That’s a score. I used to pick up used benches at yard sales and replace the vinyl ($2 or $3 usually) and then trade them for credit at Play It Again Sports. I have a lot of stuff in NC right now being used by a buddy. No space where I am atm.
Anyone else love the process of bodybuilding (the training, dieting, dedication, etc.) but find the competition stuff (tanning, getting on stage in a speedo, posing, etc.) super weird? The former takes me back to being an athlete, but I still can’t get down with the latter.
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Me in a thong just seems like a really bad idea. I’m not enough of an extrovert.
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Yes I’m the exact same way. I love all that stuff but the competing part is not attractive at all (if I could even get to a point where I would ever be big enough to consider it). Especially getting dehydrated as fuck and crashing estrogen (at least from what I read). Sounds miserable. I don’t know how they are able to smile on stage.
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I watched a documentary recently on 90s competitor Chris Cormier where he talked about how it took him years to work up the courage to get onstage for the same reason. I love those films because they motivate me to train, but the pageant stuff is odd.
I think the competition stuff is especially what turns people off. They think, “why would you want to get all greasy and flex in front of people in a thong?” Well, that and getting too big and abusing anabolics.
But if you just explain the ritualistic training/dieting like a sport and self-competition (you vs you, gradual improvement daily), people could get more onboard with that.
I recently discovered the old bodybuilder Bob Paris. To me, this is the ideal physique – nothing bigger. Clearly jacked out of his mind but also not a mass monster.
Id be interested to know what his steroid cycle is vs say Dorian Yates or one of the bigger “gut” guys who went over the top on HGH, insulin, etc.
Obviously you can never trust this stuff, but I found this online:
Seems pretty believable, actually – ‘low’ test dose, plus ‘low’ Deca, as well as primo and proviron. I could see how that plus amazing training/nutrition and genetics could produce that physique.
“was never in favor of steroids and was even against it”
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But yeah that test dose does seem relatively low for BB, even back then.
He actually talked about that in the documentary (Golden Era of Bodybuilding, interesting watch). He wasn’t totally opposed to anabolics, per se, but rather how they were beginning to be abused (and we’ve seen how much further it’s gone since then). He had a pretty articulate perspective on how bodybuilding was desperate to appeal to the masses but was driving itself further from that goal with the drugs. Smart guy.
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The whole gut thing is what has me not really interested in following bodybuilding. I don’t mind “too big” but the having a giant gut just puts me off. If you don’t look like you get more pussy than you could actually use then I’m not with it. If your goal after all that effort isn’t to walk in a room and have every woman want to pass on your genes then we have different goals.
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So, a lot is being left out here. The term “Cycle” is thrown around like it means something. Nothing is ever as simple and straightforward as what that says. Where they are in relation to the contest has a huge effect on what they take, and I would venture to say almost none ever came completely off. That may have been what he did for 8 or 10 weeks, but his baseline “Cruise” was probably 500 mg of test. Maybe more. If you never actually come off, the gains don’t go away. Like Dorian Yates discussing his use, the number he throws out are likely his cruise numbers, not prep numbers.
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For sure, it’s oversimplified. Though most TRT guys like myself don’t blast/cruise, I’ll bet top guys like Paris did. I actually think John Meadows has said the top competitors in the 80s used to almost all come off for a time. Can’t take anyone’s word as gospel, but I trust Mountain Dog. The drugs have gotten so absurd these days.
That’s a great way to put it. When you’ve gotten so freakish that women aren’t attracted to you, what’s the point? Are you doing it for other guys?
You can probably take sexualization out of the equation. Its safe to say that most women don’t want any sort of competitor BB style body even without the GH gut. So if you wanted a physique MOST women would consider overly attractive think Kelly Slater or David Beckham. Basically just lean with a little bit of muscle. @bkb333 the guy you posted above is probably just a little bit leaner than those guys with 10-15lbs more muscle. I wonder if he did a front double bicep flex if it would turn off a percentage of the women who are liking JUST that picture (or maybe the criteria was more thorough?).
I bet most women would choose Jason Mamoa from Baywatch over Drago, Conan, or Aquaman.
Wow, I had no idea Mamoa was in Baywatch. It’s crazy how he’s transformed over the years.
I completely agree with you, actually. That Mamoa shot is indicative of exactly the type of body most women would consider optimal. I think it’s a couple levels above Beckham, whose physique – as it turns out – was remarkably average in his heyday.
Nonetheless, I think there’s a bit of room for increased muscle size, even with Mamoa’s frame. For example, here’s what I was looking like last summer.
My guess is that most women would say that’s about as lean as you should get (though it’s still only 8-10%), but there’s room for 20-25 pounds more muscle. Not a scientific survey by any means, just a guess.
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I would say as far as MOST women go you are at an optimal physique.
Jason Mamoa is a genetic freak. He may have room to lean out and put on more muscle but I just don’t think its that important to him. If he isn’t in a role he is probably 20-30 pounds heavier. At 6’ 7" he wears it pretty well but I just don’t think he gives a fuck.
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He could’ve been a strongman in another life! It’s funny how some of the guys with the best genetics just don’t give a shit, while those with subpar genes (like yours truly) have to work our asses off just to look like them, lol.
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