and all that.

But lets face it, i dont think everyone on this site wants to be hyoooooge, and i certainy dont, i wqant to look good, and i think, thats what most people on this site want, okay, people idea of “looking good” differs a lot, obviously a lot on this forum, but this guy who started this thread,m will probably never be muscularly huge, no offense, and bby th sounds of his little rant doesnt want to, i’m sure he’s perfectly happy being the size or around the size he is.

Like i said, some people on this forum are hear to get big, others ot lose fat, others to be stronger faster et cetera, yes, there was no need for this guy to start this thread, he was probably pissed at the bigger guy for NOT TRAINING LIKE HE TRAINS, people do not like change, and they do not like it when people challenege their views he was pissed off and decided to rant, he probably needed a ripping into so he wouldnt do it again, so fair enough, but i’ve said what i gotta say, i’m gonna go back to drinkin my water, ohhh the the drunkness

72

[quote]SkyzykS wrote:
Thats an interesting statement.
[/quote]

It’s a banal statement, actually, if you’ve followed the site for a while. I don’t like calling people out by name. I’ll just be labelled a “hater.” But if you’ve read this author’s work for a while, you’ll see someone resentful that he was never able to reach a lean 200 lbs. He now spends most of his time bashing anyone over 200 as fat.

It took me 4 years to go (naturally) from a skinny 160 to a lean 200. I personally don’t think 5’11"-6’, 200lbs. is even close to big. I also don’t consider reaching that benchmark to be much of an accomplishment. So I don’t get why the assumtion is that everyone over 200 must be carrying around a lot of fat.

73

[quote]Cymreig wrote:
Like i said, some people on this forum are hear to get big, others ot lose fat, others to be stronger faster et cetera, yes, there was no need for this guy to start this thread, he was probably pissed at the bigger guy for NOT TRAINING LIKE HE TRAINS,[/quote]

Wrong. He was jealous.

People are like apes. In the gym, they are constantly sizing people up - trying to find a way they are better.

I used to be like this, but haven’t been for a while. When I see a biger or stronger guy, I think, “Cool.” I don’t run to the internet and say: “Look at that guys form!” Or say, “I could totally beat him up.”

I did make fun of one guy today. He was wearign one of those shirts you get a Cancun - it said something about getting drunk. I looked to my wife and said, “That’s probably why he looks like that!”

People who are little and advertise their unhealthy habits deserve mockery. People whose form differs from mine but who have impressive physiques do not.

74

[quote]CaliforniaLaw wrote:
Cymreig wrote:
Like i said, some people on this forum are hear to get big, others ot lose fat, others to be stronger faster et cetera, yes, there was no need for this guy to start this thread, he was probably pissed at the bigger guy for NOT TRAINING LIKE HE TRAINS,

Wrong. He was jealous.

People are like apes. In the gym, they are constantly sizing people up - trying to find a way they are better.

I used to be like this, but haven’t been for a while. When I see a biger or stronger guy, I think, “Cool.” I don’t run to the internet and say: “Look at that guys form!” Or say, “I could totally beat him up.”

I did make fun of one guy today. He was wearign one of those shirts you get a Cancun - it said something about getting drunk. I looked to my wife and said, “That’s probably why he looks like that!”

People who are little and advertise their unhealthy habits deserve mockery. People whose form differs from mine but who have impressive physiques do not.[/quote]

I like you CaliforniaLaw, u smart, i like the way you’ve written here, man i’m drunk, i probably would’ve written seomthing about jealousy if not for my current state of sobriety, which is null, but yes, u right, jealousy is big factor, this guy wants to be big, isnt, sees big guy, gets jealous, wants to rant and identifies little things like form and his “big jug o’ water” to be petty and rants about, yes, brilliant

75

[quote]CaliforniaLaw wrote:
SkyzykS wrote:
Thats an interesting statement.

It’s a banal statement, actually, if you’ve followed the site for a while. I don’t like calling people out by name. I’ll just be labelled a “hater.” But if you’ve read this author’s work for a while, you’ll see someone resentful that he was never able to reach a lean 200 lbs. He now spends most of his time bashing anyone over 200 as fat.

It took me 4 years to go (naturally) from a skinny 160 to a lean 200. I personally don’t think 5’11"-6’, 200lbs. is even close to big. I also don’t consider reaching that benchmark to be much of an accomplishment. So I don’t get why the assumtion is that everyone over 200 must be carrying around a lot of fat.[/quote]

I couldn’t agree more with that one. My lean body mass alone is well over 200lbs so I don’t get many of his statements. I guess it is a defense mechanism.

I trained around people bigger than me until I past some of them up. That was my motivation. I never once started degrading everyone bigger than me simply because I couldn’t get there and stay there. The way some people talk on this forum, you would think that football players in the NFL over 200lbs are all slow and out of shape guys who can’t get laid. Anyone who really believes that has some screws loose…or a bad case of short man syndrome.

76

[quote]PGA wrote:
fitfreak wrote:
Since when is being big always due to how you train? And since when does being big mean you know what you are doing or that you have achieved something?

I have had friends who worked out once a week, and not very hard, who looked like bodybuilders. Genetics seems to have something to do with it.

