I just love…the feeling. i’m sure yall would agree that’s there’s just something…just…great ha, about working out. that feeling during a set when you feel yourself start straining…the pumped, tired, weak feeling after a couple supersets…the strain that leaves your face red coming up on a squat…it’s all great ha
I already posted a picture, so if others want to post their goals(and please no bashing of goals) in terms of physiques that might be interesting. Sort of a “the best thing about bodybuilding? looking like THIS…” type scenario. Phil Hernon is a freak no doubt, but what is more realistic(besides the freakin biceps, damn genetics haha) is a look like this
[quote]Scott M wrote:
I already posted a picture, so if others want to post their goals(and please no bashing of goals) in terms of physiques that might be interesting. Sort of a “the best thing about bodybuilding? looking like THIS…” type scenario. Phil Hernon is a freak no doubt, but what is more realistic(besides the freakin biceps, damn genetics haha) is a look like this[/quote]
Somewhere there’s a guy (think it’s a tnation member) with a before and after pic in an article. I’d like to look like his before pic actually. No idea how tall he is but I’m guessing he’s 185-190. Don’t know if it’s possible at my age and lifestyle to get that heavy but I’m trying.
One thing I love about the “old school” look is not only what’s realistic but the fact that the bodies all looked somewhat different. Cut the heads off of Arnold, Nubret, Robinson, Olivia…and you still knew who was who. Call it weaknesses or strengths or imbalances, but I liked it better.
It might be from the fact that more and more people are doing it, so similar body types are gaining more exposure and have less individuality. I’m not sure.
I can’t picture what article you are talking about, if you do find it please post it though.
Some of those old school guys had what I can’t help but refer to as a “casual cool” look about them. That whole era fascinates me and seemed like a very special time for the bodybuilding community because that’s what it still was then. Whether or not a situation like that can ever happen again I doubt it, but that at least was one of the best things about bodybuilding; brotherhood.
[quote]Scott M wrote:
I can’t picture what article you are talking about, if you do find it please post it though.
Some of those old school guys had what I can’t help but refer to as a “casual cool” look about them. That whole era fascinates me and seemed like a very special time for the bodybuilding community because that’s what it still was then. Whether or not a situation like that can ever happen again I doubt it, but that at least was one of the best things about bodybuilding; brotherhood. [/quote]
I found it, he’s the guy a couple of pics below Stan.
http://www.T-Nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1820995&cr=
I was flipping through the article and told my girlfriend that is what I’d like to look like (the before pic). I think it’s attainable for me with school (going for my bio degree) and working full time. If you know who it might be let me know so I can e-stalk him with my man crush.
I wonder if other sports had that same brotherhood well before they hit mainstream. Like the first pro-basketball teams or baseball. “cool” is probably a good word for it…I think of it as living unapologetic, doing what you like for it’s own sake and because you enjoy it, before the circus it seems like it is now. Maybe a bit of it comes from the fact that during those days you could actually as a layman walk into a Gold’s and see all these guys training and hanging out. It’s not like I can go punch the heavy bag and look over and see Roy Jones Jr. warming up.
Of course I didn’t lift back then, maybe behind the scenes things were more like they are today. I’ve no idea but the accounts I’ve read about don’t seem like it. Prime example is the manipulative way (with his blessing) the film makers made Ken Waller seem to be the bad guy to Mike Katz’s family man. In reality they all hung out together and were friends. I don’t see BBing competitors helping each other out like that once a pro gets to a certain level. Again though I’m just going from DVDs and magazine/web info, I could be way off there.
Oh, and to the guys that are into pro-BBing today and follow it, I’ve got no problem with it. I just long for the old days. Blame it on my arthritic hip.
As long as we’re posting pics of physiques we’d like to aspire to. Here’s a pic I found on the “Favorite Bodybuilding Pic” thread (you can find more of this guy on page 137).
His name is Roger Estep, he was actually a powerlifter during the 70’s, but he’s definitely got an impressive physique IMO.
I believe hes half cape buffalo.
For me, a lot of it is the self-discipline that this lifestyle requires and how that has positively influenced the other important aspects of my life.
The moment when you realize that you have control over the way your body grows, appears, and works - that it isn’t magical or random or chance but something that can be studied and mastered. It has a pervasive effect.
It’s all about me and what I can accomplish. No one else involved. No need to ask for apologies, time meetings, family problems or incompetence. Either you lift the damm weight or it crushes you.
Simple, just the way life should’ve been…
The ability to make my body grow and as an avenue to expend and develop strength.
Gain confidence from bodybuilding that translates to all aspects of your life.
Work like knocking down brick walls with a hammer, hauling fertilizer or chopping wood feeling a lot easier than it was a few years ago.
Experimenting on myself, like with exercise variations, especially when it works.
Along those same lines and like some others have said. being able to improve myself through the paradoxical means of recovering from controlled self induced injury.
What I love most about bodybuilding or any kind of sport specific training is the mindset you put yourself into. It’s one of the most positive and it’s one the things a lot of people lack. When I talk to other people interested in getting strong and bigger, we share the same mindsets; to be the best we can while managing our lives at college doing a premed program and surviving the stress. The mindset to accomplish the most you can is what appeals me to lifting and bodybuilding in general.
Other than that, I love bodybuilding in general. It’s something truly amazing. I still believe bodybuilding is great today (I honestly had enough of people complaining about the giant freakish physiques, I still respect them and admire, it was something inevitable due to “more” mainstream success and Olympia rewards getting bigger everyday), even though it’s in a different direction than it was before.
[quote]Stronghold wrote:
Watching Ronnie lift (and speak for that matter) is one of the best things about bodybuilding for me, haha.[/quote]
You dirty dirty boy… hahaha
I need some physical activity to give me energy to study and develop myself.
Since i dont enjoy hurting friends in martial arts sparring no more, lifting weights is the path now.
Two things: 1) shutting everything out for an hour a day, removing work, my social life and bills and just enjoying the challenge of lifting heavy objects.
- the individually competitive nature of it. What I mean by that is that it’s just you and the weight. The same as the OP I participated in sports, right up until the end of college and for me, without that competitive outlet, it’s like I shut down. Ate like crap, didn’t do anything that could be considered aerobic, and felt miserable. Once I started lifting I had that ‘fire in my belly,’ if you will…not just a desire to look better, but a desire to continually improve–not only see gains but feel them.
Nothing gives me greater joy than looking back on logs I kept from 2 or 3 years ago and seeing that I now warm up with weights I used to struggle for reps with. I consider it a great personal achievement, because as I said, it’s all individual. There’s no one telling me I have to eat clean, that I have to get to the gym on Saturday’s, that I have to get that last rep. It’s all personal, and that’s what I love about it.
Hambone I emailed you, did you get it?
Thanks, Scott, I appreciate it! I actually can’t check my hotmail at work, I’ll PM you tonight, though. I’m looking forward to a weekend of reading!