I’m 5’4" and ectomorphic. I don’t ever want to weigh more than 150lbs. Why? Because I’ll look like a bowling ball. Do I want to be muscular? Yes, but not at the expense of looking like a circus freak.

My brother is a pro bodybuilder and he is 5’5". When training for a competition he weighs approximately 185lbs. Guess what his comp weight is…that’s right 137lbs. Why do you think that is? Because he looks like shit unless his body is more proportional and being lighter looks good for him.

I laugh to myself at all the “big” guys in my hardcore gym when I see them stare at me doing pistols ATG or 1 arm pullups. They feel like gods smashing their dumbbells to the floor after a set of incline presses. I weigh 135lbs and don’t have to smash my 80lb dummbells to the floor after a set of incline presses. I can actually control them and place them back on the rack without all the noise.

Being “big” isn’t everybody’s goal and shouldn’t be something to admire unless it was achieved through intelligent training and nutrition. Not every “big” guy in the gym has done something worthy of admiring in order to get that way not to mention some could do anything and achieve that size.

If you’re unable to see anything other than this whole “big” thing when it comes to training, then continue on with your blinders.

I’ll save you the trouble…I know I’m just jealous because I can’t get big, right? Already covered that angle in my post, but thanks anyway.

This is me at 5’7" 180lbs. Do I look disproportionate or a circus freak? I dont think I have 40lbs of fat to lose. Your post has to be one of the stupidest posts ever to appear on T-Nation.

Yeah, you do because you have more back hair than head hair!!!

Oh and I’m quite sure you have friends who workout once a week and look like bodybuilders…[/quote]

77

[quote]Professor X wrote:
fitfreak wrote:
Since when is being big always due to how you train? And since when does being big mean you know what you are doing or that you have achieved something?

I have had friends who worked out once a week, and not very hard, who looked like bodybuilders. Genetics seems to have something to do with it.

I’m 5’4" and ectomorphic. I don’t ever want to weigh more than 150lbs. Why? Because I’ll look like a bowling ball. Do I want to be muscular? Yes, but not at the expense of looking like a circus freak.

My brother is a pro bodybuilder and he is 5’5". When training for a competition he weighs approximately 185lbs. Guess what his comp weight is…that’s right 137lbs. Why do you think that is? Because he looks like shit unless his body is more proportional and being lighter looks good for him.

I laugh to myself at all the “big” guys in my hardcore gym when I see them stare at me doing pistols ATG or 1 arm pullups. They feel like gods smashing their dumbbells to the floor after a set of incline presses. I weigh 135lbs and don’t have to smash my 80lb dummbells to the floor after a set of incline presses. I can actually control them and place them back on the rack without all the noise.

Being “big” isn’t everybody’s goal and shouldn’t be something to admire unless it was achieved through intelligent training and nutrition. Not every “big” guy in the gym has done something worthy of admiring in order to get that way not to mention some could do anything and achieve that size.

If you’re unable to see anything other than this whole “big” thing when it comes to training, then continue on with your blinders.

I’ll save you the trouble…I know I’m just jealous because I can’t get big, right? Already covered that angle in my post, but thanks anyway.

Short man syndrome. [/quote]

Certainly one of your more thoughtful and intelligent responses.

Hey I’ll join you…you’re just jealous because you can’t enjoy really small sports cars because you’re soooo BIG.

78

[quote]fitfreak wrote:
Certainly one of your more thoughtful and intelligent responses.[/quote]

Why, thank you.

Wait, this was a good one:

Ah, yes, I can see it now…“holy crap, meathead#1, did you see that guy who is about as tall as a “My Size Barbie” doing one armed pull ups?! Talk about impressive!!!”

Yes…STARES. People just can’t stop looking. Do they dive out of your way when you walk by as well?

Why would I want a really small sports car?

79

[quote]fitfreak wrote:

I laugh to myself at all the “big” guys in my hardcore gym when I see them stare at me doing pistols ATG or 1 arm pullups. They feel like gods smashing their dumbbells to the floor after a set of incline presses. I weigh 135lbs and don’t have to smash my 80lb dummbells to the floor after a set of incline presses. I can actually control them and place them back on the rack without all the noise.
[/quote]

IMHO if you can still control the DB after a well done set that means that you have not performed a “well done set”. I understand that you are not a BB so i think you don’t know the common methods of training in BB. You stop to lift when you “have to” stop. No buffer reps left for “control”…:slight_smile:

and telling us that you can do pistol ATG is funny… you can do that? ok, i supposed is your goal or part of your training routines. I can use you as a warm up for military press. And i can use you to do some curl…

80

[quote]Professor X wrote:
fitfreak wrote:
Certainly one of your more thoughtful and intelligent responses.

Why, thank you.

Hey I’ll join you…you’re just jealous because you can’t enjoy really small sports cars because you’re soooo BIG.

Wait, this was a good one:
I laugh to myself at all the “big” guys in my hardcore gym when I see them stare at me doing pistols ATG or 1 arm pullups.
Ah, yes, I can see it now…“holy crap, meathead#1, did you see that guy who is about as tall as a “My Size Barbie” doing one armed pull ups?! Talk about impressive!!!”

Yes…STARES. People just can’t stop looking. Do they dive out of your way when you walk by as well?

Why would I want a really small sports car?[/quote]

I notice “you” chose to refer to the “big guys” as meatheads. Excellent.